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Welcome to the GPN & ARE-ON Joint Conference 2026 schedule. Use this page to browse sessions, view speaker and session details, and build your personal agenda for June 22–24 in Rogers, Arkansas. Check back through May as additional sessions and details are added.
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Tuesday, June 23
 

7:00am CDT

Sponsor Booth Setup
Tuesday June 23, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom I - IV @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936


Tuesday June 23, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom I - IV 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  Logistics

7:00am CDT

Conference Breakfast
Tuesday June 23, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

Registration and breakfast. Chad Williams and Caleb Williams from Pier Group/Nokia will welcome you with a 15-minute meal speaking opportunity.

Menu:
High on the Hog Breakfast Buffet
  • Cinnamon French Toast with Whipped Butter & Maple Syrup
  • Cheese-Filled Omelets
  • Hickory Smoked Bacon
  • Sausage Links
  • Southern Fried Potatoes
  • Chilled Orange Juice
  • Freshly Brewed Coffee
  • Selection of Hot Teas

Speakers
CW

Caleb Williams

Major Account Manager and VP of Contracts, PIER Group
CW

Chad Williams

President, PIER Group
Sponsors
avatar for PIER Group/Nokia

PIER Group/Nokia

PIER Group/Nokia

PIER Group partners with research and education institutions to deliver expert IT strategy, infrastructure modernization, and long-term technology solutions supported by compliant procurement contracts.
Partnered with Nokia, a global leader in advanced network and connectivity sol... Read More →
Tuesday June 23, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  Meal, Breakfast

7:00am CDT

Conference Registration
Tuesday June 23, 2026 7:00am - 4:00pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Lobby @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
Registration
Tuesday June 23, 2026 7:00am - 4:00pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Lobby 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  Meal, Breakfast

8:00am CDT

Welcome & Opening Remarks
Tuesday June 23, 2026 8:00am - 8:15am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

Opening remarks from ARE-ON Executive Director Elon Turner. Housekeeping, conference logistics, and a brief overview of the day ahead.
Speakers
avatar for Elon Turner

Elon Turner

Executive Director, ARE-ON
Elon has spent his entire career in education IT, with seven years in K-12 and thirteen years in higher education as both a technical practitioner and in technology leadership roles. He believes there is no greater way to impact the future of Arkansas and the quality of where he lives... Read More →
Tuesday June 23, 2026 8:00am - 8:15am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  General Session

8:15am CDT

Keynote: The State of Fiber with Its Role in Building A.I. Infrastructure
Tuesday June 23, 2026 8:15am - 8:45am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

The United States is experiencing unprecedented investment in fiber infrastructure, with fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) deployment accelerating toward near-universal coverage of homes and businesses by the end of the decade. At the same time, the rapid growth of artificial intelligence is driving a new wave of demand for high-capacity fiber networks to connect data centers and support next-generation digital infrastructure. What do these converging investment cycles mean for the future of broadband, networks, and the broader technology ecosystem? As you're planning your campus and state infrastructures, renewing your leased broadband services, and navigating the emerging landscape of a BEAD universal connectivity deployment, learn what this means for you, your campus, and your students. 
Speakers
avatar for Gary Bolton

Gary Bolton

President and CEO, Fiber Broadband Association
Gary Bolton is President and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA), the largest industry association dedicated to advancing all-fiber-optic broadband networks. Prior to joining FBA, he held senior executive roles at both venture-backed technology startups and large publicly... Read More →
Tuesday June 23, 2026 8:15am - 8:45am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  General Session, Keynote

8:45am CDT

Gary Bolton Q&A: How Will Advances in Broadband and Fiber Technologies Change My Program?
Tuesday June 23, 2026 8:45am - 9:30am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is reshaping broadband infrastructure across the country, and state implementation is where policy meets reality. This panel brings together stakeholders from across the region to share where their states stand — what's working, where the friction is, and how institutions like universities and research networks fit into the buildout. Gary Bolton, President of the Fiber Broadband Association, moderates.
At the conclusion of his keynote session, Gary Bolton will field questions from a panel of Research and Education Network leaders and the audience members on the future of fiber and advanced needs for campus/community broadband connections.
Moderators
avatar for Mickey Slimp

Mickey Slimp

Executive Director, Great Plains Network
Recently joined GPN after working on NTIA, HUD, and HRSA grants in Texas. Now constructing a home near UAMS, UALR, and Philander Smith University in Little Rock.
Speakers
avatar for Gary Bolton

Gary Bolton

President and CEO, Fiber Broadband Association
Gary Bolton is President and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA), the largest industry association dedicated to advancing all-fiber-optic broadband networks. Prior to joining FBA, he held senior executive roles at both venture-backed technology startups and large publicly... Read More →
avatar for Chris Crook

Chris Crook

KanREN
KanREN, the national leader in public service connectivity, provides Internet and
network technologies to research, education, and public service institutions in
Kansas. Connect to the exclusive high-speed network that connects Research,
Education and Community Anchors throughout Ka... Read More →
avatar for John Woods

John Woods

Network Engineer – CORE/Optical, MOREnet
John Woods is a Principal Network Engineer and highly valued member of MOREnet’s Core Network team, where he has contributed his expertise for nearly 17 years. With a specialized focus on optical networking, he plays a key role in designing, optimizing, and maintaining the organization’s... Read More →
Tuesday June 23, 2026 8:45am - 9:30am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  General Session, Panel

8:45am CDT

Beyond the Campus: Securing Student Data Across Third‑Party Apps and Cloud Platforms
Tuesday June 23, 2026 8:45am - 9:30am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador A & B @ 3303 South Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Rogers, AR, USA

As higher education institutions expand their digital ecosystems, student data is increasingly shared across third-party applications and service providers, SaaS platforms, and cloud repositories—often outside direct institutional control.
This session explores how campuses can regain visibility and control over sensitive data by monitoring usage, enforcing security policies, and mitigating risk across external applications. Learn practical strategies to address key concerns such as access control, data movement, and application security—without hindering academic innovation.
Speakers
BS

Brian Scharlin

Director of SLED Capture, Higher Education, Fortinet
Sponsors
avatar for Fortinet

Fortinet

Fortinet
Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT) is a driving force in the evolution of cybersecurity and the convergence of networking and security. Our mission is to secure people, devices, and data everywhere, and today we deliver the largest integrated portfolio of over 50 enterprise-grade products. Learn more... Read More →
Tuesday June 23, 2026 8:45am - 9:30am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador A & B 3303 South Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Rogers, AR, USA
  Sponsor Session, Terabit

8:45am CDT

Campus Under Pressure: Practical DDoS and Application Security Readiness for Research and Education Networks
Tuesday June 23, 2026 8:45am - 9:30am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador C @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

Research and education networks are built to be open, collaborative, and high-performing, which also makes availability protection uniquely challenging. This session will walk through practical DDoS and application security readiness for higher education and regional networks, using real-world incident lessons and an operational decision framework attendees can take back to campus. We will cover how modern attacks combine volumetric floods, DNS pressure, application-layer disruption, bots, and API abuse; what teams should know before an incident; how to structure the first 15 minutes of response; and how shared infrastructure and Internet2-aligned services can improve resilience across member institutions.
Speakers
avatar for Geoff Kreiling

Geoff Kreiling

Director, MSSP Routes to Market, Radware
I help connected institutions think through service continuity, DDoS, AppSec, APIs, and shared-infrastructure readiness.

Talk to me about keeping critical services online, clarifying who owns what, improving response handoffs, making incidents less chaotic before they happen, or what record I’m currently wearing out at home... Read More →
Sponsors
avatar for Radware

Radware

Radware’s provides end-to-end coverage across DDoS mitigation, WAF, bot management, and our enhanced API Security Service, which provides full lifecycle security based on runtime traffic. Our innovative LLM Firewall protects against prompt injection, data leakage and abuse, while... Read More →
Tuesday June 23, 2026 8:45am - 9:30am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador C 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  Sponsor Session, Gigabit

9:30am CDT

Sponsor Showcase & Peer Networking
Tuesday June 23, 2026 9:30am - 10:00am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom I - IV @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

Browse the sponsor exhibit hall, connect with vendors, and catch up with colleagues. Refreshments are available.
Tuesday June 23, 2026 9:30am - 10:00am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom I - IV 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  Break

10:00am CDT

Blueprint for Collective Defense: Scaling Threat Intelligence Across State Lines
Tuesday June 23, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

Strategic cybersecurity is no longer just about buying tools; it’s about building alliances. This presentation provides a behind-the-scenes look at the North Dakota JCSOC, a pioneering model for multi-state collaboration. We will break down the "Strategy, Collaboration & Applications" required to get stakeholder buy-in for a shared threat intelligence program.  We will dive into the strategic mission required to harmonize regional intelligence and the collaborative hurdles of building a sustainable multi-state threat program. Attendees will discover how to better prepare for AI-driven adversaries, and why regional collaboration supported by networks like ARE-ON and GPN is no longer optional, but the only viable strategy for achieving cyber resilience in a hyper-connected world.
Speakers
MG

Michael Gregg

CISO, Palo Alto Networks

Sponsors
avatar for Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks

Tuesday June 23, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  General Session, Sponsor

10:45am CDT

Sponsor Showcase & Peer Networking
Tuesday June 23, 2026 10:45am - 11:00am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom I - IV @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

Browse the sponsor exhibit hall, connect with vendors, and catch up with colleagues. Refreshments are available.
Tuesday June 23, 2026 10:45am - 11:00am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom I - IV 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  Break

11:00am CDT

GlobalNOC Gateway Overview & Announcement of Release for ARE-ON Member Institutions
Tuesday June 23, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador A & B @ 3303 South Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Rogers, AR, USA

The presentation will provide an overview of the new GlobalNOC Gateway application. The application is intended to be used by members of GlobalNOC supported networks. The initial release of the application will allow for members to gain visibility into a high level status of the network, ongoing outages, upcoming maintenances, manage contact information at their institution for notification purposes, amongst many more exciting features! In this same presentation, ARE-ON Chief Technology Officer, Scott Ramoly, will announce the release of the application for use by ARE-ON's member institutions.
Audience: CIOs / CTOs, IT Directors and Managers, Network Engineers and Administrators, Faculty and Academic Researchers
Moderators
avatar for Scott Ramoly

Scott Ramoly

Chief Technology Officer, ARE-ON
Chief Technology Officer – ARE-ON
Arkansas Research and Education Optical Network
Speakers
avatar for Ben Geels

Ben Geels

Manager: Monitoring and Information Systems Team, GlobalNOC at Indiana University
Ben Geels joined the GlobalNOC in 2012 as a full-stack developer on the software development team, building tools for monitoring, measurement, visualization, and information systems that support computer network management. He now serves as manager of the Monitoring and Information... Read More →
Tuesday June 23, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador A & B 3303 South Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Rogers, AR, USA
  Presentation

11:00am CDT

Phantoms in the Portal: Ghost Students and Financial Aid Fraud
Tuesday June 23, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador C @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

Higher Education is under attack by ghosts. I know how crazy that sounds, but according to a U.S. Department of Education press release form May 2025, approximately $90 million in federal student aid has been awarded and released to ineligible recipients in the prior three years. Your institution may have already dealt with this, is currently dealing with this, or could fall victim in the future.  Our goal in this session is to learn who these ghosts are, what they want, and discuss methods used by other institutions to stop them and mitigate resulting damage left behind.
Speakers
avatar for Natalie McNish

Natalie McNish

Director of Internal Audit & Risk Management, Missouri State University
Natalie B. McNish serves as the Director of Internal Audit and Risk Management at Missouri State University, where she leads efforts to strengthen governance, ensure compliance, and promote effective risk management practices. With a strong background in auditing and organizational... Read More →
Tuesday June 23, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador C 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  Presentation

11:00am CDT

Moving Beyond Pain Points in the University Data Center
Tuesday June 23, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

Higher-education data centers are expected to support increasingly demanding workloads while operating within tight budget, staffing, and infrastructure constraints. At the same time, universities depend on their data centers to deliver always-on services that support teaching, research, and core institutional operations, making reliability and operational stability mission-critical. Clearly understanding and addressing key pain points is essential to sustaining these environments over time.

In this session, we will explore the most common data center fabric challenges facing higher-education institutions today and discuss practical ways to mitigate them. Rather than focusing on specific technologies or architectures, this session highlights the core considerations universities should keep in mind when planning for a more resilient and efficient data center fabric.
Speakers
TG

Trini Grinspan

Consulting Engineer, Nokia

Sponsors
avatar for Nokia/PIER Group

Nokia/PIER Group

Nokia/PIER Group
Nokia is a global leader in connectivity for the AI era, providing the critical network infrastructure the world relies on. Every day, we’re powering our customers with advanced connectivity across fixed, mobile, and transport networks, delivering the performance and security they... Read More →
Tuesday June 23, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  Sponsor Session, Gigabit

11:45am CDT

Lunch & Sponsor Showcase
Tuesday June 23, 2026 11:45am - 12:45pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

Go through the buffet line in the Ballroom Lobby and bring your lunch into Grand V to network with your fellow attendees! Lunch is sponsored by Ciena/Lumen and they will have a 15 min speaking opportunity during lunch.

Menu:
Local Taqueria Lunch Buffet Salads & Starters
  • Mexican Chopped Salad
    • Chopped Romaine
    • Roasted Corn
    • Diced Tomatoes
    • Cucumbers
    • Cotija Cheese
    • Tortilla Strips
    • Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette
  • Tortilla Chips with House-Made Salsa
Entrées
  • Warm Flour Tortillas
  • Smoked Carnitas with Pineapple Pico
  • Tinga Chicken
  • Spanish Rice
  • Cumin-Spiced Black Beans
  • Shredded Cheese
  • Sour Cream
Dessert
  • Sopapillas with Honey
Beverages
  • Ice Water
  • Tea
  • Coffee

Speakers
avatar for Brady Bell

Brady Bell

Director Engineering, Ciena

Sponsors
avatar for Ciena/Lumen

Ciena/Lumen

Ciena/Lumen
Lumen connects the world. We are igniting business growth by connecting people, data, and applications – quickly, securely, and effortlessly. Everything we do at Lumen takes advantage of our network strength. From metro connectivity to long-haul data transport to our edge cloud... Read More →
Tuesday June 23, 2026 11:45am - 12:45pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  Meal, Lunch

12:30pm CDT

State of ARE-ON: Built for What's Next
Tuesday June 23, 2026 12:30pm - 12:45pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

Twenty years of investment in shared research and education infrastructure has changed what is possible for Arkansas higher education and healthcare. This session reflects on that progress, examines the current state of ARE-ON's network and services, and turns to the strategic questions that will define the next era. Attendees will hear from ARE-ON Executive Director Elon Turner and learn how to engage in an upcoming formal strategic planning process.
Speakers
avatar for Elon Turner

Elon Turner

Executive Director, ARE-ON
Elon has spent his entire career in education IT, with seven years in K-12 and thirteen years in higher education as both a technical practitioner and in technology leadership roles. He believes there is no greater way to impact the future of Arkansas and the quality of where he lives... Read More →
Tuesday June 23, 2026 12:30pm - 12:45pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  General Session

12:45pm CDT

Sponsor Showcase & Peer Networking
Tuesday June 23, 2026 12:45pm - 1:00pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom I - IV @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936


Tuesday June 23, 2026 12:45pm - 1:00pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom I - IV 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  Break

1:00pm CDT

Keynote: Internet2's Support for State Networks
Tuesday June 23, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

Tripti Sinha, President and CEO of Internet2, discusses Internet2's role in supporting state research and education networks and the evolving national R&E infrastructure landscape. From network infrastructure and cloud services to identity, research computing, and community programs, this session offers a direct look at how Internet2 and networks like GPN and ARE-ON work together to serve institutions of every type. The session also explores why collaboration is the foundation of a competitive R&E ecosystem and offers a practical look at emerging technologies that every institution should have on its radar.
Speakers
avatar for Tripti Sinha

Tripti Sinha

President and CEO, Internet2
Tripti Sinha is the President and CEO of Internet2, where she champions the organization’s core mission of enabling U.S. higher education and research institutions to collaborate on mission-critical technology services.Sinha is a leader in information technology, operations, governance... Read More →
Tuesday June 23, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  General Session, Keynote

1:45pm CDT

Sponsor Showcase & Peer Networking
Tuesday June 23, 2026 1:45pm - 2:00pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom I - IV @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

A short break with light refreshments.
Tuesday June 23, 2026 1:45pm - 2:00pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom I - IV 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  Break

2:00pm CDT

Leveraging Layered Storage Architectures for Scale & Performance
Tuesday June 23, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador A & B @ 3303 South Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Rogers, AR, USA

As data demands continue to outpace traditional storage budgets, organizations are searching for ways to extract more performance and cost efficiency from their infrastructure without sacrificing reliability. In this talk, we explore how ZFS and Ceph — two of the most powerful open-source storage platforms available — can be scaled to new levels by adopting the same layered fault tolerance strategies that underpin the world's largest public cloud providers.
Rather than relying on a single, monolithic protection scheme, we'll examine how combining multiple levels of fault tolerance across tiered storage architectures unlocks dramatic improvements in throughput, latency, and cost-per-gigabyte. Attendees will learn how to architect storage systems that intelligently balance redundancy across media types and failure domains, mirroring the approaches used by hyperscalers to serve billions of requests daily — at a fraction of the assumed cost.
Whether you're managing a growing on-premises environment or building a private cloud alternative, this session will give you a practical framework for rethinking how your storage stack is structured, protected, and optimized for the workloads of today and tomorrow.
Speakers
SU

Steven Umbehocker

CEO / CTO, OSNexus
Sponsors
avatar for OSNexus

OSNexus

OSNexus helps organizations manage and scale storage with its QuantaStor platform. QuantaStor is a unified file, block, and object storage solution used across healthcare, energy, media & entertainment, transportation, higher education, government, and more.
Built on an open archi
... Read More →
Tuesday June 23, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador A & B 3303 South Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Rogers, AR, USA
  Sponsor Session, Gigabit

2:00pm CDT

M365 A3 vs. A5: Making Informed Decisions Around Security, Compliance, and Budget
Tuesday June 23, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador C @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

As K–12 districts and higher‑education institutions face increasing cybersecurity threats and compliance obligations, choosing the right Microsoft 365 licensing strategy is more important than ever. This session provides a clear, practical comparison of Microsoft 365 A3 and A5, with a focus on security capabilities, compliance requirements, and budget impact. Attendees will gain an understanding of where A3 meets institutional needs, when A5 delivers measurable value, and how to align licensing decisions with risk tolerance, staffing, and long‑term technology strategy. Participants will leave better equipped to make confident, defensible Microsoft 365 licensing decisions for their institutions.
Speakers
CJ

Christopher Jennings

Account Executive, Pinnacle Business Systems
Sponsors
avatar for Pinnacle Business Systems

Pinnacle Business Systems

Pinnacle Business Systems
Pinnacle Business Systems is an industry-leading IT solutions provider with more than 37 years of experience helping organizations implement scalable, cost-effective technology strategies. Headquartered in Edmond, Oklahoma,

Pinnacle works with organizations across the Central and... Read More →
Tuesday June 23, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador C 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  Sponsor Session, Gigabit

2:00pm CDT

Securing the AI Era: Infrastructure Evolution and Operational Reality
Tuesday June 23, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

This panel style session will cover how AI is reshaping the enterprise from the app layer down to power, cooling, and transport. This session maps the new threat surface created by AI agents, the rapid evolution of AI infrastructure, and the operational complexity that emerges when reliability and security become inseparable.
Moderators
avatar for Steven Karp

Steven Karp

Senior Network Engineer, ARE-ON

Speakers
avatar for Bernard Morvant

Bernard Morvant

Sr. Account Manager, Lumen
MR

Michael Renshaw

Director, Lumen

avatar for Brady Bell

Brady Bell

Director Engineering, Ciena

AG

Anthony Gloriana

Principal Engineer, Ciena

Sponsors
avatar for Ciena/Lumen

Ciena/Lumen

Ciena/Lumen
Lumen connects the world. We are igniting business growth by connecting people, data, and applications – quickly, securely, and effortlessly. Everything we do at Lumen takes advantage of our network strength. From metro connectivity to long-haul data transport to our edge cloud... Read More →
Tuesday June 23, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  Sponsor Session, Terabit

2:45pm CDT

Sponsor Showcase & Peer Networking
Tuesday June 23, 2026 2:45pm - 3:15pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom I - IV @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

A short break with light refreshments.
Tuesday June 23, 2026 2:45pm - 3:15pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom I - IV 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  Break

3:15pm CDT

AMD Empowering the Future of HPC and AI Datacenters
Tuesday June 23, 2026 3:15pm - 4:00pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

This session will dive into how AMD technologies are empowering the future of HPC computing and preparing customers for AI in the datacenter. 
Speakers
KJ

Keith Jones

Senior Field Applications Engineer, AMD
Keith Jones is a Senior Field Applications Engineer at AMD, supporting the Energy sector and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads. With over 30 years of industry experience, he brings deep expertise spanning energy, OEM infrastructure, and data center solutions. Since joining AMD, Keith... Read More →
Sponsors
avatar for AMD / Cambridge Computer

AMD / Cambridge Computer

AMD / Cambridge Computing
AMD is the high performance and adaptive computing leader, powering the products and services that help solve the world’s most important challenges. Our technologies advance the future of the data center, embedded, gaming and PC markets.Founded in 1969 as a Silicon Valley start-up... Read More →
Tuesday June 23, 2026 3:15pm - 4:00pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  General Session, Sponsor

4:00pm CDT

ARE-ON Technical Updates
Tuesday June 23, 2026 4:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

Scott Ramoly, Chief Technology Officer of ARE-ON, presents the latest updates on ARE-ON's network infrastructure, services, and technical roadmap. This session covers recent enhancements, upcoming changes, and the engineering priorities shaping how ARE-ON serves its member institutions.
Speakers
avatar for Scott Ramoly

Scott Ramoly

Chief Technology Officer, ARE-ON
Chief Technology Officer – ARE-ON
Arkansas Research and Education Optical Network
Tuesday June 23, 2026 4:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  Presentation

4:00pm CDT

Building Collaborations Using Non-Research Funding Mechanisms
Tuesday June 23, 2026 4:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador A & B @ 3303 South Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Rogers, AR, USA

Building collaborations by using non-research funding mechanisms
Using federal and state funding sources to imagine sustainability, collaborations, customer engagement.
Audience: CIOs / CTOs, Grant Administrators and PIs, Faculty and Academic Researchers
Speakers
avatar for Michael Wallace

Michael Wallace

Asst. Director, UAMS IDHI e-Link
MM

Martin Maize

Sr. PM, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Tuesday June 23, 2026 4:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador A & B 3303 South Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Rogers, AR, USA
  Presentation

4:30pm CDT

Coherent Optics Transforming Regional Networks
Tuesday June 23, 2026 4:30pm - 5:00pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador C @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

High-performance networking is evolving rapidly, delivering dramatically more capacity while fundamentally changing the cost model. This technical session examines how high-speed coherent optics are being deployed across ARE-ON's metro and regional infrastructure — what the technology enables, how it's being implemented, and what it means for the institutions and research communities ARE-ON serves.
Speakers
avatar for Steven Karp

Steven Karp

Senior Network Engineer, ARE-ON

Tuesday June 23, 2026 4:30pm - 5:00pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador C 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  Presentation

4:30pm CDT

GPN Statewide Initiatives in Quantum Technologies
Tuesday June 23, 2026 4:30pm - 5:00pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

The Statewide Quantum Computing Working Group is a multi-disciplinary collaborative initiative launched in March 2026 to establish an integrated educational framework for quantum computing curricula across Arkansas. Led by the Emerging Analytics Center at UA Little Rock, the group brings together academic faculty from the Arkansas Quantum Network, industry partners, and technical experts to bridge expertise gaps in the field. Its primary goal is to develop shared instructional materials and identify best practices for research data management and cyberinfrastructure to prepare a highly skilled STEM workforce.

The key takeaway for attendees is the opportunity to participate in the co-development of a foundational Quantum Computing Curricula designed for use by academic institutions throughout Arkansas.

Audience: CIOs / CTOs, VPs of IT, IT Directors and Managers, Network Engineers and Administrators, Cybersecurity Professionals, HPC & Research Computing Professionals, Grant Administrators and PIs, Faculty and Academic Researchers, New and Emerging IT Professionals
Speakers
avatar for Tom Coffin

Tom Coffin

EAC UA Little Rock
virtual reality; quantum; viz
Tuesday June 23, 2026 4:30pm - 5:00pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  Presentation

5:00pm CDT

Networking Reception
Tuesday June 23, 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm CDT
Embassy Suites Hotel - Spa Tower Atrium @ 3303 South Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Rogers, AR, USA

Join us Tuesday evening for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and networking, sponsored by AMD/Cambridge Computing. A great opportunity to connect with fellow attendees, speakers, and sponsors in a relaxed setting before the final day of the conference.
Speakers
AG

Andre Gardinalli

SLED Business Development Sales North Central, AMD
Sponsors
avatar for AMD / Cambridge Computer

AMD / Cambridge Computer

AMD / Cambridge Computing
AMD is the high performance and adaptive computing leader, powering the products and services that help solve the world’s most important challenges. Our technologies advance the future of the data center, embedded, gaming and PC markets.Founded in 1969 as a Silicon Valley start-up... Read More →
Tuesday June 23, 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm CDT
Embassy Suites Hotel - Spa Tower Atrium 3303 South Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Rogers, AR, USA
  Reception

8:00pm CDT

B.E.E.R.Net — Building Energy Efficient Research Networks
Tuesday June 23, 2026 8:00pm - 10:30pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Salon F-G-H @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

Close out Tuesday evening at B.E.E.R.Net — Building Energy Efficient Research Networks. Bring a regional refreshment from your hometown to share, or enjoy what others bring. All conference attendees welcome.
Tuesday June 23, 2026 8:00pm - 10:30pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Salon F-G-H 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
  Networking
 
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Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador A & B
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador C
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom I - IV
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Lobby
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Salon F-G-H
Embassy Suites Hotel - Spa Tower Atrium
NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Enactus Lab
NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Lobby
NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Peterson Auditorium
NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Room 2047
NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Room 2048
University of Arkansas — I3R Facility
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