Canton, Michigan, 20th January 2026, ZEX PR WIRE, Art Serna, executive leader and systems innovation strategist, is advancing a clear position in the national conversation on human-centered technology. Ethical frameworks for emerging technologies must move beyond elite institutions and be operationalized where human consequences are most immediate. For Serna, that place is the Midwest, and specifically Milwaukee.

In a new thought leadership piece aligned with the work of the Cosmos Institute, Serna affirms the Institute’s commitment to truth-seeking and human flourishing while extending its implications into community-based systems. Leaders such as Cosmos Institute founder Brendan McCord have helped reintroduce moral seriousness and philosophical depth into technology discourse. Serna positions this work as essential, but incomplete, without practitioners translating these ideas into daily operations. “The real test of human-centered technology is not whether it sounds right in theory,” Serna writes. “It is whether it restores dignity in institutions under strain.”

Serna challenges the assumption that conversations about technology ethics belong primarily to academic fellowships or venture-backed innovation hubs. He argues that the Midwest requires its own philosopher builders. These are leaders who can engage with ethical inquiry while redesigning systems that affect real people in real time.

The urgency is measurable. In Milwaukee County, safety net clinics have reported double-digit increases in patient volume over the past five years, while reimbursement rates and staffing levels have failed to keep pace. Community health organizations face longer wait times, higher administrative burdens, and rising demand for behavioral health services. In education, fewer than half of Milwaukee fourth graders are reading at grade level, placing sustained pressure on schools to improve outcomes with limited resources. “These are not abstract problems,” Serna notes. “They are operational realities that shape trust, access, and long-term opportunity.”

Art Serna’s perspective is shaped by more than twenty years of leadership across government, nonprofit, and community-based institutions. He has worked inside large public systems and alongside families navigating those systems for care, education, and stability. These experiences inform his belief that meaningful change must occur at the structural level, not only through policy statements or technology adoption.

Through his Milwaukee-based firm, Cosmos Renewed, Serna focuses on redesigning systems to restore dignity rather than preserve outdated models. This philosophy closely mirrors the Cosmos Institute’s emphasis on human flourishing. Whether the subject is regenerative health systems or personalized learning, the core question remains consistent. How can technology serve the person instead of requiring the person to serve the system?

In practice, this means moving beyond software deployment toward mission-aligned design. Many Milwaukee organizations operate with limited staff capacity and fragmented data systems. According to Serna, introducing technology without cultural and ethical alignment often increases complexity instead of reducing it.

A central concept in his work is what he calls servant technology. At Cosmos Renewed, technology is designed to support human judgment, not replace it. In micro schools and parent-led learning environments, predictive tools can surface patterns in student progress. Final decisions remain with educators and families who understand context, motivation, and lived experience.

The impact is tangible. Automating administrative tasks such as scheduling, reporting, and donor tracking can reclaim ten to fifteen hours per week for frontline staff. For social workers, this time translates into deeper listening and relationship building. For educators, it enables movement away from one-size-fits-all instruction. For families, it shifts their role from service recipients to active partners in solution design.

Art Serna also calls for intentional collaboration between national thought leadership institutions and regional practitioners. He frames this as a necessary convergence rather than a hierarchy. The Cosmos Institute provides intellectual gravity and rigorous inquiry. Midwest practitioners provide implementation, accountability, and feedback loops grounded in lived reality.

As a first-generation college graduate and bilingual communicator, Serna has witnessed how systems built on transactional assumptions can limit capable people. He argues that regenerative growth begins with listening to community wisdom and continues through disciplined, ethical design.

The piece concludes with a direct invitation to the broader technology ethics community. Serna affirms the Cosmos Institute’s role in shaping the moral foundation of emerging technologies. He also asserts that the economic and social engine of this transformation will be powered by leaders embedding these ideals into healthcare, education, and the social safety net. “Systems can heal,” Serna writes. “Transformation becomes possible when our highest philosophies meet our deepest community needs.”

By centering Milwaukee as a place of ethical innovation, Art Serna positions the Midwest as a critical frontier for human-centered technology. It is where philosophy becomes practice, and where the future is built with people at the center.

To learn more visit: https://artserna.com/

ANAHEIM, CA, 20th January 2026, ZEX PR WIRE, SK Labs, a leading contract manufacturer of dietary supplements, has earned NSF Certified for Sport® certification, validating that its facility meets the stringent requirements to support brands serving athletes, trainers, and active consumers.

NSF Certified for Sport® is the only third-party certification program recognized by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). It requires that manufacturing facilities meet NSF/ANSI 455-2 GMP standards and ensures products are manufactured free from 280+ substances banned by major sports organizations, including MLB, NFL, NHL, NCAA, and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES).

SK Labs’ facility in Anaheim, California, passed a full NSF audit to achieve the Certified for Sport® designation. This includes evaluation of its quality systems, sanitation practices, environmental controls, ingredient sourcing, and traceability measures.

“In an era where transparency matters, earning Certified for Sport shows our facility is prepared to support performance brands at the highest level,” said a spokesperson from SK Labs.

In addition to Certified for Sport®, SK Labs is also NSF GMP-certified with an “A” rating and continues to hold UL GMP Certification, resulting in a dual GMP-certified operation. These certifications offer clients greater assurance that their products are made in a compliant, quality-controlled environment.

To learn more about SK Labs and its certified manufacturing capabilities, visit www.sklabs.com

About NSF 

NSF is an independent, global services organization dedicated to improving human and planet health for more than 80 years by developing public health standard and providing world-class testing, inspection, certification, advisory services and digital solutions to the food, nutrition, water, life sciences and consumer goods industries. NSF has 40,000 clients in 110 countries and is a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center on Food, Safety, Water Quality and Medical Device Safety. 

Canton, Michigan, 20th January 2026, ZEX PR WIRE, Sedrick Sparks, a Los Angeles-based marketing consultant with extensive experience leading both local and multinational marketing initiatives, has seen firsthand how small businesses can stretch limited marketing budgets without sacrificing impact. Drawing on his years of guiding companies through complex marketing challenges, Sparks is now sharing practical, actionable strategies for using artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce marketing costs while reaching the right customers.

Start with Clear Goals and Metrics

Sparks emphasizes that small businesses must first define clear objectives. Whether the goal is increasing sales, generating leads, or boosting engagement, businesses need measurable outcomes to guide AI implementation. “AI can only optimize what you can measure,” Sparks says. “Start by knowing what success looks like and identify the key metrics to track.”

Automate Repetitive Marketing Tasks

One of the simplest ways AI saves money is through automation. Sparks advises small businesses to use AI to handle tasks such as email campaigns, social media posting, and ad placement. Tools can schedule content, segment audiences automatically, and adjust messaging based on performance. By automating these processes, small teams can focus on strategy rather than manual execution.

Use AI for Audience Targeting and Segmentation

Targeting the right audience is critical for cost-effective marketing. Sedrick Sparks recommends using AI platforms that analyze customer behavior, purchase history, and online engagement. These systems can identify which prospects are most likely to respond to specific offers. Businesses can then deliver personalized messages to different segments without the cost of manual analysis. “You can reach the right people with the right message without spending extra on trial-and-error campaigns,” Sparks explains.

Optimize Advertising Spend in Real Time

AI tools can also optimize ad budgets in real time. Sparks suggests setting up platforms that adjust bids, pause underperforming ads, and allocate more funding to high-performing channels. This ensures that businesses spend only on campaigns that deliver results. Small businesses can see significant savings because AI reduces wasted impressions and unnecessary spending.

Leverage Predictive Analytics for Planning

Predictive analytics allows businesses to anticipate customer behavior. Sparks recommends using AI to forecast trends and plan campaigns in advance. By understanding what products or services customers are likely to buy and when, businesses can focus marketing efforts on high-value opportunities. “Predictive analytics turns guesswork into informed decisions, saving both time and money,” Sparks notes.

Test, Learn, and Refine Campaigns

Sedrick Sparks stresses that AI is most effective when combined with continuous testing. Small businesses should run pilot campaigns, analyze the results, and refine strategies based on performance data. AI platforms make it easy to test multiple variables simultaneously, such as different messages, visuals, and offers. This approach improves efficiency and ensures each campaign is more targeted than the last.

Keep Human Oversight

While AI automates many tasks, Sparks warns against relying solely on algorithms. “Human insight is essential for interpreting data and making strategic decisions,” he says. Teams should monitor AI outputs, validate results, and adjust strategies as needed. The combination of intelligent automation and human judgment delivers the best results.

Practical Implementation Steps

Sparks recommends a step-by-step approach. Start by integrating AI into one aspect of marketing, such as email automation. Next, expand into audience segmentation and predictive analytics. Finally, optimize ad spend and cross-channel campaigns. Small businesses should select tools that are scalable and easy to use, ensuring they can grow capabilities without increasing complexity.

Looking Ahead

According to Sparks, small businesses that implement AI thoughtfully can compete more effectively against larger competitors. “AI gives small businesses the ability to reach the right audience efficiently and creatively,” he says. “It’s not about replacing humans. It’s about enabling teams to focus on strategy, creativity, and relationships while AI handles the repetitive, data-heavy work.”

About Sedrick Sparks

Sedrick Sparks operates a marketing consultancy in Los Angeles, helping companies develop strategic marketing plans, build strong brands, and implement actionable go-to-market strategies. He is also dedicated to mentoring emerging marketers and supporting initiatives that expand access to education for underprivileged children worldwide.

To learn more visit: https://sedricksparks.com