How can promo businesses put AI to work? That’s the question the Branded Merch Network will seek to answer at Automate & Elevate 2026. The free 90-minute online summit will take place Thursday, Nov. 12, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. ET, and bring together leaders and practitioners from the print, promo and apparel industries.

The summit will feature a panel of experts, including Jake Krolick, ASI’s executive creative director of marketing design; Dane Clement, Stahls’ (asi/88984) vice president and creative director; Davis Slagle, vice president of BeeGraphix; and Rick Molenaar, co-founder and commercial director at FastEditor. ASI is an educational partner.

“The pace of business is intense, and AI can help us off-load tasks, big and small, to keep up with growing demands,” said Krolick. “It’s important to talk about AI, test it and experiment with it, but most importantly, don’t be afraid to take that first step. Even small ways of incorporating AI into your daily work can make a meaningful difference.”

Krolick’s panel is one of three conversations at Automate & Elevate 2026 exploring how AI is moving beyond experimentation.

“People in promo, print and apparel are busy running their businesses. They want to know what’s working, where to start and what’s worth their time,” said Jay Busselle, co-founder of Branded Merch Network. “That’s the conversation we’re bringing to Automate & Elevate.”

For more information about Automate & Elevate 2026, visit brandedmerchnetwork.com/automate-elevate