2024 Agenda

THEME: Delivering Oregon's Connected Future
DATES: October 30th - November 1st, 2024
Wednesday, October 30th
Time Activity
10:30 - 3:00 Northwest Telecommunications Association (NWTA) Meeting - NWTA.biz
3:00 - 6:00 Registration
5:30 - 9:30 Opening Night Networking Mixer Hosted by COMCAST
Thursday, October 31st
Time Activity
8:00 - 8:45 Registration, Coffee and Breakfast
8:45 - 9:30 Welcome and Introductions with Joe Franell, Blue Mountain Networks
9:30- 11:00 Keynote Presentation - Sponsored by Calix
Telecom Tarot: Predicting Future Trends and Market		 Keynote- Steve Brown, AI Futurist
11:00 - 11:15 Break / Room Transition
11:15- 12:15 General Session Panel #1- AI- Friend or Foe
Discover how AI can help you and untangle potential perils.Moderator: Jim Teece, ProjectA

Panelist: Alan DiCicco, VP of Product & Marketing Calix
Panelist: (Venkat) KS Venkatraman, Nvidia
12:15 - 12:30 Break / Room Transition
12:30 - 1:50 Oregon Connections Award Luncheon - Sponsored by Astound Broadband
1:50 - 2:15 Break / Room Transition
2:15 - 3:30 Heritage Room

Session- Joint Ventures
Unconventional partnerships may be the answer we need to creatively close the digital divide

Moderator: Deborah Simpier, Althea

Panelist: Rachael Maddock-Hughes, Rural Prosperity
Panelist: Steve Corbato, CEO Link Oregon
Panelist: Brent Bischoff, Coos Curry Electric and Beacon Broadband

 Landmark Room

Session- Around the State
Perspectives from around the state on the experience of deploying broadband in Oregon's diverse geography

Moderator: Keith Grunberg, Director of Carrier, Government & Wholesale Hunter Communications

NE Panelist: Blake Lawrence, CEO, Windwave
SW Panelist: Bill Gerski, VP of Marketing/Sales, Beacon Broadband
Central Panelist: Stuart Taubman, Head of Network Services, Zayo
Mid Willamette: Rick Peterson, CEO, Peak Internet
NW Panelist: Matt Updenkelder, VP, Infrastructure Development, Astound
3:30 - 3:55 Break / Room Transition
3:55 - 5:25 Heritage Room

Session- Permitting Challenges & Processes
Navigating local, state and federal permitting processes

Moderator: David Soloos, Oregon Department of Transportation

Panelist: Sam Ackley, COO, Hunter Communications
Panelist: Daniel Soto, City of Eugene

 Landmark Room

Session- Marketing & Sales
Staying ahead of the curve: Marketing tactics in competitive markets

Moderator: Bill Gerski, VP of Marketing/Sales - Beacon Broadband/Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Panelist: Jay Tapp, Principal Partner - Laser Marketing
Panelist: Remy Soubry, Sucess Account Manager - Calix
Panelist: Jason Saunders, Sales & Marketing Manager - Minet/Willamette Valley Fiber
5:25 - 5:30 Break / Room Transition
5:30 - 6:30 Telecom Trick-or-Treat: Networking Mixer Exhibitor Fair and Reception
6:30 - 8:00 Fireside Chat Sponsored by the Oregon Broadband Office with Master of Ceremonies. Joseph Franell
Friday, November 1st
Time Activity
7:30 - 8:30 Registration, Coffee, Exhibitors' Tables
8:30 -9:30 Keynote Presentation
Rural Development in Oregon
A look forward- How Oregon can create resiliency through locally driven efforts		 Keynote - Margi Hoffmann, USDA Rural Development
9:30-9:45 Break / Room Transition
9:45 - 10:45 General Session Panel #2 Workforce Gaps
Filling new and existing telecom positions as the current work force turns over		 Moderator: Seth Thompson, Broadband Project Coordinator, Business Oregon

Panelist: Larry Johnson, President, FiberStory
Panelist: Rebecca Jensen, SHRM-SCP, HR Director, Hunter Communications
Panelist: Damon Runberg, State Economist, Business Oregon
Panelist: Erik Hunsinger, President & Chief Operating Officer, Golden State Net
Panelist: Shannon McGivney, Senior Director of Education, Machinist Institute
10:45-11:00 Break / Room Transition
11:00-12:00 General Session Panel #3 Digital Equity
A discussion on what happens after broadband is deployed		 Moderator: Leina Gonzalez-Baird, Business Oregon

Panelist: Pam Marsh, Oregon State Representative
Panelist: Rebecca Brown, Comcast Pacific NW Region
Panelist: Juan Muro, Free Geek
12:00-12:30 Conference Wrap-up and Prize Drawing
12:30 Adjourn

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