2026 ANNUAL CONFERENCE & VENDOR SHOWCASE
(Sessions are still in development but those that are scheduled are listed below.)
TUESDAY OPENING:
INTRODUCTION:
Seth Arndorfer, CEO of Dakota Carrier Network
KEYNOTE:
ND State Broadband Office, Partnering with North Dakota’s Carriers on Delivering Last-Mile Broadband to 100% of all North Dakotans
Brian D. Newby, Broadband Program Director of NDIT
joined by Brian Nybakken, Broadband Program Manager of NDIT
Brian opens the event with an update on broadband grants activity over the last 3 three years, the Capital Project Fundsprojects awarded, how close they are to completion, the zigs and zags of Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) funding, where BEAD projects stand now, and an estimate of when North Dakota willfly the banner for being the first state in the country with 100 percent high-speed broadband coverage to all locations.
WEDNESDAY BREAKOUT SESSION TOPICS:
(topics are listed in alphabetical order by title and will be updated as the information becomes available)
7 Habits of Highly Effective Wi-Fi in Ubiquiti Networks
Eric Weber, WIFI-U
Eric Weber is the main instructor for WIFI-U, the leader in Ubiquiti training. In this session, he will cover the following points of highly effective Wi-Fi in your Ubiquiti network: Understanding how Wi-Fi works; Channels and Bandwidth; Signal Strength; APs and Placement; AP Density; Fast, Free, and Frictionless; and Measuring Success.
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811 in North Dakota: What Excavators and Utilities Need to Know
Ryan Schmaltz, ND One Call
Learn how the North Dakota One Call system works and what every excavator and contractor should know to stay safe, stay compliant, and avoid costly mistakes. From recent PSC complaints to law updates, this session provides real-world examples, practical tips, and essential reminders to help protect people, property, and infrastructure.
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Are Speed Tests Accurate in 2025?
Andrew Walding, Cellstream
Internet speed tests evaluate key performance metrics—download/upload throughput, latency (ping), jitter, and sometimes packet loss—by transferring data between your device and a test server. Different tools (Ookla Speedtest, Fast.com, nPerf, TestMy.net, Meteor, etc.) vary in protocol choices, test methodology and test-server selection, producing divergent results even under identical conditions. Most speed tests rely on TCP, which adapts to network congestion, retransmissions, and window scaling—thus skewing throughput measurements and making TCP a poor match for assessing raw link capability. What are the alternatives? And ultimately, are today's speed tests definitive measurements?
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Effective Use of AI in the Workplace: a Practical Guide
TrainND
We hear about AI all the time - but where is it best used in the day-to-day workplace? To fully unlock the value of this technology, it's critical to build your intuition on what AI can do - and how to avoid the pitfalls that come along with its potential. In this workshop, we’ll cover some common types of AI systems, models, and tools that you can start using today in an explainable, jargon-free way. We'll also discuss real-world examples of AI use cases where companies are already seeing value. Appropriate for all levels of AI maturity and interest.
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Fiber-What's Next?
Mike Lamb, Lightera
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From Burnout to Bandwidth: Protecting Your Energy at Work
Lisa Parry
People are a lot like networks; when overloaded, they crash! In customer-facing and office jobs, the pace can be exhausting, and burnout is real. This presentation offers simple ways to notice when your energy is low, reset your focus, and protect your own bandwidth. Expect tools you can use right away to keep yourself and your coworkers steady and strong.
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Futurepath Microduct
Blake Rhoads / Jake Irwin, Orbia (Dura-Line)
This session will cover the benefits of microtechnology solutions in your network design and override solutions for existing networks.
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Guiding Change at Work: Finding the Human Advantage
Lisa Parry
From new systems to new expectations, change is a constant in our professional lives, but success is not just about learning the latest tool. Rather, it is about how people handle the shifts together. This content includes a breakdown of common myths about change and focuses on down-to-earth strategies for staying flexible and building trust with customers and colleagues. You will leave with confidence and practical ideas for navigating transitions without losing the human connection.
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Introduction to Air Blown Fiber for Outside Plant Installations
Sean Kelly, Light Brigade
Outside plant cabling infrastructure has many associated costs that can make or break a project budget. Installation time is a key factor in not only cost but also meeting critical timelines. Time is money. Getting your fiber, and even composite cabling, from point A to point B can be more time-consuming than you might realize. There is a more efficient method that can reduce installation time, preserve duct space, and provide an efficient means to moves, adds, and changes in the outside plant. Air blown cable installation is a relatively new installation method in the US but is used as a proven installation solution in many parts of the world. This session will highlight the basics of outside plant installation using duct and air assistance. Whether you are considering air blown fiber solution for all or part of your next installation or just want to become familiar with the technology for future consideration, this session will address unknowns that you may have.
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Introduction to Ribbon Fiber and Splicing Best Practices
Andrew Degidio, Sumitomo Electric Industries
This presentation provides essential guidance for achieving quality ribbon fiber splices in modern fiber optic networks. It covers the fundamentals of flat and pliable ribbon technologies (including 200μm and 250μm configurations), emphasizes why proper splicing techniques are critical to network performance and cost control, and outlines best practices across the complete splicing workflow—from equipment maintenance and calibration through fiber preparation, cleaving, fusion splicing, and quality assurance. The core message: cleanliness is critical, proper preparation prevents problems, and investing time in correct techniques upfront saves time and money by avoiding costly rework and network failures.
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Likable Leadership in Everyday Work: Warmth and Competence in Action
Lisa Parry
Success in customer service and office roles is about more than knowing the system or following the script. The people who shine combine skill with a genuine human touch. This session demonstrates the ways credibility and kindness work together to build trust with customers and coworkers. You will walk away with practical ways to improve communication and strengthen workplace relationships.
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Looking to the Future – Fiber to the Edge
Justin Foth, Clearfield
In this session, we'll look to what’s next for the fiber world. As more fiber is placed and AI continues to grow, we’ll talk about what is next, including smart agriculture, edge data centers, gas/power sites, and defense.
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Managing and Leading Small Projects
Carla Hixson, TrainND
Today, in addition to the regular duties of your job, you are often expected to take on extra projects, and to get the project done well, on budget, and on time. This two-hour workshop is designed to familiarize you with the most common terms and practices for managing or working on small projects. Learn the basics of project management so you can effectively initiate, plan, execute, monitor, and close small projects.
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New Features in Appsuite
John Patterson, NISC
This session will walk you through how to work orders in AppSuite by utilizing the modernized view and current work management features.
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Power Over Ethernet (PoE)
James Anderson, Core4 Technologies
This presentation offers a comprehensive look at Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology. We will explore how a single network cable can provide both data and power, significantly reducing cabling infrastructure and installation costs. The discussion will cover PoE's key benefits, including enhanced network flexibility and reliability. It will also highlight the many applications in modern smart buildings, security systems, and wireless networks.
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The Math of Making AI Work
Dr. Terry Pilling, U of Mary
Have you ever wondered what makes Artificial Intelligence work? The mathematics of neural networks underlie all of the recent advances in Artificial Intelligence, including Large Language Models (LLMs), Diffusion Models, Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), and more. This session is geared to everyone regardless of your understanding of AI or math, showing how simple mathematics form the basis of all of these tools and, as a consequence, everyone will come to a better understanding of what is possible for the future of artificial intelligence and what is not.
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The What, How, and When of Access Control
James Anderson, Core4 Technologies
This session will provide a basic discussion of Access Control systems, answering questions including what access control is, how to install access control, when you would install it, and what components are needed and why. This session will also cover the different types of access control.
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Troubleshooting Wi-Fi Network Issues - A Step by Step Workflow
Andrew Walding, Cellstream
One of the most frequent calls for truck dispatches to customer sites is due to reports of slow, inoperative, or unreliable Internet service, particularly when the final delivery is through a Wi-Fi wireless LAN. Over time, we’ve embraced greater responsibility and control over managed Wi-Fi access points, making it essential to master wireless LAN troubleshooting. In this educational presentation a step-by-step workflow for diagnosing and resolving these issues, highlighting critical potential errors is offered and discussed. Great for all technical staff, particularly the field technicians and engineers, use it as a checklist to gather essential information, swiftly identify problems, and correct them with confidence and efficiency.
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Utility Locating Technology Changes with Centimeter Mapping Accuracy
Dylan Daugherty, Ditch Witch
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What to Expect From iVUE Connect
Cathy Fuller, NISC
Join Cathy as she demonstrates NISC's latest platform, iVUE Connect, and answers your questions on functionality.
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XGS PON Drivers and Considerations / Keeping it Simple: FTTH & OTDR Fundamentals with Smart Assistance
Mark Vreeland, Calix & Jeff Harmon, Viavi
In this session, you'll learn how XGS-PON technology and 10G PON solutions are powering the next generation of high-speed fiber networks. Discover practical tips for FTTH and OTDR testing, installation, and maintenance—all designed to help you boost broadband performance and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.
THURSDAY CLOSING SESSIONS:
Roadway Safety
NDHP
"If Only"
Dawn Chisholm
Dawn shares a real-life story about her first husband, Bill Lambert, and his fatal decision, that changed their family and their small community forever. In the fifteen years following Bill’s incident, Dawn embarked on a journey of healing, deepening her spiritual life and finding renewed purpose. This presentation aims to leave a meaningful and lasting impression on all who hear her story.
updated 10-24-25