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Unlock the Power of IBM i at POWERUp 2026!

Join us in New Orleans, Louisiana for POWERUp 2026, the premier conference for IBM i professionals. Whether you’re an experienced expert or just starting your IBM i journey, this event offers unparalleled education, hands-on workshops, and valuable networking opportunities. Stay ahead of the curve with insights from industry leaders, explore the latest innovations, and connect with a thriving community that shares your passion for IBM i. Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge, grow your skills, and power up your career!
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Monday, April 27
 

8:00am CDT

Opening Session
Monday April 27, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am CDT
Mardi Gras Ballroom

Speakers
avatar for Pete Massiello

Pete Massiello

IBM i Advisor, Massiello Holding Corp.
Pete Massiello has been working with the AS/400, iSeries, IBM i since 1989, focusing on systems management and technical support. He has held numerous technical positions through out his career. He is the President of iTech Solutions Group, an IBM Premier Business Partner delivering... Read More →
avatar for Steve Bradshaw

Steve Bradshaw

Friendly Techie, RowtonIT.com
My latest work as the Friendly Techie, includes assisting IBM i with the design and testing with IBM i 7.6 as both Beta Tester and Redbook Author, and as assistant in the design and testing of the new IBM i Migrate While Active tool and the AI based RPG Code Assistant.

I have worked in the IBM Business Partner world for over thirty years now and despite IBM's best attempts I still love them ;-) My career started as an RPG developer but for the last twenty years I have specialised in System Design, installation and management. In 2008 I founded my

... Read More →
avatar for Jack Woehr

Jack Woehr

Senior Engineer / Senior Consultant, Consulting to Procern Technology Solutions and Seiden Group LLC
40+ years development. IBM Champion 2021-2026.
IBM Qiskit Advocate since 2019. Secretary, OpenQASM Technical Steering Committee. MongoDB Creator status. Prolific Open Source creator/contributor. Former Contributing Editor, Dr. Dobb's Journal.
Consult on IBM i AI modernization... Read More →
avatar for Floyd Del Muro

Floyd Del Muro

Board President, COMMON

avatar for Hillery Hunter

Hillery Hunter

General Manager IBM Power, IBM
Hillery is the General Manager for IBM Power and serves as IBM Infrastructure CTO.  In this role, she is focused on setting the global strategy for both Power and Infrastructure Platform in addition to driving cross-functional innovation and growth across IBM's Infrastructure portfolio... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am CDT
Mardi Gras Ballroom
  Conference Events

9:30am CDT

Coffee Break
Monday April 27, 2026 9:30am - 10:00am CDT
Preservation Foyer

Monday April 27, 2026 9:30am - 10:00am CDT
Preservation Foyer
  Conference Events

10:00am CDT

Intro to SQL
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Studio 1-2
Evaluation Survey
If you're new to SQL or just need a refresher in the basics, this sessoin is for you. We'll explore how to use basic SQL commands to make your everday life easier.

Learning Objectives:

Understand 1. How to create an SQL statement 2. How to run an SQL statement 3. Some "gotcha" when using SQL
Speakers
avatar for Kent Milligan

Kent Milligan

Senior Db2 for i Consultant, IBM
Kent Milligan is a Senior Db2 for i Consultant in IBM Technology Expert Labs. Kent has over 25 years of experience as a Db2 for IBM i consultant and developer working out of the IBM Rochester lab. Prior to re-joining the Db2 for i Expert Labs practice in 2020, Kent spent 5 years... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Studio 1-2
  Database, Database

10:00am CDT

Code for IBM i & Co : contribute to an Open Source project !
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Balcony L
Evaluation Survey
Code for IBM i, the popular open source extension that brings modern IBM i development to VS Code is developed and maintained by developers, for developers. Why not join that community driven project ? More than 50 people already did and contributed to it, so, come on, join the fun ! There are many ways to contribute, not only through code but also by submitting ideas or bug reports, writing documentation or just spreading the word about how nice it is! Through this session given by some of the extension's Core Team members, step through the looking glass and come discover what the Open Source model has to offer and how you, too, can join the adventure. It doesn't matter if you're a developer or not - everyone is welcome!

Learning Objectives:

`- Understand what "open source project" means - Discover how the Code for IBM i project is managed - Meet the core team - Discover how to contribute to this project or others
Speakers
avatar for Sébastien Julliand

Sébastien Julliand

Tech Lead R&D, I AND ME - IT TRAINING
Hi, I'm Seb! I am the R&D Tech Lead for i and me - IT Training and Solutions GmbH and an active contributors to IBM i open source projects.

Let's talk about anything related to software development, on IBM i or not, it doesn't mater to me. RPGLE, Java, TypeScript...I love them all... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Balcony L
  General Programming, Personal Development, Programming: General

10:00am CDT

IBM i Networking Overview
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Balcony I-J
Evaluation Survey
IBM i OS network communications has changed a lot since the AS/400 primarily communicated to workstations and printers using Twinax and to other computer systems using specialized communications lines. In some ways things are more complex because our IBM i OS systems communicate to a lot of other devices in many different ways, but in other ways things are simpler today because nearly all network communications are built on top of the foundation of Ethernet and TCP/IP. This session will take a look at the foundations of Ethernet and TCP/IP and how they are built up within the IBM i OS. We will look at your communications adapters, Line Descriptions, and IP addresses, subnets, routes and more including the commands and interfaces used to manage these. As time allows we may also look at some of the most commonly used networking servers Telnet and FTP and cover their basics of configuration, management and even troubleshooting.

Learning Objectives:

Learn about the building blocks of IBM i Network Communications configuration and how they fit together. - Communications Adapters - Line Descriptions - IP Interfaces/Addresses - Routes - TCP/IP Start Up - and more...
Speakers
avatar for Wayne Bowers

Wayne Bowers

IBM i Global Support, IBM
Wayne Bowers has been with IBM since 1997, where he works with the IBM i Global Support Center in Rochester MN. He is an Advisory Software Engineer specializing in the support of the IBM i Access (aka Client Access) products, Console, the TCP Telnet communications server, and the... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Balcony I-J
  Networking

10:00am CDT

PHP Best practices and New and Exciting Updates on IBM i
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Studio 7-8
Evaluation Survey
PHP is moving fast these days. In this session, Alan will share his favorite techniques for creating APIs and web apps with PHP, plus introduce new PHP 8.5 features and how to prepare for them. Alan will also cover tips on upgrading from older releases, the risks of not upgrading, recent security enhancements, and best practices for PHP on IBM i. As a bonus, Alan offers a peek into how PHP is made and built.

Learning Objectives:

Power of PHP in today’s market with IBM i Why and how to get on a regular upgrade cycle with PHP Features and benefits of PHP 8.4 and 8.5 for security, performance, and ease of programming
Speakers
avatar for Alan Seiden

Alan Seiden

Principal Consultant, Seiden Group
How to modernize and create something new while leveraging your valuable business logic. Supporting developers, mentoring, staff augmentation, architecture, development and programming. Seiden PHP+ Server for IBM i, 
APIs, IBM i, open source, web, PHP, Node.js, Python, RPG, ERPs... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Studio 7-8
  PHP, Programming: PHP

10:00am CDT

What's New and Exciting in RPG
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Galerie 2
Evaluation Survey
With each new release of the IBM i operating system and with Technology Refreshes, IBM has given us some new features in RPG. This session tells you about the new and exciting features of RPG and how you might like to use each feature in your own applications.

Learning Objectives:

1. Overview of what is new in RPG 2. Quick examples of each new feature 3. Discussion of the PTFs and OS levels needed to use the features.
Speakers
avatar for Scott Klement

Scott Klement

Managing Partner, ORC LLC
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Galerie 2
  RPG, Programming: RPG

10:00am CDT

DS8000 Enterprise Storage Product Overview
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Galerie 5
Evaluation Survey
This session provides a focused overview of the DS8000 Enterprise storage server and dives into details of the recently released functionality.  Attendees will gain practical insight into how these updates improve security, performance, and operational efficiency.
Speakers
avatar for Clint Hardy

Clint Hardy

Senior Technical Staff Member, DS8000 Storage Architecture and Development, IBM
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Galerie 5
  Systems Management

10:00am CDT

IBM i Licensing 101
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Galerie 4
Evaluation Survey
Understanding IBM i licensing doesn't have to be complicated. In this session, the IBM i Product Management Team will break down key concepts, terms, and definitions to help you navigate IBM i licensing with confidence. We will clarify topics such as license transfers, Group SWMA, and the differences between non-expiring and subscription licenses. You will also hear answers to the most common questions received from clients throughout the year. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how IBM i licensing works and how to make informed decisions for their environment.

Learning Objectives:

•Understand key IBM i licensing concepts •Differentiate IBM i licensing types and entitlements •Navigate common IBM i licensing scenarios confidently
Speakers
avatar for Brandon Pederson

Brandon Pederson

IBM i and Power Product Marketing Manager, IBM

Brandon Pederson is the Product Marketing Manager for IBM i and Modernization within the IBM Power business. Prior to this role, Brandon was Content Marketing Manager for IBM WebSphere and Content and Community Manager for IBM Power. He has a degree in Marketing from Concordia Uni... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Galerie 4
  Systems Management, IT Leadership & Management, IT Strategy, Systems Management

10:00am CDT

IBMi Myth busters: Transforming Bad Habits in Best
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Galerie 1
Evaluation Survey
Best Practices is all about meeting IBM system compliance to achieve optimal results. Don’t let old myths or newly formed bad habits be the difference between success or a failure in service delivery. This session will examine V7R4/R5 System configurations, BRMS Backups, Disaster Recovery, and Security Management. Examine assumptions, technical gaps, blunders, and recommendations. Hear actual lessons learned so you do not make the same IBM i assumptions others have made. IT is not a game of chance.

Learning Objectives:

1. Distinguish between outdated IBM i practices and modern, compliant configurations. 2. Learn proven methods to optimize BRMS backups, DR routines, and system security. 3. Apply real-world lessons to improve performance, reliability, and audit readiness.
Speakers
avatar for Richard Dolewski

Richard Dolewski

VP, Hybrid Enterprise Solutions, Lightedge
avatar for Josh Patterson

Josh Patterson

Sr. Solutions Architect, Lightedge
Josh is a Senior Solutions Architect and IBM Champion at Lightedge, focused on modernizing enterprise cloud solutions for IBM Power platforms.  Subject matter expertise in designing resilient, cost-effective hybrid-cloud strategies and high-availability architectures that align technology... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Galerie 1
  Systems Management, Systems Management

10:00am CDT

Introduction to the Navigator for i Performance Tasks
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Balcony M-N
Evaluation Survey
Navigator for i has a rich set of tools to help you understand the performance of your IBM i. This session will review these performance tasks; from traditional performance management tasks, to System Monitors for real-time monitoring, the Performance Data Investigator to understand your performance signature, and Graph History for long-term trending. Attend this session to learn about these features and how to use them.

Learning Objectives:

Learn about the various tasks in Navigator for i to understand the performance characteristics of your system. Learn about Custom Charts, System Monitors, the Performance Data Investigator, and Graph History.
Speakers
avatar for Dawn May

Dawn May

Owner, Dawn May Consulting, LLC
Dawn has been involved with COMMON for over 20 years and has been a consistent volunteer since 2008. She's been a member of the strategic education team, a subject matter expert, and a speaker. As Immediate Past President of COMMON, she's focused on leading COMMON as the industry... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Balcony M-N
  Systems Management, Systems Management

10:00am CDT

AI with IBM Power - portfolio and strategy
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Studio 9-10
Evaluation Survey
This topic will cover the point-of-view for AI with IBM Power. We will talk about the challenges that the industry is facing with AI, how this is relevant to Power customers and the portfolio that we are building to address these challenges.

Learning Objectives:

n/a
Speakers
avatar for Ashwin Srinivas

Ashwin Srinivas

Senior Product Manager AI for IBM Power, IBM
I am responsible for the driving AI SW offerings on IBM Power servers supporting use cases that are relevant to IBM Power customers. I am  responsible for the strategy, product roadmap and market success of AI with IBM Power products related to our ecosystem of ISV solutions and... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Studio 9-10
  Technologies Integrated with IBM i, Artificial Intelligence (AI)

10:00am CDT

Futureproof your Business as it Relates to your IBM i
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Galerie 3
Evaluation Survey
This session will evolve around your choices for future proofing your IBM i. With limited resources and stretched budgets, how do you get the most out of your system. Many companies face the challenge of improving or modernizing their IT environment. What does that really mean? What are your choices? • Modernize your applications? • Modernize your Infrastructure? • Modernize data management? • Enhance security? • Move to a Cloud Environment? We will explore your choices and offer tried and true suggestions. Your first choice - attend this session.

Learning Objectives:

Modernization means different things to different companies. Many decisions will have to be made, different choices. we will point out a few choices to help you in your decision-making process.
Speakers
avatar for Mike Stein

Mike Stein

COO, Integrative Systems
Helping You Succeed First with your IBM i & Microsoft Software Applications
avatar for Stephanie Rabbani

Stephanie Rabbani

Engagement Manager, Integrative Systems
A manager for Integrative Systems, Stephanie Rabbani has been helping customers on the IBM i for over 20 years. She previously worked for BCD Software Professional Services.

In her IBM i career, she has developed a large range of applications such as APIs, shopping carts, ordering... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Galerie 3
  Technologies Integrated with IBM i

10:00am CDT

Quantum Computing: an overview
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Galerie 6
Evaluation Survey
Certainly, quantum computing seems to be a major evolution in computing, but what does that mean to you? What IS it? Why is it so important? Who is actually using it? Why should I care? This session aims to answer all of these questions and more!

Learning Objectives:

An overview of quantum computing and a summary of IBM's quantum technologies.
Speakers
avatar for Jack Woehr

Jack Woehr

Senior Engineer / Senior Consultant, Consulting to Procern Technology Solutions and Seiden Group LLC
40+ years development. IBM Champion 2021-2026.
IBM Qiskit Advocate since 2019. Secretary, OpenQASM Technical Steering Committee. MongoDB Creator status. Prolific Open Source creator/contributor. Former Contributing Editor, Dr. Dobb's Journal.
Consult on IBM i AI modernization... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Galerie 6
  Technologies Integrated with IBM i, Technologies Integrated with IBM i

10:00am CDT

What is new on IBM Power Virtual Server
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Studio 3-4
Evaluation Survey
During the last year a lot has happened. IBM Power Virtual Server has also made some major improvements. In this session we are going to discuss the updates and improvements that has been done on IBM Power Virtual Server, and how this helps you in archiving your business goals. This session is useful for current IBM Power Virtual Server customers, but also if you are currently not using IBM Power Virtual Server, this session can help you get a got impression of what IBM Power Virtual Server is, and why it is now a good moment to consider moving to IBM Power Virtual Server.

Learning Objectives:

what is new on IBM Power Virtual Server and how can this help IBM i customers
Speakers
avatar for Dan Sundt

Dan Sundt

IBM i Product Manager, IBM
Dan Sundt is an IBM i product manager. He has the responsibility for the IBM i business, including defining and guiding future directions and strategies. He works with the IBM i sales, marketing, and development teams as well as customers and partners to ensure that the IBM i operating... Read More →
avatar for Tonny Bastiaans

Tonny Bastiaans

Product Manager IBM Power Virtual Server (PowerVS), IBM Netherlands

Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Studio 3-4
  Virtualization, IT Leadership & Management, IT Strategy, Systems Management

10:00am CDT

IBM i Security Basics
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 12:15pm CDT
Balcony K
Evaluation Survey
This is an "IBM i Security 101" double-session. We will cover IBM i security topics from the basics (user profiles, system values, and object authority) through more advanced topics (adopted authority, authority checking, IFS considerations, audit journaling, and a multi-layer defensive posture). We'll cover some of these topics from the traditional "greenscreen" as well as Navigator for i. This session is intended to "scratch the surface" on a wide range of IBM i security concepts.

Learning Objectives:

"Learn and understand how security is implemented in the IBM i platform: 1. User/group profiles 2. System values 3. Object-level authority "
Speakers
avatar for Steve Riedmueller

Steve Riedmueller

Director of Security Services, Kisco
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 12:15pm CDT
Balcony K
  Security, Security, Systems Management

11:15am CDT

Beyond Modernization: The Year Ahead for AI and Power Systems
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Balcony M-N
Evaluation Survey
As enterprise AI shifts from experimentation to execution, Power Systems are becoming central to how organizations deploy and scale AI alongside mission‑critical workloads. This panel looks ahead at what’s next for AI on Power - examining emerging architectures, the impact of IBM Spyre, and how AI is shaping modernization efforts across applications and data. Panelists will share forward‑looking perspectives rooted in real customer environments, highlighting where change is happening, where focus matters most, and how Power customers can prepare for the next phase of enterprise AI without disrupting what already works.

Key Themes and Discussion Topics:
·       The shift to production‑scale AI on Power Systems
·       The role of IBM Spyre in advancing AI performance and efficiency
·       What agent‑driven and more autonomous AI means for core platforms
·       AI’s influence on application and data modernization
·       Extending existing IBM i and Power workloads with AI capabilities
·       Governance, security, and responsible AI considerations
·       Near‑term priorities for Power customers in the year ah

Speakers
avatar for Charles Guarino

Charles Guarino

CEO & IBM Champion, Central Park Data Systems
Charles Guarino believes in the “power” of IBM Power Systems. His career reflects his dedication and interest in bringing the platform and its solutions to others and as a result has been recognized as an IBM Champion.

He is a member of COMMON’s Speaker Excellence Hall of Fame and a proud recipient of the Al Barsa Memorial Scholarship Award. Additionally, he participates on COMMON’s Strategic Education Team. Other professional endeavors have included the roles of President and monthly Q&A host... Read More →
avatar for Dave Wiseman

Dave Wiseman

The Large User Group
avatar for Ashwin Srinivas

Ashwin Srinivas

Senior Product Manager AI for IBM Power, IBM
I am responsible for the driving AI SW offerings on IBM Power servers supporting use cases that are relevant to IBM Power customers. I am  responsible for the strategy, product roadmap and market success of AI with IBM Power products related to our ecosystem of ISV solutions and... Read More →
avatar for Chris Chapman

Chris Chapman

Director of AI and Engineering, PMsquare
Chris manages PMsquare’s AI and engineering teams, bringing nearly two decades of experience architecting and deploying advanced analytics, enterprise applications, and AI systems for enterprises of all sizes.
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Balcony M-N
  Artificial Intelligence (AI)

11:15am CDT

Run Away Queries Got You Down?
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Studio 1-2
Evaluation Survey
Having negative performance impacts from query tools like Query/400, QMF, Showcase, Tableau and others because of the "query from heck" eating up system resources? Is your system open to security exposures from wide-open ODBC type connections? This session will cover options including using the new-ish Db2 Query Supervisor to control and/or audit long-running queries.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn about the Db2 Supervisor to control and/or audit long running queries. 2. Gain insight into the tools you can use to monitor, tune, and prune queries.
Speakers
avatar for Kent Milligan

Kent Milligan

Senior Db2 for i Consultant, IBM
Kent Milligan is a Senior Db2 for i Consultant in IBM Technology Expert Labs. Kent has over 25 years of experience as a Db2 for IBM i consultant and developer working out of the IBM Rochester lab. Prior to re-joining the Db2 for i Expert Labs practice in 2020, Kent spent 5 years... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Studio 1-2
  Database, Database

11:15am CDT

VS Code for i - Database Extension
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Galerie 3
Evaluation Survey
This session is a review of the newest and most awesome features added to the VS Code4i Database Extension. This is designed to be an interactive, with questions and comments from the attendees, so be ready to interact, cheer, jeer, or inspire us with your good ideas.

Learning Objectives:

1) Understand what's possible today with the VS Code4i Database Extension. 2) Understand when to use VS Code4i vs other tools 3) Interact with the VS Code4i Database Extension technology leaders
Speakers
avatar for Scott Forstie

Scott Forstie

Senior Technical Staff Member, IBM
Scott Forstie is a Senior Technical Staff Member within IBM i development and spends most of his time working as the Db2 for i Architect. He has worked on IBM operating system development since joining IBM in 1989.
Scott is a frequently published author, speaker at industry events... Read More →
avatar for Sanjula Ganepola

Sanjula Ganepola

Software Developer - IBM i App Dev & AI Toolchain, IBM
Sanjula Ganepola is a Software Developer at IBM working on IBM i application development tools. As an open-source advocate, he is an active contributor and maintainer of several Visual Studio Code extensions including IBM i Project Explorer, Code for IBM i, IBM i Testing, Source Orbit... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Galerie 3
  Database, Database, Programmer Tools

11:15am CDT

AI Won't Take Your Job: How to Become Irreplaceable in the AI Era
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Balcony L
Evaluation Survey
The fear is real. AI can now write code, generate documentation, and handle tasks that once required skilled developers. So what happens to your career? Here's the truth: AI won't replace developers who know how to leverage it - it will only make them more valuable. In this session, we'll show you exactly how AI can multiply your value rather than diminish it. You'll see live demonstrations of developers using AI to tackle work they've never done before, from writing RPG code without RPG experience to generating complete documentation in minutes to automatically generating regression test code. We'll share real stories from our team about the transition from skepticism to enthusiastic adoption, including the specific moment when everything clicked. You'll learn practical strategies for integrating AI into your workflow, understanding what AI does well versus where human expertise remains critical, and positioning yourself as the developer who bridges traditional systems with AI-powered innovation. Whether you're worried about job security or ready to embrace the future, you'll leave with concrete steps to make yourself more valuable than ever.

Learning Objectives:
Attendees will understand how AI tools enhance rather than replace developer value. They will see ways that AI can eliminate many of the boring and painful tasks (eg. documentation and writing test cases) while freeing them for more creative work. They'll learn specific techniques for leveraging AI while enhancing code quality, see real examples of productivity improvements, and develop strategies for becoming AI-proficient developers who are more valuable to their organizations.
Speakers
avatar for Aaron Magid

Aaron Magid

Chief Architect, Eradani
Aaron Magid, Chief Architect at Eradani, has over a decade of experience in software development and technology. He specializes in modernizing legacy systems like IBM i/AS400 using Python, Node.js, and Java. Aaron excels in bridging old and new technologies together for clients, helping... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Balcony L
  Developing Business Skills

11:15am CDT

AI and IBM i Trends and Directions
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Balcony I-J
Evaluation Survey
In a world where artificial intelligence is becoming more and more prominent, how will your business adapt and thrive? Your journey can start here, with an exploration of IBM's strategy and offering set. In this session, we will explore the available AI technologies and what they mean for IBM i.

Learning Objectives:

An understanding of AI tools to build out your company's strategy with AI
Speakers
avatar for Jesse Gorzinski

Jesse Gorzinski

STSM and Senior Business Architect - AI and Open Source, IBM
Experienced business architect from IBM and a specialist in the IBM i platform. My passion is enabling enterprises to adopt artificial intelligence and open source technologies.
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Balcony I-J
  General Programming, Artificial Intelligence (AI), IT Strategy

11:15am CDT

OAuth: What it is, how it works and why you want to use it
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Galerie 6
Evaluation Survey
OAuth is a critical security framework for modern web and mobile applications, enabling secure access to resources without sharing user credentials. We will start with the history, foundational concepts and terminology of OAuth. We then describe the different types of OAuth clients and the appropriate authorization flows, grant types, and scopes. We will explore the different types of tokens, explain JWTs, and introduce OpenID Connect. Whether you're a developer, security professional, or someone looking to understand OAuth in more depth, this session will provide a solid introduction to one of the most essential standards in the world of secure authentication and authorization.

Learning Objectives:

1. The need/history of OAuth 2. Terminology 3. Client types 4. Authorization flows 5. Tokens
Speakers
avatar for Patrick Behr

Patrick Behr

Senior Consultant & Instructor, Seiden Group & imPower Technologies
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Galerie 6
  General Programming, Programming: General

11:15am CDT

What's New in PowerHA?
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Studio 7-8
Evaluation Survey
PowerHA for IBM i continues to evolve, with new capabilities and enhancements delivered multiple times each year. In this session, we’ll explore the latest features and improvements that simplify high availability and disaster recovery management. Stay up to date, gain practical insight into deployment strategies, and ensure you’re getting the most from the latest PowerHA innovations.

Learning Objectives:

1. See what's new in PowerHA 2. Learn how to provide feedback to shape the roadmap
Speakers
avatar for Brian Nordland

Brian Nordland

Director of Development, Fortra
Brian Nordland is the Director of Development for IBM Power Development at Fortra. Brian has been a prominent speaker at events, webinars, and user groups, including COMMON and LUG for over a decade. He is a co-inventor on multiple patents and has authored technical publications in... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Studio 7-8
  High Availability Resilience

11:15am CDT

IBM i in 2026 - Collaborative Strategy in the Era of AI
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Galerie 5
Evaluation Survey
The pace of change and innovation is accelerating with the advent of AI. IBM i, as an integrated solution platform, has a strong strategy and roadmap for the future. In this session, Steve Will, IBM i CTO and Chief Architect will partner with Kris Whitney, IBM i Chief Engineer, to explain the strategy, show the roadmap, and highlight the ways in which IBM collaborates with the IBM i community to set the direction of the platform.
Speakers
avatar for Steve Will

Steve Will

IBM i CTO & Chief Architect, IBM

avatar for Kris Whitney

Kris Whitney

IBM
Kris Whitney is a Senior Technical Staff Member at IBM Rochester. He is currently the IBM i Chief Engineer
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Galerie 5
  IT Leadership and Management

11:15am CDT

Modernizing Applications on IBM i: From Maintenance to Momentum
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Galerie 1
Evaluation Survey
IBM i shops are at a crossroads. Core applications continue to run the business reliably—but aging architectures, monolithic code, and skill gaps are slowing innovation. Executives are asking for speed and flexibility, while developers are stretched maintaining decades of business logic. The good news? Modernization doesn’t mean starting over. It means unlocking new value from what you already have. In this session, Amy Blea will break down a practical, business-aligned approach to application modernization on IBM i. We’ll explore why modernization is no longer just a technical upgrade—but a strategic investment that reduces maintenance effort, improves agility, and prepares applications to participate in AI, cloud, analytics, and API-driven ecosystems.

Learning Objectives:

In this session, Amy Blea shares real modernization journeys from IBM i clients—what sparked the change, the roadblocks they hit, and the outcomes they achieved. You’ll learn: * How companies modernized applications while keeping the business running * What worked—and what stalled—when moving from green screen to modern web and API-driven interfaces * How different teams adopted tools like VS Code, Git, DevOps, and AI-assisted development * Where AI-powered code assistants sped up code understanding, conversion, documentation, and developer onboarding Whether you’re a CIO looking to future-proof your IBM i investment or a developer eager to move beyond maintenance work, this session delivers practical guidance, tools, and inspiration to accelerate your modernization journey confidently and sustainably.
Speakers
avatar for Todd Stewart

Todd Stewart

Application Architect, Heartland Co-op
Todd has worked in IBM midrange computing since 1989, developing applications from the System/34 to IBM i on Power. He has held roles including Developer, Analyst, Project Lead, Solutions Delivery Manager, and Application Development Director in the retail, and bonding/insurance industries... Read More →
avatar for Steven Wolk

Steven Wolk

CTO, PC Richard & Son
Steven Wolk is the CTO for PC Richard & Son. Founded in 1909, PC Richard is a family owned and operated chain of over 65 appliance, electronics, and mattress superstores located throughout NY, NJ, CT, and PA. Steve's deep background in retail began on the sales floor while in college... Read More →
avatar for Amy Blea

Amy Blea

Senior Product Manager, IBM i Modernization, IBM
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Galerie 1
  IT Strategy, Artificial Intelligence (AI), DevOps, IT Strategy, Programmer Tools, Programming: RPG

11:15am CDT

An Overview of IBM i Migrate While Active
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Studio 9-10
Evaluation Survey
IBM i Migrate While Active makes it easy to transition between systems and platforms with minimal service disruption, supporting seamless migrations to new hardware, private cloud environments, or public cloud infrastructure. In this session, you'll get a comprehensive overview of IBM's latest release of Migrate While Active. Discover how this solution enables near-zero downtime migrations, and explore real-world use cases and success stories.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the functionality of IBM i Migrate While Active, including how it enables near-zero downtime migrations across systems, platforms, and cloud environments. 2. Identify key prerequisites, planning steps, and best practices for executing a successful migration using Migrate While Active, whether moving to new hardware, private cloud, or public cloud. 3. Analyze real-world use cases and success stories to gain practical insights into how organizations have leveraged Migrate While Active to modernize their infrastructure while maintaining business continuity.
Speakers
avatar for Shauna Rollings

Shauna Rollings

Senior Software Engineer - IBM i Performance Tools & High Availability Development, IBM
Shauna joined the IBM i development team in 2008. She has developed and supported IBM i performance data collector tools throughout her entire IBM career. From the very beginning of the Db2 Mirror for i project, she has also been the technical team lead for the Db2 Mirror Configuration... Read More →
avatar for Ann Wilkerson

Ann Wilkerson

Software Developer, IBM
Ann Wilkerson is a lead user interface developer in IBM i. She joined the Rochester lab in 2021 and has since worked on Navigator, IBM i Services, and IBM i Migrate While Active. Her focus areas include security, networking, and the IFS.
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Studio 9-10
  Systems Management

11:15am CDT

BRMS First Steps
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Studio 3-4
Evaluation Survey
This session will run through the installation, configuration, implementation, and some of the landmines in most BRMS installations. You can install and be up and running with a simple back up plan (most likely what you do now) in less than a day. Both BR2's GUI and BR1 configuration will be covered.

Learning Objectives:

1.Know how to install and maintain BRMS in a production environment 2. Know what advanced options are available and when to use them 3. Understand the differences between versions and how to work with both
Speakers
avatar for Sarah Jacob

Sarah Jacob

VP of Customer Experience, Agile Technology Architects
Sarah Jacob is the Vice President of Customer Experience at Agile Technology Architects. She is a Subject Matter Expert in Power Systems Administration and a volunteer for COMMON. Sarah specializes in Backup and Recovery planning and recovery testing. Additionally, she acts as primary... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Studio 3-4
  Systems Management, High Availability Resilience

11:15am CDT

What you need to Know to Successfully Upgrade to IBM i 7.6 or 7.5
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Galerie 4
Evaluation Survey
When upgrading to IBM I, the planning stage requires more effort than the actual upgrade. Once the planning is complete, the upgrade itself is simple. We will discuss at length the planning tips, prerequisites, and all preparation. Plus the post-installation requirements. Everything you need to know to do a successful upgrade. Your upgrade is not fully complete until this final step is done.

Learning Objectives:

What you need to check for when preparing your system for an upgrade. Also, identify the required PTFs before the upgrade to avoid problems, and ensure completion of the necessary steps for a successful upgrade.
Speakers
avatar for Pete Massiello

Pete Massiello

IBM i Advisor, Massiello Holding Corp.
Pete Massiello has been working with the AS/400, iSeries, IBM i since 1989, focusing on systems management and technical support. He has held numerous technical positions through out his career. He is the President of iTech Solutions Group, an IBM Premier Business Partner delivering... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Galerie 4
  Systems Management, Systems Management

11:15am CDT

UNIXCMD: Integrating RPG with Open Source
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Galerie 2
Evaluation Survey
Applications in the PASE environment (Java, Ruby, PHP, Python, Node.js and more) have taken the IBM i community by storm. Naturally, you'll want to integrate them with your traditional RPG and CL programs... but it's not as easy as it sounds! The model of calling Unix-based programs is very different from the traditional model. The Open Source (free!) UNIXCMD project makes it easy. With UNIXCMD, you can read and write commands the same way you access files.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the difference between Unix and IBM i calling models 2. Understand how to use UNIXCMD to bridge the two models. 3. Some examples to get you started
Speakers
avatar for Scott Klement

Scott Klement

Managing Partner, ORC LLC
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Galerie 2
  Technologies Integrated with IBM i, Integrated File System (IFS), Programmer Tools, Programming: RPG

12:30pm CDT

Jeff Carey NOLA Session
Monday April 27, 2026 12:30pm - 1:00pm CDT
Third Floor, near Mardi Gras Ballroom
Jeff Carey, who's been volunteering and speaking at COMMON for years, happily talks about his deep personal connection to COMMON and the contagious energy of New Orleans — plus he shares friendly, upbeat tips to help you make the most of every minute in this awesome city.
Speakers
avatar for Jeff Carey

Jeff Carey

Midrange Engineer III - IBM i, Lightedge
Jeff Carey is an IBM i professional with over 30 years of experience on the platform, specializing in system administration. He currently is a Midrange Engineer for Lightedge, a company providing managed services for IBM i, VMware, Nutanix, AIX, AWS and Azure. He is on the Board of... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 12:30pm - 1:00pm CDT
Third Floor, near Mardi Gras Ballroom
  Conference Events

1:15pm CDT

Keynote: IBM Bob - Your IBM i AI Development Partner
Monday April 27, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
Mardi Gras Ballroom
Evaluation Survey
IBM Bob is an AI-powered development partner for IBM i. Your IBM i runs everything. Bob helps you run faster. Bob accelerates initiatives that traditionally take months like converting fixed-format RPG to free-form, migrating DDS to SQL DDL, refactoring monolithic programs into modular services, and generating comprehensive documentation and tests.  Bob bridges the skills gap and ensures the long-term viability of IBM i investments through intelligent, incremental modernization that preserves decades of business logic. The next era of IBM i development starts now.
Speakers
avatar for Tim Rowe

Tim Rowe

STSM - IBM i Business Architect, IBM USA
Tim Rowe is a Senior Technical Staff Member within IBM i development and spends most of his time working as the Architect for Application Development and Systems Management. He has been working on the IBM i operating system since 1989. Tim is a frequent author, industry speaker and... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
Mardi Gras Ballroom
  Conference Events

2:15pm CDT

COMMON Problem Solving
Monday April 27, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Mardi Gras Ballroom
Ready for problem-solving without the programming?Join us Monday for a laid-back, analog team challenge. Step away from the screens and work together to crack word puzzles and brain teasers. It’s a fun way to connect with the COMMON community while putting your teamwork skills to the test.
Monday April 27, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Mardi Gras Ballroom
  Conference Events

3:15pm CDT

COBOL TO SQLRPGLE - Reducing Technical Debt using AI
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Galerie 4
Evaluation Survey
In this session, Tim will go over:

  1. Why COBOL shops are facing a talent and maintenance crisis
  2. How to use Claude to accelerate modernization
  3. Flattening COBOL: copybooks, file defs, I/O expansion
  4. Generating free-format SQLRPGLE from expanded source
  5. Prompt tuning, context limits, hallucinations & lessons learned
  6. Results ^ Q/
Speakers
TS
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Galerie 4
  Artificial Intelligence (AI)

3:15pm CDT

Stepping through SQL Performance
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Studio 3-4
Evaluation Survey
Every SQL statement has a predefined steps that it must go through before it can complete you data base requests.  Each step taken can positively or negatively impact SQL performance - especially on transactional applications that are running the same set of SQL statements over and over again. This session will explain each step needed to run an SQL statement and the structures that Db2 creates that can impact performance. In addition, this session will review application design and settings that can impact the performance of the required steps.

Learning Objectives:

How Db2 manages the runtime execution of SQL. Differences between the 3 types of SQL: Static, Dynamic, and Extended Dynamic (ie, SQL Packages). Performance difference between SQL Full Opens & Pseudo Opens and the factors that determine when a Full Open must be performed.
Speakers
avatar for Kent Milligan

Kent Milligan

Senior Db2 for i Consultant, IBM
Kent Milligan is a Senior Db2 for i Consultant in IBM Technology Expert Labs. Kent has over 25 years of experience as a Db2 for IBM i consultant and developer working out of the IBM Rochester lab. Prior to re-joining the Db2 for i Expert Labs practice in 2020, Kent spent 5 years... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Studio 3-4
  Database

3:15pm CDT

Avoid Distractions, Get Focused
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Studio 1-2
Evaluation Survey
We live in a world of endless distractions. Get distracted and you lose focus. According to research, it takes around 23 minutes to refocus after a distraction. Should we manage the distractions? Or let ourselves get distracted? Or learn to focus despite the distractions? If you can’t focus your attention, how can you accomplish anything? This session will teach you how to identify when and why you’re being distracted, what to do about it, and how to increase your focus.

Learning Objectives:

1) How to identify when you’re distracted 2) Understanding why you get distracted 3) How to avoid distractions 4) How to increase your focus
Speakers
avatar for Kim Greene

Kim Greene

President, Kim Greene Consulting, Inc.
Kim Greene is president of Kim Greene Consulting, Inc. specializing in providing consulting services for the HCL Collaboration Solutions portfolio for IBM i, Windows, and Linux. Kim has over 20 years of experience with IBM Domino and over 25 years of experience with the AS/400, iSeries... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Studio 1-2
  Developing Business Skills, Developing Business Skills, Personal Development

3:15pm CDT

How to Make the Most Out of Advisory Connect and Expert Labs Assets in IBM i Subscription Bundles
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Galerie 5
Evaluation Survey
Organizations running IBM i environments are increasingly looking for ways to accelerate modernization, strengthen resilience, and maximize the value of their platform investments. IBM i subscription bundles include valuable services such as Advisory Connect and IBM Expert Labs assets, but many clients are not fully aware of how to take advantage of them. In this session, you will learn how to unlock the full value of these resources and incorporate them into your IT strategy. We will explore how Advisory Connect provides direct access to IBM experts for guidance on architecture, modernization, security, and operational best practices, while Expert Labs assets can help accelerate implementation, troubleshooting, and optimization projects. Join us to understand what services are available within IBM i subscription bundles, how to engage with these resources effectively, and practical examples of how organizations are using them to drive faster outcomes and stronger platform value.
Speakers
avatar for Eric Barsness

Eric Barsness

Global Resiliency Practice Leader, IBM
Eric Barsness is theGlobal Resiliency Practice Leader for IBM i in Expert Labs and an IBM Master Inventor. Eric specializes in IBM i resiliency, performance and scalability and has led various IBM i performance teams for most of his career. Eric has been improving customer's IBM i... Read More →
avatar for Yan Zhuo

Yan Zhuo

IBM i Product Management Leader, IBM
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Galerie 5
  Developing Business Skills

3:15pm CDT

N2i (New to IBM i) - Foundational Concepts of IBM i
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Studio 7-8
Evaluation Survey
Newcomers to the IBM i platform commonly find themselves with a lot of questions, and may not know where to turn. If you're new to this platform, whether you're a recent graduate or an experienced IT pro who has found yourself responsible for supporting the i, COMMON's N2i program exists to help you! In this session we'll introduce terminology and concepts, how to navigate the "greenscreen", and where to find additional resources. We'll draw parallels between IBM i and other technologies with which you may be more familiar.

Learning Objectives:

Learn about: 1. IBM i terminology and concepts 2. Navigating the system 3. Resources for newcomers
Speakers
avatar for Megan Olson

Megan Olson

Software Developer and Product Manager, Fortra
Megan Olson is a Software Engineer and Product Manager at Fortra. Megan began her career at Fortra in 2021 as a Software Engineer Intern after earning her degree in Software Development in 2020. She has a strong technical focus on system security, product development, and driving... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Studio 7-8
  Developing Business Skills, Database, Integrated File System (IFS), Personal Development, Systems Management

3:15pm CDT

Introduction to Open Source on IBM i
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Galerie 3
Evaluation Survey
Introductory and survey level discussion that looks at the installation of the Open Source solutions on IBM i. We'll also review many of the components available via open source and discuss the PASE environment. If you've been on the outside looking in at Open Source, this is the place to start..

Learning Objectives:

1) Understand how to install open source solution on IBM i. 2) PASE basic understanding 3) Explore the solution in the open source packages
Speakers
avatar for Mike Pavlak

Mike Pavlak

Solution Architect, Programmers.io
Mike Pavlak has been working with IBM midrange solutions since 1992 and IBM Mainframes before that. After years of developing applications using RPG, CL and PHP he managed IT development and IT for power protection manufacturer Tripp Lite. Later Mike was instrumental in developing... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Galerie 3
  General Programming, Systems Management

3:15pm CDT

Understanding LLM and Transformer
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Balcony I-J
Evaluation Survey
A beginner level and generalized explanation of the modern face of Artificial Intelligence: the Large Language Model (LLM) coupled with the Transformer architecture. Fairly rigorous in places (Danger! Math!), but the overall tone of the presentation is a colloquial and metaphoric.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understanding LLM architecture 2. Understanding Transformer architecture 3. Understanding the strengths and limitations of this approach to AI.
Speakers
avatar for Jack Woehr

Jack Woehr

Senior Engineer / Senior Consultant, Consulting to Procern Technology Solutions and Seiden Group LLC
40+ years development. IBM Champion 2021-2026.
IBM Qiskit Advocate since 2019. Secretary, OpenQASM Technical Steering Committee. MongoDB Creator status. Prolific Open Source creator/contributor. Former Contributing Editor, Dr. Dobb's Journal.
Consult on IBM i AI modernization... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Balcony I-J
  General Programming, Artificial Intelligence (AI)

3:15pm CDT

You Next Power Server is just around the corner. For Storage, you have options!
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Galerie 1
Evaluation Survey
Do you love you some internal storage? You know it, you’ve used it, and it’s served you well! But times they are a changin’! what do you know about external storage? What can it do that internal storage can’t do? Come and see us compare the current generation of internal storage to the current generation of external storage. We’ll compare relative costs, capacities, and compare which features are available on Internal and external storage. Come and learn your options from experts in the field who will help you come to a learned decision during your next upgrade.

Learning Objectives:

Compare internal and external storage Learn about encryption, replication, and protection
Speakers
avatar for Larry Bolhuis

Larry Bolhuis

Principal IBM Power Systems Architect, Service Express
Larry has grown up with computers since his father became a CE in 1967. He obtained a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Calvin College in 1982.After 2 years working with early PCs and servers her began working on IBM midrange equipment with the S/34 and S/36 He moved to AS/400 at its introduction In 1988. Early in his career he was a developer, then migrated to networking, system design, upgrades and general systems... Read More →
avatar for Richie Palma

Richie Palma

Senior Solution Consultant, Service Express
A Tech Solutions Consultant for Service Express (Previously iTech Solutions Group), IBM Champion for Power, IBM Fresh Face, founder of the “Midrange Meetup” in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on the steering committee for YIP’s (Young i Professionals), and on the board for SEMIUG (South... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Galerie 1
  Hardware, Hardware, Storage Technologies, Systems Management, Technologies Integrated with IBM i, Virtualization

3:15pm CDT

The basics of moving from fixed format RPG to complete free form RPG.
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Balcony K
Evaluation Survey
Fixed format is still a heavily used code base and many developers need to be able to at least read it. But, what if you were able to read it and translate that into complete free form RPG? we will look at how to read fixed form RPG and give you the skills to actually translate into a more modern RPG.

Learning Objectives:

Understanding the difference between the syntax between complete free form and fixed form RPG. We will look at file declarations, variables, the use of constants and include files, data structures and meaningful names.
Speakers
avatar for Marina Schwenk

Marina Schwenk

Senior Programmer/Analyst IBM i Admin, Innovative Software Solutions

Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Balcony K
  RPG

3:15pm CDT

Crack the Code IBM i Security Essentials
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Balcony L
Evaluation Survey
IBM i security doesn’t have to be a black box. This session empowers you to take control of your system’s security using the built-in tools of Navigator for i. Whether you're just starting out or refining your expertise, we’ll guide you through essential elements like authority management, object security, audit trails, function usage, and authentication. You’ll learn best practices, how to configure secure settings, and how to use IBM i SQL services to deep dive into activity on your system and strengthen your security. Walk away with actionable insights and hands-on knowledge to confidently secure your IBM i environment. Take aways from this session ️ Apply best practices for Secure Configuration Leverage built-in tools for Monitoring ️How to use Function Usage to enhance your security Sample SQL queries

Learning Objectives:

️ Apply best practices for Secure Configuration Leverage built-in tools for Monitoring ️How to use Function Usage to enhance your security Sample SQL queries
Speakers
avatar for Amy Williams

Amy Williams

Principal Security Consultant, Fortra LLC
Amy Williams is a Principal Security Services Consultant at Fortra, where she has worked since 2015. She holds CISSP, CISA, and PCI-P certifications and has nearly 30 years of experience on the IBM i platform across system administration, architecture, and application security in... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Balcony L
  Security, Security

3:15pm CDT

IBM i 7.6 and the latest TRs by the Architects
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Balcony M-N
Evaluation Survey
The IBM i development team has just delivered a brand new release - IBM i 7.6 along with several Technology Refreshes. These deliveries are just full of new enhancements targeted to help your business applications run more securely. In this session, Scott and Tim will detail a number of the new enhancements, helping you understand what's new and be ready to target the sessions throughout the conference that provide a deeper dive. Many of you wait to upgrade, we are going to show you why IBM i 7.6 may be the release to break that trend!!! Attend this session to see the must-have technologies for your IBM i.

Learning Objectives:

Learn about 7.6 and the features deliver in the Technology Refreshes
Speakers
avatar for Scott Forstie

Scott Forstie

Senior Technical Staff Member, IBM
Scott Forstie is a Senior Technical Staff Member within IBM i development and spends most of his time working as the Db2 for i Architect. He has worked on IBM operating system development since joining IBM in 1989.
Scott is a frequently published author, speaker at industry events... Read More →
avatar for Tim Rowe

Tim Rowe

STSM - IBM i Business Architect, IBM USA
Tim Rowe is a Senior Technical Staff Member within IBM i development and spends most of his time working as the Architect for Application Development and Systems Management. He has been working on the IBM i operating system since 1989. Tim is a frequent author, industry speaker and... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Balcony M-N
  Systems Management, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Client Connectivity, Database, Programming: General, Security, Systems Management, Technologies Integrated with IBM i

3:15pm CDT

I’m Interested in Deploying IBM Db2 Mirror for i … Now What?
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Galerie 2
Evaluation Survey
The IBM Db2 Mirror for i product provides synchronous replication of Db2 for i, which makes your database highly available between two nodes. Having a highly available database allows you to deploy applications in such a way that there is zero downtime required to do system maintenance that has traditionally been disruptive. In this session, you will learn about some of the considerations and planning that must be done before deploying Db2 Mirror.

Learning Objectives:
- You will learn about the types of objects that can be replicated by Db2 Mirror and about tools available to you to begin analyzing the object types used by your existing applications.
- You will learn about active-active and active-passive application topologies that work well in a Db2 Mirror environment.
- You will learn about the hardware and software required for deploying Db2 Mirror.
Speakers
avatar for Shauna Rollings

Shauna Rollings

Senior Software Engineer - IBM i Performance Tools & High Availability Development, IBM
Shauna joined the IBM i development team in 2008. She has developed and supported IBM i performance data collector tools throughout her entire IBM career. From the very beginning of the Db2 Mirror for i project, she has also been the technical team lead for the Db2 Mirror Configuration... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Galerie 2
  Systems Management

3:15pm CDT

Turnkey AI for Key Enterprise Use-Cases with IBM Spyre on IBM Power
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Galerie 6
Evaluation Survey
This session will talk about the new IBM off-chip accelerator called IBM Spyre for Power. This solution is intended for easy-to-setup and run, turnkey gen AI inference use cases.

Learning Objectives:

n/a
Speakers
avatar for Ashwin Srinivas

Ashwin Srinivas

Senior Product Manager AI for IBM Power, IBM
I am responsible for the driving AI SW offerings on IBM Power servers supporting use cases that are relevant to IBM Power customers. I am  responsible for the strategy, product roadmap and market success of AI with IBM Power products related to our ecosystem of ISV solutions and... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Galerie 6
  Technologies Integrated with IBM i, Artificial Intelligence (AI)

3:15pm CDT

Why and When Moving Workload from Linux (and maybe Windows) to IBM i on IBM POWER Makes Sense and How You Can Do That
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Studio 9-10
Evaluation Survey
We have some customers that run a lot of different Linux Servers (unfortunately on x86 Hardware still...) and I heard there should be still some of them out there running Windows Servers for hosting different kind of layers like Database instances, Backend Programs, Web Server and so on.  Most of them do, what they used to do. They use a different VM or Docker Container for each of these layers. In many scenarios these VM's or Containers are not heavy loaded but need to be administered and therefore they cost money.  Unfortunately the most of them don't know that they could move these workloads easily to IBM i on IBM POWER and get some advantages like: - reduce the amount of Servers to administrate and therefore normally the amount of administrators and save not only Hardware cost - Backup and HA Processes can be used of IBM i - run everything in one environment that is one of the most stable in the world - run everything in one environment that is one of the most scalable in the world - run everything in one environment that is one of the most secure in the world - get ideas what you can do when combining old and new technology stacks on one server like combining (old) RPG Programs with (new) REDIS Databases - etc. ...  Thanks to the Implementation of the PASE environment and the ongoing support for more and more Open Source solutions and frameworks we can run a lot of things inside IBM i that were not possible 10 years ago.  Some examples are Node.js, Python but also Databases like Postgre SQL or MariaDB, as well as Web Servers like Nginx and many more. On the other hand many "non IBM i" Developers and Administrators don't know about the possibilities of the i Operating System itself with it's great DB2 for i Database that is integrated into the OS.

Learning Objectives:
Get a quick overview about PASE within IBM i and the history of Open Source on IBM i.  Learn what you can do and how you can do the steps to move your workload into IBM i. Learn where it make sense to put Data into DB2 for i although your software is running on other platforms with other frameworks and how you can solve that easily for everybody for example with a Database Access Layer that is all created in RPG or Node.js or Java or .... Why this is maybe more secure for your data and the best place to save it and which data is better stored somewhere else.  Get a quick overview about accessing DB2 for i as well as other databases in different ways, like using ODBC, ADO.NET, Mapepire, REST APIs (in different flavors) and so on.  See how you can boost performance of your (old or new) applications by using an In Memory Database like REDIS.  Learn and talk about where all this makes sense and where not.  This is not a golden bullet which solves all your problems but it can reduce a lot of them - depending on your Environment and your Use cases.
Speakers
avatar for Markus Litters

Markus Litters

CEO, i and me - IT Training and Solutions GmbH
I start working with IBM POWER Servers and IBM i since I was 19 back in 1990 when it was called IBM AS/400 and from the beginning I was focused on Integrating the System with everything else (first of all DOS PC's, then Windows PC's and HP Unix and so on) and to modernize the existing... Read More →
avatar for Jesse Gorzinski

Jesse Gorzinski

STSM and Senior Business Architect - AI and Open Source, IBM
Experienced business architect from IBM and a specialist in the IBM i platform. My passion is enabling enterprises to adopt artificial intelligence and open source technologies.
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Studio 9-10
  Technologies Integrated with IBM i

4:30pm CDT

20 Hidden Gems of Db2 for i in 20 minutes
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Studio 9-10
Evaluation Survey
In this new session you'll discover 20 features of Db2 for i that are typically less known or under used. Your presenter is the Db2 for i Architect and he's lead the Db2 for i development team for decades. Invest 20 minutes to raise for your Db2 for i and SQL capabilities!

Learning Objectives:

1) Discover features, tools, or capabilities within Db2 for i 2) Improve how you leverage or use Db2 for i and SQL on i 3) Extend your Db2 for i knowledge
Speakers
avatar for Scott Forstie

Scott Forstie

Senior Technical Staff Member, IBM
Scott Forstie is a Senior Technical Staff Member within IBM i development and spends most of his time working as the Db2 for i Architect. He has worked on IBM operating system development since joining IBM in 1989.
Scott is a frequently published author, speaker at industry events... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Studio 9-10
  Database, Database

4:30pm CDT

How to Become a Speaker at COMMON
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Galerie 2
Evaluation Survey
You have a wealth of experience and expertise. Have you thought about sharing your know-how by speaking at COMMON? Speaking at COMMON is fun and a great way to get involved with other members as well as the organization at large. Come join this session to learn how to submit a session for speaking at a COMMON event along with tips and tricks for putting together a session abstract and learning objectives, what the overall process is once you have submitted a session, how to prepare for giving your presentation, and what speaker resources that are available to you.

Learning Objectives:

1) Understanding the process of submitting a session 2) Learning what you need to prepare to submit a session 3) Learning what resources are available to you as you prepare for speaking 4) Learning about the benefits of being a speaker at a COMMON event
Speakers
avatar for Kim Greene

Kim Greene

President, Kim Greene Consulting, Inc.
Kim Greene is president of Kim Greene Consulting, Inc. specializing in providing consulting services for the HCL Collaboration Solutions portfolio for IBM i, Windows, and Linux. Kim has over 20 years of experience with IBM Domino and over 25 years of experience with the AS/400, iSeries... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Galerie 2
  Developing Business Skills, Personal Development

4:30pm CDT

CL 2025: What’s New and Useful
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Studio 1-2
Evaluation Survey
Control Language (CL) remains a core tool for IBM i system operations, and recent releases have added features that make scripting faster, cleaner, and more powerful. In this 20-minute session, Simon Hutchinson will provide a hands-on look at the most useful new CL commands, built-in functions, and SQL integration techniques. Attendees will learn how to modernize legacy scripts, automate system tasks, and streamline everyday operations using the latest CL features.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, attendees will be able to: - Identify and use the most important new CL commands and functions. - Integrate SQL statements into CL scripts for database operations. - Modernize legacy CL code with practical tips for efficiency and readability. - Apply CL features to automate routine system tasks.
Speakers
avatar for Simon Hutchinson

Simon Hutchinson

Founder & author, RPGPGM.COM
Simon Hutchinson has worked with IBM midrange servers and the RPG programming language since 1988—starting in the U.K. and continuing in the U.S. for over 35 years. He is best known for his long-running blog, RPGPGM.COM, where for more than 12 years he has shared practical insi... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Studio 1-2
  General Programming, Programming: General

4:30pm CDT

Intro to Modern Application Integration via API
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Studio 3-4
Evaluation Survey
We no longer live in a world where we have one system of record that is used for all business functions. IT is an everchanging blend of tools, applications, and platforms. Integration is top of mind for most businesses. If there is one common way to link all these systems, it is an API layer. Your IBM i should speak the language of APIs, both consuming and hosting. In this session, let’s look at the big picture with regards to APIs and IBM i.

Learning Objectives:

• Importance of APIs in modern architecture • Common API integration needs • Replacing legacy interfaces_ • Elements of a successful API implementation
Speakers
avatar for Brian May

Brian May

Principal Technology Evangelist, Profound Logic
Professional IT Leader, Speaker and WriterSpecialties:Team Building, Development and RetentionTechnical SalesSolutions ArchitectureSoftware DevelopmentEnterprise Systems Manufacturing ProcessesApparel IndustryAccounting Principles
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Studio 3-4
  General Programming, Programming: General, Technologies Integrated with IBM i

4:30pm CDT

Recursion, Recursion, Recursion
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Galerie 6
Evaluation Survey
Why write endless loops when your code can elegantly call itself? This session will demystify recursion and show practical examples in RPG and SQL - perfect for cracking hierarchical data problems. With this superpower in your toolkit, you'll be ready to replace clunky iteration with clean, powerful recursion.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand what recursion is 2. Use recursion in RPG 3. Use recursion in SQL
Speakers
avatar for Patrick Behr

Patrick Behr

Senior Consultant & Instructor, Seiden Group & imPower Technologies
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Galerie 6
  General Programming, Database, Programming: RPG

4:30pm CDT

IBM i DR Modernization Playbook: A Client Story
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Galerie 1
Evaluation Survey
Are you managing an IBM i environment that hasn’t been updated in years, struggling to meet modern regulatory requirements, or facing disaster recovery (DR) challenges that put your business continuity at risk? In this fast-paced, practical session, we’ll walk through how a large regional retailer, processing $Ms in transactions per day, modernized IBM i DR after 20+ years of “don’t touch it” status—improving recovery, reducing operational drag, and closing compliance gaps.

Learning Objectives:

What you’ll learn from our client story: * From legacy to modern DR: How the client transformed an IBM i DR setup that was essentially untouched for over 20 years. * How Recovery Point Objective (RPO) and Recovery Time Objective (RTO) were significantly improved versus the prior approach. * How the client lowered its run-rate and cleaned up ops by streamlining and fencing in ongoing costs and day-to-day management effort. * What we implemented to minimize the impact of modern cyber threats. * How our client ensured faster, more reliable recovery for a high-volume environment by reducing its DR recovery debt
Speakers
AK
BO
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Galerie 1
  High Availability Resilience, High Availability Resilience, IT Strategy, Security, Systems Management

4:30pm CDT

PHP Tips in 20 Minutes
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Balcony I-J
Evaluation Survey
Inspired by longtime presenters at the Summit, this discussion looks at the most popular tweaks, hacks and just plain good practices the for IBM i PHP community to enjoy. Sometimes you just need a shopping list of things to watch out for and many of the tips that are scattered throughout these presentations are consolidated in a single place. Performance, security and best practices and more will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

1) Many key points of PHP will be explored 2) Performance tips will be reviewed 3) Common mistakes to overcome in PHP development
Speakers
avatar for Mike Pavlak

Mike Pavlak

Solution Architect, Programmers.io
Mike Pavlak has been working with IBM midrange solutions since 1992 and IBM Mainframes before that. After years of developing applications using RPG, CL and PHP he managed IT development and IT for power protection manufacturer Tripp Lite. Later Mike was instrumental in developing... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Balcony I-J
  PHP

4:30pm CDT

A Hackers View of You
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Balcony L
Evaluation Survey
This session is designed to allow you to look through the eyes of a former black hat.

Learning Objectives:

In this session you will learn more about the different type of attackers and what there motivations are. How the large cyber crime organizations operate. Tactics and tools that hackers use to gain access to environments How quantum computers are going to change the data protection and encryption requirements. How the large cyber crime organizations operate.
Speakers
avatar for Tony Owens

Tony Owens

Enterprise Architect, Direct Systems Support
Tony Owens is a recognized figure in the IT industry, particularly known for his expertise in IBM Storage solutions. He has been an IBM Champion since 2020 and has worked with various storage technologies and has contributed to the development and promotion of IBM's storage products... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Balcony L
  Security, Hardware, Security

4:30pm CDT

Using Navigator for i to Set Up Your TOTP
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Balcony M-N
Evaluation Survey
Think that setting up a time-based one-time password (TOTP) for your IBM i 7.6 profile is complicated? It’s easier than you think! Join us to discover how quick and seamless it is using Navigator for i. This session will demonstrate how both traditional and non-traditional users of Navigator can generate a TOTP key and validate authentication codes using a client authenticator.

Learning Objectives:

`- Understand how to generate a TOTP key using Navigator for i - Learn how to validate authentication codes from a client authenticator
Speakers
avatar for Ann Wilkerson

Ann Wilkerson

Software Developer, IBM
Ann Wilkerson is a lead user interface developer in IBM i. She joined the Rochester lab in 2021 and has since worked on Navigator, IBM i Services, and IBM i Migrate While Active. Her focus areas include security, networking, and the IFS.
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Balcony M-N
  Security, Systems Management

4:30pm CDT

20 Tips in 20 Minutes
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Studio 7-8
Evaluation Survey
On many IBM i systems, there are a number of configuration settings that are not optimal for today's environment. Whether it be system values, job descriptions, memory pools, many shops have configuration settings at the system's shipped default value, or settings that were done years ago and need to be revisited. This session is a fast-paced session going over 20 configuration tips in 20 minutes.

Learning Objectives:

Learn about common configuration settings that can be changed to optimize your IBM i.
Speakers
avatar for Dawn May

Dawn May

Owner, Dawn May Consulting, LLC
Dawn has been involved with COMMON for over 20 years and has been a consistent volunteer since 2008. She's been a member of the strategic education team, a subject matter expert, and a speaker. As Immediate Past President of COMMON, she's focused on leading COMMON as the industry... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Studio 7-8
  Systems Management, Systems Management

4:30pm CDT

Best Practices for Collecting IBM i Performance Data
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Galerie 5
Evaluation Survey
IBM i performance data collection using Collection Services is enabled by default, but you may still be using default configuration settings. In this session, you will learn why you may want to adjust the Collection Services configuration settings for your performance analysis or trending needs.
Learning objectives:
1. How to use Navigator for i to configure Collection Services 
2. Recommendations for changing default configuration settings
Speakers
avatar for Shauna Rollings

Shauna Rollings

Senior Software Engineer - IBM i Performance Tools & High Availability Development, IBM
Shauna joined the IBM i development team in 2008. She has developed and supported IBM i performance data collector tools throughout her entire IBM career. From the very beginning of the Db2 Mirror for i project, she has also been the technical team lead for the Db2 Mirror Configuration... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Galerie 5
  Systems Management

4:30pm CDT

Demo of IBM i ACS Multi System Capabilities
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Galerie 4
Evaluation Survey
IBM i ACS has several capabilities that are targeted for users who interact with multiple systems.  Join Wayne Bowers, IBM Support Team Lead, as he presents a quick, live demo over viewing these capabilities
Speakers
avatar for Wayne Bowers

Wayne Bowers

IBM i Global Support, IBM
Wayne Bowers has been with IBM since 1997, where he works with the IBM i Global Support Center in Rochester MN. He is an Advisory Software Engineer specializing in the support of the IBM i Access (aka Client Access) products, Console, the TCP Telnet communications server, and the... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Galerie 4
  Systems Management

4:30pm CDT

Why is my disk filling?
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Balcony K
Evaluation Survey
The threat of DASD filling is real and can bring a system down. Learn common threats to good disk management and and how to respond.

Learning Objectives:

What happens when DASD runs out What can you do when this happens What to do after the immediate threat is gone
Speakers
avatar for Jeff Carey

Jeff Carey

Midrange Engineer III - IBM i, Lightedge
Jeff Carey is an IBM i professional with over 30 years of experience on the platform, specializing in system administration. He currently is a Midrange Engineer for Lightedge, a company providing managed services for IBM i, VMware, Nutanix, AIX, AWS and Azure. He is on the Board of... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Balcony K
  Systems Management, Systems Management

4:30pm CDT

Agentic AI and IBM Storage FlashSystems
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Galerie 3
Evaluation Survey
This session will cover future and existing applications of Agentic AI use cases for IBM Storage and specific implementation examples with FlashSystem and IBM Storage Insights.
Speakers
YS

Yves Santos

STSM IBM Storage Development, IBM
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Galerie 3
  Technologies Integrated with IBM i

5:05pm CDT

SQL - Merge Statement
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Studio 3-4
Evaluation Survey
Add another tool to your SQL toolbelt with this session on the SQL Merge statement. Discover how a single SQL statement can handle Inserts, Updates, and Deletes. Learning Objectives:
  1. Learn how and when to use an SQL Merge statement

Speakers
avatar for Mike Zaringhalam

Mike Zaringhalam

Developer, PC Richard & Son
Have you ever wanted to meet someone who started Hawaiian Shirt Fridays at their work place? 
If the answer is 'Yes!', then feel free to reach out with any questions you have regarding Hawaiian shirts... Or IBM i related topics. 
My main focuses are RDi, DB2, Modernization, and D... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Studio 3-4
  Database, Database, Programming: General

5:05pm CDT

Using SQL Triggers to Track File Changes on IBM i
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Studio 1-2
Evaluation Survey
Need to know who changed what — and when — in your IBM i files? SQL triggers make it easy! In this fast-paced 20-minute session, you’ll learn how to use SQL triggers to automatically capture file changes (inserts, updates, and deletes) and write them to an output or audit file. Simon will demonstrate how to create, test, and manage SQL triggers using Db2 for i. You’ll see real examples of triggers that record user information, timestamps, and before-and-after values — perfect for building audit trails or debugging data issues. If you’ve ever wanted an “audit log” without changing your application code, this session will show you how quick and powerful SQL triggers can be.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, attendees will be able to: - Understand what SQL triggers are and when to use them. - Create an SQL trigger that writes file changes to an audit/output file. - Capture key details — user, timestamp, and changed values — automatically. - Manage and remove triggers safely in production environments.
Speakers
avatar for Simon Hutchinson

Simon Hutchinson

Founder & author, RPGPGM.COM
Simon Hutchinson has worked with IBM midrange servers and the RPG programming language since 1988—starting in the U.K. and continuing in the U.S. for over 35 years. He is best known for his long-running blog, RPGPGM.COM, where for more than 12 years he has shared practical insi... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Studio 1-2
  Database, Database

5:05pm CDT

Build a secure Wordpress site on your IBM i in 20 minutes or less
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Studio 7-8
Evaluation Survey
Sometimes all you need is a simple CMS to host information for internal and/or external users. You don't want to spend hours getting there...Wordpress is a popular open source CMS that has both fans and critics but is highly useful when a quick and dirty solution is needed to get some content on the web. This session walks through the installation and setup process for the HTTP server on IBM i and leverages DCM to secure the site. Easy Peasy.

Learning Objectives:

1) How to install WordPress on IBM i 2) How to configure HTTP server to serve the site 3) How to use DCM to create a certificate to secure your site.
Speakers
avatar for Pete Helgren

Pete Helgren

Owner/Consultant, Value Added Software
Pete is a developer with broad experience across multiple languages and platforms, including over 30 years of system 3X/AS400/iSeries/IBM i experience. He holds certifications as a GIAC Cloud Penetration Tester, GIAC Secure Software Programmer-Java, AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Studio 7-8
  Frameworks, Database, Middleware, Programming: General

5:05pm CDT

Using Distributed File System (DFS) with the Network Client File System (QNTC)
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Galerie 1
Evaluation Survey
The IBM i Network Client File System (QNTC) is used to communicate with servers that support Microsoft’s Server Message Block (SMB) network file system protocol. Distributed File System (DFS) is a protocol layer that sits atop of SMB and provides extra functionality like data integrity, data accessibility, and load balancing. Attend this session to learn more about QNTC, and the SMB and DFS protocols.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand what the SMB protocol is and its various versions. 2. Understand what QNTC and DFS are and how each are used. 3. See a demo of QNTC accessing a DFS namespace.
Speakers
avatar for Justin Nelson

Justin Nelson

Advisory Software Engineer, IBM
Justin Nelson is a software developer within IBM i development. He has worked on the IBM i since joining IBM in 2015. He is a member of the integrated file system & servers (IFS) team and specializes in the Network Client File System (QNTC), host servers, and Network Authentication... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Galerie 1
  IFS

5:05pm CDT

SSL vs SSH - More Different than One Letter
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Galerie 4
Evaluation Survey
SSL, now commonly referred to as TLS, and SSH are both important approaches to secure, encrypted, network communication. Though they do have some similarities, they are not interchangeable and there are reasons why one should be used vs. the other.

In this brief session, we will compare and contrast how they communicate across the network and discuss when and why they should be used.

Learning Objectives:
Understand how SSL (TLS) and SSH communicates across the networkUnderstand when each technology should and shouldn't be used
Speakers
avatar for Wayne Bowers

Wayne Bowers

IBM i Global Support, IBM
Wayne Bowers has been with IBM since 1997, where he works with the IBM i Global Support Center in Rochester MN. He is an Advisory Software Engineer specializing in the support of the IBM i Access (aka Client Access) products, Console, the TCP Telnet communications server, and the... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Galerie 4
  Networking

5:05pm CDT

COBOL to Modern RPG: Using Static Analysis, Automation, and AI Assistance
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Balcony I-J
Evaluation Survey
Modernizing COBOL applications to RPG IV can be faster and safer with static analysis, automation, and AI —but it still requires solid engineering. This session explains how analysis tools identify data flow, dependencies, and shared logic before conversion begins. We’ll explore how to combine AI automation with proven analysis and programming discipline to transform COBOL business logic into clear, maintainable RPG IV code. Real examples show planning, testing, and incremental rollout techniques that minimize risk. Attendees will learn how to balance automation, analysis, and AI methods for dependable, low-risk modernization on IBM i. A case study using actual COBOL code will be presented.

Learning Objectives:

`-Understand how static analysis clarifies COBOL logic and dependencies before conversion. -Learn how to combine AI automation with static techniques for accurate modernization. -Apply disciplined planning and testing to ensure reliable COBOL-to-RPG transitions.
Speakers
avatar for John Rhodes

John Rhodes

CTO, CM First Group
Long time IBM i and z engineer. Work with Broadcom software primarily (CA 2E, Synon, CA Plex, CA Gen). Also Java and VSCode.
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Balcony I-J
  Programmer Tools, Artificial Intelligence (AI)

5:05pm CDT

New Outline Feature in VS Code with Code4i that looks and behaves like the RDi outline but better!
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Galerie 3
Evaluation Survey
One of the most important Features in IBM Rational Developer for i is the Outline Feature. When you - like my Team and I - need to work with a lot of large (and very large) and old (and very old) RPG programs the Outline is such a time saver. But I also miss some features which I send IBM in the RDi "wish list" some years ago... The Outline is also the most important reason why we are still using the RDi instead of VS Code with Code4i. While creating our RPG AI Analyzing Tools we did a lot of work with collecting information about the RPG source and then the idea was born to create our own Outline for VS Code and Code4i which should look and behave like the one in RDi but with all the features I miss for years. In this session you will see our new Outline Tool - Codename Morgana - with all the features we implemented in Version 1 and a first look into the next wave of Features we are working on.

Learning Objectives:

You will learn how you will save a lot of time by using the actual version of our new Outline Add On for Visual Studio Code and Code4i - Codename Morgana - and it's Features, like everything you know from the Outline of RDi as well as opening source code of a procedure or a Display File, Database File or even a CALL with one click without knowing in which Serviceprogram it resides or where the source code is saved. When the RPG Compiler can find these things we can too.
Speakers
avatar for Sébastien Julliand

Sébastien Julliand

Tech Lead R&D, I AND ME - IT TRAINING
Hi, I'm Seb! I am the R&D Tech Lead for i and me - IT Training and Solutions GmbH and an active contributors to IBM i open source projects.

Let's talk about anything related to software development, on IBM i or not, it doesn't mater to me. RPGLE, Java, TypeScript...I love them all... Read More →
avatar for Markus Litters

Markus Litters

CEO, i and me - IT Training and Solutions GmbH
I start working with IBM POWER Servers and IBM i since I was 19 back in 1990 when it was called IBM AS/400 and from the beginning I was focused on Integrating the System with everything else (first of all DOS PC's, then Windows PC's and HP Unix and so on) and to modernize the existing... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Galerie 3
  Programmer Tools, Programmer Tools, Programming: RPG

5:05pm CDT

What the Heck is Binder Source and Why Do I Care?
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Galerie 2
Evaluation Survey
Discover what binder source is, what it's used for, and why you definitely want to use it with your service programs. We'll talk about binding, signatures and signature violations, and how to change service programs without having to recompile all your programs.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn about binding 2. Learn about signatures and signature violations 3. How to change service programs without recompiles
Speakers
avatar for Patrick Behr

Patrick Behr

Senior Consultant & Instructor, Seiden Group & imPower Technologies
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Galerie 2
  RPG

5:05pm CDT

Explore the Audit Journal Data Mart
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Balcony M-N
Evaluation Survey
The IBM i Audit Journal contains a wealth of security and system activity data, but accessing and analyzing that information efficiently can be a challenge. The Audit Journal Data Mart simplifies this process by transforming raw audit data into a structured format that’s easy to query and visualize. In this session, we’ll explore how the Data Mart enables deeper insights into system events, supports compliance reporting, and enhances security monitoring. Through practical examples and demonstrations, you'll learn how to leverage this powerful tool to make informed decisions and streamline audit analysis.

Learning Objectives:

`- Understand the structure and purpose of the IBM i Audit Journal Data Mart - Learn how to query and analyze audit data for security and compliance use cases
Speakers
avatar for Ann Wilkerson

Ann Wilkerson

Software Developer, IBM
Ann Wilkerson is a lead user interface developer in IBM i. She joined the Rochester lab in 2021 and has since worked on Navigator, IBM i Services, and IBM i Migrate While Active. Her focus areas include security, networking, and the IFS.
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Balcony M-N
  Security, Systems Management

5:05pm CDT

Using Function Usage to Add another Layer of Security to your IBM i Configuration
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Balcony L
Evaluation Survey
The importance of using Function Usage was magnified in IBM 7.6. During this session Carol will describe Function Usage (formerly known as Application Administration) and how to use it to add another layer of security to your IBM i Security strategy.


Learning Objectives:

  • Understand how to access Function Usage
  • Learn what Function Usage controls
  • Understand what was added in IBM i 7.6

Speakers
avatar for Carol Woodbury

Carol Woodbury

IBM i Security SME and Senior Advisor, Kisco
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Balcony L
  Security

5:05pm CDT

Navigating IBM i Performance Guides: What to Use When
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Galerie 6
Evaluation Survey
IBM provides a rich set of performance guides and documentation to help users understand and optimize their IBM i environments. In this 20-minute session, we’ll demystify key resources such as the IBM i Performance Capabilities Reference Guide, the IBM i Performance FAQ, and the IBM Power Performance Optimization for IBM i guide. You’ll learn the purpose of each document, how they complement one another, and when to use each based on your performance-related needs. Whether you're troubleshooting a performance problem, planning capacity, or tuning your IBM i partition, this session will help you select the right resource for the job.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the scope and purpose of each IBM-supplied performance document. Identify which resource to use for common performance scenarios such as capacity planning, troubleshooting, and optimization. Gain practical tips for integrating these documents into your performance management workflow.
Speakers
avatar for Eric Barsness

Eric Barsness

Global Resiliency Practice Leader, IBM
Eric Barsness is theGlobal Resiliency Practice Leader for IBM i in Expert Labs and an IBM Master Inventor. Eric specializes in IBM i resiliency, performance and scalability and has led various IBM i performance teams for most of his career. Eric has been improving customer's IBM i... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Galerie 6
  Systems Management

5:05pm CDT

SQL Services save the day at Heartland Co-op
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Galerie 5
Evaluation Survey
By now, many of us are familiar with IBM SQL Services and how they can super-charge system management tasks.  But have you thought about how these powerful tools can be used in business applications?  This case study will take you through how SQL services were used to make a business-critical application at Heartland Co-op available 24/7 while allowing an important nightly batch process to run uninterrupted.  
Speakers
avatar for Todd Stewart

Todd Stewart

Application Architect, Heartland Co-op
Todd has worked in IBM midrange computing since 1989, developing applications from the System/34 to IBM i on Power. He has held roles including Developer, Analyst, Project Lead, Solutions Delivery Manager, and Application Development Director in the retail, and bonding/insurance industries... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Galerie 5
  Systems Management

5:05pm CDT

What is SYSTOOLS and How Can You Leverage it?
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Studio 9-10
Evaluation Survey
Db2 for i provides useful tools and examples in the SYSTOOLS schema. Come to this session to learn what shiny gems lie within this unopened treasure chest. You need not be an SQL programmer to gain tremendous value from SQL tools! https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/i/7.6?topic=optimization-systools

Learning Objectives:

1) Understand what SYSTOOLS-based tools exist 2) Learn the basics of how to use these tools 3) Hear what others are already doing with these amazing tools 4) Interact with the IBM architect responsible for SYSTOOLS
Speakers
avatar for Scott Forstie

Scott Forstie

Senior Technical Staff Member, IBM
Scott Forstie is a Senior Technical Staff Member within IBM i development and spends most of his time working as the Db2 for i Architect. He has worked on IBM operating system development since joining IBM in 1989.
Scott is a frequently published author, speaker at industry events... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Studio 9-10
  Systems Management, Database, Integrated File System (IFS), Security, Storage Technologies, Systems Management

5:05pm CDT

When Job Tables Attack!
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Balcony K
Evaluation Survey
There are very few issues that can threaten the stability of an IBM i LPAR, but one of them is filling of the system job tables. Circumstances can make this happen quickly even though you may not see it very often if at all! Even if you have seen the dreaded job table message, it may have been so long ago you don't recall what to do. Time may be of the essence when taking corrective action, so knowing what is happening and how to fix it can be critical. Protect your system and be able to thwart this threat before it becomes truly dangerous.

Learning Objectives:

Learn the tell tale messages that indicate impending job table doom. Learn what job tales are and why they can fill. Learn how to act fast to stop the danger.
Speakers
avatar for Jeff Carey

Jeff Carey

Midrange Engineer III - IBM i, Lightedge
Jeff Carey is an IBM i professional with over 30 years of experience on the platform, specializing in system administration. He currently is a Midrange Engineer for Lightedge, a company providing managed services for IBM i, VMware, Nutanix, AIX, AWS and Azure. He is on the Board of... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Balcony K
  Systems Management, Systems Management

5:30pm CDT

Welcome Reception in the Expo
Monday April 27, 2026 5:30pm - 8:00pm CDT
Grand Ballroom

Monday April 27, 2026 5:30pm - 8:00pm CDT
Grand Ballroom

5:40pm CDT

Partner Solution Corner inside Expo
Monday April 27, 2026 5:40pm - 7:55pm CDT
Partner Solution Corner in Grand Ballroom
Get the most up to date tools to maximize your systems.  Vendor Partner experts will be presenting 15 min Solution Sessions during mid-day and evening expo hours.  The Partner Solutions Corner is across from booth 111 and the daily schedule will be in your daily morning email.  Get all of your questions answered by knowledge leaders in POWER.
Monday April 27, 2026 5:40pm - 7:55pm CDT
Partner Solution Corner in Grand Ballroom
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Studio 7-8
Studio 9-10
TBA
Third Floor, near Mardi Gras Ballroom
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Client Connectivity
  • Conference Events
  • Database
  • Developing Business Skills
  • Frameworks
  • General Programming
  • Hardware
  • High Availability Resilience
  • IBM Event
  • IFS
  • IT Leadership and Management
  • IT Strategy
  • NDA
  • Networking
  • PHP
  • Program Testing
  • Programmer Tools
  • Python
  • RPG
  • Security
  • Systems Management
  • Technologies Integrated with IBM i
  • UI
  • Virtualization
  • Track
  • Student
  • Level
  • Beginner
  • Intermediate
  • Suitable for All