Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Bridgewood Resort Hotel & Conference Center | Neenah, WI
Today’s networks are being asked to support more—more users, more data, and more intelligent systems.
This event brings together IT and security leaders for practical discussion on how AI is reshaping network strategy, security planning, and infrastructure readiness.
From AI Possibility to AI Security
The conversation around AI is evolving. We are moving beyond asking, “What can AI do?” toward the more critical objective: “How do we secure it to protect the enterprise?”
In our opening keynote, Tim Taylor, Systems Engineering Leader at Cisco, explores the intersection of AI and cybersecurity through the lens of data integrity, infrastructure hardening, and threat mitigation. We will examine how enhanced data visibility strengthens the enterprise, why the network remains the primary security control point, and where automation can be deployed to reduce the attack surface while maintaining rigorous governance.
We will also connect current AI industry trends to the broader shifts in business and technology security. We will analyze the underlying risks, the technical opportunities, and the specific hardening strategies organizations must prioritize immediately.
This is a conversation about operationalizing AI within a secure perimeter—ensuring that every deployment is protected, authenticated, and aligned with enterprise security standards.
Tim Taylor serves as a Systems Engineering Leader at Cisco, where he directs the Systems Engineering and Architect team for the Wisconsin Commercial Region. During his tenure at Cisco, he has advanced from Systems Engineer to a leadership role responsible for delivering business outcomes for large enterprise customers across numerous organizations and geographies.
Tim's career spans more than 30 years in technology and communications. He began his career at Raytheon, where he worked on advanced high-frequency communications systems and GPS systems for the U.S. Navy, and was later instrumental in deploying the first digital cellular networks in the United States. He subsequently held product management roles at Nokia Siemens Networks, managing WiMAX and 4G LTE radio product lines for the North American market. A graduate of Michigan Technological University, Tim remains driven by both technology and the people who advance it.
Securing & Scaling AI
Hear directly from EDCi customers and partners on how organizations are putting AI into practice securely and responsibly. This panel will explore real-world use cases, lessons learned, and proven strategies for driving productivity and measurable outcomes. From governance and risk to user adoption and security, get practical guidance on what’s working today—and how leading organizations are preparing for what’s next.
Through her leadership, Endries achieved digital transformation by implementing cloud migration and ERP system alignment to enhance operational efficiency and streamline business processes. The organization recognizes Detert for her strong commitment to team development, innovation, and process improvement. She works to develop flexible and efficient systems that enable Endries to grow while remaining competitive in the industrial distribution market.
Detert studied at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and maintains a strong interest in continuous learning and self-improvement. She is an active member of The User Group (TUG). During her free time, she is an avid reader and supports the local animal rescue.
He is known for aligning technology strategy directly to business outcomes — bridging enterprise vision with practical execution, and building high-performing, accountable teams along the way. Much of his recent work centers on enterprise data and AI: he is currently leading a company-wide transformation initiative at WSI that modernizes core data infrastructure and builds the architecture for secure, scalable AI adoption, including agentic AI capabilities and citizen-developer enablement across the business.
A U.S. Navy veteran, Sebastian holds a Master's in Sustainability Management and a Bachelor's in Leadership and Organizational Development from UW-Oshkosh. He speaks frequently on IT leadership, trust, and organizational resilience, and is a regular voice on how technology executives drive change without disrupting the business.
Blending deep technical expertise with real-world business insight, Kody brings a pragmatic perspective on governing AI usage—from policy and risk management to automation and enablement. Known for making complex topics approachable, he helps organizations strike the right balance between innovation and oversight—so they can confidently accelerate their AI journey.
You Already Have an AI Strategy (You Just Didn't Write It)
While most companies were "still evaluating" AI, it arrived anyway —being adopted across the business. Some of it you bought intentionally. Some of it your most resourceful employees carried in the side door. And many are quietly embedded into the software you already own, announced by nothing more than a release note.
In this session, Curt shares the story of a manufacturer that discovered 14 AI systems operating within its business, but could identify only one. No futurism, no vendor pitch, no demo. Just what happened next: three unglamorous moves - one email, one experiment, one hour a week - that answered a question this company had been living with for nine months. Through this real-world example, attendees will learn practical, no-nonsense steps to gain visibility into AI use, reduce risk, and build an intentional AI strategy before it evolves on its own.
You choose the topic. We help start the conversation.
Join a peer-led discussion focused on today's most pressing IT and security challenges. Each group will share key takeaways with all attendees, transforming conversation into practical, actionable insights. Not sure where to start? No worries! Come ready to share, listen, or simply learn. An EDCi Managing Consultant will be at each discussion table to help guide the conversation, ask thought-provoking questions, and keep the ideas flowing.
Table One:
What's AI Really Doing in Your Environment?
The AI You Bought. The AI You Didn’t. The Good, the Bad, and the Shadow AI
Table Two:
How Much Do You Actually Know About What's on Your Network?
Visibility, Access, & Zero Trust
Table Three:
Your Data Is Talking. Who's Listening?
Data Governance & Protection in the AI Era
Table Four:
From Experiment to Enterprise
Scaling AI: Lessons Learned from the Real World
Table Five:
Every Conversation is an Attack Surface
Securing Collaboration, Voice & Messaging
Table Six:
Manufacturing's Next Security Challenge
When AI Meets Operations, Manufacturing & the IT/OT Security Challenge
Session Details Coming Soon!
Session Details Coming Soon!
Aslinn (Az-lynn) Merriman is a technology and business leader with experience spanning customer success, innovation, and technology strategy. She began her career in sales, helping build a small managed services practice, an experience that shaped her ability to connect business challenges with practical technical solutions. She has since held local and global roles across multinational organizations, bridging technology, people, and outcomes. Her greatest strength is simplifying complex technology and making it understandable for each audience. She acts as a translator between business and IT, and between IT and business. Today she leads Customer Success at EDCi and serves as President of Women in Technology Wisconsin's Northeast Region. She is passionate about supporting inclusive technology communities and helping people build confidence in an increasingly digital world.
Outside of work, Aslinn went to school in Finland, which she considers her second home, and she has embraced the Finnish spirit of sisu: quiet grit and determination in the face of challenges. If you have Finnish heritage or know a few Finnish words, she'd love to hear them!