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11.14.24
FARGO, ND | VIRTUAL
8:00 - 8:30
CHECK IN & BREAKFAST
8:30 - 8:45
WELCOME
Welcome
President's Address
About Ben Carlsrud
Ben Carlsrud started at NCI as a service technician after college graduation. Not long after, he was promoted to service manager, and continued to work his way through the ranks. Now more than two decades later, he is the president of NCI.
8:45 - 9:45
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
Banking on AI
Part of the Not-so-Distant Future
Science Fiction novels of the 50’s and 60’s are not as far fetched as they seemed to be back then. With modern “AI” becoming part of the normal banking landscape, how do banks navigate the complexity of deploying AI in a banking environment? We will talk about how it’s used now vs. how it could be used in the not-so-distant future.
About Jay Tambornino
From data center manager, to running an operations center, to the head of IT (for a larger bank holding company,) Jay Tambornino has 33 years of experience in the financial services industry. Now as a consultant, Jay has experience in:
- Developing, implementing, and testing IT Strategic Programs
- Auditing and assessing compliance with GLBA
- Training on IT Security and Information Classification
- Reviewing strategic IT vendors
- Auditing IT Risk Assessment and Information Security Programs
- Drafting plans for: Business Continuity, Disaster, Incident Response, and testing all the above
At the MBA Consulting Group, Jay has worked with institutions ranging from 15 million to 2+ billion in total assets. He has conducted independent IT audits, Information Security Program testing & development, external and internal vulnerability testing, and security awareness training. Jay has also been a speaker at MBA and community events on IT security, and related regulatory topics.
10:00 - 10:45
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
BOARD ROOM
Run Any Application at Any Scale with Nutanix
Nutanix
Ben Bykowski
Scott Prchall
Nutanix Cloud Platform is your key to simplified, secure management of all applications and workloads on premise, in the cloud, at the edge or anywhere else. With freedom to choose your hardware and alliances with over 800 software vendors, Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure and Cloud Management is the ultimate freedom of choice solution.
Ben has been with Nutanix for over 4 years and has extensive experience with data centers, software, and cloud solutions. He is local to the region: home is just outside of the Twin Cities. He’s happy to take any questions and help you learn more.
Scott Prchal is a Sr. Account Manager on the Nutanix Enterprise Accounts Team and has been a part of the regional tech community for 28 years – including 13 of those years supporting Nutanix customers from both the partner and OEM sides of the business.
During the winter Scott enjoys back-country mountain riding in the Rockies as well as fishing and motorcycling in the summer months here locally.
DIRECTOR’S ROOM
3 Sides of Hacking
NCI
Jason Dahl, Sr. Security Engineer
Ever wondered what it looks like when you’ve been hacked? Curious about what the hacker sees or what the security professional sees on their screen? Join Jason Dahl to explore all perspectives. Gain insights into the motivations behind hacking, the techniques hackers use to infiltrate systems, and the strategies professionals employ to protect against these threats.
Jason has 24+ years of technical and cyber security experience within the Department of Defense and private sector. He has held positions within leadership and senior technical levels. His passion for security and designing technical solutions for organizations of all sizes is what drives him every day.
EXECUTIVE ROOM
Ootbi by Object First - Ransomware Proof
Object First
Tracy Chea, Associate Solutions Engineer
Ransomware-proof and immutable out-of-the-box, Ootbi by Object First delivers secure, simple, and powerful backup storage purpose-built for Veeam. The appliance can be racked, stacked, and powered in 15 minutes. Ootbi helps Veeam admins implement a Zero Trust Data Resilience architecture for unbreakable backup and recovery.
Tracy is a Solutions Architect where she has been delighting customers for over two years. She received her BBA in Management Information Systems and a certificate in Elemente of Computing (Computer Science) at The University of Texas at Austin. She is a technology enthusiast who enjoys problem solving, especially if it involves taking things apart and putting them back together. She loves facing new challenges that force her to constantly think of new solutions which result in skills she can utilize in the future.
11:00 - 11:45
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
BOARD ROOM
Get CoPilot Ready
Ingram Micro
Christopher Szczudlik, Development Executive
Ken LeCastre, Development Executive
We will be discussing some of the features and use cases of CoPilot for Microsoft 365, and best practices to prepare your environment for the integration of AI.
Chris is Ingram Micro’s Development Executive covering the North West with multiple years of experience focused on Microsoft Modern Work.
Ken is Ingram Micro’s Microsoft Modern Work Development Executive covering the South West. While Ken is focused on Modern Work, he has experience across all 3 Microsoft Clouds: Modern Work, Azure, and Dynamics.
DIRECTOR’S ROOM
Unified SASE - Secure Access Solution
Fortinet
Darrin Hanson, Public Sector Systems Engineering Director
IT leaders are concerned about remote employee security. Fortinet’s Single-Vendor Unified SASE ensures enterprise-grade security and superior user experience across all edges. VPNs are no longer sufficient against advanced threats. Learn how FortiSASE’s cloud-delivered FWaaS with Zero Trust addresses security gaps, enhances user experience, and simplifies operations.
Darrin Hanson has extensive experience working in the Cyber Security field for over two decades. He earned a B.S. degree in Computer Science in 1991 and an M.B.A. in IT Management in 2014.
In his current role, Darrin leads the Systems Engineering team focused on delivering secure networking solutions within Public Sector accounts at Fortinet. Prior to that, Darrin has held various Engineering and Management positions at Thomson Reuters, Diageo, Cisco Systems and ePlus. He has helped numerous companies from large Fortune 100 companies to small-medium sized businesses to design, deploy, and operate highly secure wired & wireless infrastructure.
EXECUTIVE ROOM
IT Planning: Maximizing Value, Security, and Resources
NCI
Todd Bortke, Vice President of Operations
Jason Carlson, Infrastructure Team Manager
Increase your businesses value, security, and profitability by defining a multi-year IT strategy that aligns with your goals. Learn and begin your IT plan with experts.
As a leader in technology, Jason has been successful at driving transformational change and implementing process improvements across multi-faceted industries including: finance, manufacturing, and healthcare. From spearheading project implementations to seamlessly integrating systems, Jason’s expertise in change management has taken organizations to new heights.
Information Technology executive with experience in: senior management, leadership, system and network administration, virtual CIO, software development, EHR implementation, health information exchange, privacy, security, project management, data center design and operations support. He has the ability to drive business processes and optimization throughout the organization in support of corporate goals and revenue enhancement.
12:00 - 1:00
LUNCH & KEYNOTE
LUNCH &
KEYNOTE
Leaning Into Connection & Being Change Ready
Jeremy Ostrowski
- Leaning into connection: “Be Nice to the Sound Guy”
- Being change ready: “Learn Scotty Doesn’t Know”
- Learn how to twirl a drumstick
Jeremy Ostrowski serves as the Director of Change Management for Border States, where he helps lead the development and execution of change management strategies that enable successful transformation. In this role, his bucket is filled with connection and collaboration throughout the organization.
He has also been a musician for over 30 years, including the last 15 years as the drummer for Unleashed where he has also gained experience in negotiating, managing schedules and finances, making new connections and being change ready.
With a focus on community impact, Jeremy enjoys serving with the Board of Directors at the Ronald McDonald House, speaking at community events, and volunteering.
Jeremy aspires to connect people, collaborate, and think outside-of-the-box. He prides himself on asking the “dumb’ question – the one that is on everyone’s mind, but no one wants to ask.
He has been married to Heather, his wife/road manger/groupie/coach for 23 years. He’s the proud dad of Ethan goes to school at University of Minnesota, and Adam, a 8th grader in Hawley, and labradoodles, Eddie and Chase who enjoy snoozing and eating snacks.
1:00 - 1:45
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
BOARD ROOM
Benefits of Managing Cyber Risk
Optimize Cyber
Matt Quammen, President
Stefan Dorn, CEO & Chief Hacking Officer
- How cyber risk management opens new revenue opportunities
- What organizations need to do to manage cyber risk
- Costs of not managing cyber risk
- How working with cyber risk professionals can save you money
Matt Quammen has over a decade of technology and cybersecurity experience working with partners across technology, lawyers, insurance leaders, and service providers. He uses that experience to help organizations pull the right levers for protection and financial savings. Most importantly, he’s the son of an HVAC owner who believes in protecting the American Dream.
Stefan’s cybersecurity leadership transforms security programs from being cost centers to being strategic assets. With 15+ years of expertise, he builds and leads award-winning teams in security assessments, penetration testing, and incident response. Stefan’s forward-thinking methodologies safeguard organizations of all sizes against cyber threats while maximizing cybersecurity and technology ROL
DIRECTOR’S ROOM
Unlocking the Future of Physical Security
Verkada
Nick Alftin, ND Account Executive
Riley Cearley, ND & SD Account Executive
Discover how AI-driven searches and the latest integrations are streamlining security operations and shaping the future. We’ll also highlight real-world customer success stories, illustrating the powerful impact of our technology on businesses today. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how Verkada is pushing the boundaries of physical security with innovation at its core.
Nick Alftin specializes in utilizing Verkada’s cutting-edge security solutions to enhance safety and streamline operations for schools, cities, and county entities. Focusing on integrating video surveillance, access control, intercom systems, alarms, and electronic sign-ins, Nick helps institutions manage security seamlessly from one platform. His approach ensures real-time monitoring, scalability, and ease of use, allowing public institutions to stay ahead of evolving security needs with minimal effort.
Riley Cearley is an Account Executive at Verkada, where they help businesses improve security with advanced hybrid-cloud video surveillance and security solutions. With a focus on understanding client needs, Riley works to deliver tailored solutions that enhance safety and efficiency for organizations.
EXECUTIVE ROOM
Empowering Smarter Decisions: How Power BI Fuels Business Success
FM Forklift & Razor Consulting
Join us for a real world talk with two regional businesses who used Power BI to bring data to life. Modern business is full of data, but teams often struggle to use it effectively. In this session we will talk about how this partnership tackled that dilemma and led to powerful outcomes.
Coming soon.
2:00 - 2:45
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
BOARD ROOM
The Power of AI at the Edge: Harnessing Real Time Data for Maximum Impact
Lenovo
Don Taylor, ThinkEdge BDM - North America
Join me as we uncover the future of AI at the edge and its potential to address a wide range of business challenges. Learn how AI can be leveraged across various sectors including: retail, banking & finance, healthcare, and manufacturing.
Don is a veteran of the U.S. Naval Submarine Service and has been with Lenovo for 5 years. He started supporting the channel and now is focused on helping solve our customer’s most presing business challenges
DIRECTOR’S ROOM
Unified Security & Cloud Networking: Cisco Integration Strategies
Cisco
Matt Ham, Solutions Engineer
Ben Sherwood, Security Account Executive
Join us as we dive into the cutting-edge advancements in network security and connectivity. Discover how you can elevate your security posture, streamline network management, and optimize performance in a unified platform. Learn about the latest Security and Cloud Networking integrations designed to enhance your organization’s security and connectivity, ensuring a seamless and secure digital experience.
Matt is an engineer at Cisco who leverages over a decade of expertise in Enterprise Networking to help customers modernize their infrastructure and software. Matt is passionate about assisting clients in achieving their technology goals and dedicated to driving innovation and success.
Ben Sherwood (CISSP) is a Security Account Executive at Cisco who brings over 20 years of Cybersecurity experience, including specializations in Secure Service Edge, Endpoint, and Email security. He focuses on truly understanding the customer’s challenges in order to present options that help protect an organization while increasing operational efficiencies.
EXECUTIVE ROOM
Choose Your Own Internet Adventure Disaster
NCI
Mike Pagan, Sr Solution Architect / Azure Product Manager
Join us for a “Choose Your Own Adventure” styled tabletop discussion. If you’ve never done a security incident response
exercise, now is your chance! Audience participation is required.
Over the past 22+ years, Mike has worked in many areas of information technology and uses this experience to design and install solutions for our customers. A majority of his experience is in server software and hardware technology such as VMware vSphere and Microsoft products such as Exchange Server, Windows Server, Active Directory, Remote Desktop Services, and virtual desktops. Along with his server experience, he works with Cisco networking, Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, Veeam Backup & Recovery, and various server and storage hardware. Most recently, Mike has been designing and implementing cloud services including Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, and Azure Active Directory.
3:00 - 3:45
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
BOARD ROOM
Wearable Tech: Empowering Future Workforces
RealWear
Mike Pharr, Account Executive
Kyle Firlik, Senior Solutions Engineer
Explore the most powerful smart glasses for frontline workers. Learn about RealWear and the XR industry. We’ll discuss use-cases, do a demo, and see customer success stories.
Mike Pharr is an Account Executive with over nine years of experience in driving relationships within the technology sector. As an account executive at RealWear, he has consistently cultivated enterprise partnerships, and led key accounts across North America.
Kyle Firlik is a Senior Solutions Engineer at RealWear. With a background in Media and Communication Technology and 12 years experience in Mixed Reality customer success and technical implementation, he has extensive experience in deploying innovative solutions for the Frontline Worker.
DIRECTOR’S ROOM
Microsoft Dynamics CRM - ERP Solutions
Ingram Micro
Sam Sarsam, Solutions Sales Executive
Learn how Microsoft’s business applications can transform your business by automating processes, enhancing customer engagement, and providing real time visualization of your organization’s health.
Sam is Ingram Micro’s Solutions Sales executive for the Western United States with years of experience promoting Microsoft Dynamics 365 business applications and Power Platform solutions.
EXECUTIVE ROOM
Cyber Insurability
Arctic Wolf & Marsh McLennan Agency
Tim DeWaard, Regional VP - Sales Engineering
Dan Cahlander,
Director, Cyber and Technology Errors & Omissions
There is no question that cyber insurance applications and renewals have evolved over time. Based on today’s threat landscape and risk, insurers are evaluating organizations based on the tools, practices, and controls they have in place that contribute to risk reduction.
Tim is a Sales Engineering Manager for Arctic Wolf. He has 24 years of IT experience ranging from infrastructure, managed services, data protection, information security, disaster recovery/business continuity, and cyber security. Tim is currently leading a team of sales engineers for Arctic Wolf and is focused on helping clients reduce, and ultimately eliminate, cyber risk through a business oriented approach.
4:00 - 4:30
PANEL DISCUSSION
Our generous sponsors include:
