About us

Making AI accessible to everyone.

CLE AI & DATA makes AI and data accessible to everyone in Northeast Ohio. As a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we bring together the people building these technologies and the people learning to use them, through free talks, workshops, socials and community events, so that Cleveland’s AI and data jobs are filled by Cleveland people.

CLE AI & DATA (legal name Cleveland AI and Data) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, run entirely by volunteers. EIN 42-2843242. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

4,284

members

183

events since 2010

4.8

rating from 1,465 reviews

sponsors in 2026

Our story

Sixteen years of showing up.

In 2010 Doug Meil started a Hadoop user group, years before anyone had “data engineer” on a business card. Cleveland AI formed in 2017, as machine learning moved out of the lab and into everyday software. In November 2024 the two merged to form CLE AI & DATA, and in 2026 we incorporated and became a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Each time, the room got bigger and the conversations got better.

2010

Cleveland Big Data begins

Doug Meil starts a Hadoop user group, years before anyone had "data engineer" on a business card.

2017

Cleveland AI forms

A second group starts as machine learning moves out of the lab and into everyday software.

2024

CLE AI & DATA

In November the two groups merge. AI and data had stopped being separate conversations.

2026

A nonprofit, officially

We incorporate and become a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Still run by volunteers, still free to attend, and now donations are tax-deductible.

What we do

Four ways to show up.

Big nights

A few times a year we fill an auditorium with talks from people at companies like AWS, OpenAI, Nutanix, Arista Networks and Further. Then a few hundred people stay for the hour after.

Monthly socials

One evening a month at Happy Dog in Gordon Square. No slides, no agenda, no experience needed.

Hands-on workshops

Bring a laptop and your questions. Someone who has done the work is at the whiteboard.

Hikes and volunteer days

The North Chagrin bridle trail, volunteer days around town. The easiest way to meet everyone.

We don’t run courses. We connect people to mentors, employers and projects, and the rest follows.

Who runs it

Seven volunteers. No staff.

President
Ted Troxell on LinkedIn (opens in a new tab)
Leadership

Leadership

Ted Troxell

President

Ted Troxell is President of CLE AI & DATA, Northeast Ohio’s 4,284-member AI and data community, and a Principal Scientist on the founding technical team at Atomic Industries, where he builds machine-learning systems for manufacturing. He has spent 13 years turning AI research into products, as an engineer, startup CTO and CEO.

LinkedIn
Chief Operating Officer
Will Tatz on LinkedIn (opens in a new tab)
Leadership

Leadership

Will Tatz

Chief Operating Officer

Will Tatz is Chief Operating Officer of CLE AI & DATA. A community builder and AI ambassador, he brings more than 20 years in operations, project management, strategy and analytics to bringing people together, exploring new technology and turning ideas into action. He is focused on responsible AI and on making AI accessible to everyone.

LinkedIn
Finance
Julie Novic on LinkedIn (opens in a new tab)
Leadership

Leadership

Julie Novic

Finance

Julie Novic is on the CLE AI & DATA leadership team. She is an AI transformation strategist, AI governance professional and data scientist who draws on her PhD in anthropology to design, develop and implement responsible, human-centric AI solutions.

LinkedIn
Marketing and Strategy
Nicole McCaffrey on LinkedIn (opens in a new tab)

Nicole McCaffrey

Marketing and Strategy

Nicole McCaffrey is Head of Marketing and Strategy at CLE AI & DATA. She has 25 years in marketing and strategy, including leading marketing at the Responsible AI Institute and SkillSpout and serving as COO of Cleveland AI firm Pandata. She was Vice Chair of the RITE Board, the Greater Cleveland Partnership’s IT workforce collaborative.

LinkedIn
Technology
Curtis O'Neal on LinkedIn (opens in a new tab)

Curtis O'Neal

Technology

Curtis O’Neal is an AI solutions architect and data scientist on the CLE AI & DATA team. His career spans research, enterprise software, data engineering and technical leadership. He explores generative AI, agents and AI-assisted learning with hands-on curiosity and healthy skepticism, and holds an MBA from Case Western Reserve’s Weatherhead School.

LinkedIn
Community and Substack
Tim Nash on LinkedIn (opens in a new tab)

Tim Nash

Community and Substack

Tim Nash is Community Liaison and Substack Editor at CLE AI & DATA. He is building a career in healthcare cybersecurity, protecting patient information, while studying at Valencia College. He served with AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA Corps, helping survivors of natural disasters. An Eagle Scout raised in Shaker Heights, he volunteers monthly at a Cleveland men’s shelter.

LinkedIn
Mentorship and Education
Helen Shere on LinkedIn (opens in a new tab)

Helen Shere

Mentorship and Education

Helen Shere is Head of Mentorship and Education at CLE AI & DATA and co-founder of Data in the Land, a Cleveland community for data professionals. A Market Analyst at Cleveland Clinic and former science teacher, she brings years of curriculum design and data experience to building CLE AI & DATA’s mentorship program.

LinkedIn

Get involved

It starts here.

Come to a social, pitch a talk, volunteer for an evening, or sponsor a season. Every one of them is open to first-timers.

Join on Meetup

All the ways to get involved

Code of conduct

Every event runs under our code of conduct. Read it before you come; it’s short.

Contact

Questions, press, sponsorship, or a code of conduct report: info@cle-ai.com.