Johnstown tech firm creates new AI products, hires CEO

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A Johnstown technology consulting firm developing products that include human-like holographic artificial intelligence has hired an executive to help it achieve its global goals.

Problem Solutions, 227 Franklin St., has hired Mike Pino as managing director, a new position at the company that replaces founder and CEO Mike Hruska of Johnstown.

“He’s a world-class director,” Hruska said of Pino.

Hruska said he is excited that Pino will join the company, which has about 30 employees and was founded 20 years ago in Johnstown.

Pino, a native of Pensacola, Florida, has 20 years of leadership experience in technology innovation, business strategy and enterprise development at international companies including General Electric, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

“I’m really excited to be a part of this,” Pino said. “The opportunity to do something really good starts with an idea and helping people make that idea happen. Mike and his team are very hands-on. It’s not about having the best idea — it’s about making it work for people. That’s what really excites me.”

Problem Solutions on Wednesday launched SaleSage, a generative AI software that provides sales teams with insights to help them prepare for sales.

The company said that with access to SalesSage via subscription, sales reps gain an AI assistant that helps them with tasks such as preparing for customer meetings, composing emails and resolving issues.

“SaleSage is a game-changer for companies looking to gain a competitive advantage in their sales operations,” said Pino. “This product is designed to equip organizations with data-driven strategies that accelerate revenue growth and optimize collective performance.”

Problem Solutions in August also unveiled advanced holography, essentially a “Star Trek” holodeck for the U.S. Department of Defense that doesn’t require head-mounted virtual reality gear.

“Virtual reality is good for training, but it doesn’t work in all environments,” Hruska said, “so our project was, ‘Can we build the holodeck from Star Trek?’ We’ve spent the last three years in research and development.”

The company’s project was funded by the Department of Defense and showcased at a facility in Indianapolis, where military and law enforcement officers spoke and made eye contact with synthetic AI holograms placed inside a glass camera.

“Our holographic solutions are pushing the boundaries of spatial computing and artificial intelligence,” Hruska said. “We are proud to offer technology that can significantly enhance decision-making capabilities at extreme levels of fidelity without the use of head-mounted virtual reality (VR) for the future warfighter.”

The holography was presented in collaboration with technology partner Invisible Arts.

“Today, we are developing technologies that will define the future of defense,” said Invisible Arts CEO Bretten Gordeau. “These innovations are more than just tools—they are designed to save time, reduce costs, and most importantly, prevent injuries and save lives.”

Hruska said Problem Solutions is waiting for a Department of Defense order to move to the next phase of project implementation.