Fivestar Development

Last week, our Director of Business Development, Doug Campbell, had the opportunity to attend AI Horizons Pittsburgh at Bakery Square, two packed days showcasing the momentum Pittsburgh continues to build around AI, robotics, and emerging technology.

With leaders from Microsoft, NVIDIA, Google, Anthropic, BNY, Skild AI, Gecko Robotics, and many others, the conversations spanned physical AI and robotics, workforce development, energy, infrastructure, policy, and responsible innovation.

A key takeaway: moving AI from experimentation into practical business use takes the right foundation.

Organizations are looking more closely at where AI can improve a process, strengthen decision-making, or create a better customer experience, and what needs to be in place to make those applications successful. That means understanding the business problem first, having reliable and accessible data, establishing thoughtful governance, and choosing an architecture that can support the use case over time.

Those conversations closely align with what we’re hearing from organizations exploring AI with fivestar*. The strongest opportunities often come from identifying a specific challenge, understanding the data behind it, and determining where AI can create measurable value.

AI Horizons also highlighted Pittsburgh’s unique combination of technology, research, manufacturing, robotics, and business expertise. The region has a strong foundation for helping shape how emerging technologies move from research and experimentation into practical application.

Congratulations to Joanna Doven, the AI Strike Team, and everyone involved in bringing together such an impressive group of people and ideas.

Erie, the Infor CRM SLX User Group is coming to you on October 15.
Hosted at the Manufacturer & Business Association, this event will bring together CRM users, industry peers, Infor, and the fivestar* team for an afternoon of practical discussion and shared experience.

Hear directly from Infor, explore ways to get more from Infor CRM SLX, learn from customer experiences, and connect with others using the platform every day.

We hope to see you there!
RSVP and view event details in comment section below.

Pittsburgh, we’re coming your way!
Join fivestar*, Infor, and Catalyst Connection in Pittsburgh, PA on October 14 for an afternoon focused on getting more from Infor CRM SLX.

You’ll hear product insights directly from Infor, explore practical strategies with fellow CRM users, and connect with others working through similar priorities, challenges, and opportunities.

We hope to see you there. RSVP and view event details in comment section below!

Technology shapes every interaction across the workforce journey.

When participants struggle to find the next step, employers are unsure where to engage, or staff rely on disconnected workflows, the experience reveals where technology needs attention.

See where thoughtful design could make the greatest difference for your organization in our latest article:

Fivestar* Technology shapes every interaction people have with a workforce organization. Participants search for programs and enroll online. Employers look for talent and partnership opportunities. Educators coordinate services, while workforce professionals rely on digital tools to manage programs and suppor...

We’re excited to share that the Infor CRM SLX User Group is coming to two Pennsylvania communities this fall: Pittsburgh on October 14 and Erie on October 15.

Each event offers a complete afternoon of practical insights, shared experiences, and meaningful conversation with fellow CRM users, industry peers, and experts from fivestar* and Infor.

Attendees will hear product insights directly from Infor, explore practical strategies for getting more from Infor CRM SLX, learn from real-world customer experiences, and connect with others navigating similar opportunities and challenges.

The Pittsburgh event will be co-hosted with Catalyst Connection, while our Erie event will be hosted with the Manufacturer & Business Association.
Both locations will offer a similar experience, so you can attend the event that works best for you.

📍 Pittsburgh, PA - October 14, 2026

📍 Erie, PA - October 15, 2026

We hope you’ll join us! RSVP and view the latest event details using the link in comments.

Thank you to the Pittsburgh Technology Council, the panelists, and everyone who joined us for Supply Chain Insights: Supply Chain Resilience last week.

Manufacturing and supply chain leaders came together to discuss the pressures they are navigating today, supplier visibility, disruption, cost, technology, and decisions that build greater resilience over time.

A special thank you to Doug Campbell, Director of Business Development at fivestar*, for moderating the discussion and helping bring practical questions from the audience into the conversation.

We appreciate the chance to join these discussions and connect with leaders across the Pittsburgh manufacturing community who are tackling these challenges every day.

Thank you to everyone who shared their perspective, asked questions, and contributed to the conversation.

Join us for Supply Chain Insights: Supply Chain Resilience on September 2 at 8:00-10:00 AM, located Nova Place Conference Center, Pittsburgh.

Supply chains continue to face pressure from global instability, shifting trade policies, supplier disruptions, labor shortages, and evolving customer expectations. How are manufacturers responding while balancing cost, continuity, and long-term agility?

fivestar is proud to sponsor this timely conversation. Thank you to the Pittsburgh Technology Council for hosting the event in partnership with the ASCM Pittsburgh Forum.

Join manufacturing and supply chain leaders for a candid discussion moderated by Doug Campbell about improving visibility, diversifying supplier networks, responding faster to disruption, and building more resilient operations.

Early-bird pricing ends August 28.
Register using the link below!

Another day of using technology for good!
Our fivestar* team recently returned to Computer Reach, continuing a partnership that has grown through several hands-on volunteer days since 2024.

Each visit gives our team the opportunity to put their skills to work where they can make a tangible difference, testing and refurbishing equipment, organizing inventory, preparing devices for redistribution, and responsibly processing technology that has reached the end of its usable life.

This work supports Computer Reach’s mission to expand access to technology, keep usable equipment in circulation, and reduce electronic waste. We’re proud to continue supporting an organization whose mission aligns so closely with our commitment to technology, sustainability, and community impact.

And there’s a lot to celebrate! Computer Reach recently reached an incredible milestone: 24,000 computers supplied since its founding. That’s 24,000 opportunities to connect people and organizations with the technology they need.

Congratulations to the Computer Reach team on this incredible achievement, and thank you for another great volunteer day!

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Workforce technology is no longer just the system behind the work. It is becoming part of the strategy. For many workforce organizations, modernization means making better use of the systems already in place, connecting data across programs, and reducing the manual work that slows teams down.

Five shifts are shaping how organizations modernize their platforms, improve digital experiences, connect data, simplify operations, and prepare for responsible AI adoption:

• Connected Platforms
• Experience-Driven Technology
• Actionable Data
• Intelligent Automation
• AI-Ready Foundations

We’re taking a closer look at what these shifts could mean for your workforce organization.

Read our latest article: 'Why Workforce Technology Has Become a Strategic Investment' linked in the comment section below.

Workforce development is becoming a business priority.

As skills evolve and workforce needs change, organizations need better visibility into capabilities, skill gaps, and future readiness.

Our latest article explores how workforce systems can help leaders support continuous learning, workforce planning, and long-term growth.

Read more here: https://fivestardev.com/blogs/building-workforce-systems-that-learn-alongside-people

Fivestar* Learning has traditionally followed a familiar pattern: attend training, complete a course, earn a certification, and return to work. While those approaches still serve a purpose, many organizations are discovering that scheduled learning alone is becoming harder to sustain.