Broadband Nation Expo 2024: Full Schedule

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8:30am EDT

Leader's Roundtable - Building the Broadband Workforce

Friday October 11, 2024 8:30am - 9:00am EDT

Woodrow Wilson A

Understanding the need for a larger and more skilled workforce.
Programs to attract and retrain talent.
How to make broadband cool again.

Moderators

Tommy Clift

Editor, Broadband Nation

Tommy Clift is a multi-disciplined writer, musician and creator. Within tech, he has covered topics in telecom, diversity and inclusion, cybersecurity, AI, cloud technologies, and more. Tommy is a graduate of Colorado University Denver with a degree in music business and a minor in... Read More →

Speakers

Peter Voderberg

Chief, BroadbandOhio, Ohio Department of Development

Peter serves as the Chief of BroadbandOhio, an office within the Department of Development dedicated to bringing high-speed internet service to every resident in Ohio. Created by Governor Mike DeWine, it serves as the access point for industry and the public for coordinating the state’s... Read More →

Aaron Banks

City Council President, City of Jackson, MS

Pastor and spiritual shepherd, a teacher of teachers, ministerial and business visionary, motivational speaker, political consultant and grassroots organizer Aaron B. Banks is known for his gift to empower and mobilize people to prove what is acceptable unto the Lord. Aaron B. Banks... Read More →

Edyn Rolls

Chief Strategic Officer, Oklahoma Broadband Office

Edyn Rolls is a dynamic leader in the public and private sectors with experience in various roles. She is currently serving as the Director of Broadband Strategy at the Oklahoma Broadband Office, where she is responsible for implementing the State Broadband Plan. In this role, Edyn... Read More →

Todd Jackson

Director, Workforce Development, Fiber Broadband Association

Todd joined the Fiber Broadband Association as the Director of Workforce Development in July 2023 after working as the Market President and President of Workforce Development for an Internet Service Provider Startup and the City of Westerville, where he served the community as Chief... Read More →

Friday October 11, 2024 8:30am - 9:00am EDT
Woodrow Wilson A

General Session

10:00am EDT

Leader's Roundtable - Harnessing the Power of Electrical Co-ops to Deliver Broadband to All

Friday October 11, 2024 10:00am - 10:30am EDT

Woodrow Wilson A

Why co-ops have a natural role to play in connecting remote and rural networks.
Organizational switches and challenges in moving from electric utility to connectivity.
Benefits to the community & to the difficult economics of rural broadband.

Moderators

Cliff Johnson

Head of Rural Broadband Initiative, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association

Cliff Johnson is the Director of the NRECA’s Broadband Initiative, where he is responsible for working across the organization to lead the program’s design, development, and operation.Cliff joined the NRECA in January 2024 following six years at Bloomberg, where he led the marketing... Read More →

Speakers

Mike Malandro

President & CEO, Choptank Electric Cooperative

Mike Malandro is the President and CEO of Choptank Electric Cooperative and President of Choptank Fiber, a wholly owned subsidiary, located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Mike has worked in the electric utility industry since 1999 and has been with Electric Cooperatives since 2003... Read More →

Beau Jackson

CEO, White River Connect

Friday October 11, 2024 10:00am - 10:30am EDT
Woodrow Wilson A

General Session

11:15am EDT

Leader's Roundtable - Building Municipal Networks

Friday October 11, 2024 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT

Woodrow Wilson A

Current reach and impact of municipally run broadband networks.
Economic benefits to the community and the cities.
Overcoming regulatory and legal challenges to their deployment.

Moderators

Christopher Mitchell

Director, Community Broadband Networks, Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Christopher Mitchell is the Director of the Community Broadband Networks Initiative with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) in Minneapolis. Mitchell is a leading national expert on community networks, Internet access, and local broadband policies.Mitchell built MuniNetworks.org... Read More →

Speakers

Vini Santos

Solutions Marketing Senior Advisor, Broadband & 5G, Ciena

Vinicius (Vini) Santos is part of Ciena's Global Solutions Marketing team, responsible for business development involving advanced solutions like Next Generation Broadband and Private 5G. He has over 25 years of experience supporting the telecommunication market in Brazil, Italy... Read More →

Kendra Jo Grindle

Community & Regional Partnerships Senior Manager, Maine Connectivity Authority

Gigi Sohn

Executive Director, American Association for Public Broadband

Gigi Sohn is a Distinguished Fellow at the Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy and a Benton Senior Fellow & Public Advocate. She is the host of the “Tech on the Rocks Podcast.” Gigi sits on the Board of Directors of the Electronic Frontier Foundation.Gigi is one... Read More →

Sandip Bhowmick

Vice President of Infrastructure and State Broadband Director, Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA)

Sandip Bhowmick currently serves as the Vice President of Infrastructure and State Broadband Director at the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA). He is responsible for overseeing the planning, development, and expansion of broadband infrastructure throughout Arizona. Prior to his current... Read More →

Jason Mittler

FPUAnet Manager, Fort Pierce Utilities Authority

Jason Mittler has worked for Fort Pierce Utilities Authority for almost 22 years. He graduated from Indian River State College in 2014 with his Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management. He has over 18 years in engineering, planning and project management of utility infrastructure... Read More →

Friday October 11, 2024 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT
Woodrow Wilson A

General Session