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CONTACT:
Marty Maciaszek, Director of Communications
mmaciaszek@nsga.org
(847) 296-6742, ext. 1260
DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS (September 15, 2026) – Using AI (artificial intelligence) to make our busy professional and personal lives more efficient is one of the world’s hottest topics.
The National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) is addressing the challenges of using AI in the sporting goods industry. NSGA is excited to announce a new collaboration with renowned AI expert Susan Sly as the association’s AI-Expert-in-Residence.
Sly will be producing a series of webinars and content to help NSGA members better understand the pros and cons of AI use. Her session at the NSGA 2026 Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, was a huge hit and received a 4.84 rating on a 5.0 scale from attendees, according to a NSGA survey.
“Susan Sly has an incredible energy and passion for sharing her knowledge of AI with others and we are thrilled to have her doing this with NSGA members as our AI-Expert-in-Residence,” said Matt Carlson, NSGA President & CEO. “Her presentation at the 2026 Leadership Conference was a huge hit because of her ability to break down how to use AI in ways that anyone from a novice to an expert can understand.
“AI is continually evolving and Susan is the perfect person to make sure NSGA members have the knowledge they need to make their businesses more successful.”
Sly is an AI keynote speaker and two-time AI startup founder. She is the founder and CEO of The Pause Technologies, creator of Harmoni®, an AI platform supporting women in midlife, and the founder and CEO of Amsara Health, an integrative telehealth practice serving women and men navigating midlife. She previously co-founded and served as co-CEO of RadiusAI, a computer-vision company serving the retail and healthcare industries.
Sly has also appeared on CNN, CNBC and Fox to discuss AI. She is a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and hosts the popular podcast, “Raw and Real Entrepreneurship.”
“The questions after my conference session made it clear that NSGA members want practical AI guidance they can apply immediately,” Sly said. “AI can help sporting goods businesses save time, strengthen their marketing and make better decisions. The technology works best when people remain accountable for how it is used and the outcomes it creates. I am honored to work with NSGA to make AI more useful, approachable and relevant to its members.”
Sly will conduct her first hour-long webinar for NSGA members and 2026 Leadership Conference attendees, “AI in Action: What Has Changed, What Matters Now and What to do Next,” on Thursday, September 17 at 2 p.m. ET. Webinars are tentatively scheduled for October 2026, January and March 2027. She will also produce downloadable resources that address the biggest AI challenges and concerns. These resources will be housed on the NSGA website and featured in the NSGA electronic newsletters and NSGA NOW magazine.
Sly will also be conducting a workshop and doing another speaker session at the NSGA 2027 Leadership Conference on May 23-26, 2027 at The Wigwam in the Phoenix suburb of Litchfield Park, Arizona. More details about the entire program and registering for the Leadership Conference will be announced soon.
The webinars and content on AI with Susan Sly are an exclusive NSGA member-only benefit. To learn more about NSGA membership and the collaboration with Susan Sly please contact Brian Van Acker, NSGA Membership and Database Manager, at (847) 296-NSGA (6742), ext. 1170, or bvanacker@nsga.org.
About the National Sporting Goods Association
Since 1929, the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) has been the leading voice and go-to resource for the sporting goods industry. NSGA helps the industry grow its businesses through research, advocacy and networking. For more information about membership or NSGA’s products and services, please visit www.nsga.org.
