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We are AI23

Defining The Potential Era™, Together.

We are a bridge between human potential and artificial intelligence.
We were founded on a simple belief: the most powerful technology only creates value when it truly amplifies the people using it.

But navigating this shift requires more than code or strategy alone. It requires both.

AI23 was built to close that loop. We partner with clients to unite engineering rigor with human insight—ensuring what we build together doesn’t just work, but matters.

Unlock Human Potential in an Intelligent World

We believe technology creates its greatest value when it is shaped by people, grounded in real work, and designed to evolve alongside the organizations it serves.

In The Potential Era™, success isn’t measured by how much you automate. It’s measured by how much you amplify. We exist to help organizations move beyond the limits of optimization and define what is possible when humans and AI work in true partnership.

Our mission

To champion a future where technology amplifies humanity, accelerating a global shift toward purposeful partnership between organizations and Adaptive Intelligence.

LEARN HOW

How we work

Our Team

At AI23, we’re a multidisciplinary team united by a shared purpose: to unlock human potential through Adaptive Intelligence. Our expertise spans technology, strategy, and transformation — from AI architecture and software engineering to leadership development, organizational design, and cultural change.

Together, we bridge human insight with technical innovation to help organizations evolve and thrive in The Potential Era™.

Erica Ishida

Co-Founder, Chief Transformation Architect

Erica Ishida is the Chief Transformation Architect of AI23, where she helps organizations evolve by integrating technology, leadership, and human potential. With more than two decades of experience leading large-scale change, she designs transformation across every level of the system—organizational, team, and individual—aligning people, processes, and purpose to drive sustainable growth.

Known for her ability to balance strategic vision with human insight, Erica transforms complexity into clarity, helping leaders build resilience, readiness, and adaptability in the age of AI. Before founding AI23, she held multiple executive leadership roles guiding organizations through integration and expansion.

In addition to her role at AI23, Erica is the CEO of Yellow Cedar Group, a leadership and organizational development firm dedicated to building connected, human-centered workplaces. She holds a Master’s in Positive Organizational Design from Case Western Reserve University, where she was mentored by Dr. Richard Boyatzis, and is certified as an Executive Coach. Her approach blends the science of organizational design with the practice of conscious leadership—helping organizations evolve intentionally and lead with presence, purpose, and precision.

Michael Rojas

Co-Founder, Chief AI Officer

Michael (Mike) Rojas is a founder, owner, and the Chief AI Officer of AI23.

Michael Rojas prior to AI23, he served as the Chief Innovation Officer at AXS, a global leader in ticketing, marketing, and data technology. With over 30 years of experience as a technologist, executive, and entrepreneur, Michael led a team committed to pushing the boundaries of emerging technologies and exploring new revenue opportunities for clients, fans, and AXS.

Mike collaborates and advises on AI strategy with organizations such as Amazon, and the NFL. Mike has been pioneering in the field of GenAI for several years, including, deploying a trained AI model within the AXS, a global leader in ticketing, marketing, and data technology, resulting in customer service scores that exceed industry averages, while increasing retention of call center staff.

As a seasoned industry veteran, Michael has an extensive background in product development, leadership strategy, engineering sciences, and system architecture. He gained valuable entrepreneurial experience as CEO of Ayalogic, Inc., one of the first companies to receive funding from JumpStart Inc. His innovative work at Ayalogic earned him accolades from Governor Taft, who called him the “Thomas Edison of Ohio.”

Michael’s professional journey includes a significant tenure at NEC America, where his innovative contributions were instrumental in transforming NEC from a minor player in the US market to a formidable competitor, challenging industry giants like Lucent and contributing to the decline of Nortel.

Holding over 30 patents in the fields of complex software systems, voice and video technologies, as well as identity and access control systems, Michael has established himself as a leading figure in technological innovation. He currently resides in Canton, OH with his wife and their 4 sons.

Craig Francisco

Chief Executive Officer

Craig Francisco is a seasoned executive with more than 25 years of experience leading growth, operational excellence, and business transformation across diverse industries and global markets. As CEO of AI23, he combines deep operational expertise with board-level and advisory experience to help organizations harness the power of Human + AI transformation.

He has coached executive leaders, guided acquisition integrations, and implemented best practices to drive sustainable growth, while also leading more than 25 successful mergers and acquisitions across North America, Europe, and South America. Throughout his career, Craig has built high-performing teams, scaled businesses efficiently, and delivered measurable results in complex, fast-changing environments.

Recognized for his ability to align people, process, and strategy, Craig believes extraordinary outcomes are achieved when human potential and business innovation intersect.

He attended Bowling Green State University and has completed advanced training in Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen continuous improvement methodologies.

Ryan Niro

Co-Founder, Chief AI Engineer

Ryan is a founder, owner, and Chief Engineer at AI23. He is responsible for steering the software engineering and architectural efforts aligned with the utilization of generative AI technologies. Additionally, he oversees the development of custom solutions that integrate advanced computational models and AI to enhance product capabilities and operational efficiency both internally, for AI23, and its clients.

Ryan is an independent software consultant with over 20 years of experience as an engineer, sales executive, and entrepreneur. Ryan specializes in .NET and Python backend development and has engineered custom data integrations for clients such as the NFL Ticket Exchange, StubHub, NCAA Final Four, SeatGeek, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Cleveland Guardians.

Shortly after receiving his M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Toledo, Ryan developed and sold an automated medical reporting solution for cardiologists and vascular surgeons that has led him down his current career path as a software engineer and entrepreneur. Ryan holds 4 patents in the areas of cloud-based management systems and video processing technology.

Aaron Oliver

Chief Technology Officer

Aaron is the engineering heart of our product and the technology vision behind how we bring AI into real work. With deep experience leading complex software teams, architecting resilient systems, and turning big ideas into real deliverables, he builds not just code, but clarity and confidence in every technical decision.

Across two decades, Aaron has led software organizations through growth, scale, and change - designing resilient architectures, modern cloud platforms, and data-driven systems that hold up in production. He’s spent his career translating emerging technology into tools people trust, while building engineering cultures that value clarity, craftsmanship, and momentum.

As CTO at AI23, Aaron is responsible for the technical strategy that enables our agile AI solutions - bringing together platforms, thoughtful UX, and operational reliability so our partners and teams can move from concept to value without friction.

When he’s not deep in system design or strategy, Aaron is usually thinking about how technology can better support human judgment - and how great engineering teams are built one thoughtful decision at a time.

Emily Warrender

Director of Operations

Emily designs the organizational ecosystems where both technology and people thrive. She brings a powerful belief to operations: real efficiency isn’t created by treating people like parts of a machine—it’s built by creating systems that unlock human potential.

With a dual background in Finance and Human Resources, Emily bridges fiscal discipline with employee engagement. Over the past eight+ years, she has led complex initiatives including organizational restructures, career-pathing models, compensation strategy redesigns, and the development of operational frameworks that drive clarity, accountability, and alignment.

What truly sets Emily apart is her ability to translate big-picture vision into operational reality—connecting data, strategy, and the humans doing the work. Her empathetic leadership and cross-functional mindset help transform fast-moving environments into cohesive, high-performing systems.

A graduate of Boston College’s Carroll School of Management Honors Program, where she earned her B.S. in Finance and Human Resources Magna Cum Laude, Emily now builds the stable, human-centered infrastructure that allows AI23 to innovate with confidence and scale with intention.

Trevor Cairns

Director of Client Strategy & Experience

Trevor builds the relationships that help teams adopt technology in a way that supports both process and culture. He has a practical focus for this role: to be a bridge between the ever-growing opportunities found in AI and the humans who rely on them.

With a background spanning eight years in ministry programs and seven years in account strategy, Trevor brings deep empathy to operational efficiency. Over the last 15 years, he has led complex initiatives including culture alignment, workflow development, team restructuring, and the implementation of automation systems that significantly increased team member capacity.

What sets Trevor apart is his ability to bring clarity to complex workflows so teams can execute with confidence. He understands both the technical and human challenges of implementing AI at a practical level. He is here to advocate for our clients and ensure the success of our partnerships.

A strategic operator who measures success by the relief and opportunity he brings to teams, Trevor is here to guide AI23's clients through the AI revolution with confidence.

This is what we believe and value

We believe Mission and Team come before Ego.

As such, we value “What’s Right”, not “Who’s Right”. We seek to pull the genius from each person we work with. We ask more questions than make statements. We listen more than we talk. The most helpful idea that makes progress wins.

01

We value Truth.

We seek the truth and speak the truth.

02

We believe in Extreme Ownership.

We seek to serve and if something doesn’t go the way we intend, we own it. There is no blame at AI23, only ownership.

03

We believe in Enhancing Equity.

We believe in abundance. We also believe that there should be a fair value exchange between company and each individual contributor. We recognize, reward, and advance our team members.

04

We embrace Evolution – through Experimentation, Learning, and Adaptation.

True to our mission of unlocking potential, we are in the relentless pursuit of growth, learning, and manifestation of potential – for ourselves, for AI23, for our clients, and for humanity. We boldly walk into uncertainty trusting our ability to learn, adapt, and excel.

05

Scale Your Intelligence. Keep Your Humanity.

The future of work won’t belong to the companies with the most powerful algorithms. It will belong to the companies that figure out how to use algorithms to make their people better.

Let’s build what comes next.

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