Executive AI Strategy & Implementation

Executive AI Strategy.
Hands-On Delivery.

I help business executives and technology leaders close the gap between AI's potential and what their organizations are actually doing with it.

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The Player-Coach Advantage

Strategy + Execution, Not One or the Other

Most consultants hand you a strategy deck and move on to the next client. I help executives and technology leaders build AI capability across the enterprise, from strategy and vendor management to hands-on proof of concepts, team training, and private AI-powered software delivery. I sit on your side of the table.

Hands-On Technology 50 Years
Global IT Leader Fortune 500
AI Strategy & Implementation 10 Years
AI-Powered Delivery 20x Faster
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50
Years in Technology
F500
Global IT Leadership
20x
AI-Powered Delivery
VP
Former VP Global IT, Fortune 500 Company
Service Pillars

How I Help Executives & Technology Leaders Navigate AI

Each engagement is designed to deliver measurable outcomes, not slide decks.

Executive Retainer

Your AI advocate at the executive table. On-demand executive advisory and hands-on support.

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Enterprise AI Assessment

Department-by-department analysis of AI opportunities your competitors are already exploiting.

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Custom AI Training Programs

Hands-on training where your teams apply AI to their real work. They leave with skills and tangible results.

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AI Proof of Concept

We build the POC together and train your team in the process. Fixed price or retainer.

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Private Dark Software Factory

AI agents building production software 24/7 on your infrastructure. Cut offshore costs 50%+.

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SaaS Exit Ramps & Legacy Replacement

Stop renting your technology. Custom replacements you own, delivered in 20% of the time.

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IT Cost Optimization Assessment

Guaranteed $1M+ in annual savings found, or you don't pay. A proven methodology from Fortune 500 experience.

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The Player-Coach Difference

I Don't Just Advise.
I Deliver.

Most consultants hand you a strategy deck and move on to the next client. I stay in the room. With 50 years of hands-on technology experience and a decade focused on AI, I work alongside your teams, building proof of concepts, running AI agents, and showing them what's possible.

When you hire me, you get a strategist who also does the work. I sit on your side of the table, helping you navigate consulting firms, offshore vendors, and SaaS negotiations as your trusted AI advocate.

I spent a decade in the Fortune 500 managing major vendor relationships: renegotiating multimillion-dollar contracts, running competitive bids, holding vendors accountable when they missed obligations, working with Legal and Procurement to exit agreements early, and leading audits that recovered millions. I don't compete with your consulting partners. I help you get more value from them.

More About Ken
Ken Rheingans - Founder, The Burritt Center
Ken Rheingans
Founder & Principal - The Burritt Center, LLC
Latest Insights

Perspectives on AI & Enterprise Technology

Featured Article

The AI Digital Divide: What You Don't Know Is Already Costing You

There is a gap forming in American business right now, and most executives are on the wrong side of it. The gap between what most leaders think AI can do and what it can actually do right now, today, in production. That gap, the AI Digital Divide, is where competitive advantage is being created and destroyed in real time.

March 1, 2026
More Insights
The Private Dark Software Factory: The New Economics of Enterprise Software
February 20, 2026
Commercial Product
Burritt Center AI - Private Offline AI Advisor
Our First Commercial Product

AI That Never Touches the Internet

For executives and professionals who need AI but can't risk their data leaving the room. Plug in a high-speed external solid state drive, ask anything, and nothing ever connects to the cloud. Built from years of engineering secure, private AI solutions that run completely offline.

Multiple AI models running locally on your device
No installation required. Runs entirely from the drive and leaves no trace on your PC
Completely disconnected. No internet, no cloud, no data exposure
Works on Mac, Windows, and Android
Learn More
Services

How I Help Executives Navigate AI

Service pillars designed for leaders who need clarity, speed, and results. Not more slides.

Service 01

Private Dark Software Factory

Imagine a lights-out software factory running 24/7 on your infrastructure. AI agents handle the full development lifecycle (design, code, test, and deploy) with minimal human input.

I come into your organization, set up the tools, agents, and frameworks, train your team, and hand you the keys. Your onshore team transitions from vendor management to strategic innovation and IP creation.

AI agents handling the full SDLC autonomously, 24/7
Runs on your infrastructure with complete data sovereignty
Cut offshore development costs by 50%+
Your team owns it. No vendor lock-in, no licensing fees
Up and running in less than a month
Discuss This Service
AI agents building software autonomously - The Dark Software Factory
See the Dark Software Factory in Action Coming Soon
Service 02

Enterprise AI Assessment

Most executives don't know what AI can do for their organization today. Not next year, today. I conduct a department-by-department AI opportunity analysis across your entire enterprise: executive team, engineering, IT, accounting, sales, HR, and operations.

Through hands-on workshops with your leadership team, we identify efficiency gains that most companies don't know are possible and build a roadmap for making AI initiatives self-funding through IT cost optimization.

Department-by-department AI opportunity mapping
Leadership workshops and brainstorming sessions
Actionable recommendations with ROI projections
Designed for companies with $500M+ revenue
Combined with IT cost optimization to fund AI initiatives
Discuss This Service

Typical ROI Findings

Finance & Accounting
40–60%
Reduction in manual reporting time
Software Development
50%+
Offshore cost elimination
HR & Operations
30–50%
Reduction in routine processing time
Service 03

SaaS Exit Ramps & Legacy Replacement

SaaS is dead. At least the model where you rent bloated platforms and use 20% of the features. And legacy systems don't need to be migrated. They need to be replaced.

Leveraging the Burritt Center Dark Software Factory Accelerator, I help organizations deliver enterprise-grade custom replacements in 20% of the time and at 20% of the cost of traditional methods. You get the source code. You own the asset. No licensing fees. No vendor lock-in.

Custom ATS, CRM, ERP replacements built to your workflow
Rapid POCs and MVPs delivered in 2 weeks
AI-powered development: 20x faster than traditional offshore
Fixed price. I take the risk
You own the source code forever with full IP transfer
Discuss This Service
Breaking free from vendor lock-in - SaaS Exit Ramps
Service 04

Executive Retainer

I'm the executive in your camp. I've spent a decade in the Fortune 500 renegotiating major contracts, running competitive bids, managing audits, holding vendors accountable for missed obligations, and working with Legal and Procurement to restructure or exit agreements that no longer make sense.

Most consulting firms are still selling pre-AI engagement models at prices that should be dramatically lower. I help you see through that, and I bring the contract management experience to do something about it.

Fractional CIO / CTO / Chief AI Officer
Contract renegotiation, competitive bids, and vendor accountability
Work directly with your Legal and Procurement teams
Board advisory and executive presentations
AI strategy, IT optimization, and technology due diligence
Discuss This Service
The Value Proposition

One trusted advisor. Every deal, every vendor, every decision.

Before Signing Anything
Strategy assessment, vendor evaluation, contract review, and pricing benchmarking
During Negotiations
Competitive bids, contract restructuring, terms optimization, early exit strategies
Ongoing Accountability
Vendor performance audits, obligation tracking, AI strategy briefings, course corrections
Service 05

IT Cost Optimization Assessment

Most enterprises are significantly overspending on IT, and they don't know it. Drawing on experience managing over 40% of Global IT spending at a Fortune 500 company and delivering tens of millions in annual savings, I conduct a comprehensive, month-long assessment across six critical dimensions of your IT operation.

The engagement is simple: one month, a fixed fee, and a guarantee. If I don't identify at least $1 million in annual savings, you don't pay. From there, you can engage me to help implement the findings.

Vendor cost optimization through competitive rebids, not just renegotiations
Infrastructure & software license rationalization
IT labor optimization and governance
Procurement process and financial controls
Data center consolidation and cloud migration strategy
R&D cost management: shift risk to vendors, stop paying for POCs
Discuss This Service
IT Cost Optimization - reducing costs systematically
The Guarantee
Engagement 1 Month
Minimum Savings Found $1M+ Annual
If We Don't Find It You Don't Pay
Proven methodology from managing 40%+ of Global IT spend at Fortune 500 scale.
Service 06

AI Proof of Concept

You have an idea for how AI could transform a process, a product, or a workflow, but you need to see it working before you commit. I come in, we build the POC together, and your team learns by doing.

This isn't a handoff where I disappear into a back room and return with a demo. Your people are in the room, working alongside me, understanding how the technology works so they can own it going forward.

Collaborative build: your team learns while we create
Working prototype, not a slide deck
Knowledge transfer built into the process
Available as fixed price or on retainer for ongoing flexibility
Your team owns everything we build
Discuss This Service
How It Works

Build it. Learn it. Own it.

Define the Challenge
We identify the highest-value AI use case and scope a POC that proves the concept
Build Together
Your team works alongside me through the entire build, not watching, participating
Walk Away Ready
You get a working prototype and a team that understands how to extend it
Service 07

Custom AI Training Programs

This is not a generic "intro to AI" seminar. Every program is custom-designed for your audience (leadership, sales, marketing, operations, or any group) with content built around their actual work.

Imagine a sales team training where participants bring real prospects, real proposals, and real accounts they are trying to penetrate. They don't just learn how AI works. They walk out with skills they can use immediately and real outcomes they can act on the next day.

Custom-designed for your specific audience and their real workflows
Participants apply AI to their own live projects during the training
Fixed price with unlimited participants
Record the sessions and reuse all materials after the program
Flexible format: number of sessions and duration designed around your needs
Discuss This Service
What Makes This Different

Real work. Real results. Not theory.

Sales Teams
Bring real prospects and proposals. Leave with AI-enhanced outreach and research strategies they can use tomorrow.
Leadership Teams
Apply AI to actual strategic challenges. Walk away with a practical understanding of what AI can and cannot do for your organization.
You Keep Everything
Record every session. Reuse all materials. Most training companies restrict this. We don't.
How We Work Together

Engagement Models

Multiple structures, designed to align incentives and deliver results.

Let's discuss which model fits your needs and timeline.

Start the Conversation
About

50 Years of Building.

From mainframes to AI agents, a career defined by building things that actually work.

“The AI overhang is real. The capabilities have outpaced awareness, and most organizations haven't begun to close the gap. I help executives see what's already possible and build on it before their competitors do.”

Ken Rheingans, Founder, The Burritt Center
Ken Rheingans

The Player-Coach Your AI Strategy Needs

Ken Rheingans has been building technology since 1976. He has written real-time firmware at a major Los Angeles aerospace and defense contractor, co-founded technology startups, and led software teams of over 100 engineers. He rose to VP Global Information Services at a $20B Fortune 500 company operating in 70 countries. As VP of Global IT, he traveled the world working with internal country-based IT teams and spent time across multiple locations in India working with large India-based vendor teams.

But what sets Ken apart isn't just the executive resume. It's the decade he spent in the Fortune 500 managing major vendor relationships: renegotiating multimillion-dollar contracts, running competitive bids, leading audits, holding vendors accountable, and working with Legal and Procurement to restructure or exit agreements that no longer made sense. That experience is rare in AI consulting, and it's exactly what executives need as they navigate a landscape full of firms still selling pre-AI engagement models at pre-AI prices.

Today, as founder of The Burritt Center, Ken is an executive-level AI partner who helps leadership teams and IT organizations leverage AI to deliver real results. He builds proof of concepts alongside your teams, trains your people on AI tools using their actual work, and sits on your side of the table when it's time to evaluate vendors, renegotiate contracts, or decide what to build versus buy.

Ken never stopped working with the technology. While other executives moved into pure management, he kept coding, kept experimenting, and kept building. That's the player-coach difference: the strategist who also does the work.

Ken Rheingans - Founder, The Burritt Center

The Burritt Center Story

The Burritt Center was founded in 2017 from a 42-acre former dairy farm in southeast Wisconsin, featuring a 135-year-old barn and a 1-acre pond. It's named after the one-room schoolhouse Ken attended as a child in rural northern Illinois. One teacher, no internet, and everything you needed to learn in a single room. Some have called it the original offline advisor.

During the COVID lockdown, Ken built an AI lab above his garage and started experimenting with running AI on everything from Raspberry Pis and NVIDIA Jetsons to a Mac Mini, old Dell workstations, and Android devices. The flagship lab machine is a Dell Precision 7820 with a dual-CPU motherboard, 40 cores, 192GB RAM, and two NVIDIA Quadro P5000 GPUs with 16GB VRAM each. That lab proved that enterprise-grade AI doesn't require expensive cloud infrastructure, and it's where the Burritt Center AI product was born.

Today, Ken's daily workstation is a Gigabyte Aorus Master 18 laptop with an Intel Ultra 9 275HX processor, 128GB RAM, and an NVIDIA RTX 5090 with 24GB VRAM. The tools have evolved, but the philosophy hasn't changed: build it yourself, own what you build, and prove it works before you recommend it to anyone else.

The Philosophy: The AI Overhang Is Real

There is a massive gap between what today's AI models can actually do and how most organizations are using them. The capabilities already exist to surpass human expertise across a broad range of tasks, yet most companies confine AI to basic assistance and simple queries. This gap is what's known as the AI Overhang, and it creates a temporary window where organizations that move now can build competitive advantages that will be nearly impossible to close later.

The overhang persists because of ingrained habits, insufficient awareness of what's already possible, and the absence of practical systems and education to help teams fully leverage the technology. Most executives don't need more AI hype. They need someone who can show them, honestly and practically, what AI can do for their specific organization today, what it can't do yet, and how to close the gap before their competitors do.

That's where The Burritt Center operates. Every engagement starts with a simple premise: be practical, be honest, and prove it works. Executives deserve an advisor who has actually done what they're being asked to advise on. Not someone who presents about AI, but someone who builds with it every day and can help their teams do the same.

Speaking & Presentations

Sharing What I'm Building

I present regularly on AI strategy, implementation, and the tools reshaping enterprise technology. These are practitioner talks, not theory. Live demos, real systems, honest assessments.

Upcoming
Is Vibe Coding Dead? & Speed Networking
Is Vibe Coding Dead? & Speed Networking
Agentic Programming and Dark Software Factories: systems that build full applications without humans in the loop.
Mar 9, 2026
The Innovation League, Milwaukee
Past Presentations
Fun With AI & Practical Agentic AI
Fun With AI & Practical Agentic AI
Nov 25, 2025 · The Innovation League, Milwaukee
Intro to AI Agents & Extended Networking
Intro to AI Agents & Extended Networking
Nov 13, 2025 · The Innovation League, Milwaukee
Prompt & Context Engineering
Prompt & Context Engineering
Oct 27, 2025 · The Innovation League, Milwaukee
Locally Hosting Your Own LLM (AI)
Locally Hosting Your Own LLM (AI)
Oct 14, 2025 · The Innovation League, Milwaukee
Career Timeline

Five Decades of Technology Leadership

1976
First Lines of Code

Assembly code, before Microsoft was incorporated, before Apple shipped its first kit computer.

1977
Fortran on IBM 360 Mainframe

Fortran programming on IBM 360 mainframes.

1983
University of Illinois & Wang Labs

At the University of Illinois on DEC VAX 11/780 systems, programming in Fortran for the Atmospheric Science research department. Same year, joined Wang Laboratories developing in assembly code for the Wang PC.

1984
NowWeather Inc. - Co-Founder & VP

Co-founded NowWeather Inc. Built and led a team of 15 developing real-time weather detection systems, developed in C on the first real UNIX computers from AT&T, the 3B2. Served as Vice President from 1984 to 1986.

1986
Aviotex Corp - VP

Vice President at Aviotex Corp, a flight planning software startup. Early experience building technology products from the ground up.

1987
Hughes Aircraft - Technical Supervisor, Image & Signal Processing Laboratory

Technical Supervisor in the Image and Signal Processing Laboratory at Hughes Aircraft in Los Angeles. Real-time firmware development for infrared camera systems using a custom 96-bit processor. Led field tests of night vision systems.

1991
Compuware - Software Engineering Project Manager

Built and led a group of 45 engineers. Championed a zero-defect software initiative for enterprise client delivery.

1992
Computer Solutions - Founder

Founded personal software company delivering products for law enforcement (including the U.S. Marshals Service) and the real estate industry. Operated through 1998.

1997
Whittman-Hart - Director, National Solution Director, Global Business Development Director

Rose through leadership at Whittman-Hart (later marchFIRST), one of the nation's premier technology consulting firms, peaking at approximately 10,000 consultants across 60+ offices worldwide. Held roles including Director of Custom Applications, National Solution Director (reporting to the COO), and Global Business Development Director (reporting to the CEO).

2003
Silvertrain - Practice Director, Milwaukee

Practice Director for the Milwaukee office of Silvertrain, a technology consulting firm.

2005
Stratagem - Director of Consulting Services

Director of Consulting Services at Stratagem, a technology consulting firm.

2007
ManpowerGroup - IT Director

Joined ManpowerGroup, a $20B Fortune 500 workforce solutions company operating in 70 countries, as IT Director.

2013
ManpowerGroup - Sr. Director Global IS

Promoted to Sr. Director, leading global IT transformation initiatives across ManpowerGroup's international operations.

2015
VP Global Information Services, ManpowerGroup

Led global IT transformation at Fortune 500 scale. Delivered 50%+ IT spending reduction saving tens of millions annually. Executed 3 data center consolidations, established IT governance with Finance & Sourcing, led a 9-country IT assessment finding 35%+ savings, deployed collaboration platform to 35,000 users, reduced web platform costs 50%+ while doubling performance, and delivered board-level presentations.

2017
Founded The Burritt Center, LLC

Launched executive advisory practice.

2018
Global ERP Assessment - Burritt Center Engagement

Engaged through The Burritt Center to conduct a global ERP assessment for a Fortune 500 company.

2019
Interim CIO/SVP - Burritt Center Engagement

Engaged through The Burritt Center as Interim CIO/SVP for a $3-4B division of a Fortune 500 company. Served for 15 months and won 'most improved department.'

2021
Corporate AI R&D Leader - Burritt Center Engagement

Engaged through The Burritt Center to lead corporate AI/ML research and development initiatives for a Fortune 500 company.

2023
Partner, 7Rivers

Joined 7Rivers as Partner in Technology Innovation, delivering enterprise AI and data solutions.

2025
Executive AI Engagement & Product Development

Continued executive AI advisory engagements. Developed the Burritt Center AI commercial product. Launched the Innovation League, a non-profit initiative to help young adults leverage AI in their careers.

2026
Kickstarter Approval & Dark Software Factory

Kickstarter product approval for the Burritt Center AI. Development of the Burritt Center Dark Software Factory offering.

The AI overhang is real. The capabilities have outpaced awareness, and most organizations haven't begun to close the gap. I help executives see what's already possible and build on it before their competitors do. - Ken Rheingans, Founder, The Burritt Center
Burritt Center AI

Private. Offline.
AI Advisor.

No cloud. No internet. No data leaks. Multiple AI models running locally from a USB-C drive.

Get Notified When We Launch
Burritt Center AI - Private Offline AI Advisor on USB-C SSD
How It Works

Plug In. Power On. Stay Private.

Three steps. No installation. No internet. No data leaving your possession.

1

Plug Into Any Device

Connect the SSD to any Mac or Windows device via USB-C. No drivers, no software installation required.

2

Everything Runs From the Drive

The AI models, the interface, and all processing run entirely from the SSD. Nothing installs to your device. Nothing is stored in the cloud.

3

Query Multiple AI Models Privately

Ask questions, analyze documents, and research sensitive topics with zero internet dependency and complete data sovereignty.

Core Capabilities

Enterprise-Grade AI. Consumer Simplicity.

Built from two years of AI lab experimentation on a 42-acre farm in rural Wisconsin.

Multiple LLMs (4B–120B)

A spectrum of models from compact, fast responders to large, comprehensive reasoners. Choose the right tool for each task.

High-Accuracy Consensus Mode

Cross-check answers across multiple models simultaneously. Like having a council of expert advisors review every critical question.

Ensemble & Chain-of-Thought

Advanced algorithmic approaches that improve output quality on complex, multi-step reasoning tasks.

AES-256-GCM Encryption

Military-grade encryption for all stored data. Your queries, your context, your conversations, all secured at rest.

Zero Telemetry

Absolutely no data leaves the device. No usage tracking, no analytics calls, no "improvement" data collection. Zero.

Cross-Platform

Mac (Apple Silicon Metal), Windows (NVIDIA CUDA + CPU). One drive, any device, with hardware-accelerated inference where available. Android coming soon.

Who It's For

Privacy-First AI for People Who Mean It

💼

Executives & Board Members

Sensitive strategy queries, M&A analysis, competitive intelligence. Questions that can't touch the cloud.

⚖️

Legal Professionals

Client-privileged research, contract analysis, and case preparation with complete data sovereignty.

🏥

Healthcare & Therapy

HIPAA-adjacent privacy for patient-related AI queries. Your patients' information stays on your device.

🔋

Preparedness Community

AI that works when the internet doesn't. Power outages, network disruptions, remote locations. It keeps running.

Available Editions

Choose Your Configuration

Both editions include the full core feature set. Pro adds more models and higher-capacity storage.

Basic Edition

Essential AI

Everything you need for private AI assistance. Multiple models, consensus mode, and full cross-platform support.

3–4 curated AI models (4B–13B)
High-Accuracy Consensus Mode
AES-256-GCM encryption
Mac & Windows support (Android coming soon)
See Kickstarter for details
Pro Edition

Maximum Capability

For power users and professionals who need the most capable models and maximum storage capacity.

6+ models including 70B–120B parameter models
Everything in Basic Edition
Larger capacity, faster storage
Persistent memory (coming)
See Kickstarter for details

Be First to Know

Sign up for early access updates and be notified the moment we launch on Kickstarter.

Get Notified When We Launch
Insights

Perspectives on AI & Enterprise Technology

On AI strategy, enterprise software, and the future of how organizations build and operate.

Executive Insight12 min read
March 1, 2026

The AI Digital Divide: What You Don't Know Is Already Costing You

There is a gap forming in American business right now, and most executives are on the wrong side of it. The gap between what most leaders think AI can do and what it can actually do right now, today, in production. That gap, the AI Digital Divide, is where competitive advantage is being created and destroyed in real time.

AI Strategy11 min read
February 20, 2026

The Private Dark Software Factory: The New Economics of Enterprise Software

Something fundamental has shifted in enterprise software development. The math that made offshore development the default model for every large enterprise just broke. A small factory with just a few AI agents working around the clock can output the equivalent of a 50-person offshore team.

Contact

Let's Talk About Your AI Strategy

Whether you need a strategic advisor, a Dark Software Factory, or an AI assessment for your enterprise, I'd welcome the conversation.

Send a Message

Tell me about your organization and what you're trying to accomplish. I read every message personally.

Direct Contact

Schedule a Consultation
Book a 25-Minute Call
Schedule a Consultation
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