Join us for WiscNet Connections in Stevens Point on April 29-30, 2026
Already ready to register? Good! You can do that right now.
Tickets include all meals and refreshment breaks.
Each WiscNet member organization receives one complimentary ticket annually. The discount code for that ticket can be found in the first email you received about WiscNet Connections 2026. (If you can’t locate it, contact Maggie Richardson at mrichardson@wiscnet.net.)
Tickets include all meals and refreshment breaks.
Each WiscNet member organization receives one complimentary ticket annually. The discount code for that ticket can be found in the first email you received about WiscNet Connections 2026. (If you can’t locate it, contact Maggie Richardson at mrichardson@wiscnet.net.)
Schedule
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
7:45 am - 8:30 am: Registration and Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:30 am: Welcome to WiscNet Connections 2026
9:30 am - 10:30 am: Presentation sessions
Leading the AI Transition - Cristy Heldt, Mosinee School District; Mia Chmiel, Mosinee School District; Greg Doverspike, Mosinee School District
The Power of Meaningful Leadership: Cultivating Growth at Every Level- Amy Jaeckel, Green Bay Area Public School District
STEAM Roadshow: Traveling STEAM Lab + Teacher Tech Bootcamp- Brady Mesenberg, DC Everest Area School District
Preparing for a Cyber Incident- Ben Dumke, Lawrence University
10:30 am - 10:45 am: Refreshment Break
10:45 am - 11:45 pm: Roundtable Discussions
Women in the WiscNet Community
SSL Cert
AI
Cybersecurity
11:45 pm - 1:15 pm: Lunch + WiscNet Network Update
1:15 pm - 2:15 pm: Presentation sessions
eduroam in Action: A Q&A with WiscNet Early Adopters Using the Wi-Fi Service- Amy Jaeckel, Green Bay Area Public School District; John Blohm, Green Bay Area Public School District; Andie Behling, WiscNet; Josh Gorton, WiscNet; Rich Turiel
Protecting Your Organization with a Password Manager-Corey Koltz, CESA 5
Don't get lost in the CyberWoods: Using the Cybersecurity Rubric as Your Compass- Jennifer Ambrosius, CESA 8
What CAN We Do? A Conversation on Building and Managing CANs- Steve Schlomann, Waukesha School District; Daren Bauer, UW-Eau Claire; Kika Barr, WiscNet
2:15 pm - 2:30 pm: Refreshment Break
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm: The WiscNet Connections Experience: More Than a Conference- Kevin May, Oregon School District
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Reception
Thursday, April 30, 2026
8:00 am - 8:30 am: Breakfast
8:30 am - 8:45 am: “Business With Bacon”
8:45 am - 9:30 am: State of WiscNet
9:30 am - 9:45 am: Refreshment Break
9:45 am - 10:45 am: Presentation Sessions
SPF, DKIM, & DMARC - What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You - Corey Koltz and Dan Johnson, CESA 5
Better Together: Simplifying Security with WiscNet’s Co-Managed Firewall Service - Secure Platform Team & Heidi Genther, WiscNet
WiscNet Research and You: Championing Collaborations & Science- Dr. David Plonka, WiscNet
IT & Large Scale Building Projects - Takeaways and Lessons Learned-Jason Loomans, Moraine Park Technical College
10:45 am -11:00 am: Break
11:00 am -12:30 pm Lunch + Keynote Speaker
The Human Opportunity in an AI-driven World - Bob Jones, Assistant Vice President of Emerging Technology and Support Services in Information and Technology Services (ITS) at the University of Michigan
12:45 pm - 1:45 pm: Making the Most of Your WiscNet Membership
12:45 - 3:00 pm: Mr. Pixels’ Opus: Using WiscNet as a Bridge Between Research and Education Cyberinfrastructure- John Pederson, WiscNet
12:45 - 3:00 pm: WiscNet members-only workshop — Fortinet or Palo Alto Networks — Sign up here!
1:45 pm- 2:00 pm: Close
WiscNet members-only workshop
Don’t miss your chance to join an exclusive, hands-on member workshop with Fortinet or Palo Alto Networks —spots are limited and fill quickly.
Choose a session and register now to secure your seat.
Keynote Speaker
The human opportunity in an AI-driven world
Humanity First: Becoming Critical, Ethical, High-Leverage Humans in the Age of AI
Artificial intelligence has placed humanity at a historically unprecedented inflection point. For the first time, machines can generate ideas, simulate reasoning, and influence belief at scale. This is not simply another technology shift, it is a transformation in how knowledge is created, decisions are made, and power is distributed.
This keynote reframes the AI conversation by putting humans first. Rather than asking how people will adapt to serve AI systems, it asks how AI must be understood, governed, and designed to serve human flourishing.
Moving beyond surface-level prompting tips, this talk equips audiences with strategic literacy: understanding AI’s capabilities, limits, data foundations, risks, and accelerating pace of change. Participants will learn how to sort signal from noise in an exponential information environment, build hybrid human-AI skills, adopt AI ethically and responsibly, and cultivate a mindset of continuous reinvention.
At its core, this keynote is not about technology. It is about stewardship, remaining thoughtful in a world optimized for speed, remaining accountable in systems built for scale, and becoming more fully human in the age of intelligent machines.
About Robert “Bob” Jones
Robert “Bob” Jones serves as Assistant Vice President of Emerging Technology and Support Services in Information and Technology Services (ITS) at the University of Michigan. Over the course of more than 24 years at U-M, he has built a reputation as both a systems-level strategist and an institutional builder, modernizing core technology services while ensuring they remain durable, inclusive, and mission-aligned.
Bob leads a 250-person division responsible for enterprise productivity platforms, end-user computing, campus computing environments, accessibility services, and next-generation AI capabilities serving more than 145,000 students, faculty, and staff. He is currently guiding the development of U-M’s enterprise AI platform, designed to responsibly integrate advanced artificial intelligence into research, instruction, clinical environments, and administration at one of the world’s leading public universities.
Recognized as a leading voice on the future of AI in higher education, Bob focuses on translating rapid technological change into practical, ethical, and scalable institutional strategy. His work centers on three principles: building durable systems that outlast hype cycles, expanding equitable access to advanced tools, and preparing institutions, not just to adopt AI, but to lead with it responsibly.
Hotel accommodations
For information about our hotel room block at the Inn at Sentry World — or other hotel options in the area — please visit this page.
Exhibitor registration
As an exhibitor at WiscNet Connections 2026, you’ll be part of the conversations that strengthen our community and help our members discover new ways to connect, collaborate, and grow. Learn more about exhibiting and reserve your booth today.
2026 WiscNet Board of Directors elections
You may nominate candidates for the board beginning Wednesday, January 14th.
The WiscNet Board of Directors is now seeking candidates for the upcoming WiscNet Board of Directors election, which will take place from Friday, February 20th until Wednesday, April 29th at 4:00pm.
There are three board positions open this year. They represent the following member segments:
(1) Private College seat
(2) At-Large seats
A person must be from a Private College organization to be nominated and run for the Private College seat. Anyone from any WiscNet member organization may be nominated and run for the At-Large positions.
Each seat serves a three-year term.
Questions?
If you have any questions, concerns, or anything else related to WiscNet Connections, contact Maggie Richardson at mrichardson@wiscnet.net or (608) 210-3946.