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

iSee with Scott and Tim

Thursday April 30, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT

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Evaluation Survey

iSee is all about helping our IBM i user community learn and use SQL to solve everyday life problems. This session is no exception, Scott and Tim will show via live demo some fun new way to solve problems with SQL. This iSee session will explore some of the brand new features recently delivered via 7.6 and the past Technology Refreshes.

Learning Objectives:

Learn how to put SQL to use in solving every day problems.

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 →

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 →

Thursday April 30, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
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Systems Management, Database, Programming: General, Security, Systems Management

Track Student

9:15am CDT

Navigator as seen by Scott (& Tim)

Thursday April 30, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT

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Evaluation Survey

In a first-of-its-kind session, Tim Rowe and Scott Forstie will team up and tear apart IBM i Navigator.

Behind the scenes, Navigator uses all kinds of SQL. Scott will point out some of the limitations you might encounter, from an SQL perspective, and how you can "go beyond" Navigator, when needed.

Tim will explain the best and brightest features to be found in Navigator.

Come to this session to hear their fave features and more.

Speakers

Scott Forstie

Senior Technical Staff Member, IBM

Tim Rowe

STSM - IBM i Business Architect, IBM USA

Thursday April 30, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
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Systems Management

Level Suitable for All

10:45am CDT

Security for You and A(i)

Thursday April 30, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT

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Evaluation Survey

Adopting AI-based Assistants and Agentic AI tools in your organization? While these technologies are enticing and extremely powerful, the need to consider security during your AI projects is something one must not forget. During this session Scott Forstie and Carol Woodbury will demonstrate the power of using IBM Bob for IBM i security tasks. In addition, they’ll discuss the security safeguards and proper configurations you’ll want to consider when implementing AI.

Learning objective:
Learn the power of using Bob and IBM i for IBM i security tasks as well as considerations for safeguarding your IBM i in the world of AI.

Speakers

Scott Forstie

Senior Technical Staff Member, IBM

Carol Woodbury

IBM i Security SME and Senior Advisor, Kisco

Thursday April 30, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
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Security, Artificial Intelligence (AI)

1:00pm CDT

IBM i Migrate While Active Operating System

Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

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Evaluation Survey

Migrating critical workloads to new infrastructure or cloud environments has traditionally required significant downtime and complex planning. With Migrate While Active, organizations running IBM i can now move production systems to cloud environments while keeping applications running and business operations uninterrupted. In this session, we will explore how IBM i Migrate While Active enables near-continuous system availability during migrations by synchronizing production data between the source and target systems in real time. You will learn how the process works and how the approach can reduce downtime from days to minutes or hours depending on environment size and network bandwidth. Join us to understand the architecture behind this solution, the supported migration scenarios, and best practices for planning and executing a successful migration.

Speakers

Kris Whitney

IBM

Kris Whitney is a Senior Technical Staff Member at IBM Rochester. He is currently the IBM i Chief Engineer

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 →

Yan Zhuo

IBM i Product Management Leader, IBM

Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
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NDA, High Availability Resilience

3:00pm CDT

Keep Your System up to Date with Image Catalogs - How they Changed My Life!

Thursday April 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

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Evaluation Survey

Perform OS upgrades and PTF installs the modern way with Image Catalogs! This has become the standard way to install on IBM i, but what are you really doing? What can image catalogs be used for and how best to handle them? If you are not used to image catalogs come and see how they can change your life!

Learning Objectives:

What are Image Catalogs and how do you create them? What can they do? How can they change YOUR life?

Speakers

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 →

Thursday April 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
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Systems Management, Systems Management

4:15pm CDT

Make Today Matter!

Thursday April 30, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm CDT

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Evaluation Survey

Every new day arrives with fresh potential, yet it’s all too easy to slip into routine, delay important actions, or wait for the perfect moment that never seems to come. What if you could break that cycle and turn each day into something meaningful, productive, and energizing? This session will inspire you to take ownership of your choices, strengthen your relationships, and use practical systems and tools to manage your time, energy, and focus with confidence. Join us to explore what holds us back - from hesitation and missed opportunities to outdated habits and the myth of “one of these days.” You will learn how to create momentum, stay organized, build deeper connections, and make purposeful decisions that move you forward. With a blend of motivation, practical strategies, and real-world examples, this session will help you transform your typical day into one that counts.

Learning Objectives:

`- How to recognize the value of each day and live with intention and enthusiasm - Techniques to direct your focus toward what truly matters and boost your productivity - Ways to use simple tools and repeatable systems to stay organized and reduce the mental load

Speakers

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 →

Thursday April 30, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm CDT
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Developing Business Skills, Developing Business Skills, Personal Development

8:00am CDT

9:15am CDT

10:45am CDT

1:00pm CDT

3:00pm CDT

4:15pm CDT

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