March 18: Minnesota State Mankato’s Schmitz Lecture to Feature Paul Acito, Founder of Generative AI Firm Lyftbridge Innovation

Wednesday, March 18, 2026
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Maverick Innovation Gateway (230 Stadium Road, Mankato)

Mankato, Minn. – Minnesota State University, Mankato’s College of Business will host a conversation with Paul Acito, a senior global executive, educator and founder of Lyftbridge Innovation, a generative artificial intelligence consulting and training firm, Wednesday, March 18 from 3:30-5 p.m. at the Maverick Innovation Gateway (230 Stadium Road, Mankato).

Acito’s presentation is on “The five A’s of AI: Assistants, Automation, Avatars, Agents & APIs.” He will discuss how generative artificial intelligence is moving beyond simple chat interfaces into powerful, proactive systems. In this session, attendees will discover the “Five A’s” of applied AI and learn how to harness them to streamline workflows, create intelligent automations and build tailored solutions.

The event, made possible through the Richard & Mary Schmitz Endowment, is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Click here to register. Free parking will be available in University Purple Lot 21 (located across Stadium Road from the Maverick Innovation Gateway).

The event is also available to watch virtually at:
https://youtube.com/live/DDA39fOYEGM?feature=share

According to a College of Business event preview, Acito previously served as chief marketing officer at 3M and Medtronic, leading multibillion dollar businesses across the U.S., Europe and Asia – living for more than a decade internationally. Acito now teaches AI applications for marketing, strategy and leadership at the Carlson School of Management (University of Minnesota), the Kelley School of Business (Indiana University) and St. Catherine University.

Acito’s work spans platforms that include OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and ElevenLabs, and he has delivered AI training to more than 2,600 participants worldwide. He holds an MBA from Indiana University and a bachelor’s degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

For more information, please contact Ashley Niss, marketing and events coordinator in the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, by phone at 507-389-1018 or by email at ashley.niss.2@mnsu.edu.

Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive university with 15,721 students, is part of the Minnesota State system, which includes 26 colleges and seven universities.