Join us for our sponsored Lunch & Learns, brought to you by our esteemed SHARE partners. These educational sessions offer attendees the opportunity to enjoy a complimentary lunch, courtesy of our sponsors, while gaining insights into the latest updates and innovations from the companies.
Reminder: Lunch & Learns will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis with no pre-registration required.
Schedule
Monday, February 24, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- IBM – Room: Baltimore 1-2
- Title: Spin to Win! Navigate Threats at the Wheel of Cybersecurity Game Show
- Speakers: Michael Zagorski and Ross Cooper
- Abstract: Inspired by the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, join us for this new Enterprise Knights guess-the-IBM-acronym game, focused on both IBM z/OS security & resiliency. You can't buy a vowel, but perhaps you'll buy a Z! Spin for a random hacker bot's clue and take your IBM z/OS cybersecurity turn. Learn about the latest & greatest products and directions on IBM Z security & resiliency. Play for the chance to win a “Certificate of Cybersecurity Wheel Spinning” and the admiration of the Knights. Which team will win at these many spins of the Cybersecurity Wheel?
- Broadcom Mainframe Software – Room: Baltimore 4-5
- Title: Breaking Through to Unlock Mainframe Treasure
- Speaker: Greg Lotko
- Abstract: Calling all mainframers with a passion for treasure hunts - and unlocking the full value of their mainframes. Join mainframe “truth keepers”, as they lead you on a mission to crack the code to speed and agility with the mainframe. Together, you’ll tackle real-world challenges like bringing new features to market with confidence, boosting developer productivity by using AI and automation, and reducing increasingly complex development environments with platform engineering. Collect the clues. Unlock the latest in mainframe treasures. Adventure awaits—don’t miss it!
- Rocket Software – Room: Annapolis 1
- Title: From Green Screen to Red Alert: Modernizing Mainframe Security in a High-Risk Era
- Speaker: Barbara Ballard
- Abstract: The risks facing mainframe systems are evolving rapidly, with insider threats, AI-driven attacks, and growing regulatory pressures challenging the traditional security approaches of IT leaders. This Lunch and Learn session will explore actionable strategies for protecting your organization's most critical systems. We will discuss the top risks to mainframe security today, including credential-based attacks and compliance creep, and discover a five-point best practices framework to modernize security without major disruption.
- Ensono – Room: Annapolis 2
- Title: More information to come.
- Speakers: More information to come.
- Abstract: More information to come.
- BMC Software – Room: Annapolis 4
- Title: The Tale of Two Mainframers: Bridging the Mainframe Knowledge Gap with AI Assistance
- Speakers: Anthony DiStauro and Liat Sokolov
- Abstract: By 2030, AI Assistants will be the unseen force driving mainframe development and operations. Two mainframers—an application developer and a systems programmer—embark on a journey to overcome the growing challenge of vanishing expertise as tribal knowledge fades into scattered documents and retiring experts’ minds. AI Assistants reshape this landscape through five foundational concepts: ingesting enterprise tribal knowledge, selecting the right LLM for precision, mastering prompt engineering for contextual insights, leveraging Hybrid AI for reliability, and empowering AI Agents for autonomous support. Together, these capabilities bridge the knowledge gap, simplify complex environments, and ensure teams thrive in an AI-driven future.
- Software AG – Room: Magnolia 2
- Title: Lunch & Learn: Unlocking Mainframe Data for AI, Analytics & Beyond
- Speakers: Demos Economacos
- Abstract: Your mainframe data holds untapped potential for driving AI innovation, advanced analytics, and modern business intelligence. However, the complex structures of legacy data stores—like VSAM™, IMS™, Db2®, Oracle®, and Adabas®—can present challenges when it comes to accessing and integrating this valuable data. In this session, discover how scalable, no-code solutions empower you to:
- Transform disparate data formats into a unified structure, ready for AI models and analytics tools, while preserving mainframe security policies.
- Enable real-time data access and virtualization across multiple sources, without straining mainframe resources or compromising performance
- Seamlessly replicate and move data to any platform, ensuring compatibility with today’s AI and cloud-driven demands. We’ll also share real-world examples of how organizations are breaking down data silos to drive smarter decisions and modernize their operations. Don’t let your mainframe data be a bottleneck—turn it into your organization’s AI superpower. Join us to learn how to unlock the full potential of your data and lead with innovation.
- Hitachi Vantara – Room: Magnolia 3
- Title: Unleash the Future: Supercharging Cyber Resiliency in Mainframe Storage and Networking
- Speakers: Alain Beauregard and Howard Johnson
- Abstract: In this session, we'll explore the latest strategies for enhancing cyber resiliency across mainframe storage and networking systems. Discover innovative techniques to safeguard critical data, streamline recovery processes, and fortify infrastructure against cyber threats. Learn how to leverage the latest technologies to ensure seamless operation and robust protection, empowering your organization to confidently navigate the digital landscape.
Tuesday, February 25, 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
- Broadcom Mainframe Software – Room: Woodrow Wilson Ballroom
- Title: Hidden Treasure Awaits: Are You Ready?
- Abstract: Embark on a mainframe journey like no other. Decode the Declaration of Mainframe, unlock hidden knowledge, and uncover platform secrets–just like a modern-day treasure hunter.
Thursday, February 27, 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
- IBM – Room: Baltimore 1-2
- Title: z Next Preview : A Fast Start to Deployment and Capturing Value From the New Chipset
- Speakers: Faezeh Gholami
- Abstract: We are in the AI+ era. More than ever, infrastructure is a critical element of delivering trustworthy, efficient, outcome-driven AI. IBM z16, powered by the award winning IBM Telum processor, delivered firsts in on-chip AI acceleration that enabled energy-efficient AI at scale without impacting SLAs for use cases from fraud, to insurance predictions, to anti-money laundering. This session will cover the new chipset , IBM Telum II and Spyre Accelerator , that we we previewed last year. This new chipset will power the next mainframe, driving advances in traditional and gen AI for improvements in prediction and accuracy. We will share industry and client requirements that drove innovation in zNext, and how you can jump start your planning for your next mainframe.
- Broadcom Mainframe Software – Room: Baltimore 4-5
- Title: Uncovering the Treasure of Agile Application Management
- Speakers: Nicole Fagen and Stuart McIrvine
- Abstract: Unearth the hidden gems of modern application lifecycle management. Discover how DevOps capabilities empower IT teams to innovate at lightning speed, operate with precision, and uncover application performance optimization. Explore how tools like application profiling and advanced automation act as your compass, guiding seamless collaboration between development and operations. Chart your course to unparalleled agility and success on mission-critical systems
- Rocket Software – Room: Annapolis 1
- Title: Stop Agonizing and Start Virtualizing
- Speakers: Jim Wankowski
- Abstract: Most Fortune 500 companies hold large amounts of critical business data on the mainframe. Much of this data may be stored in relational structures like Db2 for z/OS. However, a wealth of data is stored on non-relational mainframe data sources and non-mainframe platforms. The challenge is integrating all this data to make it readily accessible to support modern analytics and AI applications.
- In this session, we will discuss:
- How a data fabric architecture facilitates the end-to-end integration of existing data pipelines and cloud environments, using intelligent and automated systems
- How to succeed with mainframe modernization initiatives by accessing data in-place vs. the cost, complexity and risk of data replication
- How to easily integrate z/OS data with disparate data sources using industry-standard access methods such as REST, SOAP, JDBC, ODBC and common SQL
- Learn how you can readily access your data where it lives, whether it’s stored on the mainframe or other hybrid data sources and see where your data can take you.