COMMON POWERUp 2026: Full Schedule

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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8:00am CDT

IBM i Client Innovation Stories

Wednesday April 29, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT

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Evaluation Survey

IBM i clients around the world in industries such as retail, distribution, consumer products, and more continued to innovate throughout 2025. These organizations leveraged open source technologies and infused AI into their business processes to modernize operations, automate routine tasks, and boost productivity in new ways. From smarter automation to cloud optimization, IBM i continues to evolve as a platform for innovation and growth. Join Brandon Pederson, IBM i and Power Product Marketing Manager, and Steve Will, IBM i Chief Technology Officer and Distinguished Engineer, to explore how clients are using IBM i to modernize, integrate AI, and drive digital transformation. You will leave the session with new ideas to advance your business, practical examples of AI-driven innovation, and inspiration to take your IBM i strategy to the next level.

Learning Objectives:

•Discover real-world modernization strategies •Understand how AI enhances IBM i operations and business value •Apply proven innovation patterns to your own environment

Speakers

Steve Will

IBM i CTO & Chief Architect, IBM

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 →

Wednesday April 29, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
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Technologies Integrated with IBM i, IT Leadership & Management, IT Strategy, Technologies Integrated with IBM i

9:15am CDT

Basics of System Adminstration for Programmers

Wednesday April 29, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT

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Evaluation Survey

Are you a programmer now responsible for administrating your IBM I system? Would you happen to know what you need to manage the system successfully? What commands do I need to know? This session will cover the basics of System Administration that you need to know to manage your IBM i. You can learn what you need to know to do your system's daily care and feeding.

Learning Objectives:
1.) Understand how to check your system messages to know everything is ok.
2.) Make sure that you are saving the right stuff.
3.) Basics of security
4.) What are PTFs, and how to manage PTFs

Speakers

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 →

Wednesday April 29, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
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Systems Management

Track Student

10:45am CDT

Log Aggregation with Grafana Loki

Wednesday April 29, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT

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Evaluation Survey

Learn why log aggregation is important, the many features of Grafana Loki (a free, open source log aggregation system), and how to integrate IBM i with it

Learning Objectives:

Learn why log aggregation is important, the many features of Grafana Loki (a free, open source log aggregation system), and how to integrate IBM i with it

Speakers

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.

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 →

Wednesday April 29, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
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Technologies Integrated with IBM i, Technologies Integrated with IBM i

3:45pm CDT

Demystifying Integrated File System Security for Modern Secure Workloads

Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT

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Evaluation Survey

The Integrated File System (IFS) remains one of the most overlooked areas in IBM i security. Many organizations either underestimate the risks posed by an unsecured IFS or lack clarity on how to effectively protect it. This oversight can leave sensitive data vulnerable to unauthorized access, manipulation, malware, and theft. In this session, attendees will learn practical strategies for securing the IFS and discover the tools and configurations necessary to implement robust protections. We’ll also explore the latest security features introduced in IBM i 7.6, which offer expanded capabilities to safeguard the IFS environment.

Learning Objectives:

Learn practical strategies for securing the IFS Discover the tools and configurations necessary to implement robust protections Explore the latest security features introduced in IBM i 7.6

Speakers

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 →

Sandi Moore

Sr. Solutions Engineer & IBM Power Champion, Fortra LLC

Sandi Moore is a Senior Solutions Engineer at Fortra with over 20 years of experience supporting systems monitoring and security software. She works extensively with IBM i environments and has been involved in product demonstrations, implementations, support, training, research, and... Read More →

Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
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Security, Security

5:00pm CDT

IBM i Security with an SQL Chaser, Next Round!

Wednesday April 29, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT

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Evaluation Survey

In this award-winning session, be prepared to hear Scott Forstie and Carol Woodbury shake up the world of IBM i Security, mixing up new SQL features that allow you to completely do away with the old way you've been investigating and managing your IBM i Security environment. They will also shake up your mind with thoughts of finding vulnerabilities in your code and debate various methods of resolving the issues. Come prepared to have your IBM i Security world a bit shaken.

Learning Objectives:

Understand how SQL can be used to help you secure IBM i Learn why staying current is important Have the knowledge to use the Run SQL Scripts file provided with the session in your workplace

Speakers

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 →

Carol Woodbury

IBM i Security SME and Senior Advisor, Kisco

Wednesday April 29, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
Galerie 3

Security, Database

8:00am CDT

9:15am CDT

10:45am CDT

3:45pm CDT

5:00pm CDT

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