2025 ANNUAL CONFERENCE & VENDOR SHOWCASE
(Sessions are still in development but those that are scheduled are listed below.)
TUESDAY OPENING SESSIONS:
Vendor Product Showcase:
Join us in the Missouri Ballroom of the Bismarck Hotel while vendors will have a few minutes to introduce their products before the opening of the conference.
KEYNOTE: Connecting the Future of Agriculture: The Role of Broadband in the 4th Agricultural Revolution
William Aderholt, PhD; Co-Founder & Executive Director of Grand Farm
WEDNESDAY BREAKOUT SESSION TOPICS:
(topics are listed in alphabetical order by title and will be updated as the information becomes available)
Advanced Locating
Kyle Hauck, Locators & Supplies, Inc.
From the specialists at Locators and Supplies, this session offers what you need on locating. The class will assist in developing the understanding and skills needed to perform accurate underground utility locates. We will cover the science and theory behind locating, along with best practices and trouble shooting techniques for those difficult locates. There will also be an opportunity to discuss fault to ground fault finding if the attendees desire.
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AI in the Workplace
Blake Griffin & Connor Dymerski, CNE
A topic for all employees on using new AI tools to make your jobs easier.
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Little Effort, Big Impact (Customer Service)
Dot Frank, TrainND
It's surprisingly easy to set yourself apart in today's work environment because the service bar is incredibly low. This session includes audience-driven activities to uncover little efforts that leave big impacts. We'll start by airing customer service grievances and end with ways to win customers over.
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Customer Service: Connecting Warmth & Competence to Meet Customers' Needs
Lisa Parry, "Principal Parry"
All industries have customers, and they will go to and stay with businesses that work hard to meet their needs. This session will focus on ways we can show up as our best selves when we are on the job.
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CO Batteries
Vance Bachmann, Bachmann Industries
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DC Power, Battery Maintenance, and Testing
Vance Bachmann, Bachmann Industries
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Digital Writing: Communicating in the Age of Technology
Lisa Parry, "Principal Parry"
Not all writing requires the same set of skills. Digital writing, for example, is unique in its content, format, and function. Let's discuss guidelines for writing emails, social media posts, text messages, blog posts, and other digital communication. This session will help you understand digital writing characteristics with an awareness of your audience needs and SEO and keywords, the use of AI tools, and practical tips for effective writing.
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Fiber Troubleshooting – Efficient methods and practices for fault identification and repair
Sean Kelly, Light Brigade
When service is interrupted, users are demanding, pressure builds, but keeping your cool and following logical troubleshooting steps will have your fiber link back to operational in no time. Understanding common failure modes, and prioritizing them over the highly unlikely, enables simple troubleshooting techniques that can save time and aggravation. This discussion will outline key tools and methodologies to guide you through troubleshooting any failed link in the inside or outside plant environment. Remember, most failures are caused by fellow humans and many of them are on the surface or just below. Don’t start ripping, tearing, and digging when you may not have to.
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Intro to Ribbon Splicing
Steve Wolles, AFL
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GIS Moneyball: Using GIS and Data Analytics to Improve Your Broadband Network and Business
Finley Engineering Company, Inc.
When critical decisions need to be made, having the right data can be everything. The problem becomes what data is available and relevant? Learn how GIS data systems and analytics can help you build better networks, increase marketing efficiency, and simplify business cases for your organization.
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Leading Yourself
Kristi Pfliger Keller, TrainND
Ever find yourself being a “Judgey McJudgerson” at work? You know, the conversation in your head or with co-workers that starts with “Geez…our boss should have handled that differently. Or can you believe what this co-worker just said? I would have said that in a much nicer gentler way!” But have you really…REALLY assessed how you are leading yourself with as much scrutiny as you do others? This workshop will put your own leadership in the spotlight. Is there a gap of truth between how you THINK you act and how you REALLY appear to others? By tackling some tough questions, participants will gain insight to their own leadership abilities and examine tools for growth.
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Mapping and Staking 101
Cathy Fuller, NISC
You will receive a high level overview of Mapping and Staking along with newly added AppSuite features.
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Master Mindsets, Moves, and Messages: How to Succeed Professionally and Personally by Thinking, Acting, and Communicating in Effective Ways
Lisa Parry, "Principal Parry"
The way we think drives our communication and behavior, so we must master our mindsets to find success at work. We will focus on a few helpful mindsets and the impact they have on our performance. In this session, you'll learn the mindsets that must change to make your behavior and communication effective and understood by others and the moves (behavior) and messages (communication) to make that happen.
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New Features in Appsuite
John Patterson, NISC
This session will walk you through how to work orders in AppSuite by utilizing the modernized view and current work management features.
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OTDR
Jeff Harmon, Viavi
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QUIC
Andrew Walding, Cellstream
Google has quietly revolutionized the Internet protocol stack by integrating QUIC into its browsers and servers, effectively replacing theneed for TCP at Layer 4—without most people even noticing. This shift has rendered traditional firewalls blind and outdated ourunderstanding of TCP connection performance, all while enhancing Internet security. In this dynamic and educational 45-minutepresentation, we’ll explore the rapid deployment, standardization, and operation of QUIC, putting it into context for all service providers.Join us to understand how this game-changing protocol is reshaping the digital landscape.
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Small Businesses and Smart Agriculture
Mark Vreeland, Calix
In this session, Mark will apply Calix's solutions to meet the needs of small businesses in areas of networks, WiFi, and customer engagement. He will also describe how it can be used in smart agriculture and wireless technology applications and uses.
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Troubleshooting Wi-Fi
Andrew Walding, Cellstream
One of the most frequent calls for truck dispatches to customer sites is due to reports of slow, inoperative, or unreliable Internet service,particularly when the final delivery is through a Wi-Fi wireless LAN. Over time, we’ve embraced greater responsibility and control overmanaged Wi-Fi access points, making it essential to master wireless LAN troubleshooting. In this educational presentation a step-by-stepworkflow for diagnosing and resolving these issues, highlighting critical potential errors is offered and discussed. Great for all technicalstaff, particularly the field technicians and engineers, use it as a checklist to gather essential information, swiftly identify problems, andcorrect them with confidence and efficiency.
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What to Expect from Broadband iVUE Connect
Cathy Fuller, NISC
Join Cathy as she Demo's NISC's latest platform, iVUE Connect, and answers your questions on functionality.
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Working With Excel
Shaylyn Martin, TrainND
Whether you find yourself diving into data for sales, inventory, IT, HR, or any other organizational realm, mastering the art of delivering precise information to the right recipients at the right moment can be a game-changer. Join us in this session as we uncover the pivotal features of Excel 2021, empowering participants to elevate their ability to handle spreadsheet projects with enhanced effectiveness and efficiency. Don't miss a chance to share your questions. (Questions may be sent in advance to TT&S staff to be forwarded to the presenter.)
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XGS PON & OTDR
Mark Vreeland (Calix) & Jeff Harmon (Viavi)
In a combined session and repeated separately, these topics come together for your understanding. (specific description coming soon.)
THURSDAY CLOSING SESSIONS:
Drug of Abuse
Special Agent Luke Kapella, ND Bureau of Criminal Investigations
ND Bureau of Criminal Investigations Special Agent Luka Kapella explains the danger signs to watch for when entering a premise. He has also been a Task Force Officer with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Commander of the Metro Area Narcotics Task Force (MANTF); a Fire Investigator and K9 Handler for the ATF National Response Team (ATF NRT); a Fire Investigator and K9 Handler for the North Dakota Fire and Arson Response Team (ND FAST); a Criminal Investigator – Major Crimes for the NDBCI; and a Certified Law Enforcement Instructor.
Preparing to Live Well in Retirement
Jane Wigen, NTCA
Learn about planning for your retirement based on where you are in your life. Jane Wigen, the local representative from NTCA, will bring her popular financial planning knowledge to all of our attendees in this closing session.
updated 10-14-2024