Great way to start the year.
The Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network – MAIN kicked off 2026 alongside Snowflake with a hands-on platform workshop in Jackson, bringing together learners from across our partner network, including state agencies, higher education and industry across Mississippi. Rainy Friday, full room, good energy.
This was about getting people past the surface level and into how the Snowflake platform actually works. Core architecture, data management, governance, and platform fundamentals. The work that makes advanced analytics and responsible AI possible. Taught by people who build and run it every day. No fluff, just practical skills and real conversations.
What stood out most was the engagement. People asking the right questions, connecting dots across agencies and institutions, and recognizing that strong data infrastructure is the foundation for modern analytics, AI, and decision-making across the state.
Dr. Kollin Napier, MAIN Director, participated alongside the group and completed the SnowPro Associate Platform Certification as part of the workshop. Always important to stay close to the tools and the work.
A sincere thank you to the Snowflake team for the time, effort, and coordination it took to make this possible, and for investing in Mississippi through high-quality, in-person training. Thanks as well to our state and institutional partners for showing up and leaning in, and to the Governor and his team, along with local media, for helping elevate the moment.
This is what building something real looks like. Steady, hands-on, and focused on people.
More ahead. 2026 is just getting started.