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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!

Company: Student clear filter
Sunday, April 26
 

5:00pm CDT

Student Session
Sunday April 26, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
This session is a welcome and introduction for students to help set expectations for POWERUp 2026. We will go over events not to miss, COMMON questions at conference, and provide ways to POWERUp your experience.
Speakers
avatar for Manzoor Siddiqui

Manzoor Siddiqui

Executive Director, COMMON
Manzoor Siddiqui is the Executive Director of COMMON. He oversees all Operations for the organization, and has responsibility and oversight of all areas and Staff. He joined COMMON in 2006, and has over 30 years of multi-disciplinary business, marketing and IT experience across a broad range of industri... Read More →
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 Peter Kasper

Peter Kasper

Education Manager, COMMON, a users group
I'm the Education Manager at COMMON. I work on anything and everything to do with education; from our online offerings to our in-person educational events, and more!

If you see me on-site at a conference, say hello! Just be careful not to look away -- I may be gone when you look back... Read More →
avatar for Shelly Petty

Shelly Petty

Application Support, Profound Logic
I am a Full Stack Developer at Profound Logic. We run our production applications on the IBMi Power Server. Primary languages are CL, RPG, DB2 SQL and Java, and the UI: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Drupple, React, and Sencha.
My position is a fast paced job and it includes Help Desk pho... Read More →
avatar for Floyd Del Muro

Floyd Del Muro

Board President, COMMON

avatar for Donna Del Muro

Donna Del Muro

Community Outreach Manager, COMMON
Retired IBM i solution‑based sales professional with over 25 years in the IBM i ecosystem. My career spans sales, sales management, and project management across both hardware and software environments, helping organizations align technology with real business needs. I’m currently... Read More →
Sunday April 26, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
Studio 9-10

6:30pm CDT

COMMON Kick-off
Sunday April 26, 2026 6:30pm - 8:00pm CDT
While there aren’t any sessions happeningon Sunday, we just can’t wait to connectwith you all again! Join us Sunday evening forour kick-off, there will be food, drinks, andplenty of company to get yourconference started off on the right foot. Grabyour badge from registration and join us inthe River-View Room!
Sunday April 26, 2026 6:30pm - 8:00pm CDT
River-View Room
 
Monday, April 27
 

8:00am CDT

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

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

10:00am CDT

IBM i Networking Overview
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
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

10:00am CDT

PHP Best practices and New and Exciting Updates on IBM i
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
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

10:00am CDT

What's New and Exciting in RPG
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
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

10:00am CDT

Introduction to the Navigator for i Performance Tasks
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
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

10:00am CDT

Quantum Computing: an overview
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
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

10:00am CDT

IBM i Security Basics
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 12:15pm CDT
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

11:15am CDT

VS Code for i - Database Extension
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
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

11:15am CDT

BRMS First Steps
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
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

12:30pm CDT

Jeff Carey NOLA Session
Monday April 27, 2026 12:30pm - 1:00pm CDT
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

1:15pm CDT

Keynote: IBM Bob - Your IBM i AI Development Partner
Monday April 27, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
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

2:15pm CDT

COMMON Problem Solving
Monday April 27, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
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

3:15pm CDT

N2i (New to IBM i) - Foundational Concepts of IBM i
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
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

4:30pm CDT

20 Hidden Gems of Db2 for i in 20 minutes
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
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

4:30pm CDT

20 Tips in 20 Minutes
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
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

5:30pm CDT

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

Monday April 27, 2026 5:30pm - 8:00pm CDT
Grand Ballroom
 
Tuesday, April 28
 

8:00am CDT

Code for IBM i – What’s New, What’s Next
Tuesday April 28, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
The Code for IBM i family of extensions continues to grow with new tools and powerful enhancements. In this session, we will showcase recent improvements, highlight community contributions, and share a glimpse of upcoming features on the roadmap for 2026.

Learning Objectives:

• Share newly released features across all IBM i VS Code extensions • Showcase new tips and tricks to improve the developer experience • Share an overview of upcoming features in the 2026 roadmap
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 →
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 →
Tuesday April 28, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Studio 1-2

8:00am CDT

Navigator for i, The tools within!
Tuesday April 28, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
As an IBM i administrator you’ve either used Navigator for I, or you’re living under an AS/400! While you’re getting this done though, you’ve likely missed many of the capabilities built into Navigator to make your job easier and a better fit for your specific needs and environment. In this session, Tim and Larry will go beyond the basic capabilities of Navigator and show you the buttons and the options and capabilities that are built into Navigator for I that turbocharge the capabilities of Navigator for i. Come for the Ooh’s and the Ah’s !!

Learning Objectives:

Learn how to be more effective when utilizing Nav4i.
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 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 →
Tuesday April 28, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Galerie 5

9:00am CDT

Student Job Fair
Tuesday April 28, 2026 9:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Don't miss the Student Job Fair if you are interested in hiring an intern, or your next colleague.

Over 40 students and educators are attending POWERUp 2026, many of whom are looking for employment opportunities, so don't miss out on your chance to meet with them and connect.

It will be set up in a Reverse Job Fair format, where each student will be assigned a table and potential employers can go from table-to-table and talk to each person.

If you are looking to connect with the next generation of IT talent, this is your chance to maximize your company's benefit of attending POWERUp 2026.
Speakers
avatar for Donna Del Muro

Donna Del Muro

Community Outreach Manager, COMMON
Retired IBM i solution‑based sales professional with over 25 years in the IBM i ecosystem. My career spans sales, sales management, and project management across both hardware and software environments, helping organizations align technology with real business needs. I’m currently... Read More →
Tuesday April 28, 2026 9:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Mardi Gras Ballroom

9:15am CDT

What I Wish I Had Known When I Started My IBM i Career
Tuesday April 28, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
What I wish I knew when I started my IBM i Career is a practical roadmap for early-career and aspiring IBM i professionals looking to build momentum within the ecosystem. Drawing from real-world experience, this session explores how conferences, mentorship, community involvement, and side projects can accelerate growth and create meaningful career opportunities.
Attendees will learn how to engage strategically at IBM i events, approach interviews with confidence, identify skill gaps, and build credibility within the community. The session also addresses common misconceptions about networking and professional development in the IBM i world.
Participants will leave with clear, actionable steps they can immediately apply to strengthen their career trajectory and become active contributors to the IBM i ecosystem.

Speakers
avatar for Jacob Anderson

Jacob Anderson

Associate Software Engineer, Fortra
Jacob Anderson is an IBM i developer focused on bridging traditional business systems with modern technologies. He works with RPG, SQL, and IBM i development tools to deliver practical, modern solutions on the platform. Jacob is passionate about integration, modernization, and making... Read More →
Tuesday April 28, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Balcony M-N

9:15am CDT

BRMS Beyond the Basics
Tuesday April 28, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
This session will discuss some of the advanced topics in using BRMS for your back up and recovery. Featured topics will be tape and library management, BRMS Networking, control group and list controls, BRMS Policies and how they affect the overall operation of BRMS, and using SQL to manage BRMS. Recovering from a BRMS back up can be extremely easy, but it can also present some opportunities for trouble. This session will discuss some of the landmines in a BRMS recovery and how to avoid them. Both BR2 GUI and BR1 controls will be demonstrated.

Learning Objectives:

1. Ultilize control groups and lists to fully customize BRMS backups 2. Set up and manage BRMS Networking 3. Learn how to make a BRMS recovery simple and as easy as possible 4. Using SQL services to manage BRMS and reports
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 →
Tuesday April 28, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Balcony L

10:45am CDT

Hidden Gems of IBM i
Tuesday April 28, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Every few months the IBM i development team delivers new updates and features across the operating system. Keeping track and actually using these changes can be a difficult task at best. This session is the favorite new enhancements from a team of IBM i developers. You get to hear each of our favorite updates to the OS that have been delivered over the past bit. This session is new every time, often lots of fun and for sure there is something for everyone.

Learning Objectives:

Learn about the many new features of IBM i
Speakers
avatar for Ryan Moeller

Ryan Moeller

Software Engineer, IBM
Ryan Moeller is a software engineer working on Db2 for i, specifically on the SQL Query Engine (SQE) team. He joined the team in the Rochester, MN development lab in 2020. Ryan specializes in SQL, database development, and query performance analysis.
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 →
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 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.
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 →
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 →
Tuesday April 28, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Balcony M-N

11:45am CDT

Expo Open with Lunch
Tuesday April 28, 2026 11:45am - 1:45pm CDT
We’re bringing a full pickleball court right to the Expo floor! The court will be available throughout the conference - even outside of official Expo hours. Whether you’re a seasoned player or picking up a paddle for the first time, come rally with fellow attendees. Watch social media and your inbox for details on joining the tournament bracket and competing head-to-head!

Lunch will be served from 12PM-1PM.
Tuesday April 28, 2026 11:45am - 1:45pm CDT
Grand Ballroom

1:45pm CDT

Keynote: From Core to Catalyst: How IBM i Teams Can Lead the Next Wave of AI-Ready Modernization
Tuesday April 28, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT
IBM i has been the backbone of enterprise stability, but shifting expectations now demand more. IT modernization has become a strategic priority, driving efficiency, innovation, and enhanced customer experiences. In the next two years, 25–30% of IT budgets will focus on AI readiness, cybersecurity, automation, and data optimization. For IBM i teams, this is both a challenge and an opportunity to turn barriers like legacy complexity and siloed data into catalysts for growth and innovation.


In this keynote, Rashmi Agrawal, VP of Engineering at Rocket Software, will reframe IBM i not as a legacy constraint but as a strategic advantage. With the right modernization roadmap—spanning applications, data, infrastructure, and security—IBM i teams can accelerate digital transformation, enable AI initiatives, and deliver measurable business outcomes that resonate with the C-suite.


In this session, you’ll discover:
  • How AI enhances human-driven decision-making in workload modernization. With 54% of enterprises expecting AI-assisted migration and optimization, IBM i teams can leverage AI to augment—not replace—human expertise.
  • Why modernization maturity drives business performance. Modernization leaders report significantly higher gains in efficiency, innovation, and customer satisfaction, proving the direct correlation between IT transformation and business success.
  • What RPG, COBOL, and CL developers need to prepare for. From data quality and integration to AI-augmented coding and secure-by-design practices, developers must evolve their skills to meet new demands. AI-assisted development, testing, and infrastructure readiness will be critical.
  • How technical leaders can overcome modernization blockers. Learn strategies to address data silos, compliance complexity, and talent gaps while preserving the resilience and reliability that make IBM i indispensable.
  • Join us to discover how to transform your IBM i environment into an AI-ready, modernization-driven foundation for the next decade of innovation.

Speakers
avatar for Jeroen van Dun

Jeroen van Dun

IBM Champion & Product Manager, Rocket Software
avatar for Rashmi Agrawal

Rashmi Agrawal

Vice President – Engineering, App Mod Vice President – Engineering, App Mod, Rocket Software
Rashmi is a highly accomplished Global R&D leader with 26 years of experience driving product innovation and execution at enterprise-grade companies like IBM, Dell/EMC, and Rocket Software. Her expertise spans a wide range of products, including datacenter, cloud, AI, storage, developer... Read More →
Tuesday April 28, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT
Mardi Gras Ballroom

3:15pm CDT

Beyond Legacy: Thriving in a Modern IBM i Career
Tuesday April 28, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
The IBM i platform is often seen as a legacy system, powerful but dated. As a young developer entering this space, I encountered that perception head-on. But what I found was a vibrant, evolving platform with modern tools, active communities, and incredible opportunities for growth. In this session, I’ll share my journey into the IBM i ecosystem: how I got started, the learning curve I faced with technologies like RPG and CL, and how I began working with security-focused tools like Powertech Encryption and Authority Broker. I’ll also talk about what it’s like joining user groups, getting involved with COMMON’s N2i initiative, and finding mentorship and community support along the way. Whether you're new to the platform, mentoring a junior developer, or trying to attract the next generation of IBM i talent, this session will offer practical insights, encouragement, and a fresh perspective on what it means to thrive on IBM i today.

Learning Objectives:

Understand what it's like to get started as a new developer on IBM i Learn about tools and communities that support early-career success Explore the value of mentorship, networking, and community involvement Discover how to build confidence and stay motivated on a legacy platform Recognize the importance of inclusion and support for new talent in tech
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 →
Tuesday April 28, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Studio 7-8

3:15pm CDT

Breaking Up a Monolith
Tuesday April 28, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Every RPG shop has them. Most developers avoid them like the plague. Large monolithic programs are a significant source of technical debt in all RPG shops. They limit your agility which in turn is detrimental to your business. So, once you are ready to deal with the issue, where do you start? There is no one answer, but there are steps you can take to begin dismantling and repurposing the code within these behemoths.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss steps to refactoring monolithic RPG programs 2. Learn common pitfalls to avoid 3. Learn how to organize extracted procedures for ease of use
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
Tuesday April 28, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Studio 1-2

4:30pm CDT

Fostering Positive Relationships
Tuesday April 28, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Positive healthy relationships are vital to success in everything you do: whether it is excelling in your career, creating a vibrant and energetic work environment, or having a happy and rewarding personal life. Learning how to interact with others in a way that is respectful and constructive is essential.

Learning Objectives:

1) How to connect with others in a positive and proactive way 2) The impact of creating respectful and nurturing relationships 3) How to create long-term relationships that will accelerate your career 4) Tools and techniques to foster positive relationships
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 →
Tuesday April 28, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Balcony L

4:30pm CDT

Running Large Language Models (LLMs) on IBM i
Tuesday April 28, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Learn how to deploy LLMs directly on IBM i and integrate with your Db2 integration.

Learning Objectives:

Learn how to deploy LLMs directly on IBM i and integrate with your Db2 integration.
Speakers
avatar for Adam Shedivy

Adam Shedivy

Software Developer, IBM
Adam is a software Developer working on Agentic AI solutions for IBM i
Tuesday April 28, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Galerie 6

5:05pm CDT

Why Procedures Are Better Than Subroutines
Tuesday April 28, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Discover the super powers that procedures have(and subroutines don't) and how they can help you create more reliable and more easily maintained programs. We'll talk about the benefits of input parameters: local variables, and return values, error handling with on-exit, and increased functionality with recursion.

Learning Objectives:

1. The benefits of using procedures 2. How to create a procedure 3. How to get the most benefit out of procedures
Speakers
avatar for Patrick Behr

Patrick Behr

Senior Consultant & Instructor, Seiden Group & imPower Technologies
Tuesday April 28, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Galerie 3
  RPG

5:30pm CDT

All Attendee Reception in the Expo
Tuesday April 28, 2026 5:30pm - 8:00pm CDT
We’re bringing a full pickleball court right to the Expo floor! The court will be available throughout the conference - even outside of official Expo hours. Whether you’re a seasoned player or picking up a paddle for the first time, come rally with fellow attendees. Watch social media and your inbox for details on joining the tournament bracket and competing head-to-head!
Tuesday April 28, 2026 5:30pm - 8:00pm CDT
Grand Ballroom
 
Wednesday, April 29
 

8:00am CDT

Explain It Like I'm 5 - Strategies for Successful Communication
Wednesday April 29, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
While many developers would love to never speak to another human being, it is inevitable that someday they will have to. When software engineers leave their cubicles or home offices or whatever dark cave they write code in, they'll need the skills to communicate effectively. Communication skills come in handy even if you're sending an email instead of just standing up and walking 10ft to a colleague's desk.

This is a session not just for developers, but for anyone who has to talk to another human being, because effective communication is the key to success in your relationships, careers, and everyday life. As a professional in marketing and sales (Anna) and a software engineer who recently joined the IBM i platform (Justin), we’ve had to learn strategies to access complicated information and make it accessible to ourselves and our customers.

Join us to learn some new strategies that you can not only take back to the office, but utilize the moment you walk out of the session room. We’ll have time to workshop with attendees at the end of the session. Attend this session to maximize your conference experience!

Learning Objectives:
- Learn the steps of a successful communication process and how to avoid common pitfalls.
- Learn communication strategies for conversations with those outside your area of expertise.
- Learn how an AI tool can assist you with communication.
Speakers
avatar for Anna Marrah

Anna Marrah

Marketing Consultant, Midrange Dynamics
Anna has a background in marketing, communications, sales, and membership promotion. She became acquainted with the IBM i community when she began working for COMMON as their Marketing Manager. During her time at COMMON, she spearheaded the revival of the IBM i professionals’ group... Read More →
avatar for Justin Becker

Justin Becker

Senior Software Developer/Analyst, M.R. Williams, Inc.
I'm a multi-instrumentalist who plays drums in an extreme metal band, a locksport enthusiast, a philosophy nerd, and an avid reader.
I also enjoy hiking, kayaking, archery, and boating.
I'm an advocate for accessible education (Join N2i right now. Do it.) and a member of the COMMON... Read More →
Wednesday April 29, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Galerie 1

8:00am CDT

JavaScript 101: First Look from an RPG Perspective
Wednesday April 29, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Since its introduction 30 years ago, JavaScript has fast become the most prominent programming language on the Internet. You would be hard-pressed to find a single page on the web today that does not employ some amount of JavaScript code. Learning JavaScript, along with basic HTML and CSS concepts, should thus be at the top of the to-do list for every RPG developer looking to get started with serious web development. This session serves as an introduction to the fundamentals of the JavaScript language, drawing comparisons to coding concepts that should be familiar to all RPG programmers. No prior experience with web development is assumed. Topics to be covered include basic variable declaration, comparison & assignment operators, conditional statements, arrays, loops and functions -- all of which will be directly compared to their RPG equivalents. The instructor will demonstrate how you can practice these basic JavaScript concepts on your own using console tools inside the Google Chrome browser, and provide suggestions for further study of the language.

Learning Objectives:

• Know how to code and test blocks of JavaScript inside their own browser (specifically, we'll look at the DevTools inside Google Chrome) • Understand the differences and similarities between JavaScript and RPG • Know where to go for further study of the language and what to focus on learning first
Speakers
avatar for Robert Swanson

Robert Swanson

Senior Partner, CNX
Rob has worked as an in-the-trenches IBM i developer since 1992, with the past 15 years focused on developing modernization efforts for legacy systems written in RPG. Currently serving as Senior Partner for CNX Corporation in Chicago, Rob is a strong advocate of introducing highly... Read More →
Wednesday April 29, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Studio 9-10

8:00am CDT

Getting Started VS Code and IBM i Workshop
Wednesday April 29, 2026 8:00am - 10:15am CDT
Dive into VS Code and CODE for IBM i / DB2 extensions with this perfect starter Lab. Many RPG developers are unfamiliar with VS Code, and beginning with this IDE can feel daunting. This lab offers a introduction to both VS Code and the Code for IBM i / DB2 development environment. To Participate the attendee MUST BRING A LAPTOP! The attendee will receive access to an IBM i system to engage in lab tasks. By the end of the lab: The basics of VS Code. Installing and VS Code extensions Navigating the Code for IBM i development environment.

Learning Objectives:

Overview of VS Code Introduction to the VS Code IDE Installing IBM i extensions Connecting to the IBM i system Editing and compiling modules, service programs and creating runnable RPG objects Running and Debugging a program Using SQL DB2 in VS code
Speakers
avatar for Michelle Lyons

Michelle Lyons

COO, imPower Technologies


avatar for Jim Buck

Jim Buck

CEO & Head Instructor, imPower Technologies

Jim Buck’s career in IT has spanned more than 35+ years, primarily in college education, manufacturing, and healthcare industries. Past president (13 years) of the Wisconsin Midrange Computer Professional Association (www.wmcpa.org) and has served on several teams developing IBM... Read More →
Wednesday April 29, 2026 8:00am - 10:15am CDT
Galerie 5

9:15am CDT

Node 101: Getting started on IBM i
Wednesday April 29, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Node.js empowers IBM i developers to build modern web services and APIs, leveraging a vast ecosystem of ready-to-use packages via npm (Node Package Manager). This session introduces Node.js through an RPG perspective, demonstrating a simple web service that queries a physical file on IBM i using the idb-connector module and serves JSON data to a browser. The instructor will showcase Node.js basics, compare them to RPG concepts like subprocedures and file operations, and deploy the service on IBM i. No prior Node.js experience is required, but it would be helpful to have a basic understanding of JavaScript (as covered in the preceding JavaScript 101 session). Topics for this session will include Node.js setup, modules, asynchronous programming, Express.js for web services, the benefits of npm’s extensive package repository, and deployment steps. Attendees will receive a handout with code, setup instructions, and resources for further study.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand Node.js, its relevance for RPG developers, and the power of npm’s vast library of packages for rapid development. • Learn how to use idb-connector to access IBM i database tables and serve data via a web service. • Gain insights into Node.js setup, coding, and deployment on IBM i, with resources for continued learning.
Speakers
avatar for Robert Swanson

Robert Swanson

Senior Partner, CNX
Rob has worked as an in-the-trenches IBM i developer since 1992, with the past 15 years focused on developing modernization efforts for legacy systems written in RPG. Currently serving as Senior Partner for CNX Corporation in Chicago, Rob is a strong advocate of introducing highly... Read More →
Wednesday April 29, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Studio 9-10

9:15am CDT

Basics of System Adminstration for Programmers
Wednesday April 29, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
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
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 →
Wednesday April 29, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Galerie 3

10:45am CDT

AI and IBM i DevSecOps, the current state of tooling
Wednesday April 29, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
AI and DevSecOps is a rapidly evolving area of functionality where there is overlap between the open systems world and the IBM i. In this session I will look at tools we can use right now to help us progress on our DevSecOps journey and also areas where the AI knowledge lags behind. I will show actual examples that will speed up your adoption of DevSecOps and enhance you use of these tools to streamline your Application Lifecycle management workflow, from the developer to deployment and everything in-between!

Learning Objectives:

Learn what AI tools can be successful be applied to IBM i specific requirements and what tools aren't quite ready yet.
Speakers
avatar for Jeffrey Tickner

Jeffrey Tickner

Consultant, ARCAD Software
Jeff Tickner has worked in Change Management on the IBM I for 27 years at different companies. He  has long experience with all kinds Source Control and Change Management packages from SourceSafe to Subversion and of course, Git. Jeff currently works for ARCAD Software, an international... Read More →
Wednesday April 29, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Studio 9-10

11:45am CDT

Expo Open with Lunch
Wednesday April 29, 2026 11:45am - 1:45pm CDT
We’re bringing a full pickleball court right to the Expo floor! The court will be available throughout the conference - even outside of official Expo hours. Whether you’re a seasoned player or picking up a paddle for the first time, come rally with fellow attendees. Watch social media and your inbox for details on joining the tournament bracket and competing head-to-head!

Lunch will be served from 12PM-1PM.
Wednesday April 29, 2026 11:45am - 1:45pm CDT
Grand Ballroom

1:45pm CDT

Keynote: Agentic AI and IBM i
Wednesday April 29, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT
IBM i has long been the backbone of mission-critical enterprise workloads, prized for its reliability, security, and integrated database. But as AI evolves beyond simple chat interfaces into autonomous, action-taking agents, the IBM i ecosystem stands at an inflection point. AI agents can now reason, plan, and execute multi-step tasks. Imagine the power when married to a platform with decades of business logic and operational knowledge!

This session explores the convergence of agentic AI and IBM i, covering the emerging architecture patterns that allow AI agents to interact directly with IBM i systems. Among other things, we will examine the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard that gives AI agents a structured way to discover and invoke tools, query databases, and interact with system resources. Plus, we'll give a sneak peek of some exciting offerings that may be coming in the near future!
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.
Wednesday April 29, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT
Mardi Gras Ballroom

2:45pm CDT

Pups and Cups
Wednesday April 29, 2026 2:45pm - 5:45pm CDT
There’s no better way to recharge than with a fewfurry friends. We’re partnering with a local shelter to bring you our Pups & Cups event on Wednesday. Grab a coffee, take a break, and spend some time getting to know some adorable local pups. It’s the perfect mix of caffeine and canine connection.
Wednesday April 29, 2026 2:45pm - 5:45pm CDT
Preservation Foyer

3:45pm CDT

SQL Coding Tips & Techniques
Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
SQL is a very powerful language for processing data. There are many ways to write SQL statements to get the desired results. However, not all queries are created equal. This session will compare different ways to approach a problem from an SQL perspective in terms of code maintenance and performance. Taking the right approach for writing SQL helps Db2 for i help you.

Learning Objectives:

Understanding of SQL Set-based processing Learn SQL coding techniques to avoid for poor performances Tools to help capture SQL errors
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 →
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 →
Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
Galerie 4

3:45pm CDT

A Live Demo of Navigator for i
Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
IBM Navigator for i continues to evolve with ongoing enhancements and new features. Whether you're a long-time user or just getting started, this session offers a live demo of the latest capabilities Navigator for i has to offer. Discover how these updates can improve your system management experience and streamline daily operations.

Learning Objectives:

`- Explore the newest features and improvements in IBM Navigator for i - Learn how to apply these enhancements to optimize system administration tasks
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.
Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
Studio 3-4

3:45pm CDT

IBM i Performance Data Management: Best Practices
Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
Effective performance data management is essential for maintaining a healthy and responsive IBM i environment. In this session we will cover best practices for configuring and using IBM i performance data collectors—including Collection Services, Job Watcher, and SQL collectors—balancing proper data collection with efficient use of storage. Attendees will learn how to set up data collection according to IBM-recommended guidelines, determine appropriate data retention policies, and choose storage locations for historical data. Whether you're troubleshooting performance issues or building long-term trend analyses, this session will equip you with the strategies and configurations needed to make the most of IBM i’s powerful performance data collectors and visualizers.

Learning Objectives:

Understand how to configure IBM i performance tools following best practices for proper and efficient data collection. Gain insights on how to balance proper data collection with efficient use of storage. Learn how to determine appropriate data retention periods and storage strategies based on your needs and goals.
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 →
Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
Balcony L

5:00pm CDT

Python Tips in 20 Minutes on IBM i
Wednesday April 29, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
Python on IBM i has been around for a while now. In this session we explore many of the various tips I’ve run across over the last few years. These tips apply to both Python and/or the IBM i environment running the Python scripts. Tips include best practices, IFS features, pathing and MUCH more.

Learning Objectives:

1) Little bit of everything to help the Python developer 2) Standards based code development and linting. 3) Features that improve Python performance
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 →
Wednesday April 29, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
Studio 7-8

6:00pm CDT

Trivia Night
Wednesday April 29, 2026 6:00pm - 8:00pm CDT
Staying in for the free night on Wednesday? Join usfor trivia! Gather a team and put your collectiveknowledge to the test as you compete forthe top spot.And don’t worry - we promise it’s not a quiz on yoursession notes.
Wednesday April 29, 2026 6:00pm - 8:00pm CDT
Mardi Gras Ballroom
 
Thursday, April 30
 

8:00am CDT

Modern RPG what does that mean?
Thursday April 30, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
You hear modern RPG but, what does that actually mean? we will look at converting from monolithic programs to modular programming including the use of service program and converting RLA(Record level access) to sql.

Learning Objectives:

Understanding what modern RPG means Understanding of what needs to be done to implement modern RPG.
Speakers
avatar for Marina Schwenk

Marina Schwenk

Senior Programmer/Analyst IBM i Admin, Innovative Software Solutions

Thursday April 30, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Studio 1-2
  RPG

8:00am CDT

iSee with Scott and Tim
Thursday April 30, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
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
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 →
Thursday April 30, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Balcony M-N

9:15am CDT

Mission: Possible! Journaling Forensics 101 (with Free Tools)
Thursday April 30, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Learn to think like a spy! Many shops use journaling for a variety of reasons, but may not be familiar with how to use these journals for forensic purposes. Mining your journals for the who, what, when, where, how - and sometimes even why - can be very useful, not to mention fun! Come join us for a lighthearted and entertaining "Mission: Impossible" themed look at one of the most useful things you can do with your journals. This session will introduce journaling concepts and share tuning tips to optimize your journal environment for forensics. After reviewing the "old fashioned" way to dig into your journals, we will demonstrate how much easier this is with the right tools. The DMPJRN and CVTJRNDTA commands used in this presentation will be made available as a free download to all attendees, including source code!

Learning Objectives:

Learning Objectives - After participating in this session, attendees should have the skills and tools to: - Optimize your journal environment to maximize the forensic information available to you - Understand what your journals are trying to tell you, and how to interrogate them to get the answers you need - Dump your journals quickly and easily using the free software made available - Be able to interpret the content of your journals to determine what really happened to your data - Use the techniques demonstrated in the provided source code to develop your own tools - Save the world from evil-doers
Speakers
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 →
Thursday April 30, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Studio 1-2

9:15am CDT

i Test, Therefore i Build
Thursday April 30, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
With IBM's release of the IBM i Testing VS Code extension, Unit Testing is (finally) hot and happening on the i, everything at the engineer’s finger tips, including code coverage. In this session we will show you how to take these unit tests to the next level, how to embed them in your DevOps cycle, in your pipeline – making them not only crucial to the engineer’s code quality, but also running them as automated security policy every time your product is built.

Learning Objectives:

Mastering unit test basics Showing how their value grows exponentially when run as part of your CICD pipelines. Learn how IBM i unit tests and tests from other platforms can be seamlessly combined to have a 360 view Learn how Unit tests and automated regression tests can come together for a holistic view on code and product quality See how AI can help predict future failures
Speakers
avatar for Andrew Clark

Andrew Clark

Andrew Clark is the Senior Principal Software Engineer for IBM i at Rocket Software.  Andrew has over 35 years of experience on IBM i beginning with the "secret Mankato Project" on a pre-release version of OS/400, and an internship at IBM Rochester working on the Query team.  He... Read More →
Thursday April 30, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Galerie 5

9:15am CDT

REST APIs on IBM i In Motion
Thursday April 30, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
In this session we will discuss the various ways to implement using REST APIs in your existing applications. What they are, why they exist, and how companies are using them to communicate with each other.

Learning Objectives:

We will take an RPG service program and deploy it as an API using the IBM Integrated Web Services tool (IWS).
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 →
Thursday April 30, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Studio 3-4

12:00pm CDT

Meeting of the Members
Thursday April 30, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm CDT

Thursday April 30, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm CDT
Studio 9-10

1:00pm CDT

The Human Edge: How to Stay Relevant in an AI World!
Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Worried about what artificial intelligence means for your job or your future? You’re not alone. As AI becomes capable of writing, coding, analyzing, and creating, it’s easy to wonder - what’s left for us humans? Join this session to learn exactly where your human edge lies - and how to use it to thrive in the AI era. You’ll discover how timeless human skills like creativity, empathy, communication, and judgment are not only irreplaceable, but also essential to getting the best results from AI - transforming it from a threat to an incredibly powerful ally!

Learning Objectives:

Through humor, relatable stories, and real-world examples, Steve will show you how to: - Apply human strengths to communicate better with people and AI - Collaborate effectively when your “teammates” include intelligent technology - Negotiate and resolve conflict with confidence and empathy using AI as your personal coach - Build stronger relationships with people – and yes, with your AI assistants! - Market yourself and your value in the age of automation - Stay adaptable, confident, and indispensable as work continues to evolve - Turn your human edge into your ultimate advantage!
Speakers
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 →
Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Balcony L

1:00pm CDT

VS Code and Code for IBM i Hidden Gems
Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Thanks to the Code for IBM i open source extension, VS Code became an IDE of choice for whoever wants to do some development on IBM i. Less expansive (as in "free") and more modern than RDi, it's already a daily driver for IBM i professionals and enthusiasts alike. But what does it have to offer we barely know? What are the less-known features that can make a developer's life easier? The legend tells that it's even possible to work locally on IBM i source code synchronized with Git or to use Visual Explain right from VS Code. But the best is yet to come and see for yourself! Whether you are a seasoned developer or just curious, join me to discover or rediscover the hidden gems that VS Code has to offer. Don't be a stranger and bring your questions along!

Learning Objectives:

`- Learn new ways of using VS Code for developing on IBM i - Hear it from one of the top contributor of the Code for i project - Discover how to use VS Code more efficiently - Live tips & tricks
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 →
Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Galerie 2

1:00pm CDT

Why and How to read a Job Log
Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
When a job runs on IBM i it generates various status messages. When things go 'bump' the job issues additional messages. Where do those messages appear? Most of them appear in the job log, making the job log the 'go to' for identifying issues or determining status of the job.  In this session we will review how to control the job log detail and disposition. We'll show you ways to read the job log. We'll also discuss the differences between active and completed jobs and give some thinking about dealing with a large number of job logs.

Learning Objectives:
Learn how to control joblogs, when they are produced and how much detail is provided.  Learn how to read the joblog and get the most detail.  Learn how to identify who or what answered an error message and when that was done.
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 →
Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Galerie 5

2:00pm CDT

Scavenger Hunt
Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Join the hunt on Thursday afternoon! COMMON is hosting another scavenger hunt this year. Find clues and do tasks all while exploring New Orleans. Create or join a team of 3-5 players and be the first to find all the clues and post your completed tasks!
Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Preservation Foyer near Registration Desk

4:15pm CDT

How to build effective agents for IBM i
Thursday April 30, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm CDT
Discover how to build AI agents for IBM i from the ground up in this hands-on exploration of modern agent development. This session takes you on a practical journey from creating your first simple agent using open source frameworks to designing full-featured enterprise solutions that integrate with IBM i environments. You'll learn how to leverage tools like the IBM i MCP server to build agents that can interact with Db2 for i, automate system administration tasks, and enhance developer workflows. Whether you're a system administrator looking to automate routine operations, a database admin seeking to optimize query performance, or a developer wanting to bring AI capabilities to your IBM i applications, this session provides the foundational knowledge and practical patterns you need to start building effective agents today. By the end of this session, you'll understand the complete agent development lifecycle and be equipped with reusable patterns and best practices for implementing your own AI-powered solutions on the IBM i platform.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the core architecture and components of AI agents, including how they process requests, make decisions, and interact with IBM i systems Implement a functional agent from scratch using open source frameworks that can execute Db2 for i queries and system commands Configure and leverage the IBM i MCP (Model Context Protocol) server to enable seamless agent integration with enterprise IBM i environments Apply proven design patterns and best practices for building reliable, maintainable agents that address real-world system administration and database management challenges Evaluate different agent deployment strategies and select the appropriate approach based on use case requirements, from simple automation scripts to full enterprise solutions
Speakers
avatar for Adam Shedivy

Adam Shedivy

Software Developer, IBM
Adam is a software Developer working on Agentic AI solutions for IBM i
Thursday April 30, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm CDT
Galerie 6

6:00pm CDT

Closing Reception
Thursday April 30, 2026 6:00pm - 9:00pm CDT
We’re wrapping up POWERUp 2026 with a celebration at Generations Hall! Enjoy a night of live music with Amanda Shaw, delicious food, drinks, and a festive parade as we come together to celebrate our community and and incredible week of learning and connection.
Thursday April 30, 2026 6:00pm - 9:00pm CDT
Generations Hall 310 Andrew Higgins Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70130
 

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