Joanna Doven Launches Nation’s First ‘AI Strike Team’
As published in The Pittsburgh Business Times, Jan. 25, 2025 — Jake Dabkowski
Story Highlights
The AI Strike Team aims to secure regional AI investments.
Joanna Doven leads the team with industry and political figures.
Initiatives include "Operation Stargate Pittsburgh" and business recruitment drives.
A group of industry and economic development leaders have joined forces to form the AI Strike Team, a 24-month initiative focused on making strategic asks for the region.
The group will be led by executive director Joanna Doven, who had been heavily involved in the AI Avenue initiative in Bakery Square and the AI Horizons Pittsburgh Summit that took place there last year. Other members include RIDC CEO Don Smith, Lovelace AI CEO and former Google AI Cloud director Andrew Moore, Magarac Venture Partners Founder Jay Katarincic and Nvidia Federal Senior AI Strategist Shane Shaneman.
"It feels like the decision makers, business leaders, government and industry are all drinking from the fire hose and more than ever have to be nimble and adapt and have their ears to the ground and really have to cooperate together," Doven said. "The cooperation could not be more important than in 2025 when economies are rapidly changing, when regions who win and lose are being written in real time."
The team is planning key initiatives, including an "Operation Stargate Pittsburgh," an effort to prepare sites and resources for possible data centers. Despite not having an immediate direct connection to the $500 billion Stargate initiative announced by Softbank and President Donald Trump last week, Doven said the group is "focused on being ahead of the puck" to potentially secure future investment. Other focus areas include planning a second AI Horizons Summit and a nationwide recruitment drive to bring businesses to the city.
"We don't need more studies proving Pittsburgh is punching below its weight," Katarincic said in a prepared statement. "We need action. The Strike Team's job is to develop projects, make the asks and secure investments that put us on the map as an AI leader."
The Strike Team also has its share of political figures. Former congressman Mike Doyle serves on the team itself, while a bipartisan advisory committee will provide guidance. Co-chaired by former Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and deputy secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Jen Gilburg, the advisory board features state senators Jay Costa and Devlin Robinson and Sen. Dave McCormick's district director Sam Demarco.
"What the Strike Team believes is that jobs should not be political, this is about jobs and investment and that's what we're focused on," Doven said. "With AI and the new AI economy, the pace of innovation is moving faster than it has ever moved in the history of humankind. It requires new thinking, new partnerships and new cooperation, where everybody is at the table. There's movement and that's why the Strike Team exists."
