Please take a few minutes and review the panel submissions below and vote for any or all of them to help us get back to Austin in March 2018.
My Data Treasure or Your Data Trash - Who Decides?
The widespread availability of relatively inexpensive Cloud storage and the use of social media content sharing services such as Instagram and Facebook has made the posting and storage of large amounts of all sorts of information much easier, but a new challenge has arisen: What information should be discarded and what should be kept for posterity? How are such files being managed and who is accountable?
SPEAKERS
- Leslie Johnston, Director of Digital Preservation, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
- Beth Beck, Open Innovation Program Manager, NASA
- James Stanger, Chief Technology Evangelist, CompTIA
Startup Cities: Bringing Tech to the Heartland
Increasingly, cities have become the testing centers for emerging technologies. From autonomous vehicles to drone deliveries, many cities across America have become labs for the tech industry.
Public-private partnerships are helping revolutionize how the government delivers services to its citizens. This panel will explore the Startup City phenomena by inviting state and local officials to detail the challenges of incorporating technological advances into their communities.
SPEAKERS
- Todd Thibodeaux, President and CEO, CompTIA
- Cory Gardner, United States Senator, United States Senate
- Ryan Weber, President, KC Tech Council
Satellites Making Technology Smart
Satellite technology touches nearly every aspect of our lives. Since 1965, the role of satellites in everyday activities has grown — from broadcast television to GPS and emergency communications infrastructure. Now satellites are helping make technology “smart.” Innovation in the satellite industry is fueling the acceleration of technologies that will provide more powerful IoT solutions.
SPEAKERS
- David Logsdon, Senior Director, Federal Advocacy, Comptia
- David Beering, CEO, Intelligent Designs
- Bruce Cathell, Vice President, Viasat
Women in Tech: Perceptions vs. Misconceptions
Despite playing a key role in the growth of tech, women’s representation in the industry has stagnated. Some argue women simply are not as interested in tech careers as men – but industry insiders know it’s not that simple. Join us for a panel discussion among four accomplished women in tech who understand the complexities of this issue – and how to overcome them.
SPEAKERS
- Cathy Alper, Director, Industry Relations, CompTIA
- Heather Terenzio, CEO and Co-Founder, Techtonic
- Tracey Wellson-Rossman, Chief Marketing Officer, Chariot Solutions
- Michelle Ragusa-McBain, Global Customer Partner Experience Manager, Cisco
How to Fill VR/AR Skills Gap Before IT Opens
Recent research shows U.S. businesses could face the same sort of technology talent crunch in coming years in the realms of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) that they already confront in the cybersecurity arena. As major corporations, such as Wal-Mart, plan to expand VR/AR applications like employee training to hundreds of facilities across the country, how can these vital employers fill this IT skills gap before it gapes? A panel of experts examines trends and explores solutions.
SPEAKERS
- Charles Eaton, CEO, Creating IT Futures
- Eric R. Williams, Associate Professor -- Director, MFA in Communications Media Arts, Ohio University
- Gretchen Koch, Executive Director, Workforce Development Strategies, Creating IT Futures
Finding the Appeal in Unsexy Social Media
Some industries lend themselves to social selling. Sex sells, and in the era of food porn and wanderlust, some industries have it made in the shade. But for the rest of us who aren’t working for apparel, food or car companies, more hustle is required. Hear from social media strategists working in less visually appealing industries about what it takes to engage truck drivers, garbage collectors and computer geeks to drive engagement and convert interested parties to die-hard brand ambassadors.
SPEAKERS
- Kelly Stone, Senior manager, social media, CompTIA
- Marina Christos, Owner, Socialty Inc.
- Kelly Page, Founder and Curator, Live What you Love LLC
- Reva Minkoff, Founder and President, Digital4Startups
