GPN & ARE-ON Joint Conference 2026: Full Schedule

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.

11:30am CDT

Networking Lunch

Monday June 22, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT

NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Peterson Auditorium @ 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

Lunch will be a boxed lunch. Pick up your box lunch in the ENACTUS Lab and enjoy it with your cohorts in Peterson Auditorium.

Monday June 22, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT
NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Peterson Auditorium 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

Meal

Company Great Plains Network
Subject Collaboration & Applications, Strategy

12:00pm CDT

Welcome

Monday June 22, 2026 12:00pm - 12:20pm CDT

NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Peterson Auditorium @ 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

Welcome to the participants for GPN's afternoon of organizational meetings, along with workshops for both GPN and ARE-ON members. Two of the committees are meeting concurrently with workshop activities, so they are open to all conference participants but please get your tickets at: https://gpnandareonjointconference2026.eventbrite.com/. The welcome will highlight GPN's actions and accomplishments of 2025/6 and what's coming soon.

Speakers

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.

Monday June 22, 2026 12:00pm - 12:20pm CDT
NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Peterson Auditorium 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA

General Session

Company Great Plains Network
Subject Collaboration & Applications, Strategy

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

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

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 →

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 →

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

Company Fiber Broadband Association
Audience IT Leaders, Policy
Subject Strategy, Collaboration & Applications

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

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

Company ARE-ON
Audience IT Leaders
Subject Strategy, Collaboration & Applications

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

Michael Wallace

Asst. Director, UAMS IDHI e-Link

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

Company University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Audience Network Engineers, Grant Administrators, IT Leaders
Subject Infrastructure, Security & Operations, Strategy, Collaboration & Applications

8:00am CDT

Keynote: Transform IT, Transform Everything in the Higher Education Industry

Wednesday June 24, 2026 8:00am - 8:45am CDT

Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

In this presentation, we will discuss external and internal forces that are dramatically changing the higher education ecosystem in conjunction with the exponential rate of change impacting IT. The impact of multiple and dynamic changes in funding, agentic AI, data quality, post-quantum encryption, culture, and ERPs, on pedagogy, research, and administration are core to the discussion. We will discuss how to successful to pivot an Education IT organization in this era of non-trivial transformation.

Speakers

Mark Roman

Managing Partner for Education, Info-Tech Research Group

Mark Roman is the Managing Partner for Education and works with members throughout the higher education and K-12 sectors around the world. He is responsible for the delivery of Info-Tech services to members and the alignment of research with the education sector's needs.

https://w... Read More →

Wednesday June 24, 2026 8:00am - 8:45am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

Presentation

Company Infotech Research Group
Audience IT Leaders, CIOs
Subject Strategy, Collaboration & Applications

9:00am CDT

IT Leadership Across Arkansas: Challenges and Priorities from the ARE-ON Member Community

Wednesday June 24, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am CDT

Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

Senior IT leaders from ARE-ON member institutions share what's driving their priorities right now, from budget and staffing to AI adoption and cybersecurity. This panel offers an honest look at the state of campus IT across Arkansas. Moderated by ARE-ON Executive Director Elon Turner.

Eddie Mahar - Associate VP of IT and CIO - Northwest Arkansas Community College
Eric Boardway - Director of IT - National Park College
Chris Lee - CIO - University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Jon Kelley - Associate VP, Technology - Art and Wellness Enterprises

Moderators

Elon Turner

Executive Director, ARE-ON

Wednesday June 24, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

Panel

Company ARE-ON
Audience IT Leaders, CIOs
Subject Strategy, Collaboration & Applications

10:45am CDT

State of the State Networks

Wednesday June 24, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am CDT

Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V @ 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

Leaders from state research and education networks across the Great Plains Network region will give brief updates on what's driving their work and strategy. Each network representative covers the priorities, projects, and challenges shaping their state's R&E network, offering a fast-moving, multi-state view of where the region is headed.

Moderators

John Hennessey

Asociate Vice Chancellor for Information Technology & OneNet | CIO, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

Speakers

Scott Ramoly

Chief Technology Officer, ARE-ON

Chief Technology Officer – ARE-ON
Arkansas Research and Education Optical Network

Chris Kolsrud

Chief Technology and Security Officer, SD Board of Regents

Andrew Buker

Assistant Vice President, Infrastructure Services, University of Nebraska System

Andrew is an Assistant Vice President at the University of Nebraska System, leading Infrastructure Services.

Natasha Angell

Executive Director, MOREnet

Chris Crook

KanREN

Wednesday June 24, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

Panel

Company Great Plains Network
Audience Network Engineers, IT Leaders
Subject Infrastructure, Security & Operations, Strategy, Collaboration & Applications

10:45am CDT

Resilient IT: Winning with People and Process

Wednesday June 24, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am CDT

Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador A & B @ 3303 South Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Rogers, AR, USA

This keynote presents research on how IT organizations can build resilience in the face of environmental turbulence by focusing on the foundational pillars of IT service quality (people) and IT governance (process). Drawing on a study of 157 IT leaders, it demonstrates that resilience is not reactive, but proactively developed through mature governance practices and a strong service culture. Attendees will gain practical, research-backed insights on how to strengthen their IT organizations to adapt, recover, and lead through disruption.

Attendees will leave with a clear, actionable framework to strengthen IT organizational resilience by intentionally advancing IT service quality (people) and IT governance maturity (process), enabling them to lead their organizations more effectively through disruption.

Meeting Audience: CIOs / CTOs, VPs of IT

Speakers

Wesam Helou

Chief Information Officer, Cleveland State University

Dr. Wesam Helou is a cabinet-level Chief Information Officer, national speaker, and practitioner-scholar whose career sits at the intersection of enterprise technology leadership and organizational resilience. Known for building high-performing organizations and driving transformational... Read More →

Wednesday June 24, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador A & B 3303 South Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Rogers, AR, USA

Presentation

Company Cleveland State University
Audience Network Engineers, IT Leaders, CIOs
Subject Infrastructure, Security & Operations, Strategy, Collaboration & Applications

11:30am CDT

Birds of a Feather: Resources and Funding to Support Advanced Cyberinfrastructure

Wednesday June 24, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT

Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador A & B @ 3303 South Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Rogers, AR, USA

Join this conversation with veterans and newcomers to the field of project management and grants acquisition to explore ideas and options as the funding scenarios for science and education evolve.

Speakers

Dana Brunson

Executive Director for Research Engagement, Internet2

Dr. Dana Brunson is Executive Director for Research Engagement at Internet2, where she leads a team that advances research and education through national cyberinfrastructure. She is an advocate for researchers, educators, and the research computing and data (RCD) professionals who... Read More →

Amy Apon

Program Director, National Science Foundation

Amy Apon has been a Program Director in the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure since January 2023. She is the lead Program Director for the Campus Cyberinfrastructure program. Apon joined NSF through the Intergovernmental Personnel Act in January 2023 from Clemson University... Read More →

Dan Andresen

Professor, Computer Science, and Department Head, Institute for Computational Research, Kansas State University

Daniel Andresen is a professor of computer science at Kansas State University and director of the Institute for Computational Research. Andresen’s research is in distributed systems, ranging from sensor networks monitoring bovine health levels to high performance computing systems... Read More →

Nick Eggleston

IT Architect, Kansas State University

Wednesday June 24, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador A & B 3303 South Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Rogers, AR, USA

Presentation

Company National Science Foundation
Audience Network Engineers, Grant Administrators, Researchers
Subject Infrastructure, Security & Operations, Strategy, Collaboration & Applications

11:30am CDT

12:00pm CDT

8:45am CDT

12:30pm CDT

4:00pm CDT

8:00am CDT

9:00am CDT

10:45am CDT

10:45am CDT

11:30am CDT

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