Monitoring and Managing Your Power

In this presentation, we will be focusing on the value that EcoStruxure IT Expert brings to organizations looking for greater visibility and control over their power infrastructure. Attendees will see a live demo of the platform and learn how it provides actionable insights into power and environmental conditions, helping IT teams improve uptime, reduce risk, and operate more efficiently. We’ll also discuss practical strategies for monitoring and managing critical power infrastructure to support business continuity and operational resilience.

Chris White, Network and Server Support Specialist at Howard County Public Schools, will share firsthand insights and lessons learned from monitoring and managing critical power infrastructure in a complex IT environment.

Presenters:

Beck Standeffer
Mid Atlantic Channel Manager
Schneider Electric

Beck Standeffer is a technology professional with Schneider Electric, where he works with customers and partners to help organizations navigate evolving infrastructure and technology needs. Beck’s strong understanding of the technologies and infrastructure that support today’s increasingly connected, data-driven environments helps connect organizations with solutions designed to improve the resiliency, efficiency, and performance of their critical IT infrastructure. With emerging technologies such as AI placing new demands on data centers and IT environments, Beck brings valuable insight into the infrastructure considerations organizations must address as they modernize and prepare for future growth.

Bryan Couture Jr.
Channel Account Manager
Schneider Electric

Bryan Couture Jr. works with customers and partners to address the evolving infrastructure needs of today’s IT environments. Through his work with Schneider Electric APC, Bryan helps organizations identify solutions that support the availability, resiliency, efficiency, and performance of the critical infrastructure powering their technology operations. He is passionate about helping organizations understand how power, cooling, infrastructure management, and resiliency strategies can help them build IT environments that are prepared for both today’s requirements and future growth.

Chris White
Network & Server Support Specialist
Howard County Public Schools

Chris White is a Schneider Electric Data Center Certified Associate and CompTIA A+ certified professional with nearly 20 years of experience supporting enterprise IT infrastructure and end users. Chris manages the daily monitoring and incident response of critical infrastructure across HCPSS, with a focus on data center and server room reliability, power and environmental monitoring, and the systems that help keep technology operations running smoothly. Chris recently led a countywide APC UPS replacement and optimization initiative spanning 60 sites and 520 UPS systems, including the integration of the new infrastructure into SE EcoStruxure IT Expert. He also previously led HCPSS’ migration from on-premises APC Data Center Expert to EcoStruxure IT Expert.

Beyond Backup: Cyber Resilience in the Age of AI

Backup and disaster recovery are the foundation of data resilience, but in the age of AI, protection alone is no longer enough. Organizations must understand what data they have, who can access it, and how AI agents interact with it. As attackers leverage AI to move faster and unclassified data and ROT (Redundant, Obsolete, and Trivial) data continue to grow, these challenges are becoming significant sources of risk. Discover how organizations are building cyber resilience through trusted recovery, stronger governance, and AI-ready data security strategies.

Presenters:

Paul Piccione
Senior Inside Sales Rep.
Veeam

Paul Piccione brings over 7 years of experience in the IT industry, with more than 4 years focused specifically at Veeam Software. Throughout their career, Paul has built a strong track record working across both Commercial and SLED (State, Local, and Education) accounts, developing a versatile skill set suited to the distinct needs and procurement cycles of each sector.

Paul Troy
Senior Inside Systems Engineer
Veeam

Paul Troy began his career in cybersecurity and data protection nearly 20 years ago and currently serves as a Senior Systems Engineer, helping organizations strengthen their cyber resilience and data protection strategies. Outside of work, he enjoys restoring and repairing guitars while pretending like he knows how to play them.

The New Economics of Technology: How to Cut Costs Without Falling Behind

Many of the assumptions that shaped technology decisions over the last decade no longer apply. This session examines how rising infrastructure costs, changing cloud strategies, and a renewed focus on optimization are reshaping the way organizations invest in technology. Learn practical approaches for reducing costs, maximizing the value of existing investments, and building a more efficient and adaptable technology environment.

Hear directly from Yan Nezhinsky, IT Systems Administrator Supervisor at Arrow Child & Family Ministries, as he shares a real-world perspective on balancing cost optimization, technology modernization, and operational efficiency in today’s evolving technology landscape.

Presenters:

Joe Green
Solutions Architect
Data Networks

Joe Green has been a pivotal figure at Data Networks since 2016, serving as our dedicated Data Center Solutions Architect. With more than 20 years in the IT field, Joe is a veteran in serving IT product lifecycles, specializing in the research, design, delivery, and support of comprehensive IT solutions tailored to Data Networks’ wide range of customers within the public and private sectors. Joe’s expertise primarily lies in Data Center Optimization, with a focus on enhancing data center infrastructure, cloud services, virtualization, data protection, and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). Parallel to his passion for AI, Joe is also a dedicated ambassador of Digital Transformation, eager to highlight the critical role of both in your IT ecosystem.

Yan Nezhinsky
IT Systems Administrator Supervisor
Arrow Child & Family Ministries

Yan is the IT Systems Administrator Supervisor at Arrow Child & Family Ministries, bringing nearly a decade of IT experience to the role. As Arrow moves through a period of significant growth, Yan has played a key role in modernizing the organization’s systems and maturing IT operations to meet the standards and scale of a larger enterprise. Security has been a major focus of that transformation, with Yan leading efforts to strengthen protection across the environment while navigating the compliance demands of HIPAA and NIST frameworks. As AI adoption accelerates and introduces new risks alongside its benefits, Yan is focused on building an IT foundation that’s both secure and ready for what’s next.

AI-Native Networking: Reducing Complexity and Improving User Experience

As organizations face increasing demands on their networks, IT teams are being asked to deliver exceptional user experiences while managing growing complexity with limited resources. In this session, learn how AI-driven network operations can help automate routine tasks, accelerate troubleshooting, and proactively identify issues before they affect users. Through a live demonstration of the HPE Mist platform, we’ll explore how AI-native networking is helping organizations improve operational efficiency, increase visibility, and support a more reliable digital experience.

Presenters:

Anthony Holland
Channel SE, Mid Atlantic
HPE Networking

Anthony has been with HPE Networking for five years serving as a Channel Systems Engineer for the Mid-Atlantic region. Prior to joining the HPE Channel BU, he worked primarily as a wireless systems engineer during the previous decade in the VAR space around the Washington, D.C. region, supporting both public and private sector contracts. Today, he leverages his engineering background to enable partner engineers and their customers around HPE Networking’s growing portfolio.

Jake Case
AI for Networking Specialist, K-12
HPE Networking

Jake Case is HPE’s AI for Networking Specialist for K-12 education across the Northeast. He works with school IT leaders to modernize network infrastructure using AI-driven technologies that improve connectivity, security, and operational efficiency. Jake is passionate about helping schools build resilient, future-ready learning environments that support student success.

From Legacy to AI Ready: Lessons from the Modernization Journey

Join a panel of technology leaders as they discuss the real-world challenges driving infrastructure modernization, from aging systems and budget constraints to cloud strategy and AI readiness. Hear directly from Mark Fleming at St. Mary’s College of Maryland as he shares their modernization journey, the factors that influenced key technology decisions, and lessons learned along the way. Attendees will gain practical insights into how organizations are prioritizing investments, reducing complexity, and building a foundation for the future.

Presenters:

Jeff Roux
Client Solutions Specialist
Dell Technologies

Jeff Roux is a Client Device Specialist in Dell Technologies’ Channel Sales organization, where he works closely with partners to help customers identify and implement technology solutions aligned to their business needs. With more than 19 years of experience across customer acquisition, retention, and channel sales, Jeff brings deep experience and a customer-focused perspective to every conversation, connecting Dell’s portfolio and expertise with practical outcomes for organizations navigating their digital transformation journey. His experience in both direct and channel sales gives him a valuable perspective on how collaboration between technology manufacturers, solution providers, and IT teams can help organizations modernize their environments and maximize the value of their technology investments.

Mark Fleming
Director, Network Operations & System Administration Services
St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Mark Fleming is the Director of Network Operations and System Administration Services at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where he helps lead the technology infrastructure and systems that support the College’s students, faculty, staff, and day-to-day operations. With a background spanning network operations, systems administration, virtualization, server infrastructure, and end-user support, Mark brings both hands-on technical experience and an operational perspective to managing complex IT environments. Mark’s combination of technical expertise and firsthand experience within higher education provides a valuable perspective on the challenges IT teams face as they modernize infrastructure, maintain critical services, and plan for the future.

Joe Green
Solutions Architect
Data Networks

Two presentations from Joe in one day- what a treat! Joe Green has been a pivotal figure at Data Networks since 2016, serving as our dedicated Data Center Solutions Architect. With more than 20 years in the IT field, Joe is a veteran in serving IT product lifecycles, specializing in the research, design, delivery, and support of comprehensive IT solutions tailored to Data Networks’ wide range of customers within the public and private sectors. Joe’s expertise primarily lies in Data Center Optimization, with a focus on enhancing data center infrastructure, cloud services, virtualization, data protection, and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). Parallel to his passion for AI, Joe is also a dedicated ambassador of Digital Transformation, eager to highlight the critical role of both in your IT ecosystem.

AI Adoption Without a Strategy: What Could Go Wrong?

Many organizations are moving quickly to adopt AI, but successful implementation requires more than deploying the latest tools. In this session, we’ll explore the governance, security, policy, and technology considerations that organizations should address before scaling AI initiatives, helping leaders identify risks, evaluate readiness, and build a foundation for long-term success. Through practical examples and interactive discussion, attendees will leave with key questions and a framework to guide AI adoption across their organization.

Presenter:

Daryl Burch
Strategic Planning Consultant
Data Networks

Daryl Burch is a Strategic IT Planning Consultant who helps organizations align technology, cybersecurity, and business goals. With experience leading IT initiatives across infrastructure, cybersecurity, cloud services, and operational planning, Daryl works with organizations to identify risk, strengthen resilience, and develop practical technology strategies. His approach focuses on translating complex technical challenges into clear, actionable business decisions that help organizations improve security and prepare for emerging threats.