2024 Schedule below, 2025 coming soon

Keynote Speakers

Ballroom a

Farm Credit services of america stage

Dr. Radhika Dirks | 9 - 9:45 AM
Human Implications Of Generative AI And What It Means For Our Future

CEO & Co-Founder of XLabs and RIBO | Forbes’ 30 Women in AI to watch and AI Pioneer

Buckle up. The world as we know it is at the start of a major shift at the hands of artificial intelligence. Dr. Radhika Dirks, an expert in the AI field, uses the ocean as a metaphor for the waves of advanced AI technology that are rapidly approaching. She shares illustrations of AI’s power, its dangers, and the remarkable potential of this technology, all while emphasizing the key skills leaders will need to adapt.

Dr. Dirks urges leaders to be ethical visionaries, transforming themselves and prioritizing human connection, intelligence and intuition when utilizing AI for the greater good, while also acknowledging its potential dangers to society.

Russ Wagner & Jaclyn McLaughlin | 1:15 - 2PM
Transform Your Delivery, Not Your Company Culture

EVP CIO, FCSA

VP Strategy Enablement, FCSA

Are you seeking business sponsors who can champion your technology delivery? Adhering strictly to agile frameworks often falls flat with teammates and within company culture. Russ and Jaclyn will explore the practical application of agile principles and mindset through real-world examples. Instead of promoting a rigid, by-the-book approach, they will highlight the importance of customizing agile transformations to meet your organization's unique needs. Their session promises invaluable insights and practical guidance for successfully navigating agile transformations in large organizations.

Breakout Topics

Cybersecurity

Room 212

Room 214

Lisa McKee | 10 - 10:45 AM
I’m a Privacy Engineer…Are You?

Founding Partner / Assistant Professor, Bellevue University

Privacy engineers are often called unicorns. They are hard to find, and many are unaware they are in a privacy engineering role. Privacy engineering is a relatively new position in the field of privacy. This session will cover what is privacy engineering, how to be a privacy engineering, roles, and responsibilities of a privacy engineer, and why every organization should have one. Companies globally have been impacted by the many data protection laws that explicitly or implicitly demand privacy engineering, including the EU GDPR. Due to these regulatory obligations’ organizations need privacy engineers. The demand for privacy engineers are exponentially growing. It is often said privacy engineers are unicorns and do not exist. While there is a short supply to fill these in-demand positions, privacy engineers do exist. Often people are already in these roles without knowing it. This session addresses what is a privacy engineer. How to be a privacy engineer. The important role and responsibilities of a privacy engineer and why every organization should have one. The speakers will point you to key tools and frameworks and offer a practitioner’s perspective to help you get started implementing privacy engineering.

Christine Seeman | 11 - 11:45 AM
One Does Not Simply Add MFA

Senior Software Engineer, WP Engine

MFA (Multi-factor authentication), much like the fellowship in the Lord of the Rings, stands as a vital security pillar for any application, safeguarding against the dark forces of unauthorized access. However, even the most robust MFA mechanisms can face challenges. In this quest for digital security, our choices in implementing MFA can be as crucial as Frodo's decision to take the ring to Mount Doom. Join us on an adventure as we delve into the intricacies of MFA to ensure your implementation is as formidable as the defenses of Helm's Deep. We will lead you through the best practices for implementing MFA, helping you fortify your digital realms. Learn from real-world experiences — the battles, victories, and, yes, occasional setbacks — and equip yourself with the knowledge to shield your applications and not betray the trust of your users

data science / ai

Room 214

Room 211

Matthew Mangels | 3:15 PM - 4 PM

Enhancing Application Security: Assessing and Elevating Your Security Maturity

Vice President of Information Security, Moonshot Solutions

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, application security is more critical than ever. Join us for an insightful breakout session that will delve into the intricacies of assessing and improving application security maturity and discuss practical tools and methodologies for evaluating your current security posture.

We will explore key concepts such as threat modeling, risk assessment, and security frameworks and how they can be effectively integrated into your development lifecycle. Elevate your application's security maturity, ensuring a more resilient and trustworthy product for your users.

Take advantage of this opportunity to enhance your security expertise and contribute to a safer digital environment. Join us to discover how to make security integral to your development process and protect your applications from emerging threats.

Scott Poulin | 11 - 11:45 AM
Rags to Riches: Document Rich LLM Assistants

Global Head of AI | Improving

A Retrieval-augmented generation systems represent a groundbreaking fusion of technology, offering unparalleled benefits to both the industrial and academic sectors. This comprehensive presentation is dedicated to exploring the intricate process of constructing these advanced systems through the utilization of open-source technologies and managed solutions. It delves into the art of seamlessly integrating various supplementary components to enhance functionality and efficiency. Furthermore, the presentation will provide an in-depth analysis of the potential challenges and issues that may emerge from the implementation of these systems, offering insights into navigating these complexities effectively. This exploration not only highlights the technical aspects but also underscores the transformative impact these systems can have on the landscape of information processing and knowledge dissemination.

Karthik Nallajalla | 11 - 11:45 AM

Demystify Different Microsoft Copilots

Application Developer, Farm Credit Services of America

Have you ever been overwhelmed with the word Copilot? Were you wondering how to decide which Copilot to use? Let me shed some light on these queries by at least exploring various Microsoft Copilots and their offering with concise explanations of their functions and accessibility. Get ready to choose your perfect Copilot(s) for your daily tasks and elevate your work!

Alec Harrison | 2:15 - 3 PM
Azure AI Studio Overview

Technical Consultant, Lean TECHniques

Learn the fundamentals of cryptography, including public/private and symmetric encryption, hashing, and digital signatures. Discover which techniques are appropriate for various situations. Review practical real life examples for storing passwords, protecting URL parameters, securely exchanging information with partners, and safely encrypting sensitive information on public web sites. Concepts apply to all platforms, examples will be in C#.

Satish Agrawal | 3:15 - 4 PM
Building Production Ready RAG Applications

VP, Software Engineering and Architecture | Transit Technologies

Dive into the realm of cutting-edge Generative AI as we explore the art of constructing production-ready RAG applications. This session will guide you through the intricate process of leveraging Retrieval-Augmented Generative models, offering insights into seamless integration and real-world applications. Uncover the secrets to getting started wit your journey of crafting robust, efficient, and scalable RAG solutions that redefine the landscape of conversational AI.

Innovation

Room 213

Derek Stearns | 10 - 10:45 AM
Authenticity: How Quickly Cloud IT Projects Disappear and How to Make Them Resilient

Engineer | Mutual of Omaha

Developing an app from 0 to app store used to take a significant effort. How does one create an IT product that lasts? Let's gather to hear one story of an app for authenticity developed in 12 months and share stories of success or learning in how to keep our projects resilient.

Devon Seacrest | 11 - 11:45 AM
Building the Right Features: An Agile Approach to Usability Testing

CEO | CodeBuddy

The future of software is not so much about how we build new technologies but rather making sure we are building the right things. If a customer tells you they need a faster horse, do you build them a faster horse or a car? We take a step away from technical jargon and introduce a proven and easy to follow way of identify customer pain points and applying your organizations deeply rooted knowledge of the problem at hand.

Jiachen Jiang | 2:15 - 3 PM
A Developer's Guide to Managing Attention

Product Manager, Microsoft

Are you overwhelmed by the velocity and amount of information you have to process on a daily basis? Do you struggle to remember or pay attention to the right things? Do you find yourself procrastinating on important tasks that should be easy to do? You're not alone. In fact, these problems are common for tech workers because our jobs depend on our abilities to learn, adapt, and ignore the noise. Luckily, it is our training as developers and software knowledge that make us uniquely good at solving these problems. We have plenty of ways to manage limited processing power and memory for computers. A lot of that knowledge can be applied to something even more important – managing our own limited processing power and memory. This talk will discuss several software mental models that can be used to understand the problems we face with managing attention, including but not limited to technical debt, serialization, dependency management, and context switching. The goal is to dispel assumptions that lead to shame and guilt, and instead empower developers to build, customize, and use external libraries to create solutions for attention management that works for them.

Michael Dalke | 3:15 - 4 PM
Succeeding as an IT Enterprise Architect Amidst Professional Resistors

Systems Architect Principal & Manager, CSG International

What happens when everyone knows we need to implement a new IT architecture, but nobody is taking action? How do professional resisters undercut IT transformations and what is the best response? Regardless if you aspire to be an enterprise architect or if you have been an IT leader for many years, this session has something for everyone. Regardless of how many mergers and acquisitions make up your company, come and explore methods used to transforms business visions into sustainable enterprise IT solutions. As we explore the directive of enterprise architects, hear how to advance real behavioral change and influence key stakeholders. Come taste the secret sauce and discover for yourself which ingredients yield the greatest impacts (Culture, Process, Leadership, Governance, Value Delivery, etc.)

DEV/ Dev ops

Room 215

Room 216

Brendan Owens | 10 - 10:45 AM
Move Fast, but Don't Break Things: Bringing Waterfall Principles to Agile

Lead Software Engineer | Layer

HIn software engineering, agile has become the de facto methodology for shipping product. While agile brings many welcome changes to software, there are lessons to be learned from a waterfall approach. Some product features and changes take extensive planning and months of engineering effort, which can feel like it does not fit into agile’s “ship constantly” mindset. In this talk, we will discuss how (and why you want to) ship large features to your product on a longer-term schedule — all while still adhering to an agile development flow. This is the approach the companies such as AirBnb and Linear have adopted to produce large semiannual product releases more akin to hardware companies than software.

Ben Ferguson | 11 - 11:45 AM
Intro to Node

Senior Programmer/Analyst | Duncan Aviation

Node.js is known for its performance and scalability. While node used by most fortune 500 companies, is it the right tool for you? In this intro, we will discuss the benefits of node, common tools and supporting frameworks, and common problems to watch out for.

Jim Kudirka | 2:15 - 3 PM
A Zero Tolerance for Defects Mindset

Founder, Chief Architect | Premier Software Systems LLC

As software developers we must hold ourselves accountable for producing bug-free software. Our development process should yield the attitude "we dare QA to find a bug in our code." This session will cover strategies and techniques for how quality is earned during development. We will cover Unit and Integration tests, what they are, when to write them, and a decades old approach for determining how many tests to write. Finally, we will discuss some best practice techniques and conventions for organizing your tests that will set you up for success.

Adam McQuistan | 3:15 - 4 PM
Tips and Tricks for Developer Productivity

Engineer IV, Mutual of Omaha

High performance software development requires drawing on a variety of skills, techniques and character traits like the ability to learn new concepts or technologies quickly, disciplined pragmatism, problem solving, and familiarity with modern tooling. This presentation will focus on a collection of tips, tricks, and insights for wholistic improvement influenced by the aforementioned dimensions of developer productivity.

Tech Leadership

Room 216

Room 211

Chris Poore | 10 - 10:45 AM
How a Creative Side Hustle Made Me a Better Manager

Information Services Manager, Mutual of Omaha

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you follow your heart (and brain) into an IT career? Or did you set aside your creative spark for a more practical (and profitable) career? Do you have a creative fire burning inside, but work in a career where you believe creativity doesn’t belong? If so, don't despair, a creative future could be right around the corner!

 The technology industry has historically been the domain of left-brain thinkers, those people skilled at analytical and logical thought, who think in ones and zeroes to move their organizations forward. But more and more research shows that right-brain thinkers, with their creative and outside-the-box thinking, have an important role to play in today’s IT organizations.

 In this session, you’ll hear from an IT manager at a Fortune 300 who turned a creative background into a corporate IT career and is now applying lessons from writing his first novel into becoming a better manager and leader. You’ll learn how rekindling your dormant creativity can stimulate cognitive abilities, improve problem solving, make you a better strategic thinker, and give you a more satisfying career.

Leanne Ball & Scott Spratlen | 10 - 10:45 AM
Challenging Midwestern Mindsets: Unlocking the Full Potential of Technology Teams

VP Data & Analytics, Carson Group

IT Application Manager, Ag Processing

In the Heartland of America, cultural nuances and ingrained norms shape the professional landscape in ways that can inadvertently hold back technology employees from achieving their potential. Join us as we delve into the unique challenges faced by tech teams based in the Midwest. This session will explore key areas where traditional Midwestern values can become obstacles in the fast-paced world of technology: the dangers of assumptions and absolutes, the critical importance of precise language, the necessity of embracing vulnerability by asking for help, the misconception that direct communication is impolite, and more. Through real-world examples and actionable insights, we will reveal how these habits impact team dynamics, innovation, and overall productivity. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to foster a more open, direct, and collaborative work environment that empowers tech professionals to thrive. Whether you're a tech leader, manager, or team member, this presentation will equip you with the tools to break free from limiting mindsets and drive your team towards greater success. Join us for an impactful conversation about redefining the Midwestern approach to technology work.

Jim Kudirka | 11 - 11:45 AM
Writing Code with SOLID Design

Founder, Chief Architect | Premier Software Systems LLC

Have you ever worked on a software project that felt like a death march? Where you had no hope of success and even if you did release it, you knew it wouldn’t last long. Have you ever been afraid to make code changes because you weren’t sure if you were going to make the problem worse? Are you unsure how you should structure your code and software components? If any of these questions bring back bad memories or remind you of your current projects, then this presentation is perfect for you. We will walk through a few examples demonstrating how simple design techniques can drastically improve development efficiency and the supportability of our code. We will begin with a complex bloated service and walk through how we can apply SOLID principles to improve the design and our productivity. As a result, you will be armed with code design techniques that will set you up for greatness!

Chris Carlson | 2:15 - 3 PM
Leadership - 4 Cornerstones of Success

VP - Professional Specialty Teams | The Reserves Network

Leadership & People Development Workshop
We will learn how to create agreements across six categories.
• Outcome: What are the key results/goals your team member needs to achieve within your department?
• Activity: Identify actions/activities that are needed to achieve these outcomes.
• Process: Outline the approach needed to consistently complete their tasks and responsibilities. What existing processes or standard protocols exist to provide structure to their activities and ensure consistency? How can they be improved?
• Communication: Set communication standards for your team members. What commitments do they need to make to drive better communication?
• Behavior: What does good look like in terms of how they should behave?
• Values-Based: List your company's core values. NOTE: These values are in place to help drive their decision-making process.

Lunch Workshop

Room 210

Ben Ferguson | 3:15 - 4 PM
Lessons Learned From Boeing and the 737 Max

Senior Programmer/Analyst | Duncan Aviation

The disaster of the 737 Max crashes were a tragic loss of life, but the consequences didn't end there. There are several lessons to be learned from Boeing's failure. We will discuss what happened and why, but most importantly what we can do to prevent similar situations in our software and work place.

Julie Sigmon & Hannah Bergdolt | 12 - 1 PM

How the STEM Community Platform is Connecting the Local STEM Ecosystem

Director, Omaha STEM Ecosystem

The Omaha STEM Ecosystem’s mission is to build a stronger STEM community by connecting education and business development for tomorrow’s workforce. Together with AIM Institute, they created the STEM Community Platform, an online clearinghouse of information about STEM program offerings, career exploration, and resources with the goal of facilitating efficient and effective career pathways to bridge the talent gap.

 To make a lasting impact on the development of a STEM-skilled workforce in our community, we need your help! The STEM Community Platform cannot thrive without the support of a passionate community.

 In this session we will:

  • Highlight STEM resources that can guide the next steps for you and your organization

  • Explore Cities Learn, a purpose-built solution for strengthening STEM ecosystems, connecting local providers, documenting young peoples’ journeys, and empowering parents, all while generating actionable analytics to build and sustain a healthy local ecosystem

  • Discover local connections to magnify your organization’s impact

 We invite you to join the conversation and provide feedback!

HDC TECH BASH

Sponsored by Lunavi | 5:00 - 8:00 PM
LET IT FLY

Have fun connecting with attendees, presenters, and leaders in the tech community over music, games, and refreshments at our Mesh Party, sponsored by our friends at Lunavi.

1080 Capitol Ave, Omaha, NE 68102