Business Growth Strategist Named HPU’s AI Proficiency Expert in Residence

HIGH POINT, N.C., Oct. 28, 2026 – High Point University has appointed Ford Saeks, a Hall of Fame keynote speaker, business growth strategist, author and recognized authority on practical artificial intelligence integration, as its AI Proficiency Expert in Residence.

In this role, Saeks will help HPU students develop the AI proficiency, critical thinking and strategic decision-making skills essential for success in an increasingly AI-driven economy. Drawing on decades of business leadership, research-informed insights and real-world implementation, he will mentor students and show them how to responsibly leverage emerging technologies, solve complex problems and create meaningful opportunities across different industries.

Saeks brings a record of entrepreneurship, innovation and business transformation. His strategies have contributed to more than $1 billion in sales worldwide, and he has advised organizations including Bank of America, Comcast, IBM, Liberty Mutual, UPS, Subway, Orangetheory Fitness and the U.S. Army. An inductee into the Professional Speakers Hall of Fame, he has delivered more than 2,500 presentations for various audiences around the world.

Saeks’ work focuses on the intersection of AI, business performance and human potential. He helps leaders navigate technological disruption, improve organizational effectiveness and translate AI capabilities into measurable outcomes. His approach emphasizes a central principle: AI should amplify human intelligence, creativity and judgment, not replace them.

“AI proficiency isn’t just about knowing how to use technology. It’s about knowing how to think, ask better questions, challenge assumptions and apply sound judgment,” Saeks said. “The real competitive advantage will belong to people who know how to combine human intelligence with artificial intelligence. That’s what excites me about working with High Point University students. We have an opportunity to help prepare them not just for the jobs of today, but for opportunities that haven’t even been created yet.”

Saeks is the author of five business books, including “AI Alchemy: A Modern Fable That Transforms AI Confusion into Your Competitive Advantage” (2025) and “AI Mindshift: Unleash the Power of AI, Avoid the Pitfalls, and Keep the Human Experience” (2024). His work examines the strategic, operational and human dimensions of AI adoption, providing practical frameworks for responsible innovation, leadership and organizational growth.

“At High Point University, we recognize the ways that artificial intelligence is quickly changing how students learn and the types of jobs that will be awaiting them after they graduate,” HPU President Nido Qubein said. “Ford Saeks will help instill in them the AI proficiency that, when paired with the life skills that our students are learning at HPU, will make them even more highly sought-after in the workplace.”

An entrepreneur since age 15, Saeks has founded more than 10 companies and holds three U.S. patents. He is president and CEO of Prime Concepts Group, Inc., established in 1987, where he has spent nearly four decades helping organizations accelerate growth through innovation, marketing, sales and business strategy.

As an advisor and mentor, Saeks emphasizes the importance of curiosity, adaptability, entrepreneurial thinking and lifelong learning. He joins distinguished innovators and business leaders in HPU’s Access to Innovators Program, including:

• Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founder and HPU’s Innovator in Residence
• Marc Randolph, Netflix co-founder and HPU’s Entrepreneur in Residence
• Teena Piccione, former Google global transformation and operations executive, former North Carolina chief information officer and HPU’s Data Expert in Residence
• Sean Suggs, former president of Toyota Battery Manufacturing and HPU’s Technology Executive in Residence