{"id":67148,"date":"2026-01-28T10:14:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T13:14:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tech.einnews.com\/article\/887237720"},"modified":"2026-01-28T10:14:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T13:14:15","slug":"rochester-tech-leaders-on-ai-innovation-and-growth-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/01\/28\/rochester-tech-leaders-on-ai-innovation-and-growth-in-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Rochester tech leaders on AI, innovation and growth in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ra-player\" data-skin=\"https:\/\/assets.sitespeaker.link\/embed\/skins\/default\">\n<div class=\"ra-button\"><img data-opt-id=758893364  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/assets.sitespeaker.link\/embed\/skins\/default\/play-icon.png?ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/assets.sitespeaker.link\/embed\/skins\/default\/play-icon.png?ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/assets.sitespeaker.link\/embed\/skins\/default\/play-icon.png?ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/assets.sitespeaker.link\/embed\/skins\/default\/play-icon.png?ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/assets.sitespeaker.link\/embed\/skins\/default\/play-icon.png?ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/assets.sitespeaker.link\/embed\/skins\/default\/play-icon.png?ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/assets.sitespeaker.link\/embed\/skins\/default\/play-icon.png?ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/assets.sitespeaker.link\/embed\/skins\/default\/play-icon.png?ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/assets.sitespeaker.link\/embed\/skins\/default\/play-icon.png?ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/assets.sitespeaker.link\/embed\/skins\/default\/play-icon.png?ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/assets.sitespeaker.link\/embed\/skins\/default\/play-icon.png?ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/assets.sitespeaker.link\/embed\/skins\/default\/play-icon.png?ssl=1\"> Listen to this article<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><audio id=\"ra-audio\" data-lang=\"en-US\" data-voice=\"Amazon Joanna\" data-key=\"9a894192b5d95537bb1afa80262745f5\"><\/audio><\/p>\n<div class=\"box shadow\">\n<div class=\"box-inner-block\"><i class=\"tieicon-boxicon\"><\/i> <br \/><strong>Key takeaways:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Rochester tech companies are moving from AI experimentation to real-world, scalable applications.<\/li>\n<li>Leaders emphasize AI as a tool to augment \u2014 not replace \u2014 human expertise across industries.<\/li>\n<li>Innovation spans payroll, defense, <a href=\"https:\/\/rbj.net\/tag\/cybersecurity\/\" class=\"st_tag internal_tag \" rel=\"tag\" title=\"Posts tagged with cybersecurity\">cybersecurity<\/a>, healthcare, marketing and public safety.<\/li>\n<li>Regional organizations like NextCorps and TechRochester are fueling startup growth and talent development. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>As 2026 gets underway, Rochester-area technology leaders are weighing in on the trends and opportunities shaping their industries \u2014 and what they\u2019re most excited about within their own organizations. What follows is a snapshot of how local companies are turning emerging technologies into real-world impact.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Paychex, Inc.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-caption alignleft left\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dave Wilson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cI think the biggest opportunity in 2026 is not just AI in the abstract, I think it\u2019s the application of AI and how it changes how work gets done in our industry,\u201d said Dave Wilson, vice president, platform and technology services at Paychex, Inc.<\/p>\n<p>In the payroll and human resources industry, \u200aWilson says that\u2019s \u200abeing seen currently in the evolution of AI\u2019s movement from assistance to orchestration. \u200aHe\u2019s also seeing more technology across industries that augments expertise instead of replacing it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe think that companies that win won\u2019t be the ones that remove humans from the equation, but instead, keep them in the loop,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019ll be the ones that use technology to elevate the judgment, creativity and speed of humans, creativity, speed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He notes this is very applicable to Paychex as the company engages with businesses of all sizes, including small and midsize companies that don\u2019t necessarily have the funds or expertise required to build custom AI solutions.<\/p>\n<p>Wilson says what excites him the most about the year ahead is that Paychex has moved past experimentation and is now into scaling that works, especially for small and medium businesses.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lot of our focus this year is building on what we spent the last couple of years doing, which was modernizing our platforms and our data and our architecture so that we could be AI-ready,\u201d he said. \u201cSo now in 2026, our investment and our focus really start to show up in every single way, whether it\u2019s smarter products, simpler experiences, or faster innovation cycles.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>L3Harris Technologies<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Chris Aebli, president of mission-critical communications at L3Harris Technologies, a global defense and public-safety communications company, says AI is creating new opportunities to speed information sharing in mission-critical environments.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-caption alignright left\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chris Aebli<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cFor mission-critical communications, innovation is unending,\u201d Aebli said. \u201cHowever, the opportunities surrounding <a href=\"https:\/\/rbj.net\/tag\/artificial-intelligence\/\" class=\"st_tag internal_tag \" rel=\"tag\" title=\"Posts tagged with artificial intelligence\">artificial intelligence<\/a>\u2014and how it can speed information-sharing processes\u2014is sure to get a lot of buzz this year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He notes that organizations have long struggled to synthesize vast amounts of data quickly enough for actionable intelligence, and that L3Harris is addressing this by partnering with leaders in the AI space.<\/p>\n<p>Looking ahead, Aebli says L3Harris recently reorganized its business structure to better align with emerging customer needs. For Rochester, that means expanding beyond tactical communications, networking and satellite communications to also include the company\u2019s public-safety communications portfolio.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s already a lot of overlapping needs and capabilities between defense and first-responder communications technology,\u201d he said, noting the move allows L3Harris to deliver enhanced capabilities during national emergencies and other events where armed forces and emergency services work together.<\/p>\n<p>Aebli also points to growing international partnerships, with L3Harris delivering systems to all NATO and Five Eyes countries while expanding regional service and support.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe vast majority of the technology we deliver is developed and produced here in Rochester, supporting job growth locally,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>He adds that customers worldwide share a common need.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey all need to be able to send vital information that reliably gets across forces of coalitions and multiple agencies fast and without interference from or being intercepted by adversaries,\u201d Aebli said. \u201cThis is a core competency of our company, and I am excited about the innovations we will bring to the table.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>R-Squared Solutions LLC<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Mary Rombaut, Ed.D., CEO and fractional CMO of the marketing agency R-Squared Solutions LLC, names agentic AI as the most important trend and growth opportunity in her industry right now.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-caption alignleft left\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mary Rombaut<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cAgentic AI can help small to medium businesses do more with less investment and adapt in real time to what they\u2019re seeing, like potential clients interacting with their website,\u201d Rombaut said. \u201cIt\u2019s helping marketing agencies make real-time adjustments rather than in a reactive way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In addition to using agentic AI and building custom AI tools to help her clients in the year ahead, &nbsp;Rombaut \u2013 who is also the CEO of Recommenda, a software requirement tool \u2013 is looking forward to continuing to use AI in her own businesses to also keep costs down and grow at a faster rate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think that a lot of businesses right now still think AI is ChatGPT, and yes, that\u2019s a stage in the process of understanding AI, but you\u2019re way behind if that is your current thinking,\u201d Rombaut said.<\/p>\n<p>She also encourages local businesses to learn more about TechRochester, a non-profit, tech-oriented organization that connects businesses of all sizes and industries to Rochester\u2019s technology community and all it has to offer.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have a board of all volunteers who are committed to sharing what\u2019s going on in the tech community in Rochester with everybody, as well as connecting people,\u201d said Rombaut, who serves as the secretary and director of operations for TechRochester. \u201cIt\u2019s a great resource if you want to learn about what\u2019s going on locally in the tech space.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Wilmac Technologies<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Steve McDonnell, president and CEO, Wilmac Technologies, a compliance software company that builds AI-powered solutions for mission-critical environments, says the biggest trend shaping his industry right now is the rapid shift toward applied artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-caption alignright left\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Steve McDonnell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cIf you\u2019re a software company today and your world doesn\u2019t evolve around AI, you\u2019re probably not going to make it the next couple of years,\u201d McDonnell said. \u201cIt\u2019s basically taking it from \u2018AI can do this\u2019 to getting granular and building use cases for your customers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Wilmac develops software for highly regulated organizations, including 911 centers and large enterprise institutions, with products designed to centralize recorded communications and apply AI to help organizations search, analyze, and act on that data more efficiently.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur customers are adopting a lot faster than we ever thought,\u201d McDonnell said. \u201cWhen you talk to C-level people, you\u2019d better come in with an AI plan.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>What McDonnell is most excited about in the year ahead is Wilmac\u2019s newest product, Continuity WFM, an AI-based workforce management and forecasting platform for 911 centers that officially launched in October.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are making 911 centers more efficient, and we are helping them staff the 911 centers, which has become so difficult,\u201d he said, about the technology that is the first AI-powered workforce management solution for PSAPs.<\/p>\n<p>McDonnell also highlighted the role technology can play in supporting dispatcher wellness, as it is designed to help streamline scheduling, reduce manual effort, and improve operational efficiency.<\/p>\n<p>Looking ahead, McDonnell says Wilmac is focused on expanding its presence both nationally and locally. He points to the region\u2019s strong universities and emerging talent pipeline, emphasizing the importance of growing local companies that can offer high-paying technology jobs and help retain skilled graduates.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>iSECURE<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Annette Warren, president of iSECURE, an information security company, says innovation is a constant in cybersecurity, with rising threats from artificial intelligence and quantum computing shaping many of the conversations she\u2019s having with clients this year.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-caption alignleft left\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Annette Warren<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cEvery year is exciting in cybersecurity as innovation is always happening,\u201d Warren said. \u201cAddressing the rising threats from AI and quantum in the coming year is most exciting for us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Warren says iSECURE continues to expand its offerings to help organizations reduce risk, including services focused on AI, compliance and navigating multiple regulations such as CMMC.<\/p>\n<p>\u201ciSECURE is always innovating, finding ways to creatively offer services that minimize risk and close gaps for our clients,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>She also emphasizes the importance of building a cybersecurity culture inside organizations, noting that increased communication around the role technology plays in business can significantly reduce risk exposure. Beyond client work, Warren says iSECURE is also reaching into the community, encouraging young women from K\u201312 through university to explore careers in cybersecurity.<\/p>\n<p>Looking ahead, Warren says she\u2019s excited to help organizations uncover challenges tied to emerging trends and threats, and to develop tailored solutions.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>LMT Technology Solutions<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Alma Vieru, president of LMT Technology Solutions, a Rochester-based managed IT and automation services provider, says artificial intelligence remains the most exciting trend in technology this year\u2014but only when it\u2019s applied with purpose.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-caption alignright left\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Alma Vieru<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThe real opportunity isn\u2019t just adopting AI, it\u2019s applying it in ways that automate repeatable work so people can focus on what truly matters: relationships, strategy and expertise,\u201d Vieru said. \u201cWhen implemented thoughtfully and securely with strong security guardrails and smart automation, AI can help your team focus on higher-value work.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At LMT, Vieru says AI is already being used to streamline internal operations, from documentation and administrative tasks to call routing and ticket creation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAny time we define a process or look for ways to operate more efficiently, we ask one simple question: can this be automated?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>By clearly defining processes and automating time-consuming tasks, Vieru says the company is creating more consistency while freeing up time for meaningful interactions with employees, clients and partners. She adds that LMT\u2019s growing Automation Team is connecting systems, data and workflows to expand capabilities without sacrificing its high-touch client experience.<\/p>\n<p>Looking ahead, Vieru says LMT views AI as an accelerator for growth rather than a replacement for people.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe see AI as an accelerator for growth, and not a way to replace people or reduce costs,\u201d she said. \u201cBy helping other organizations adopt AI responsibly, we enable their teams to work smarter, innovate faster and be more present and strategic with their clients.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Innovative Solutions<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Justin Copie, CEO of Innovative Solutions, a Rochester-based cloud and software development firm, says that across industries, artificial intelligence is moving beyond hype and delivering measurable business impact.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-caption alignleft left\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Justin Copie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cFor the past couple of years, everyone talked about AI, but most companies weren\u2019t sure what to actually do with it,\u201d Copie said. \u201cThat\u2019s changing. Now we\u2019re seeing businesses use AI to handle tasks that used to require entire teams.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Copie points to applications ranging from automating insurance claim appeals to helping physicians make faster clinical decisions, noting that the real value of AI lies in saving time and money\u2014and in healthcare, even lives. He adds that small and midsize businesses now have access to the same tools once reserved for Fortune 500 companies.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA 50-person company today can use the same AI capabilities that giant corporations use\u2014they just need the right partner to help them get there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>At Innovative Solutions, Copie says the company is launching five AI-powered healthcare products designed to reduce administrative burdens tied to denied claims, surgery scheduling and emergency room bottlenecks, while also expanding DarcyIQ, an internal platform now being developed as a product that can generate cloud solution roadmaps in hours instead of weeks.<\/p>\n<p>Looking ahead, Copie says Innovative Solutions is focused on helping organizations modernize without unnecessary disruption, often tapping into funding programs through Amazon Web Services (AWS) to accelerate adoption. He notes that AWS is also investing directly alongside the company this year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen the largest cloud company in the world puts significant resources behind your strategy, it tells you you\u2019re onto something,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>NextCorps<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-caption alignright left\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jim Senall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>James Senall, president of NextCorps, a nonprofit that helps innovative technology companies launch and grow, says two major trends are shaping the region\u2019s technology landscape this year: the rapid adoption of AI and Rochester\u2019s growing strength in commercializing \u201cdeep tech.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUsing AI tools to build software products and software companies has really changed the market dramatically,\u201d Senall said. \u201cEntrepreneurs can now create a software business in literally days instead of months.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He points to a recent AI Startup Jam in downtown Rochester in October, where forty participants turned software startup ideas into functional prototypes in a weekend. The event guided attendees through AI-powered product prototyping, collaborative build sprints, mentorship, networking, and peer learning.<\/p>\n<p>Senall also highlighted momentum in areas such as optics, photonics, climate, and advanced manufacturing, noting that Rochester has a unique ability to take complex technologies out of the lab and into the marketplace.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur region has a lot of strengths in taking these challenging technologies and figuring out how we get them made and built,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Looking ahead, Senall says NextCorps (an affiliate of the University of Rochester) is focused on raising Rochester\u2019s profile as a destination for <a href=\"https:\/\/rbj.net\/tag\/startups\/\" class=\"st_tag internal_tag \" rel=\"tag\" title=\"Posts tagged with startups\">startups<\/a>, while continuing to support more than one hundred companies each year across its programs.<\/p>\n<p>Through initiatives like its Luminate accelerator \u2013 the world\u2019s largest business accelerator for startups working on technologies enabled by optics, photonics, or imaging \u2013 Senall says NextCorps has already attracted more than twenty optics and photonics companies to the region and plans to build on that momentum in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne thing we really want to focus on this year is getting Rochester recognized as one of the best places to start and scale a company,\u201d he said. \u201cWe no longer want to be the best-kept secret in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Caurie Putnam is a Rochester-area freelance writer.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><!-- post-single CPT Filter Start --><!-- post-single CPT Filter End -->d<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\"> <\/a><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\/acceptable.html\"> <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key takeaways: Rochester <span class=\"match\">tech<\/span> companies are moving &#8230; TechRochester, a non-profit, <span class=\"match\">tech<\/span>-oriented organization that connects businesses &#8230; also highlighted the role <span class=\"match\">technology<\/span> can play in supporting &#8230; communication around the role <span class=\"match\">technology<\/span> plays in business can &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67148","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","wpcat-1-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67148","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67148"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67148\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67148"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67148"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67148"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}