Exploring new technology is one thing. Finding practical ways to apply it to everyday work is another.
That was the focus of Western & Southern’s fourth annual TechJam, a two-day innovation event where IT associates explored how artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies can help solve real business challenges.
What is TechJam?
TechJam gives Western & Southern’s IT associates dedicated time to experiment with new technologies, expand their skills and collaborate with colleagues on potential solutions to real business needs.
Working in teams, participants spent July 31 at the University of Cincinnati 1819 Innovation Hub building, testing and refining their concepts before presenting them to a panel of judges on Aug. 3, 2026. Five teams competed in this year’s event.
A Sprint From Idea to Application
As technology continues to evolve, TechJam provides a structured environment for associates to learn by doing and consider where new capabilities could make a meaningful difference.
“Technology continues to change quickly, so we have to stay curious about what’s possible,” said Jim Fitzgerald, senior vice president and chief information officer at Western & Southern Financial Group. “TechJam gives our associates a chance to experiment with new ideas and identify practical applications that can create value for our business.”
Five teams put that curiosity into practice by developing solutions focused on specific business needs.
Turning Ideas Into Solutions
Projects developed during this year’s event highlighted a variety of opportunities to use emerging technologies, including generative AI, to make information easier to access, reduce manual processes and help associates work more efficiently.
One team explored how generative AI could help associates locate internal information more quickly, while another focused on reducing repetitive steps in a business process.
The top team developed an AI-powered tool that summarizes technology fixes in clear, actionable language, helping teams understand complex tasks and solve them more efficiently.
“The people closest to the work often have the best perspectives on where technology can make a difference,” said Michael Charnay, IT business analyst at Western & Southern. “TechJam gives us a forum to explore ideas and test what’s possible to improve how we work.”
From Experiment to Application
More than a competition, TechJam gives associates an opportunity to strengthen their technical and problem-solving skills while testing ideas that could inform how Western & Southern approaches new technology.