Microsoft Copilot & AI LAB

Learn, Apply, and Build Your AI Adoption Strategy

Two levels. Choose the path that fits your starting point—then leave with workflows you can use immediately.
This hands-on AI LAB series is built around your real work in Microsoft Copilot—so you gain confidence fast and build momentum you can sustain.

Choose Your Level

Start with Level I if you…

  • Are new to AI or use it only occasionally
  • Get inconsistent results from prompting
  • Want practical, repeatable “quick wins” for daily work
  • Need a strong foundation for safe, responsible use

Choose Level II if you…

  • Use AI weekly (or more) and want to optimize
  • Influence adoption across a team or organization
  • Need governance, strategy, and role-based workflows
  • Want a clear roadmap to move from experimentation to implementation

Many participants take both. Level I builds the foundation; Level II turns it into an organizational capability.

AI LAB: Level I – Foundations
Acquire skills. Build confidence. Gain momentum.

Level I is your starting point for understanding and applying generative AI in a practical, meaningful way. Designed for professionals who are new to AI or experimenting casually, this hands‑on workshop helps you unlock immediate productivity gains and explore how AI can streamline work across association operations.

✏️ Why This Course? 

Through guided exercises and real‑time experimentation in your own Microsoft Copilot environment, you’ll learn the fundamentals of prompting, practice core use cases, compare tools at a high level, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, creativity, and member service.

📚 Learning Outcomes

You’ll leave with practical, repeatable skills you can apply immediately—quick wins that increase productivity and help you feel confident using AI. By the end of Level I you will be able to:

  • Understand AI essentials: What generative AI is, what it isn't, and where today’s most-used tools fit
  • Use Microsoft Copilot with confidence: Navigate Copilot and apply it to your role and daily workflows
  • Prompt for better results: Use a simple method that improves consistency and quality
  • Works safely and responsibly: Follow core principles for secure and appropriate AI use
  • Apply real workflows in-session: Guided hands-on exercises and practical cross-tool comparisons so you know when to use what

You'll leave with: a starter prompt pack, 2-3 reusable Copilot workflows, and a simple next-steps plan to keep your momentum going. 

👥Who should attend

Level I is ideal for:

  • New or casual AI users
  • Anyone curious how AI can support daily work (without hype)
  • Participants who experience inconsistent results with prompting
  • Professionals whose organizations have not yet established AI guidelines or policies


TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

A laptop with Office365 + Copilot installed (required) so you can experiment hands‑on during the session.


AI LAB: Level II – Advanced
From power user to AI adoption leader.

Level II is designed for professionals who are already comfortable using AI and want to move beyond personal productivity into strategic, organizational impact. This advanced workshop focuses on high‑level capabilities, cross‑platform strategy, and role‑specific applications that help leaders shape how AI is adopted across their teams or organizations.

✏️ Why This Course? 

Building on the foundation of Level I, this course goes deeper into advanced prompting, Copilot optimization, multi‑tool ecosystems, governance, and emerging technologies—including AI agents and workflow automation—so you can implement AI responsibly at scale.

📚 Learning Outcomes

You'll leave with a practical roadmap for AI implementation—complete with governance frameworks, team‑level strategies, and advanced workflows that drive real organizational value. By the end of Level II, you will be able to:

  • Engineer advanced prompts for precision, repeatability, and scalable reuse
  • Optimize Copilot with integrations, cross‑platform tactics and role-specific workflows
  • Lead AI adoption with change management basics, training rhythms, and success measures
  • Build governance that works: roles, guardrails, approvals, and policy starter structures
  • Evaluate emerging tools: agents, workflows, and automation—what they are, where they fit, and how to assess them

You'll leave with: a practical 30/60/90 day AI Adoption Roadmap, a Governance Starter Kit (roles + guardrails + policy template), and 2-3 advanced workflows tailored to your role.

👥Who should attend

Level II is idea for:

  • AI users with weekly (or more frequent) usage
  • Those who already get consistent results from prompting and want to optimize
  • Leaders who influence or make AI adoption decisions
  • Professionals tasked with developing or enforcing policies
  • Participants who want deeper, role‑based instruction (Data, Marketing, Executive)
  • People familiar with (or responsible for) your organization’s AI and data‑handling policies 


    TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

    A laptop with Office365 + Copilot installed (required); additional GenAI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, etc.) recommended for cross‑platform exercises.


    🎤 Speakers

    Carlos Cardenas

    Carlos Cardenas, Senior Strategic Consultant, DelCor Technology Solutions

    As Senior Strategic Consultant at DelCor, Carlos helps associations and nonprofits align technology and data strategy to strengthen mission impact. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Certified Association Executive (CAE), he brings extensive experience in systems modernization, infrastructure, and team leadership. Known for driving innovation and contributing through volunteer service in the association community, Carlos pairs technical expertise with a proven ability to guide organizations through complex digital challenges.
     
    Ron Moen

    Ron Moen, Vice President, DelCor Technology Solutions

    As VP at DelCor, Ron serves at the intersection of people, process, and technology—ensuring clients’ digital resources are aligned with organization mission and business goals. He encourages new ideas, creative solutions, and collaborative approaches across the entire enterprise. For 30+ years, Ron has been learning from and adding value for professional societies, trade associations, healthcare organizations, and software companies.

    Level I

    Thursday, February 12, 2026
    9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. CT
    Association Forum Office
    10 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 800
    Chicago, IL

    REGISTER NOW

    Level II

    Thursday, February, 19, 2026
    9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. CT
    Association Forum Office
    10 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 800
    Chicago, IL

    REGISTER NOW

    What participants are saying...

    Allison Summers

    "The new imperative is to hire people who are comfortable with AI tools before those who are not. This is why we must all level up and become 'AI competent.'"

    Allison Summers, CAE, AAiP
    Executive Director, Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON)

    READ THE ARTICLE

    Pricing

    Member Early (through Mon 2/2): $180
    Nonmember Early (through Mon 2/2): $230
    Member Regular (Tues 2/3 or after): $215
    Nonmember Regular (Tues 2/3 or after): $300

    Note: Receive a 10% discount when five or more members register together!

    To receive an invoice and pay via check/ACH, please contact education@associationforum.org.

    CAE Credits

    Each program is approved for (2.25) CAE hours toward the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE's) Certified Association Executive (CAE) certification.