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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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
 

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