Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming part of the strategic agenda for finance and technology organizations. Yet for many teams, progress depends less on the tools themselves and more on the condition of the data environment supporting them.
Join Vaco by Highspring for our upcoming workshop, Data Readiness: AI Transformation for Next-Gen Finance and IT Teams. Stick around after for a networking hour.
This session is curated for leaders across finance and technology functions who are evaluating how their organizations can better prepare for AI initiatives and data modernization efforts. It is eligible for 3 CPE credits, if you need them.
What to expect and learning objectives:
Explain the six keys to data readiness—strategy, governance, architecture, security, intelligence, and talent—and how they collectively support AI initiatives across finance and technology functions.
Assess their organization’s current data readiness by identifying gaps that impact financial reporting, analytics, system modernization, and AI adoption
Evaluate how misalignment between finance and IT teams can slow transformation efforts and increase risk.
Apply practical examples and peer insights to prioritize data readiness improvements that enhance performance and scalability.
Identify actionable next steps and tools, including a structured data readiness assessment, to guide cross‑functional collaboration.
Managing Partner, Finance Talent
Kelly co-leads the Dallas-Fort Worth market and her team delivers results across Accounting, Finance, Technology, Human Resources, Sales, Marketing and Operations within the talent solutions and consulting space. Kelly partners with companies and their leadership in order to drive consultative, customized talent solutions. Her approach is to create lock-step partnerships in order to ensure that every strategy developed aligns closely with the needs of the business both present and long-term. Providing white-glove service to every client while also connecting people to their dream jobs. Areas of success and expertise within talent solutions include: executive and professional search, contingency & retained, consulting, individual to large scale hiring initiatives, strategic team build-outs/scaling, relocations, centralizations, ERP implementations and other company initiatives.
Director, Strategy, Technology, and Transformation
Niraj is a data and transformation expert with 25 years of cross-industry experience, specializing in digital transformations, data strategy, and tech-enabled solutions like automation and AI. He excels in global process optimization, regulatory programs, product management, and center-of-excellence initiatives, boosting operational efficiency and process improvement. Niraj brings deep experience in leading complex, large-scale process improvement and regulatory programs. Prior to joining Highspring, he worked in the Financial Services Industry at Barclays, Morgan Stanley, Wachovia/First Union, and within consulting at EY and boutique consulting. Niraj is also a Virginia Advocacy Ambassador with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. He enjoys spending time and traveling with his wife and three kids.
Partner, Strategy, Technology, and Transformation
Jose Ortega Carrero, is a partner in Highspring’s Strategy, Technology, and Transformation team, leading the organization’s national Technology Advisory practice focused on serving the private equity market. Jose brings deep expertise in commercial, operational, and IT due diligence, post-deal integration, carve-outs, and enterprise technology strategy—including ERP and AI/ML enablement. Throughout his career, he has led and delivered transformation programs representing more than $3 billion in enterprise value. His client-centric approach and strategic execution have helped PE clients enhance performance, accelerate returns, and modernize their operating models.
Prior to joining Highspring, Jose spent 20 years across the Big Four, providing strategic direction across large-scale transformation and M&A initiatives. He is based in the Washington, D.C. area and speaks regularly on the intersection of technology, private equity, and digital transformation.
Managing Partner, Finance & Accounting Managed Services
Reagan Mullins is the Managing Partner of Highspring’s Outsourced Accounting and Finance practice within Managed Services. She brings extensive experience supporting companies across industries including biotech, manufacturing, real estate, professional services, financial services, and retail.
Reagan partners with organizations ranging from $100M to $33B in revenue, helping them design and scale nearshore and offshore accounting teams. Her expertise spans core operational finance functions such as Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, Reconciliations, and General Ledger Accounting, with a focus on building sustainable, high‑impact delivery models that support growth and transformation.
Director of the Program Management Office
Christina N. Eubanks is Director of the Program Management Office at Yum! Brands, where she leads enterprise-wide, cross-functional initiatives focused on driving transformation and improving how the organization plans, operates, and makes decisions. She previously served as Director of Corporate FP&A at Yum!, supporting the global system across more than 60,000 restaurants in over 180 countries and approximately $65 billion in system sales. Prior to Yum!, Christina held FP&A leadership roles at Freeman Company and Main Event Entertainment, where she led global financial planning, supported multiple M&A transactions, and helped guide organizations through periods of significant growth and change. She is known for her relationship-first leadership style and for challenging traditional finance processes to drive more forward-looking, strategic outcomes.
FP&A Leader for the Modern Business
Kayla has 20+ years’ experience in FP&A and finance strategy, partnering with business leaders to turn data into clear decisions.
Kayla currently serves as a Client Lead at Graphite Financial, providing fractional FP&A and CFO advisory services to high-growth companies across SaaS, fintech, and hospitality. In this role she also serves as Tech Lead, overseeing AI implementation and adoption for finance teams—helping clients modernize their financial infrastructure and leverage emerging tools to drive smarter, faster decisions. Prior to Graphite, Kayla held senior finance roles at CBRE—leading producer underwriting and client financial modeling for the Americas, and earlier running divisional finance across 30+ US markets.
Before CBRE, she spent a decade in SaaS finance across Global Payments, Active Network, Vista Equity Partners, and RealPage—and got her start at American Airlines, where she still blames the job for her love of a good flight deal. At home Kayla is 100% obsessed with her mini golden doodle, Dottie, living in Bishop Arts “the cool part of Dallas” and loves checking out new restaurants with her rocket scientist husband and teenage bonus kid
8:00 – 8:15 AM: Arrival, Check‑In & Coffee
8:15 – 8:30 AM: Intro & Welcome
8:30 – 9:05 AM: Session 1 – Strategy & Governance
9:05 – 9:40 AM: Session 2 – Architecture & Security
9:40 – 9:50 AM: Break (10 min)
9:50 – 10:25 AM: Session 3 – Intelligence & Talent
10:25 – 10:55 AM: Session 4 – Panel Discussion
10:55 – 11:00 AM: Closing & Thank You
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Networking Hour
Whether you need credit or not, this session will be valuable for your AI endeavors. If you do need credit, see below.
Partial credit is not available. To receive full 3 CPE credit hours, participants must attend the entire live, in‑person session (8:00 AM – 11:00 AM) and sign in at the event for attendance verification.
Prerequisites: N/A | Advanced Preparation: No | Knowledge Level: Basic | CPE Field of Study: Information Technology | Event Location: Gleneagles Country Club, Dallas, TX | Delivery Method: Group Live | Refund Policy: N/A
Highspring is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org
WAIVER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
As part of this event, we will provide certain food and drink for your enjoyment. This may include alcoholic beverages. For those who choose to consume alcohol, we trust and expect that you will act responsibly and professionally; you will not consume alcohol in excess, and under no circumstances will you operate a motor vehicle while impaired.
Registering confirms your understanding of this agreement to release Highspring and any related entities and/or affiliates, and any of their respective officers, directors, employees, shareholders, members, and agents, from any liability, damages, or other expenses whatsoever that may arise out of, or that may be related in any way to, your consumption of alcohol at this event along with your acknowledgement of the full version of our event waiver, available here.
Similarly, registering for the event also provides the company with your approval to use any photos of you taken at this event in subsequent promotional materials; a full version of our publicity waiver is available here.
