Mark your calendars and prepare to be a part of an engaging and enlightening DBA Speaker Series that will contribute significantly to your growth as scholars and practitioners.
Understanding AI Chatbot Influence in Customer Service
With Frank Tomei, DBA Student
April 4, 2025, 12–1 p.m.
Register Today
In this session, Frank will share insights from his ongoing research on how AI chatbots shape customer decision-making in service interactions. This presentation will look at how he designed and conducted his experiment, including the key challenges and considerations involved in studying AI-driven communication. He will discuss preliminary results that explore how chatbot linguistic style (formal vs. informal) and cultural attitudes toward authority (Power Distance Belief) may impact consumer engagement and offer acceptance. He will also touch on what this means for businesses implementing AI in customer service.
More about Frank Tomei, he has over 25 years of management leadership experience in global software sales and support operations. His research focuses on how to best harness AI to improve customer experiences. As a practitioner – scholar, he is passionate about bridging research and real-world AI applications, helping businesses design more effective and consumer-friendly AI-driven interactions.
We will have 15-20 minutes for Q&A at the end of the hour. Participants will also be able post their questions to the chat room on Zoom. Moderated by: Dr. Jim Cataldo and Dr. Joseph D. Foresi
Questions or to request more information on the University of Rhode Island Doctor of Business Program, please contact Jessica Strübel, PhD (DBA Executive Director)
Product Management Organizational Structure and Product
Performance in the Medical Device Industry
With Dr. Michael Toomey, URI DBA Class of 2023
April 18, 2025, 12–1 p.m.
registration link will be provided shortly
Medical device product management represents a critical business function within a critical industry. This research was designed to investigate the relationships between the
organizational structure of the product management function, marketing tasks, and marketing metrics, within a defined industry. The research was motivated by the significance of the medical device industry and the unique contribution of product managers.
More about Michael Toomey: I am a senior marketing executive with career experience in the global healthcare industry and successful track record of results in guiding new product innovation and commercial excellence. I enjoy spending time outdoors with family and I’m a proud alumnus of the URI College of Business.
We will have 15-20 minutes for Q&A at the end of the hour. Participants will also be able post their questions to the chat room on Zoom. Moderated by: Dr. Jim Cataldo and Dr. Joseph D. Foresi
Questions or to request more information on the University of Rhode Island Doctor of Business Program, please contact Jessica Strübel, PhD (DBA Executive Director)
past speakers
Stockmarketing
With Dr. Joseph D. Foresi
February 14, 2025 12–1 p.m.
Dr. Foresi will discuss his dissertation on the role of valuation in the investment process and how he is using the dissertation as a foundation to extend his research into newer areas of stock market theory.
We will have 15-20 minutes for Q&A at the end of the hour. Participants will also be able post their questions to the chat room on Zoom. Moderated by: Dr. Jim Cataldo
More about Joseph Foresi: Dr. Joseph D. Foresi is a financial professional with +20 years of experience understanding, analyzing, and leading public and private companies focused on creating stakeholder value. He has a proven track record in corporate finance and investment management leadership roles.
Reading Schedules With Confidence
With James Bryant, DBA Candidate (Class of 2025)
March 21, 2025, 12–1 p.m.
Drawing on the research findings from the dissertation, the presentation will focus on common biases and errors that PMs make when forecasting schedules and why these happen. The emphasis will be on how to check for these biases and errors so that practitioners who work with PMs are better equipped to evaluate schedules for level of confidence.
More about James Bryant: I am a practicing program and project manager with over 20 years of experience specializing in complex systems new product development. I have launch dozens of products around the globe, hold PMP, PgMP, and NPDP certifications, and am actively building PhaseOne PMO, a SaaS startup company with a mission to empower PMs by providing practical tools for integrated scheduling, risk
management, and process compliance.
We will have 15-20 minutes for Q&A at the end of the hour. Participants will also be able post their questions to the chat room on Zoom. Moderated by: Dr. Jim Cataldo and Dr. Joseph D. Foresi
Product Management Organizational Structure and Product
Performance in the Medical Device Industry
With Dr. Michael Toomey, URI DBA Class of 2023
April 18, 2025, 12–1 p.m.
registration link will be provided shortly
Medical device product management represents a critical business function within a critical industry. This research was designed to investigate the relationships between the
organizational structure of the product management function, marketing tasks, and marketing metrics, within a defined industry. The research was motivated by the significance of the medical device industry and the unique contribution of product managers.
More about Michael Toomey: I am a senior marketing executive with career experience in the global healthcare industry and successful track record of results in guiding new product innovation and commercial excellence. I enjoy spending time outdoors with family and I’m a proud alumnus of the URI College of Business.
We will have 15-20 minutes for Q&A at the end of the hour. Participants will also be able post their questions to the chat room on Zoom. Moderated by: Dr. Jim Cataldo and Dr. Joseph D. Foresi
Questions or to request more information on the University of Rhode Island Doctor of Business Program, please contact Jessica Strübel, PhD (DBA Executive Director)