Connect with OurKarma
We invite anyone passionate about learning to join us at our local, regional, national, and international events. It's exciting to connect with others, learn about the latest industry trends, and showcase our incredible solutions. Explore the events I attended or plan to attend in the near future below.
We look forward to meeting you soon!

Enterprise AI Maturity & Transformation Assembly on April 8-9 2026
Digital Transformation is an ongoing journey for today’s C-Suite leaders, and our best advice is to not trek it alone. Our Enterprise AI Maturity & Transformation Assembly is set to be a groundbreaking opportunity for Global Chief Information Officers to meet face-to-face and connect on the current trends & challenges the industry is facing.

Invent for the Planet 2026 on 27th of February to 1st of March
We are very proud to share that we are key sponsors of Invent for the Planet 2026, an international innovation challenge that brings together university students from around the world to develop creative solutions to major global problems – including environmental issues, energy access, social challenges, and resource equity. At AMCS, we are driven by our commitment to innovation, community impact, and a more sustainable future. Invent for the Planet reflects these values by giving students the opportunity to design solutions that address real global challenges. We’re proud to sponsor an event that cultivates the innovators who will help shape a cleaner and more equitable world. Members of the AMCS team will be there to cheer on the competitors and host giveaways at Invent for the Planet 2026 on 27th of February to 1st of March at Atlantic Technological University in Galway, Ireland. Come out and support this innovative competition! Evan J Schwartz Gail Quinn IFTP hashtag#InventForThePlanet hashtag#IFTP hashtag#ATU hashtag#Sustainability hashtag#Impact

AMCS + RCon November 13th 2025
Another exciting day at #RCon™! Yesterday was packed with energy—from our Mid-Morning Mixer (mimosas, Bloody Marys, and great conversations) to a crowd-favorite Spin-the-Wheel Challenge that sent folks off with fresh AMCS swag. Big congrats to Zach Scott (City of Surprise) for winning the $350 raffle! 📸 Catch the highlights, and swing by Booth #842 today to keep the momentum going. #AMCSGroup #ResourceManagement #RecyclingInnovation #TechForGood

EQT AI Summit
This was a general event across the spectrum of adopting AI across your organization: Martin Elwin (AWS) spoke about how AI is transforming AWS - describing the predictive ways that AI makes possible next day deliver of nearly every product they have on Amazon. Anthropic, Perplexity, AWS all describe how AI is revolutionizing development, the speed at which business evolves, and the order of magnitude with which this technology is evolving. Incremental adoption strategies don't work! Significant evolution is occurring faster and faster, requiring a new kind of leadership, new kinds of thinking, that is flexible, adaptive, loosely coupled to current tech, and highly integrated with agents who can orchestrate quickly and adapt as needed. Eric Burns describes how Anthropic has changed the way we code, being more of a "Vibe Coder" is becoming a survival skill. The SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) has shifted to heavy Product Descriptions, NFRs and FRs (Non-functional and functional requirements), and Quality Evaluation (TEVV - Test, Evaluate, Validate, and Verify) - Having governance and guardrails in place is crucial to run fast today. the agenda goes on and on, so since it's a LInkedIn post with pictures, we don't have to go into a ton of detail, just pick some good pictures, carve out some good talking points across the Agenda (don't directly address the agenda, just the attendees), and let's get this one out the door, tag EQT Growth Ventures, and then end with how grateful I was to be in the company of so many incredible minds shaping the future. LETS GO!!!!!!!!

JU-Mock Interviews
This two-day experience (Monday October 20th & Friday October 24th) is all about real-world readiness: on Monday we walk them through mock job opportunities and coach them on how to tailor their resumes, and by Friday they’re back in the room doing a full interview for the role they chose. You can literally see the confidence snap into place. I’ve said it before—I owe a huge chunk of my soft skills, storytelling, and human-to-human communication to years of tabletop role-playing. That’s why I turned my Technical Project Management course into a role-playing experience: because practice in “safe scenarios” builds real-world capability. JU gets that. They’re intentional about creating spaces where students can practice being professionals before they are professionals. Big applause to JU for having the foresight to invest in this kind of growth. There’s so much more to a university experience than lectures and tests—and I’m grateful to play a small part in it. #JacksonvilleUniversity #ExperientialLearning #SoftSkillsMatter #RolePlayingForRealLife

ReMA 2025
Another exciting day at hashtag#ReMA2025! Yesterday was packed with energy as we showcased 'Driving Performance Across the Value Chain' and joined the 'Eco-Innovation 2.0' panel. #AMCS Happy Hour was the perfect way to conclude all the excitement! Don’t miss out—stop by booth #2123 to connect with us and join in on the fun. EVENT#AMCSGroup #ResourceManagement #RecyclingInnovation #TechForGood

AI Collaborate, Jacksonville, Florida - NOVEMBER 19-20th , 2024
Join Jennifer Bradshaw and me as we describe how AI-driven Performance Sustainability in the Waste & Recycling industries puts the AND back into sustainability and Profitability. EVENT LETS GO!!!!!!!!

Recycle Today, AMCS, & Mazza Recycling - Success Story - OCTOBER 1st , 2024
Join Rajae El-Temawi, Geoff Aardsma, and me as we explore how Mazza Recycling embraced process automation, technology, and vision to create unparalleled success, productivity, and insights through advanced analytics and data. EVENT I’ve said it before—I owe a huge chunk of my soft skills, storytelling, and human-to-human communication to years of tabletop role-playing. That’s why I turned my Technical Project Management course into a role-playing experience: because practice in “safe scenarios” builds real-world capability. JU gets that. They’re intentional about creating spaces where students can practice being professionals before they are professionals. Big applause to JU for having the foresight to invest in this kind of growth. There’s so much more to a university experience than lectures and tests—and I’m grateful to play a small part in it. #JacksonvilleUniversity #ExperientialLearning #SoftSkillsMatter #RolePlayingForRealLife

Jacksonville, Jacksonville University, Davis College of Business & Technology - SEPTEMBER 25th , 2024
Jacksonville University hosts the AI Speaker Series, where I spoke about the importance of the Person Plus AI Strategy when developing automation or AI-related tools. We also covered the EU Guidelines for ethical AI and their use cases, which highlight this strategy. EVENT

Green Growth: Innovative Revenue Strategies in Resource & Recycling - AUGUST 13th, 2024
We team up with Waste360 and Eureka Recycling for a Webinar that dives into revenue opportunities through innovation and how to apply practical planning tactics to de-risk and unlock new revenue streams. EVENT EVENT LETS GO!!!!!!!!

Munich, IFAT - MAY 13th - 17th, 2024
IFAT is the world's leading network for environmental technologies. In addition to the world's leading trade fair, IFAT Munich, this network also includes trade fairs in China, India, South Africa, Brazil, and Turkey. It is a global network for decision-makers in companies in the environmental technology sector with specific solutions for the respective challenges in the different markets. EVENT

Las Vegas, WasteExpo - MAY 5th - 8th, 2024
At WasteExpo, the road ahead is paved with myriad opportunities. From connecting with 13,500+ of your peers to doing business with 550+ exhibitors, it’s one event that pays dividends all year long. Preview the latest vehicles, tune in to the latest technology, and learn the latest curriculum to improve the environment. For 50+ years, WasteExpo has been driven to give you the best event experience in the solid waste, recycling, and organics industry. Join us in Las Vegas, May 5-8, 2025, and move in the fast lane of business success. EVENT

Las Vegas, ISRI - APR 15 - 18th, 2024
The largest recycled materials industry event in the world is heading back to fabulous Las Vegas! I'm honored to be representing Next-Generation technology with such incredible speakers. I'm looking forward to seeing you there! EVENT

Jacksonville, DCHS Career Day - Feb 22nd, 2024
It was an absolute pleasure to inspire the passion of so many excellent young hearts and minds at the Baymeadows Charter School Career Day. It was engaging and encouraging to listen to what these students are considering for their future and the enormous goals they have for themselves. EVENT

Jacksonville, AI Collaborate - Nov 14th,15th, 2023
It was a pleasure to attend this local conference hosted by NLP Logix. Seeing the amazing work they're doing with their customers, the challenges and creative solutions to overcome them, was a great learning experience for me! This event is absolutely on my "Must Attend" list for next year! EVENT For 50+ years, WasteExpo has been driven to give you the best event experience in the solid waste, recycling, and organics industry. Join us in Las Vegas, May 5-8, 2025, and move in the fast lane of business success. EVENT

New York, ScaleUp:AI - Oct 26th - 27th, 2023
ScaleUp:AI is an industry-leading global conference hosted by Insight Partners that features topics across technologies and industries, including AI, software, healthcare, finance, and cybersecurity. Built to guide and influence leaders, decision makers, and doers who are ready to soar, our conferences are designed by the software industry’s most trusted ScaleUp partner, Insight Partners. EVENT

Jacksonville, Tech Coast Conference - Aug 24th, 2023
I recently attended the Tech Coast Conference hosted by the Jax Chamber, JITC, and was blown away by the local support for and excitement about the growing technology industry in Jacksonville, FL. My wife, Lisa, and I were thrilled to see all the incredible new gadgets and innovative ideas that were presented at the conference. EVENT EVENT
Past Events
Evan J Schwartz is a global leader in enterprise software solutions and Artificial Intelligence with more than three decades of experience in the industry. He provides invaluable insight through keynote speaking, thought leadership, and sharing his invaluable experience and wisdom. Speaking passionately about technology, customer journey, and digital transformation, he is an unrivaled source of guidance for any organization.

Waste Advantage Magazine Issue 17, number 4 page 51.
In Waste Advantage Magazine, Evan J. Schwartz, Chief Innovation Officer at AMCS Group, makes the case that sustainability and profitability are not competing priorities — they are the same opportunity. In his article "Why Your Biggest Carbon Problem Is Your Greatest Profit Opportunity," Evan challenges the industry's tendency to treat ESG reporting as a compliance checkbox, and reframes carbon footprint data as a powerful diagnostic tool for identifying operational inefficiencies hiding in plain sight. Drawing on real-world results across route optimization, contamination detection, and predictive maintenance, Evan explains how AI-driven systems can surface the profit leaks that traditional benchmarking misses entirely. From reducing carbon emissions and container overflows to preventing costly vehicle breakdowns before they happen, the article demonstrates how interconnected these initiatives truly are — and why organizations that operationalize sustainability into their daily decisions consistently outperform those that keep it siloed in a quarterly report More Details

Born Scrappy Season 5 Episode 5 With Evan J Schwartz
On the Practical Product Management podcast, hosts Leah Farmer and Marilyn McDonald sit down with Evan J. Schwartz, Chief Innovation Officer at AMCS Group, to unpack what innovation actually looks like inside a large, mature SaaS organization. Evan explains how dedicated innovation teams can take high-risk bets on emerging technologies like AI while allowing core product teams to stay focused on delivery, and how successful ideas transition back into the main product roadmap. The conversation also dives into the realities of ERP transformation, where Evan draws on decades of implementation experience to explain why most initiatives fail and what leaders must do differently. From defining a clear future-state vision to documenting current processes and ROI goals before touching technology, the discussion offers practical guidance for organizations trying to turn innovation and transformation into measurable business outcomes. More Details

Born Scrappy Season 5 Episode 5 With Evan J Schwartz
Born Scrappy Season 5 Episode 5! With Evan J. Schwartz, Chief Innovation Officer at AMCS Group. 35+ years in resource industries. Now leading global innovation across 80 countries. He doesn’t talk tech hype. He talks execution. In today’s episode we talk about: 👉 Turning data into cash 👉 Agentic automation 👉 Data over gut feel 👉 Cloud resilience 👉 Practical AI use 👉 Why ERPs fail 👉 And more! More Details

Personiv | The CFO Weekly | The CFO's Guide to ERP Success with Evan. J. Schwartz, CIO at AMCS Group
In this episode of CFO Weekly, Megan Weis sits down with Evan Schwartz, Chief Innovation Officer at AMCS Group, to explore how modern CFOs can turn ERP implementations from high-risk initiatives into strategic competitive advantages, drawing on Evan’s three decades of experience leading large-scale digital transformations across resource-intensive industries. From avoiding the Gartner-cited 70% failure rate to building strong vendor partnerships, defining real ROI, and leveraging AI-native platforms, Evan shares practical insights from his work at AMCS and his Amazon best-selling book People, Places, and Things. More Details Drawing on real-world results across route optimization, contamination detection, and predictive maintenance, Evan explains how AI-driven systems can surface the profit leaks that traditional benchmarking misses entirely. From reducing carbon emissions and container overflows to preventing costly vehicle breakdowns before they happen, the article demonstrates how interconnected these initiatives truly are — and why organizations that operationalize sustainability into their daily decisions consistently outperform those that keep it siloed in a quarterly report More Details

The Reminger Report: Emerging Technologies | AI Is Transforming Sustainability
In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Reminger’s Zachary Pyers sits down with Evan Schwartz, Chief Innovation Officer at AMCS Group, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming recycling, logistics, and sustainability. From “reverse logistics” to predictive truck maintenance, Schwartz shares how AI can connect the dots between processes, uncover efficiencies, and prove that doing the right thing for the planet can also drive profitability. More Details

Evan Schwartz | AI's Compassionate, Profitable Path Forward | AI For The C Suite with Chad Harvey
Evan J. Schwartz is the COO of AMCS Group North America, a global leader in sustainable cloud technology, with more than 35 years of experience driving digital transformation across resource-intensive industries through AI and data science. Formerly AMCS’s Chief Enterprise Architect, he is also an adjunct professor at Jacksonville University, a Forbes Technology Council member, a sought-after speaker, and the bestselling author of People, Places, and Things, where he shares practical insight into ethical, AI-driven ERP implementation and sustainability. He is a frequent contributor to conversations like AI For the C-Suite™, a learning community and podcast dedicated to helping executive leaders navigate the opportunities and risks of generative AI in the Exponential Age. More Details

Evan J Schwartz on The Human-Centric AI Revolution: A Guide to Successful Digital Transformation
Are we approaching the age of AI all wrong? In this Growth Hacking Culture Podcast episode, Evan J. Schwartz—veteran enterprise technologist and author of People, Places, and Things—warns that despite decades of progress, organizations are repeating past mistakes by over-relying on AI without addressing culture, strategy, and human readiness, and instead advocates for a “Person + AI” framework where technology amplifies human creativity, critical thinking, and innovation rather than replacing it. More Details

Navigating AI Risks and Rewards: Lessons from a Tech Innovator w/ Evan J. Schwartz
The vault is a representation of your locked potential and all about unlocking your success. I am interviewing influencers and successful people form all over the world. They share their best tips to level up your mindset mastery, energy, sales, marketing, and thriving in business. Growth is our game and success our aim. More Details

A Renaissance Awaits And AI Is The Paintbrush In Our Hands
Artificial intelligence is not an unstoppable force—it’s a tool shaped by human intent. As education, creativity, and industry rapidly evolve, we stand at a crossroads between fear and empowerment. The future will be defined not by what AI can do, but by what we choose to do with it. More Details

Future Driven Ep. 58: How AI Is Changing Business with Evan Schwartz
Evan’s been building tech for 35+ years. He started in the dial-up days and now leads innovation across global industries like waste, recycling, and logistics. This conversation is full of real insights for business owners, operators, and tech leaders. More Details

August Edition of Business Enquirer Magazine - Issue 140
Evan J. Schwartz, Chief Innovation Officer at AMCS Group, has been a key driver in advancing sustainable resource management through technology and circular innovation. His early start in software entrepreneurship laid the foundation for his leadership in reducing waste, optimizing operations, and shaping a more sustainable future. More Details

AI and industrial innovation - Evan J. Schwartz of AMCS Group on transforming Waste Management with Artificial Intelligence
Welcome back to another episode of the AI Agents Podcast. In this episode we have Evan J. Schwartz, the Chief Innovation Officer from AMCS. More Details

Innocent Until the Algorithm Says Otherwise. Trusting Tech When AI Gets It Wrong
In this week's episode, Laura and Kevin sit down with Evan J. Schwartz, Chief Innovation Officer at AMCS Group, to explore where AI is actually making a difference and where it’s doing real harm. From logistics and sustainability to law enforcement and digital identity, we dig into how AI is being used (and misused) in ways that affect millions of lives. More Details

The High-Impact Leader’s Edge | Think Bigger, Lead Smarter with Evan J. Schwartz
In this episode of The Executive Appeal, I (Alex D. Tremble, CEO of GPS Leadership Solutions) sit down with Evan J. Schwartz, Chief Innovation Officer at AMCS Group, to talk about the future of leadership in a world of agentic AI. Evan breaks down how AI agents are transforming how we lead, make decisions, and scale impact: It’s not about replacing people. It’s about amplifying what already works — and multiplying it. We dive into what it means to lead when your success isn’t based on perfection… but on agility, adaptability, and impact. More Details

AI Collaborate, 2024, Jacksonville, FL
November 19-20th, 2024 - Join Jennifer Bradshaw and me as we describe how AI-driven Performance Sustainability in the Waste & Recycling industries puts the AND back into sustainability and Profitability. More Details

Recycle Today, 2024, Webinar
October 1st, 2024 - Join Rajae El-Temawi, Geoff Aardsma, and me to explore how Mazza Recycling embraced process automation, technology, and vision to create unparalleled success, productivity, and insights through advanced analytics and data. More Details

AI Speaker Series 2024, Jax, FL
September 25th, 2024 - Jacksonville University hosts the AI Speaker Series, where I spoke about the importance of the Person Plus AI Strategy when developing automation or AI-related tools. We also covered the EU Guidelines for ethical AI and their use cases, which highlight this strategy More Details

Waste360 Green Growth, 2024, Webinar
August 13th, 2024 - We team up with Waste360 and Eureka Recycling for a Webinar that dives into revenue opportunities through innovation and how to apply practical planning tactics to de-risk and unlock new revenue streams. More Details

IFAT 2024, Munich, Germany
May 13-17th, 2024 - It was an incredible opportunity to share my experience with our customers from all around the world from a scenic beautiful rooftop in downtown Munich. A cozy private event for AMCS Group customers well hosted by the AMCS Marketing team. More Details

ISRI 2024, Las Vegas
April 15-18th, 2024 - Sharing a stage with Blake Gordon, MBA, Georgia-Pacific Recycling, Lisa Elly Sagan (Zaidel), Buddy, and Jennifer S. Betts of Recycled Media ScrapTrader was insightful and encouraging to see the metals recycling industry beginning to evolve into a modern tech-minded enterprise embracing AI and efficiencies in Sustainability. More Details

AI Collaborate: NLP Logix
November 14th, 2023 - I enjoyed contributing this year at the AI Collaborate, hosted by NLP Logix, for the Ethics in AI panel. Billy Steeghs, of OnDefend; Wanyonyi Kendrick, of COJ; and Gwen Griggs, of Advos were amazing panelists. It's always enlightening to see what other companies are doing in this space. More Details

Jacksonville Chamber: IT Councile
July 25th, 2023 - It was a pleasure to address the JITC on a topic very passionate to me, Leadership in the Technology Industry. I cannot wait to be in front of this highly engaging group again. More Details

Cybersecurity: Pitfalls, Risks, & Solutions
ISRI Convention, March 24th ,2022 - ISRI Panel on Cybersecurity. I learned a lot about Cybersecurity insurance and provide best practices on how to prepare now for WHEN you are attacked, not IF. Watch this engaging discussion on ISRI's site at the following link: More Details (Video) Associated Article

MRF Software and Technology
Waste Expo 2022, May 10th It’s no secret that technology is ever-evolving in the waste and recycling industry. So, what are the current trends? What can we expect to see in the future? How is technology changing our operations? How is it helping with safety? How is it adapting to the ever-changing waste and recycling streams? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this session. More Details

Navigating Technology In Waste & Recycling
Waste Expo 2019 In today’s climate, agility is critical for companies to stay competitive - you must be able to use technology to make real-time decisions and operate your business efficiently. Software, hardware, smart sensors, mobile devices - how do you navigate the technology that is best for your operation? Check out this session to learn the steps you can take to not only implement the right technology, but also how to utilize it to make your operations more efficient. More Details

Digital Technology is Transforming the Customer Experience
Your customer relationships are more important than ever, and it might be time to delight them with new digital experiences. This webinar will show you the value of creating an online digital presence and its benefits to your overall business and customer satisfaction. More Details

Forest Resource Association
2016 Regional Meeting where the mobile technology wave was coming hard and fast for the Forestry Industry. During this discussion, I helped the FRA prepare the next-generation Foresters for the arrival of Drones, Mobile Land Audits, Tract Land Management, and making the deal right at the tree! More Details on the Media Page

