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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!

Venue: Galerie 1 clear filter
Monday, April 27
 

10:00am CDT

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

Learning Objectives:

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 Distinguish between outdated IBM i practices and modern, compliant configurations. 2.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

Richard Dolewski

VP, Hybrid Enterprise Solutions, Lightedge
avatar for Josh Patterson

Josh Patterson

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

11:15am CDT

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

Learning Objectives:

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

Todd Stewart

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

Steven Wolk

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

Amy Blea

Senior Product Manager, IBM i Modernization, IBM
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Galerie 1

3:15pm CDT

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

Learning Objectives:

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

Larry Bolhuis

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

Richie Palma

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

4:30pm CDT

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

Learning Objectives:

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

5:05pm CDT

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

Learning Objectives:

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

Justin Nelson

Advisory Software Engineer, IBM
Justin Nelson is a software developer within IBM i development. He has worked on the IBM i since joining IBM in 2015. He is a member of the integrated file system & servers (IFS) team and specializes in the Network Client File System (QNTC), host servers, and Network Authentication... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Galerie 1
 
Tuesday, April 28
 

8:00am CDT

Watch it Live: A Full AI Application Built on the IBM i in Less Than an Hour
Tuesday April 28, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Your IBM i isn't going anywhere, but the systems around it keep growing. You have cloud platforms, third-party tools, and APIs that all need to talk to your core data and business logic. Getting them all to work together was already a challenge. Now, AI needs to fit in too.
In this session, we’ll show you how to bring AI to your current tech stack. We'll build a working AI application that connects to existing systems and data. We’ll connect to DB2 files, call RPG programs, and integrate with external APIs and cloud services. 
Along the way, we’ll cover the important decisions: data access controls, LLM selection, and AI governance so nothing touches your production environment without your say-so.
You'll leave with a clear picture of how AI connects to the data and systems you already have and how to build AI tools that fit into your business.

Speakers
avatar for Rick Hurckes

Rick Hurckes

Services Director, mrc
Tuesday April 28, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Galerie 1

9:15am CDT

The IBM i Benefits of “Instant Disk Copy” and the Differences Between ‘FlashCopy’ and ‘Snapshots’ External Storage Features Explained
Tuesday April 28, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
All IBM external storage units can perform “instant copy” of all the disks of your IBM i LPAR.
Historically made using the ‘FlashCopy’ technology, these “instant copies” are now possible with a new method called ‘Snapshot’ or ‘Policy based FlashCopy’.
Discover the differences and how to use those two technologies to simplify and secure operations on your IBM i partitions:
  • To create easily manually a copy of your prod to test a change on it (or create a backup copy before a version change)
  • To perform daily several planned “instant copy” to create regular protection against ransomware or data corruption
  • To reduce, using IBM i commands, the backup window to less than 2 minutes
  • To refresh nearly instantly your test/acceptance/preprod environment
 
See how to use and automate this capability with the powerful product “Flash for i

Speakers
avatar for Pascal Ruckebusch

Pascal Ruckebusch

Président, Technical Director, M81
Pascal Ruckebusch adopted IBM i at the exact beginning of AS/400, three decades ago, and never left it … Pascal's experience on IBM i covers system and application development, training and operations. Twice CTO of 2 major IBM business partners in France, his technical skills and... Read More →
Tuesday April 28, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Galerie 1

10:45am CDT

Case Study on Subsystem Configuration for HTTP Server instances and QSQSRVR Server Jobs
Tuesday April 28, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
As applications are modernized, it is common to move from green screen interfaces to browser-based applications. In many cases, the associated HTTP server runs on the IBM i in the QHTTPSVR subsystem. These web applications access the database, perhaps directly, but also by using SQL CLI, which results in the database access running in an QSQSRVR jobs in the QSYSWRK subsystem. As environments become more complex, one may see several web instances using a large number of QSQSRVR jobs. This default configuration can make it difficult to understand system resources used by the application, as well as related challenges in troubleshooting problems. This session is a case study of using subsystems to isolate web applications to their own subsystem; the HTTP server instance and related QSQSRVR jobs running in the same subsystem.

Learning Objectives:

In this session you will learn how to: - Configure HTTP instances to run in their own subsystem - Set up the system so QSQSRVR jobs run in the subsystem of the requester - How to use the Performance Data Investigator to review performance by subsystem after the configuration changes are made
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 →
avatar for Matthew Neill

Matthew Neill

DB2 for i Database Engineer, Guild Mortgage
35+ years across IBM i application development, database engineering, modernization, and application integrations.
Expertise in Db2 for i SQL, SQL/PL, Modern ILE RPG AppDev, Service Programs, and IBM iDoctor performance tuning.
Enjoys mentoring teams, teaching modernization pra... Read More →
Tuesday April 28, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Galerie 1

3:15pm CDT

Beyond the Copilot: How Agentic Coding Automates Your Engineering Workflow
Tuesday April 28, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Most AI coding tools make you faster at writing code. CoderFlow does something different: it finishes the work — and it keeps working while you don't. In this webinar, we will walk through how CoderFlow, Profound Logic's enterprise agentic coding platform, executes the full engineering workflow autonomously. From compiling and testing to fixing failures and iterating until acceptance criteria are met, CoderFlow delivers verified, ready-to-commit outcomes instead of suggestions that still require you to drive every step.

Unlike copilot-style tools that pause and wait for your next prompt, CoderFlow runs continuously in the background — tackling queued tasks, resolving issues, and closing tickets without requiring a developer in the loop at every stage. Think of it less like a coding assistant and more like a tireless team member that works in parallel with your existing engineers, around the clock.

We will cover how autonomous agents work inside isolated containers, how the build-test-fix loop actually runs, and what work automation looks like in practice — including how teams are restructuring their sprint workflows, reducing toil, and reallocating engineering time to higher-value problems.

If you have been exploring AI coding tools and wondering whether there is something more capable for complex, real-world systems — or if you are ready to move from AI-assisted development to AI-automated delivery — this session is for you.

Learning Objectives:
  • Understand the difference between AI assistance and AI automation — Learn how agentic coding platforms like CoderFlow move beyond suggestion-based copilots to autonomously complete end-to-end engineering tasks.
  • See the build-test-fix loop in action — Discover how CoderFlow runs inside isolated containers, iterates on failures, and delivers verified, commit-ready code without manual intervention at each step.
  • Explore real-world workflow transformation — Learn how engineering teams are restructuring sprints, reducing repetitive toil, and shifting developer focus from debugging AI output to reviewing completed work.
  • Assess the impact on team capacity and throughput — Understand how running autonomous agents in parallel with your existing team can increase delivery speed without proportionally increasing headcount.
  • Identify where agentic automation fits in your stack — Leave with a practical framework for evaluating whether CoderFlow is the right fit for your organization's complexity, systems, and engineering goals.

Speakers
avatar for Gary Jones

Gary Jones

Futurization Strategist, Profound Logic
Gary Jones believes in the transformative potential of the IBM i platform — not just as a legacy asset, but as a modern foundation for AI-driven business innovation. His career has been dedicated to helping IBM i shops move forward without leaving behind what makes the platform... Read More →
Tuesday April 28, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Galerie 1

4:30pm CDT

Call Home Automation: Enablement, Enhancements, and Improvements
Tuesday April 28, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Call Home Automation is changing the way IBM systems detect and respond to issues, cutting down manual work and speeding up resolution. In this session, we will walk through what Call Home is, how the automation works behind the scenes, and how recent enhancements create an improved customer experience by improving accuracy, efficiency, and overall system reliability.

We will cover how these updates reduce noise, prevent duplicate actions, and get the right information where it needs to go faster. Whether you have are looking to have Call Home enabled or are looking to get more out of your current setup, you will walk away with practical takeaways you can leverage immediately.
Speakers
avatar for Jeff Cummings

Jeff Cummings

IBM Global Power Call Home Lead, IBM
Jeff Cummings joined IBM in 2021. He is currently the IBM Global Power Call Home Lead, responsible for driving automation strategy and enhancing support operations across IBM Power Systems worldwide. He leads initiatives that reduce manual effort, improve response times, and deliver... Read More →
avatar for Karyn Corneli

Karyn Corneli

STSM Product Engineering IBM Power Systems (HMC), IBM
With nearly three decades of technical leadership at IBM,  Karyn specializes in the HMC product line. Her career spans from support center operations to Product Engineering, giving her a unique perspective of the platform.  She transforms real-world client challenges into product... Read More →
Tuesday April 28, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Galerie 1

5:05pm CDT

Supercharging CL with SQL: Modern Techniques for Everyday Tasks
Tuesday April 28, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Did you know your CL programs can run SQL statements directly — no RPG required? In this quick, practical session, you’ll learn how to combine the simplicity of CL with the power of SQL to automate and simplify everyday IBM i operations. Simon will demonstrate how to use the RUNSQL and RUNSQLSTM commands to perform tasks such as clearing or updating data, saving results to output files, and even controlling system operations dynamically. You’ll see examples of using SQL for file maintenance, logging, and automation — all inside standard CL programs. If you still think CL is limited to DLTF, CPYF, and SAVLIB, this session will change how you write job control forever.

Learning Objectives:

Learning Objectives = After attending this session, participants will be able to: - Use the RUNSQL and RUNSQLSTM commands within CL programs. - Perform file updates, inserts, and deletes directly from CL. - Capture SQL results and use them to control job flow. - Combine CL and SQL for more efficient batch and automation scripts.
Speakers
avatar for Simon Hutchinson

Simon Hutchinson

Founder & author, RPGPGM.COM
Simon Hutchinson has worked with IBM midrange servers and the RPG programming language since 1988—starting in the U.K. and continuing in the U.S. for over 35 years. He is best known for his long-running blog, RPGPGM.COM, where for more than 12 years he has shared practical insi... Read More →
Tuesday April 28, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Galerie 1
 
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

9:15am CDT

Building Your AI-Powered IBM i Knowledge Base: Preserving Expertise Before It Retires
Wednesday April 29, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Your senior developers hold decades of business logic in their heads. When they retire, that knowledge walks out the door. But what if you could capture that expertise in an AI system that new developers could query? In this session, we'll show you how to build intelligent documentation systems that preserve institutional knowledge. You'll see how AI can analyze existing applications to extract business rules, generate comprehensive documentation from code, and create interactive knowledge bases that answer questions about your systems. We'll demonstrate techniques for documenting legacy applications automatically, capturing tribal knowledge through AI-assisted interviews, and building searchable knowledge bases that understand context. You'll learn practical approaches for knowledge preservation, see real examples of companies that successfully captured expertise before retirement, and understand the tools and processes required. Whether you're facing imminent retirements or want to preserve knowledge proactively, you'll leave with actionable strategies for protecting your organization's most valuable asset: expertise.

Learning Objectives:

Attendees will learn strategies for using AI to preserve institutional knowledge before experts retire. They'll understand automated documentation techniques, knowledge capture processes, and implementation approaches for AI-powered knowledge bases that make expertise accessible.
Speakers
avatar for Aaron Magid

Aaron Magid

Chief Architect, Eradani
Aaron Magid, Chief Architect at Eradani, has over a decade of experience in software development and technology. He specializes in modernizing legacy systems like IBM i/AS400 using Python, Node.js, and Java. Aaron excels in bridging old and new technologies together for clients, helping... Read More →
Wednesday April 29, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Galerie 1

10:45am CDT

Farewell Tape…  Long Live Tape!
Wednesday April 29, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
This session will take in a brief review of the history of magnetic media on the IBM i, along with some of the issues along the way.  It will offer a wider variety of options available to backup/archive data from the IBM I today, with a look at techniques that have become more prevalent (and feasible) in current implementations.  Attendees will get information that may provide more possibilities for their own environments than they knew were available.
Speakers
avatar for Aaron Brown

Aaron Brown

Sr. Solutions Architect, ProActive Solutions Inc.
Aaron Brown is a Sr. Solutions Architect with ProActive Solutions, Inc, an IBM Business Partner based in Mission, Kansas.  

Aaron left a career in retail management to take a computer operator job on some system called an "AS/400" nearly 30 years ago. Over those 30 years, he has been able to work with some very large implementations (and some smaller implementations) of IBM i - giving him a broad scope... Read More →
Wednesday April 29, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Galerie 1

3:45pm CDT

Use AI to Build an IBM i Web App in Under 10 Minutes — No Coding Required!
Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
Valence, the leading web and mobile framework for IBM i, is getting even smarter. In this fast-paced demo, we’ll show you how Nitro App Builder (NAB) — Valence’s browser-based low-code development tool — enables anyone with solid IBM i database knowledge to build and deploy modern web or mobile apps in minutes. But that’s just the beginning. You’ll get an exclusive sneak peek at Valence 6.4, featuring powerful new IBM i–centric AI capabilities designed to accelerate development like never before. With the integrated AI assistant, you can:
  • Instantly generate app components
  • Build dashboards and inquiry apps with download-to-Excel functionality
  • Create intuitive data entry apps
  • Even generate RPG or SQL logic with AI assistance
No coding required — but fully extensible for developers who want it. Whether you're a seasoned RPG developer, a super user who knows your physical files inside and out, or a programmer comfortable with HTML5 and JavaScript, Valence adapts to your skill level. And now with AI integrated directly into the development experience, much of the heavy lifting can be done for you. The bottom line?
You can build real, production-ready IBM i web apps — fast. Join us for a live demo of Valence 6.4, see AI in action on IBM i.
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 →
avatar for Richard Milone

Richard Milone

Managing Partner, CNX
Richard Milone has worked as an application developer on the IBM i platform and its predecessors of various names for over 25 years. Richard served as Director of IT for Packaging Resources until co-founding CNX Corporation in Chicago in 1996, where his initial focus was on ERP enhancements... Read More →
Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
Galerie 1

5:00pm CDT

Business Posture:  Leveraging the benefits of IBM i in the Cloud
Wednesday April 29, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT

Join us on a transformative journey as we explore secure, scalable and resilient Cloud solutions purpose-built for the IBM i.   How can you unlock the modern capabilities of IBM Power Systems without introducing the complexity and risk while driving positive business outcomes?  How will POWERVS solve this.  Public, Private, Multi-Cloud -  What cloud is right for you?
 
  • Resiliency Solutions Delivering Uptime Results
  • Hybrid Cloud Architecture: Enhancing resiliency, security, and compliance
  • Three reasons Why Cloud Computing is Important for Businesses
               Bonus - 1 BIG reason you may have never considered.

Speakers
avatar for Richard Dolewski

Richard Dolewski

VP, Hybrid Enterprise Solutions, Lightedge
avatar for Josh Patterson

Josh Patterson

Sr. Solutions Architect, Lightedge
Josh is a Senior Solutions Architect and IBM Champion at Lightedge, focused on modernizing enterprise cloud solutions for IBM Power platforms.  Subject matter expertise in designing resilient, cost-effective hybrid-cloud strategies and high-availability architectures that align technology... Read More →
Wednesday April 29, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
Galerie 1
 
Thursday, April 30
 

8:00am CDT

The Modern IBM i Development Workbench: An Integrated Approach to Modernization
Thursday April 30, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Modernization isn't just about updating user interfaces or moving to the cloud. It's about creating a comprehensive, integrated development environment that brings IBM i into alignment with modern enterprise standards. It’s about future proofing your environment so that you are ready to handle any new technologies that arise. This session explores how leading organizations are building complete development workbenches that combine DevOps automation, API integration, AI-assisted development, and modern tooling into cohesive platforms. You'll see how these integrated approaches enable developers to work more efficiently, how they improve collaboration across teams, and how they allow IBM i systems to participate fully in enterprise architecture. We'll discuss the components of a modern development workbench, show real examples from organizations that have successfully implemented integrated approaches, and provide practical guidance for building your own modernization roadmap. Whether you're just starting your modernization journey or looking to connect existing initiatives, you'll leave understanding how to create development environments where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Learning Objectives:

Attendees will understand how to create integrated development environments for IBM i modernization. They'll learn about key components of modern development workbenches, see examples of successful integrated approaches, and develop strategies for connecting DevOps, integration, AI, and tooling initiatives into cohesive platforms that maximize development productivity.
Speakers
avatar for Aaron Magid

Aaron Magid

Chief Architect, Eradani
Aaron Magid, Chief Architect at Eradani, has over a decade of experience in software development and technology. He specializes in modernizing legacy systems like IBM i/AS400 using Python, Node.js, and Java. Aaron excels in bridging old and new technologies together for clients, helping... Read More →
Thursday April 30, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Galerie 1

9:15am CDT

AI-Powered DevOps: From Code Generation to Production Deployment
Thursday April 30, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Generating code with AI is impressive, but it's only half the story. How do you build it? How do you deploy it? How do you manage dependencies when AI creates new components? This session explores the critical connection between AI code generation and DevOps automation for IBM i. You'll see how modern DevOps platforms can automatically identify dependencies in AI-generated code, determine build requirements, and manage deployments across environments. We'll demonstrate how non-IBM i developers can leverage AI to create RPG programs without understanding compilation processes or deployment procedures, because the DevOps infrastructure handles it automatically. You'll learn strategies for creating AI-assisted development/promotion pipelines, understand how to integrate AI-generated code into existing DevOps workflows, and see real examples of organizations using AI throughout their entire development lifecycle. This isn't just about writing code faster. It's about creating a complete, integrated development environment where AI and automation work together to make your team more productive.

Learning Objectives:

Attendees will understand how to integrate AI code generation with DevOps automation for complete development workflows. They'll learn about dependency management for AI-generated code, automated build and deployment strategies, and approaches for creating AI-enhanced development pipelines that handle the entire application lifecycle.
Speakers
avatar for Aaron Magid

Aaron Magid

Chief Architect, Eradani
Aaron Magid, Chief Architect at Eradani, has over a decade of experience in software development and technology. He specializes in modernizing legacy systems like IBM i/AS400 using Python, Node.js, and Java. Aaron excels in bridging old and new technologies together for clients, helping... Read More →
Thursday April 30, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Galerie 1

10:45am CDT

Start using ILE RPG Modernization Techniques
Thursday April 30, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Developing ILE code requires the developer to change their thought processes, gone are the large programs that do complicated processes. ILE requires the developer to think in small easily managed procedures. Reusable procedures, modules, and service programs. This session will not only explain “Why you need to change", it will have examples that are easy to understand, and you can start using immediately.

Learning Objectives:

Why use Model View Controller architecture Improve developers understanding of service programs Learn to write service programs that can easily be used as API's Learn why Service programs should be data centric rather than application centric Learn how correctly designed service programs will make your life easier
Speakers
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 →
Thursday April 30, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Galerie 1

1:00pm CDT

Designing Your Own IBM i Commands (CMDs): From Simple to Powerful
Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Tired of typing long CL commands or repeating the same operational tasks? IBM i gives you the power to create your own commands — complete with prompts, keywords, and integrated help — that look and behave just like IBM’s built-in ones. In this session, you’ll learn how to design and build your own custom CL commands (CMD objects) from start to finish. We’ll start with simple examples that wrap CL programs, then move to more advanced topics such as validation programs, command processing programs (CPPs), and creating user help text. Using practical demonstrations, Simon will show how custom commands can simplify operations, enforce standards, and make your IBM i environment more user-friendly. By the end of the session, you’ll be ready to design your own commands to automate your shop’s most common tasks — and make your coworkers think IBM shipped them that way.

Learning Objectives:

After attending this session, participants will be able to: - Understand the structure and components of IBM i command objects (CMDs). - Create custom commands that call CL or RPG programs. - Define command parameters and default values using keywords. - Use command processing programs (CPPs) and validity-check programs (VCPs).
Speakers
avatar for Simon Hutchinson

Simon Hutchinson

Founder & author, RPGPGM.COM
Simon Hutchinson has worked with IBM midrange servers and the RPG programming language since 1988—starting in the U.K. and continuing in the U.S. for over 35 years. He is best known for his long-running blog, RPGPGM.COM, where for more than 12 years he has shared practical insi... Read More →
Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
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3:00pm CDT

Broaden Your Reporting Capabilities Using Python
Thursday April 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
One can only imagine just how many Excel sheets or other reports are generated on a daily basis. Are these reports portraying information in the best way possible? Is there anything we can do to help make this information more easily understood? Over the recent years, there has been quite the craze over data analytics and the importance of data that we should question our reporting standards. In this session we will cover the usage of Python and its readily available open source modules that can help us improve our reports.

Learning Objectives:

1. How to create a Python script and call it (with parameters) 2. Learn of Python modules that may be of interest 3. How to generate/alter/merge Excel reports 4. How to generate PDF's, images, and graphs
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 →
Thursday April 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
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4:15pm CDT

Becoming a Power User with ACS
Thursday April 30, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm CDT
In this award-winning session, we’ll go beyond the basics of IBM i Access Client Solutions (ACS) to uncover ways to make the tool work harder for you. After reviewing the core functionality, I’ll demonstrate some of the customizations I use every day to boost productivity and streamline my workflow. Whether you’re brand new to ACS or a seasoned user, you’ll walk away with practical tips, tricks, and user-driven ideas you can immediately put into practice.

Learning Objectives:
Understand the core functionality of IBM i Access Client Solutions (ACS). Learn how to apply customizations within ACS to increase efficiency and productivity. Discover creative ways other users enhance ACS and identify techniques you can adapt for your own environment. Walk away with practical tips and tricks you can immediately implement in your daily workflow.
Speakers
avatar for Gregory Simmons

Gregory Simmons

Software Engineer, PC Richard & Son
Gregory Simmons is a Software Engineer at P.C. Richard & Son. He is a COMMON certified Application Developer – ILE RPG on IBM I on Power. He is also a registered instructor with IBM’s Academic Initiative and an RPG and IBM i instructor at Scott Regional Technology Center, where... Read More →
Thursday April 30, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm CDT
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