Welcome to our 28th year of OCTC. This conference is the result of hard working volunteers and industry leaders willing to share their time and knowledge for our sessions.
I am thankful for the opportunity to serve you another year!
Panelist: Damon Runberg, State Economist, Business Oregon
Panelist: Erik Hunsinger, President & Chief Operating
Officer, Golden State Net
Panelist: Shannon McGivney, Senior Director of Education, Machinist Institute
Moderator: Leina Gonzalez-Baird, Business Oregon
Panelist: Pam Marsh, Oregon State Representative
Panelist: Rebecca Brown, Comcast Pacific NW Region
Panelist: Juan Muro, Free Geek
Connections Networking Mixer
Opening Night Networking Mixer Hosted by COMCAST
This Mixer is FREE for conference attendees.
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
In The Great Hall
NWTA Annual Meeting
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
In the Great Hall
This event is Free to attend.
The Northwest Telecommunications Association is holding their 2024 annual conference the day before the Oregon Connections Conference.
The Northwest Telecommunications Association serves to unify, promote, support and assist the Telecommunication Providers in the Pacific Northwest.
See NWTA.Biz for details.
Fireside Chat
Thursday , October 31, 2024
6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Room 712
Open to All Attendees (Space is limited)
Continue your networking in a more relaxed environment.
This informal event (Formerly “Women & Wine”) will be in room 712 and is open for any conference attendee to attend . It is a chance to sit by a cozy fire and chat with each other about broadband, careers, projects or anything else. Bring a bottle to share. Space is limited. Weather permitting there will be lit fire pits outside as well, to gather around.
Fireside Chat Sponsor
Telecom Trick-or-Treat: Networking Mixer Exhibitor Fair and Reception
Meet our sponsors and exhibitors after hours for free food and drink.
Open to all attendees.
Thursday October 31, 2024
5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
In the Homestead Building
Please make dinner reservations for after the reception.
Exhibitor Booth Map
Conference Map - Sun River Resort
1. Registration, Exhibitors, General Session, Exhibit Fair and reception will be located in the Homestead Building.
2. Connections networking reception and Breakouts will be located in the Great Hall building.
3. Fireside chat will be in the Gallery room 712 Located in the Riverlodge Buildings
4. Check in for resort rooms at the Main lodge 1 2 3 4
Steve Brown AI Futurist - Thursday Keynote Speaker
Steve Brown is a leading thinker on AI, generative AI, autonomous agents, digital transformation, the future of work, and how advances in AI will shape the future of business, education, and society. He draws upon decades of experience in artificial intelligence and high tech to advise leaders on how to build winning AI transformation strategies that fuel innovation, boost productivity, and drive growth.
During Steve’s 25-year career in artificial intelligence and high tech, he has held a range of leadership roles including Chief Evangelist and futurist at Intel and senior director and in-house futurist at Google DeepMind in London. He is co-founder of The Provenance Chain Network, a company that provides supply chain transparency and resilience services to the U.S. Space Force and is a strategic advisor to two AI startups. He is also a BCG Luminary. Steve works with global brands, Fortune 100 companies, startups, and government agencies.
He speaks at events around the world on the future direction and impact of AI and inspires companies to create new products and services, streamline operations, and elevate work using AI and other technologies.Steve was born in the U.K. and lives with his wife in Portland, OR.
Read more at https://www.stevebrown.ai/
Margaret
Speaker
Margaret Hoffmann State Director for Oregon, USDA Rural Development
Margaret, or Margi, Hoffmann grew up on a small family farm outside of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, a small community located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Hoffmann left Colorado and moved to Portland, Oregon, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature.
Hoffmann's professional career began working in natural resources management on federal lands. She has worked on public policy in the realms of public safety, health care, climate change, energy resilience and security, and land use. She has experience working for the public and private sector, as well as in non-profit management. In 2012 and 2015, Oregon Governors John Kitzhaber and Kate Brown, respectively, appointed Hoffmann to serve as Energy Policy Advisor.
Since 2021, USDA Rural Development (USDA RD) has invested over $120.1 million in loans and grants to expand broadband access across rural Oregon through the ReConnect Program.
Hoffmann - Friday Keynote
Discover how AI can help you and untangle potential perils.
Jim Teece
Project A, Ashland Home Net & Rogue Broadband Moderator
https://jimteece.com/
Jim Teece is a parallel entrepreneur. He is President & CEO of Project A, a software company that develops custom mission critical systems for corporations around the world, and Jim and his wife own Ashland Home Net, Rogue Broadband and Umpqua Broadband providing internet service to the underserved in Jackson and Douglas counties. Jim is also the current president of the Oregon Connections non-profit. Jim also gave a TedX talk back in 2018 about how to reinvent yourself after AI takes your job. Find out more about Jim, his 7 companies and the 7 non-profit boards he serves on at JimTeece.com.
Panelist: Alan DiCicco, VP of Product & Marketing Calix
Alan DiCicco, VP of Solution and Product Marketing
Alan DiCicco is the vice president of solution and product marketing at Calix. Alan leverages a breadth of marketing and systems design experience in software platforms, optical access, Wi-Fi, and managed services to bring value to broadband managed service providers and ecosystem partners. A pioneer in hybrid cloud + systems solutions, he now explores the potential for artificial intelligence in broadband service innovation. Alan spent the first few years of his career working for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and is passionate about planetary exploration.
Panelist: (Venkat) KS Venkatraman, Nvidia
K S Venkatraman is an Executive member of the Workforce and Talent Development advisory board to the Governor of Oregon. At NVIDIA, his engineering teams enabled natural language models for Generative AI, selfdriving cars, and recommendation systems. Venkat moved to Oregon in 1997 and has since hired, mentored, and trained hundreds of students in STEM, high-performance computing, and AI. Prior to NVIDIA and a brief stint at a startup company building systems-on-a-chip for digital televisions, he was a computer architect at Intel Corporation, responsible for developing innovative technologies for Pentium®4 and Core™ processors.
Venkat grew up in an academic family with a strong love for science and tinkering with electronic gadgets. He is passionate about adopting technology to solve our toughest problems around climate adaptation, education, energy transition, and healthcare. Venkat co-chaired an AI task force for the state of Oregon, advising leaders from economic sectors across the state with specific recommendations on adapting to technological advances. Representing business, he leads the Technology Industry Consortium which guides Oregon’s Future Ready implementation. As adjunct faculty, Venkat taught engineering courses at Portland Community College and Oregon Institute of Technology. He holds a Master’s degree in Electrical engineering from Villanova University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication engineering from Birla Institute of Technology in India. Venkat’s interests include Amateur Radio (callsign: K7VKT), career-connected education, electronic and DIY projects, long bicycle rides, macroeconomics, and renewable energy.
Thursday 10/31/2024 - 2:15 - 3:30 Session -
Unconventional partnerships may be the answer we need to creatively close the digital divide
Moderator: Deborah Simpier, Althea
Deborah Simpier is the CEO and co-founder of Hawk Networks, where she leads the development of Althea, an advanced SDN routing and micro-transactional billing platform. Althea transforms how broadband is deployed, funded, and operated by enabling open-access, multi-stakeholder telecom networks. In 2021, Deborah spearheaded the launch of Gravity Bridge, a decentralized blockchain infrastructure that has facilitated over $1.5 billion in cross-chain transactions. Under her leadership, Althea has expanded across the U.S. Hawk Networks also introduced KeyLTE/5G, a scalable core network solution for smart cities, industry, and rural areas, advancing sustainable, locally-driven telecom innovation.
Panelist: Steve Corbato, CEO Link Oregon
Steve Corbató serves as Executive Director of Link Oregon (the service name for the Oregon Fiber Partnership), the non-profit organization formed by Oregon’s four largest research universities and state government to develop and operate a high-speed, statewide broadband network in support of the founding partners’ missions of education, research, healthcare and public service. Prior to assuming this role in 2018, he was Chief Technology Officer with responsibility for IT infrastructure at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU).
Steve has over three decades of experience around Internet-based network development and deployment. While at the University of Utah (2006-2015), he served as a member of the governing board of the long-standing Utah Education Network (now UETN) and launched two partnerships with public transportation agencies for access to optical fiber and conduit for network expansion. Earlier at the Internet2 non-profit organization, he led the national, high-speed network supporting U.S. research and education. During this time, he established a national non-profit holding company for middle mile dark fiber (FiberCo) and a research & education exchange point in New York City (Manhattan Landing or MAN LAN). Previously, while at the University of Washington, he was a member of the steering group that developed the Washington State K-20 Network connecting all sectors of public and higher education and participated in the formative process that led to Internet2..
Steve has served as a board, advisory, and review committee member for multiple networking organizations and federal and state government agencies over his career. Steve currently serves as the board treasurer of the Northwest Access Exchange (NWAX), the non-profit Internet Exchange in the greater Portland area. He is past board chair for The Quilt, the national affinity group of non-profit regional networks serving the U.S. research & education community. He resides in Portland, Oregon.
Panelist: Brent Bischoff, CEO Coos-Curry Electric and Beacon Broadband
Brent Bischoff is the general manager/CEO of Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative located on the south Oregon coast. He is also CEO of CCEC’s broadband subsidiary Beacon Broadband. Brent’s electric utility career started in 2002 with the Bonneville Power Administration, where he worked in both technical and leadership roles. After BPA, he served as general manager of Skamania County PUD in Washington state. He has a Master of Engineering in electrical power from the University of Idaho, a B.S. in electrical engineering from Brigham Young University, and is a licensed professional engineer. Brent began his career in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear submarine officer.
Rachael Maddock-Hughes, Founder and CEO of Rural Prosperity Partners, is a leader in rural development. Her expertise bridges the non-profit, private and public sectors to create the greatest impact for rural communities in the US and around the globe. Her focus on scalable, sustainable solutions has helped communities revitalize downtown business districts, connect communities to broadband, address emergency homeless housing, build future-responsive sectors (Blue Economy), provide communities with resources to secure more state and federal funding, and much more. She focuses on building local expertise and capacity, and supporting locally-driven solutions.
Session Speaker Bios
Thursday 10/31/2024 - 2:15 - 3:30 Session -
Around the State
Perspectives from around the state on the experience of deploying broadband in Oregon's diverse geography
Moderator:
Keith
Grunberg, Director of Carrier, Government & Wholesale Hunter Communications
Keith A. Grunberg, BCT®, BCE®, BTS, BDS, BTCS, BCSS Director of Carrier, Wholesale & Government
Keith has over 39 years in the industry. He began as a Field Engineer for Information Resources Inc. in Salem, Ore., involved with commercial insertion and headend processing of signals. Moving to Beaverton, Ore., he became a Service and Maintenance Technician for Columbia Cable of Oregon. He worked on the very first Cable Modems deployed in the USA here in Beaverton, Ore. Keith then worked for TCI Network Solutions in Portland, Ore., as a Network Engineer in cutting- edge technology for data transport over all fiber and HFC networks. Then, he advanced to AT&T Broadband Network Solutions and Comcast Business Corp. as a Technical Data Sales Engineer in developing high-speed broadband transport backbone technology and delivery of Transparent LAN services. In March of 2004 he joined Charter Communications (Charter Business Division) as a Sales Engineer. Engaging in the development of the Commercial Business for Charter in the NW. Accomplishing major fiber optic plant extension for Oregon Health Network (OHN) and southern Oregon Coast redundancy. Keith then started a new adventure with CoastCom Inc. where he focused on making CoastCom successful as a phone service provider while expanding their fiber optic footprint as Director of Business Services. Keith became a Senior Enterprise Account Executive Business Solutions for Wave Business who recently acquired CoastCom Inc. back in 2017. Keith then started at Hunter Communications as Director of Carrier, Wholesale & Government. bring a vast knowledge base of talent and experience to assist in the Hunter’s growth as a state-wide Fiber Optic Service Solutions Provider.
NE Panelist: Blake Lawrence, CEO, Windwave
Blake has a long diverse work history beginning with seasonal firefighting while still in high school and later building airstrips in Alaska. Blake was named General Manager /CEO of Windwave Communications in 2017 after officially coming onboard in 2009. Blake oversees Windwave’s management team as well as maintaining specific carrier relationships. Blake was instrumental in the largest growth in Windwave’s history and continues to be the driving force for continued growth and excellence in the field of fiber optics. Blake lives in Monument Oregon and enjoys working on his property, hunting, spending time with his family, his dog Wookie and flying his plane.
SW Panelist: Bill Gerski, VP of Marketing/Sales, Beacon Broadband
Bill Gerski has dedicated his entire career to sales, marketing and strategic business development. Currently Bill serves as Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Beacon Broadband, a subsidiary of Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative, Inc. In a span of two years, he has grown its customer base by 1750%.
Bill was previously the Senior Vice President for Tri-Co Connections, a subsidiary of Tri-County Rural Electric. Over the years, Bill has also worked in numerous executive positions, including the following companies, NRTC, Huawei Technologies, Time Warner Cable, Sirius Satellite Radio, Adelphia Cable, Viacom and Dish Network. Bill was also instrumental in the startup of Golden Sky Systems, a Direct TV provider that he helped grow to over 400,000 customers in two years. Golden Sky was eventually sold for 1.1 billion. In addition, Bill has also owned along with his wife Denise a gaming bar and restaurant in Las Vegas.
In 2020, Bill was awarded with the Digital Opportunity Equity Recognition Award by the Federal Communications Commission for his work on creating the Senior 2 Senior Program. Seniors 2 Seniors is a hands-on program where our older generation is taught by high school seniors to learn about navigating the internet, internet safety and how to do many skills on their computers and phones. Bill has recently launched the Connected Senior program on the Southern Oregon Coast for our local residents.
Central Panelist: Stuart Taubman, Head of Network Services, Zayo
Stuart Taubman serves as Head of Network Services at Zayo, the largest competitive fiber infrastructure provider in North American. Zayo’s future-ready network spans over 142K route miles across North American and Europe. Zayo’s tailored connectivity and edge solutions enable carriers, cloud providers, data centers, schools, and enterprises to deliver exceptional experiences, from core to cloud to edge. In 2023, Zayo was awarded by NTIA $93 million in grants for creating Middles Miles to bridge the digital divide. In 2024 so far, Zayo won contracts to work with the State of Nevada to build a $150M Middle Mile backbone as well a Middle Mile backbone around Dallas County. Zayo is committed to establish the critical middle-mile infrastructure needed to improve digital equity in these communities with Middle-Mile infrastructure.
With over 25 years of experience, Stuart has worked at Wiltel, TW Telecom, Electric Lightwave, and Zayo working on fiber strategies in a leadership position. At Zayo, Stuart has developed over 12K new route miles of fiber infrastructure to create reliable and sustainable network in the Middle Mile and Long Haul space. With the current NTIA Government programs such as the Middle Mile Fund and BEAD, Stuart focuses on the holistic approach towards the Middle Mile, Service Providers, and Zayo’s network strategy. Stuart has a BSBA from the University of Tulsa, MBA from Washington State, Masters of Financial Analysis from Portland State, and multiple technical certifications including Amazon Cloud Practitioner.
Mid Willamette: Rick Peterson, CEO, Peak Internet
Rick Petersen is President and Chief Executive Officer for Casco Communications, Inc. (doing business as PEAK Internet). Casco is a wholly owned subsidiary of Consumers Power, Inc., a member-owned electric cooperative serving 23,000 members in the mid-Willamette Valley. Rick has worked in the utility industry for over 45 years including over 20 years of experience with an Oregon independent telephone company with interests in cable TV, broadband, business telephone systems and cellular licenses. Rick is the Vice Chair of the Oregon Broadband Advisory council and serves on the board of Directors of the Northwest Telecommunications Association (NWTA), CoEnergy Propane, LLC, and the 44 North Credit Union. Rick is a lifetime resident of Oregon and remains committed to closing the Digital Divide.
NW Panelist: Matt Updenkelder, VP, Infrastructure Development, Astound
Matt Updenkelder is a telecommunications executive in Newport, Oregon, where he has grown up, lived and worked for many years. Currently, Matt is vice president of infrastructure development with Astound Broadband. He previously served as the company’s director of commercial business development then as senior director of construction. He is responsible for developing and implementing overall company sales strategies for subsea cable landings and related infrastructure as well as the design, engineering and sales of complex fiber optic solutions nationally.
Navigating local, state and federal permitting processes
Moderator: David Soloos, Oregon Department of Transportation
David Soloos has been the Broadband Coordinator for the Oregon Department of Transportation since 2021. He has experience in building telecommunications partnerships, creating community connections across public and private sectors, and has broad knowledge of telecommunications policy and law. Some representative roles David has played include serving for a decade as the Telecommunications & Utility Franchise Program Manager for the City of Portland, and as Clackamas County’s Broadband Program Manager overseeing and implementing a county-wide dark fiber network build. Just before coming to ODOT he was a Project Manager for Verizon's fiber optic buildout in the Greater Portland-Vancouver area.
Panelists:
Sam Ackley, Oregon Joint Use Association board member and COO, Hunter Communications
As Chief Operating Officer of Hunter Communications, Sam drives the strategic direction of Hunter’s technology, regulatory, compliance, project management, and construction teams. Sam has nearly 20 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. In addition to his role at Hunter, he serves as a President of the Board for the Oregon Joint Use Association, where he has represented Competitive Local Exchange Carriers throughout the State of Oregon for the past decade. Sam is also regularly involved in Northwest Telecommunications Association activity and committee work and serves on the Board of Directors for the Britt Music & Arts Festival, based in Jacksonville, Oregon.
Daniel
Soto,
Development & Infrastructure Tech, City of Eugene
Daniel Soto is a Utility Coordinator for City of Eugene Public Works. He reviews permits, plans and inspects permit compliance for utility companies working in the right-of-way. Daniel has a considerable amount of knowledge of the City of Eugene Surface technical program.
Nick Batz, Director, Oregon Broadband Office, State of Oregon
Nick Batz is the Director of the Oregon Broadband Office, where he leads the team responsible for the development and administration of several $100M+ federal broadband programs, including ARPA CPF, BEAD, and Digital Equity. Prior to this position, Nick served as the Government Affairs and Policy Manager for the Oregon Business Development Department (dba Business Oregon). In this role, Nick led the agency’s policy and budget work in the Oregon Capitol, including working on the legislation that created the Oregon Broadband Office and accompanying Broadband Fund.
Joel Krestik, Realty Specialist, BLM
Joel Krestik is a Realty Specialist with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Joel started his federal career with the National Park Service in Acadia and Grand Canyon National Parks, before moving to Oregon to work with the BLM. He spent seven years as a Public Information Assistant and seven years as a Realty Specialist for BLM in Eugene/Springfield before transferring to the Oregon-Washington State Office, where he's been for the last two years. Joel is currently based out of Prineville and supports BLM's Lands & Realty program throughout Oregon and Washington.
Jennifer Whyte, National Broadband Project
Manager, USFS
Jennifer Whyte is the National Broadband Project Manager for the U.S. Forest Service (FS), Washington Office, Lands, Minerals and Geology Management, building up the FS broadband program. Prior to joining the FS, she was the Lead Realty Specialist for the Realty Program and Renewable Energy Program Manager for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Additionally, she worked for the BLM Washington Office where she was the Program Lead for Roads, Railroad and Pipelines, the BLM Wyoming State Office, and the BLM California Desert District. Jennifer has extensive knowledge of the Lands and Realty Program that oversees rights-of-way and permits.
Eric Forsch
Eric Forsch joined the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in August 2022, as a Federal Program Officer (FPO) for the State of Idaho and Oregon. As an FPO, Eric is responsible for supporting the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program for Idaho and Oregon in support of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to deliver Internet for All Americans. In this role, he is responsible for coordinating efforts with broadband stakeholders and partners including state, local, and community leaders, as well as internal NTIA offices and Department of Commerce (DOC) bureaus to achieve program goals of ensuring every Idahoan and Oregonian has access to affordable, high-speed internet. Previously, Eric managed the Office of Broadband for the State of Idaho, overseeing grant programs that
Thursday 10/31/2024 - 3:55 - 5:25 Session
- Marketing & Sales
Staying ahead of the curve: Marketing tactics in competitive markets
Moderator: Bill Gerski, VP of Marketing/Sales - Beacon Broadband/Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Bill Gerski currently serves as Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Beacon Broadband. Beacon Broadband is a wholly owned subsidiary of Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative. Service offerings include high-speed fiber internet, Advanced Phone, and Enhanced Video Service.
Before joining Beacon Broadband Inc., Bill spent the last four years of his career building out fiber broadband to the rural areas of north-central Pennsylvania as Senior Vice President of Business Development for Tri-Co Connections, a subsidiary of Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative.
Bill brings over five decades of dynamic experience in the broadband and telecommunication industry to Beacon Broadband. He has held high-level executive marketing and sales experience with over ten Fortune Five Hundred companies like, Time Warner, Viacom, Adelphia, Bell Atlantic, Huawei Technologies, Dish Network, Sirius Satellite Radio, CHR Solutions, and National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative, among others.
One of Gerski’s accomplishments in Pennsylvania was the innovative public-private community program he created, the FCC award winning Senior2Senior program, where active agers are taught internet basics by techsavvy high school senior volunteers. Gerski believes the Senior2Senior program not only equips active agers with the tools they need to be successful in the 21st century but aids in closing the digital divide in rural areas where access is limited. Bill plans on launching a similar program here on the Southern Coast of Oregon.
Panelist: Jay Tapp, Principal Partner - Laser Marketing
With over 30 years of experience, Jay Tapp is a distinguished entertainment, telecommunications, online marketing, and advertising expert. A University of Southern California graduate in Business and Communications, Jay began his pioneering career by establishing the nation's first and largest cable TV advertising cooperative in Los Angeles. He has held pivotal roles at Viacom, managing Showtime and Movie Channel brands, and played a key part in launching Showtime Boxing and The Sundance Channel.
Jay’s strategic vision has driven success in executive-level positions at Blackstone Audio and DME Media Group. Currently, through his agency, Laser Marketing Network, Jay collaborates with electric cooperatives to roll out fiber internet, bridging the digital divide in rural America. His innovative approach continues to impact the industry significantly.
Remy Soubry is a dedicated Success Account Manager at Calix Inc. With a deep understanding of customer business needs, Remy excels in supporting clients in prioritizing strategic goals and creating success plans that drive business value and deliver strong ROI. Her background in strategic business development has spanned multiple industries, including broadband, food and beverage, beauty, and manufacturing. This diverse experience has equipped Remy with a unique perspective and versatile skill set rooted in a customer-first approach. Remy is currently based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Panelist: Jason Saunders, Sales & Marketing Manager - Minet/Willamette Valley Fiber
Jason Saunders holds a Business Management degree from Eastern Oregon University. He started in retail management and brings 24 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. His career spans roles at AT&T Broadband, Comcast, and MINET, where he has served various communities including Albany, Corvallis, Dallas, Dundee, Independence, Lafayette, Lebanon, McMinnville, Monmouth, Newberg, Rickreall, Salem, Sweet Home, and Yamhill-Carlton. Jason's extensive experience includes Call Center Management, Customer Service, Dispatch and Repair, Sales & Marketing, Technician, and Territorial Sales Representative. He currently serves as the Sales and Marketing Manager at MINET and Willamette Valley Fiber.
Filling new and existing telecom positions as the current work force turns over
Moderator: Seth Thompson, Broadband Project Coordinator, Business Oregon
Seth Thompson is a broadband project coordinator with the Oregon Broadband Office (OBO). Seth administers broadband grant contracts for OBO in the Willamette Valley, Southern Oregon, and the south coast. Since beginning his public service career, Seth has been honored to serve four Oregon cities, two counties and two state agencies in both professional and volunteer roles.
Panelist: Larry Johnson, President, FiberStory
Active in fiber optics since 1977, Larry Johnson worked as Fiber Optics Specialist for Tektronix and was on the development team for the first Outside Plant OTDR. He founded The Light Brigade in 1986 and wrote over 25 courses on fiber optics. He founded FiberStory and provides fiber optic consulting, writes for industry publications and provides customized training including the development of the Fiber Broadband Associations FTTx course developed for community colleges and local service providers.
Panelist: Damon Runberg, State Economist, Business Oregon
Damon Runberg is the Economist at Business Oregon, the State of Oregon’s economic development agency. He supports the statewide economic development goals by tracking and analyzing economic indicators critical to Oregon’s workers and businesses. He also evaluates the effectiveness of Oregon’s economic development strategies and incentives. Prior to working with Business Oregon Damon was a Regional Labor Economist with the Oregon Employment Department for the East Cascades of Oregon for nearly 12 years.
Panelist: Erik Hunsinger,
President & Chief Operating Officer, Golden State Net
Mr. Hunsinger was recently appointed President and COO of GoldenStateNet. GoldenStateNet works with public and private sector partners to bridge the digital divide and to create digital equity for all citizens. Mr. Hunsinger has 30 years of experience in commercial and non-profit telecommunications focused on developing and delivering fiber optic networks specifically for government and education institutions across the US, Canada, and Mexico unlocking broadband growth across the US.
Panelist: Shannon McGivney, Senior Director of Education, Machinists Institute
Shannon McGivney is a dedicated professional with extensive workforce development experience. His background yields perspectives from skilled workers through the evolution of education, economic, and community development. He brings to us a decade of service as a paramedic, work with state agencies, workforce boards, Tribal Employment Rights Offices (within sovereign nations), and is the current Senior Director of Education at Machinists Institute. Shannon continues to lead initiatives to bridge gaps and foster community connection and growth.
11/1/2024 - 11:00-12:00
After the Build: Digital Equity and Affordable Internet
Moderator: Leina Gonzalez-Baird, Business Oregon, Digital Equity Program Coordinator
Leina Gonzalez-Baird is the Digital Equity Program Coordinator in the Oregon Broadband Office State of Oregon. Leina is a human rights practitioner and has a background in political science, law and public policy, and emerging tech.
Panelist: Pam Marsh, Oregon State Representative
I am honored to serve residents of southern Jackson County for a fourth term in the Oregon Legislature. House District 5 spans from the Applegate to the Greensprings and includes Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, a southern portion of Medford, Jacksonville and Ruch. I'm convinced my district has the state's most passionate and involved constituents.
In the wake of multiple crises brought on by the pandemic, catastrophic wildfire, social inequities, and a housing shortage, I am committed to taking bold and transformative action in support of all Oregonians—for our health, our environment and our economy.
I am honored to currently serve as Chair of the House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment, shepherding policies to promote energy efficiency, energy affordability and environmental justice; and focusing on meaningful policy for waste prevention and wildfire mitigation. In addition, I am currently serve as a member of the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water, House Committee On Revenue, and Joint Committee On Tax Expenditures.
Broadband: Since 2016, I have been working to close Oregon's digital divide, authoring HB 2173 (2019) to establish the state Broadband Office, and HB 4092 (2022), which set Oregon's course for broadband expansion. I continue to pursue policies that resolve infrastructure challenges so all Oregonians can have access to highspeed internet for education, health, government information and services, entertainment and more.
Panelist: Rebecca Brown, Comcast Pacific NW Region
In this role, I have the opportunity to help bring together our diverse communities to focus on making a difference through volunteerism and employee engagement, and help increase technology access and expand digital skills by forming impactful partnerships with our local CBOs.
Panelist: Juan Muro, Free Geek
Juan M. Muro, previously Sr. Manager of Customer Experience, is the Executive Director of Free Geek. Free Geek is a non-profit organization with a mission: to repurpose technology and discover sustainable solutions while providing educational resources.
Prior to his time in the nonprofit world, Juan worked at Starbucks as an Operations and Training Store Manager leading teams and helping to develop talent from within the organization. Juan has put those skills to use at Free Geek and has been working to make the organization better since his arrival in 2018. At Free Geek he has brought operational excellence, ability to build great teams and a people
Discover Central Oregon: Eat, Play, Walk, Drink, Shop
EAT
In Central Oregon, the question isn't what to eat, but where! Experience the adventurous spirit of Sunriver’s restaurants, perfect for every season and appetite. Whether you’re in the mood for a cozy meal close to your hotel or want to explore Bend’s vibrant food scene along Wall and Bond streets, there’s something for everyone. From delicious pizza to exquisite prix fixe menus, your culinary cravings will be satisfied.
PLAY
Adventure awaits in both Sunriver and Bend! Explore the stunning Tumalo Falls, delve into the fascinating exhibits at the High Desert Museum, or gaze at the stars at the Sunriver Observatory. No matter your interests, Central Oregon offers a wealth of activities to create unforgettable memories.
WALK
Hiking enthusiasts, rejoice! Sunriver is your gateway to some of the best trails in the region. With numerous options nearby and a short drive away, choosing your next hike will be the only challenge you face. Lace up your boots and get ready to explore!
DRINK
Raise a glass in Central Oregon’s thriving craft beverage scene. With renowned breweries like Sunriver Brewing, Deschutes Brewery, and Bend Brewing Company, your taste buds are in for a treat. Unsure where to begin? Join a guided brewery, wine, or distillery tour for an insider’s look at Central Oregon’s top craft producers.
SHOP
Take home a piece of Central Oregon with unique gifts and keepsakes. Stroll through The Village at Sunriver, where local and family-owned shops offer exceptional service. Or visit the Old Mill District along the Deschutes River, featuring over 40 stores, stunning murals, movie theaters, and the Hayden Homes Amphitheater for live shows.
OCTC Board
Oregon Connections Telecommunications Conference (OCTC) board is a 501(c)3 organization. The board meets quarterly (if needed) to approve the budget for the conference, create policy and to perform any other required board functions. The board also appoints the conference chair(s). Meetings are online. Jim Teece is the current president of the board. Reach Jim at jim@ProjectA.com if you would like to apply to be on the board.
OCTC Committee
The committee is formed each year to put on the annual conference. The frequency of the meetings accelerates as it gets closer to the conference. There are subcommittees for Sponsors & Exhibitors/Venue & Logistics/Social & Communications/Event Support/History & Awards. This is a working committee with up to 8 actively involved members who roll up their sleeves and get the job done. The board appoints the chair and the chair appoints committee members. Apply today to be on next years committee by filling out the form on OregonConnections.info.
Speaker/Moderator/Panelist
We are always looking for great speakers to deliver inspiring and educational content for our conference. If you are interested in giving a keynote, being a session speaker, being a panel moderator or being a subject matter expert on a panel or if you have a topic or know of a speaker please fill out the form on OregonConnections.info.
