IT Professionals Conference

Taking the pain out of onboarding new users
2024-05-30 13:55 - 14:25 (America/Chicago) | Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Room 325/326
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This session will provide valuable insights and tips to make the onboarding process efficient and painless for new IT users, including admin staff, faculty and student workers. Discover best practices for communication, essential apps and critical documents to ensure a smooth transition. Learn how to create a better onboarding experience to set your new users up for success.
Attendees will learn:

Strategies to streamline the onboarding process for all involved parties
Effective communication techniques and essential tools to facilitate onboarding
Methods for creating a welcoming environment and gathering feedback for continuous improvement

Presenter

Mal Dziuk

Operations at the Center for High Throughput Computing (CHTC)
2024-05-30 13:55 - 14:25 | Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Room 313
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The Infrastructure Services Team in the Center for High Throughput Computing (CHTC) manages computing clusters for researchers, maintains services for the national cyberinfrastructure and distributes software for global research communities. This talk will explore what it takes to manage CHTC’s more than 1,300 servers, support global research communities, and advance state-of-the-art, High-Throughput Computing.
Attendees will:

Learn about CHTC’s mission and research areas
Discover how to collaborate with or learn more about the CHTC
Gain insights into CHTC’s technologies and operational models

Presenter

Brian Lin

Enhancing your serverless development process
2024-05-30 13:30 - 13:45 | Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Room 325/326
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Learn how to streamline your Amazon Web Services (AWS) Lambda development process using Visual Studio Code and dev containers. This session will guide you through setting up a local development environment that allows you to automate, debug and develop functions efficiently in Lambda, an event-based serverless computing service for the AWS platform. Discover how these tools can significantly improve your productivity and debugging capabilities.
Attendees will:

See a local Lambda development environment using VSCode and Dev Containers
Learn how to automate the Lambda development process
Utilize the integrated VSCode debugger for efficient debugging
Gain insights into best practices for local Lambda development and debugging
Acquire the skills necessary to transition to a local Lambda development workflow

Presenter

Thomas Blader

Building cloud community at UW–Madison
2024-05-30 13:15 - 13:30 | Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Room 325/326
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Explore the benefits of joining the DoIT Research Cyberinfrastructure community, where researchers, faculty and staff come together to advance their knowledge and application of cloud computing. Expand your knowledge of cloud computing and how it can advance your research and operations.
Attendees will:

Learn about the quarterly meetings organized by the cloud community group to exchange ideas and share user presentations
Find out how the AcloudGuru learning platform, provided to community members, can help advance cloud knowledge
Discover ways to experiment with cloud services without incurring unexpected charges
Participate in an exchange of ideas for leveraging cloud computing in research and operations

Presenter

Zekai Otles

Practical Advice for Supporting a Stuck Project
2024-05-30 13:10 - 13:40 | Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Room 313
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This session offers a pragmatic examination of common inefficiencies and obstacles that can derail IT projects. Whether you’re a project manager, team lead or individual contributor, this session will provide you with insights you can use to overcome common project challenges.
Attendees will learn:

Strategies for improving communication and collaboration within project teams

Presenter

Jonathan Dedering

Using large language models in meteorological fact-finding
2024-05-30 12:45 - 13:00 | Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Room 325/326
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Hear how DoIT’s Research Cyberinfrastructure unit is harnessing the power of AI to open new avenues in data analysis, including for meteorological fact-finding. Discover how cutting-edge large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI’s ChatGPT 3.5 and 4.0 hold are poised to revolutionize the field of meteorology.
Attendees will:

Explore a novel methodology that leverages LLMs to generate tailored analytical code for specific meteorological data sets
Witness a compelling case study comparing findings from internet sources and LLM-generated analysis
Learn how ChatGPT 4.0 can create reusable programs for data analysis, drastically reducing time and effort in coding and debugging
Gain insights into the challenges and opportunities of utilizing LLMs in meteorological fact-finding

Presenter

Zekai Otles

Low code, high empowerment
2024-05-30 12:45 - 13:00 | Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Room 313
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Low Code Solutions (LCS) is an important service available to campus IT professionals, which creates a user-centric experience while reducing the need for advanced technical knowledge and large time investments that come with traditional software development.
Attendees will:

Discover how the LCS service team can help streamline application development
Learn about Betty Blocks, our powerful low-code platform for building low-to-medium complexity applications
Explore real-world examples of applications suitable for low-code development, such as request and approval systems or data submission and tracking tools
Find out where to access additional information and resources to get started with Low Code Solutions

Presenters

Jeanne Hains
Joel Herron

Lunch
2024-05-30 11:55 - 12:45 | Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Wisconsin Idea Lounge (Lower Level)

Enjoy a catered lunch and conversation with fellow IT Professionals.
For those attending in-person, vegetarian and non-vegetarian options will be equally available.

Efficiency through collaboration: Building the Foundation Data Model mapping solution
2024-05-30 11:25 - 11:55 | Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Room 325/326
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Explore the collaborative development of the Foundation Data Model (FDM) Mapping Solution, a vital component of the Administrative Transformation Program’s Financial Crosswalk. Learn how innovative tools and frameworks streamline data management processes through effective collaboration between development and data management teams.
Attendees will:

Gain insights into the collaborative development process
Learn about tools and frameworks used to streamline data management
Explore real-world examples of the FDM Mapping Solution’s impact

Presenters

Bret Huisenga
Bridget Nettesheim
Larry Hughes

Platform X: How SMPH implemented a secure data enclave
2024-05-30 11:25 - 11:55 | Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Room 313
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Discover how the School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) implemented a secure data enclave using DevOps, Azure cloud computing and Microsoft’s suite of security tools. SMPH’s platform enables researchers, data engineers and data scientists to utilize resources like virtual machines, databases, OpenAI, data lakes and Power BI, all while protecting patient privacy. Gain insights into creating and scaling a secure computing environment in the cloud and learn about the platform’s capabilities.
Attendees will:

Learn about the approach SMPH took in creating their secure enclave
Hear about the various resources available within the platform
Discover how the platform maintains patient privacy while providing access to powerful tools for research and analysis
Gain practical tips about how to create and scale your own secure computing enclave in your IT environment

Presenter

Michael Collins

2024 IT Recognition Awards Presentation
2024-05-30 10:25 - 11:15 | Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Room 313 (Overflow in Room 325/326)
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Join us as we honor our outstanding colleagues who have made significant contributions to the UW–Madison IT community. The 2024 IT Recognition Awards celebrate the dedication, innovation and achievements of our talented IT professionals across 7 categories:

Community Engagement
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Lifetime Achievement
Rising Star
Team Achievement
Transformational Achievement
Unsung Hero

Take this opportunity to recognize and applaud your colleagues who go above and beyond in their roles, strengthening our IT community and shaping the future of technology at the university.

YouTube Livestream
***If this video is not working, please try to refresh the screen as we may need to update the YouTube link.

Welcome & Keynote - Lead Where You Are
2024-05-30 09:00 - 10:15 | Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Room 313 (Overflow in Room 325/326)
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Welcome 9:00-9:15am – IT Professionals Conference co-chairs Sarah Lien and Elizabeth Kraege-Soechting will provide introductory remarks for the conference.
Keynote 9:15-10:15am – Dr. Joe Sanfelippo, the nationally recognized superintendent of Wisconsin’s Fall Creek School District, will deliver the keynote address at this year’s IT Professionals Conference.

Keynote Description:
I’m just…It’s a phrase we hear all the time. I’m just a sysadmin, I’m just a security analyst, I’m just a instructional designer….the list is long and is often followed by reasons why something CAN’T happen. Leadership is an action and it starts with you. Leading with INTENTION creates purpose. Leading with CONNECTION creates momentum. Leading with DIRECTION creates collective efficacy. Leading with all three in mind will build your capacity and foster an environment where everyone in your organization has the best opportunity to lead from where they are.

Keynote Speaker

Joe Sanfelippo

Opening Remarks (9:00-9:15am)

Elizabeth Kraege-Soechting
Sarah Lien

YouTube LiveStream

Check-In for In-Person Attendees
2024-05-30 08:00 - 09:00 | Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Outside Room 309

Check-in and then enjoy coffee, tea, water, fresh bakery selections, seasonal fresh fruit, and yogurt.

Note: Room 309 will be available all day for check-in, networking, and decompression.

Access Pre-Recorded Content Now!
2024-05-29 - 2024-06-01
Check out the pre-recorded content for the conference!
View the Pre-Recorded Sessions!

In-Person Post-Conference Social @ The Terrace
2023-06-02 16:30 - 18:00
Location

Memorial Union Terrace (Rain Location: Der Rathskeller @ Memorial Union)

Description

Join the conference planning committee and friends at the Terrace after the conference for a relaxed in-person social gathering! Shake off that Zoom fatigue with a real in-person event!
No need to RSVP. Just look for the group of IT nerds sitting together.

Photo by Jeff Miller / UW-Madison Photo Library.

How to Avoid the Riptides, Staying Safe Online
2023-06-02 15:30 - 16:00
Conference Session

Description

Scam-Proof Your Life: Tips for Avoiding Online Scams. This session will discuss some common scams we see on campus and in our personal lives. After this session you will be prepared to avoid these scams yourself and will be able to help others in your life to be aware of them.

Presenter Information

John Nagler
Allen Monette

Image Credit: Pexels

Foundations of Project Alignment
2023-06-02 15:30 - 16:00
Conference Session

Description

Project success often hinges on stakeholder alignment around a shared goal. In this presentation, I’ll share foundational skills for building strong relationships and promoting project alignment from the start. We’ll cover common causes of misalignment and four steps for realigning a project and getting back on track.

Presenter Information

Hannah Kinley

Image Credit: Pixabay

Beyond Land Acknowledgments - Considerations for Allies
2023-06-02 15:00 - 15:30
Conference Session

Description

We will review a UW-Madison land acknowledgment statement and discuss the importance as well as the limitations of land acknowledgment statements in general. Participants will leave with some concrete ideas and action steps to support indigenous peoples in our institutions and communities as we attempt to answer the question, “We have a land acknowledgment, now what?

Presenter Information

Ronald Jetty
Mike Jetty

Resources

Slides

Image Credit: UW Photo Library

AWS WAF Lessons Learned (aka: How to use data driven decision making when All The Bots Are Out To Get You)
2023-06-02 15:00 - 15:30
Conference Session

Description

Amazon Web Services provides a Web Application Firewall with many capabilities to be used to protect your web resources. Follow along as we share some lessons learned by the WiscWeb service of how we refined the definition of Good and Bad web visitors to reduce service impacting incidents.

Presenter Information

Phil Jochimsen

Image Credit: Original Image by VIN JD from Pixabay. AWS logo added from AWS website.

Automating Upgrade Testing using Selenium
2023-06-02 14:15 - 14:45
Conference Session
Join the Zoom Event

Description
This presentation will cover automation for web-based applications using Selenium WebDriver in Python. I will cover the benefits associated with using automation, how we are currently using automation, and our plans for automation in the future. Knowledge of software development is not needed, and I will hopefully spur some ideas for how your team could use automation as well!

Presenter Information

Brian Davidson

Accessible Presentations
2023-06-02 14:15 - 14:45
Conference Session

Description

From formatting accessible slides, to best practices while presenting, to captions and considerations when sharing meeting materials after-the-fact, we’ll share best practices to create and deliver accessible presentations.

Presenter Information

Leah Bowers
Erik Geiger

Slides
Accessible presentations

Credits/Citations

Demystifying OAuth2 Login Flows
2023-06-02 14:00 - 14:15
Conference Session

Description

There are several different ways to design an application to log in to an OAuth2 server: authorization code, resource owner, device grant, and client credentials. This talk will cover each method, how to use it, and when to use it. This talk assumes some basic programming knowledge, and will use Python for examples.

Presenter Information

David Schultz

Intro to AWS Billing
2023-06-02 14:00 - 14:15
Conference Session

Description

An introduction to AWS Billing. A quick overview of how resources are billed, as well as a look at some of the reports and graphs you can pull up to understand your charges.

Presenter Information

Phil Jochimsen

Image Credit: Original Image from Picpedia. AWS logo from Wikipedia.

Administrative Transformation Program (ATP) – Updates and Ancillary System Considerations
2023-06-02 13:00 - 14:00
Conference Session

Description

Join this session for a general update on the progress of the Administrative Transformation Program (ATP), as well as a deeper dive into the work being done within the integrations space to support ancillary systems that will need to continue to interact with human resource and financial data after Workday goes live in 2024.
You will leave this session with an understanding of:

the Administrative Transformation Program’s status,
the work being done within the integrations and ancillary systems space, and
the approach driving the Integration Hub development

Presenter Information

Morgan Andersen
Tom Jordan
Charlie Calderon

Introducing the Data Science Platform
2023-06-02 11:00 - 12:00
Conference Session
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Description

The Data Science Platform is a pilot program intended to provide researchers access to two products: an IDE running R or Python on the cloud, and a Publishing platform for reports, documents, models, and APIs. Participants will learn how to run scripts using our service. It will also highlight how researchers can access greater computing power than their laptops with minimum changes to their established workflows, as well as access their ResearchDrive storage directly through the Data Science Platform.
The audience attending this talk will benefit the most if they have a working understanding of R and the RStudio IDE, but the general ideas can be grasped regardless of programming experience.
If you would like a temporary account to code along, email Erwin Lares (erwin.lares@wisc.edu) to request one.

Presenter Information

Erwin Lares

Credits/Citations

Change is Easy! But you go first. Tools for Leading People through Organizational Change
2023-06-02 11:00 - 12:00
Conference Session

Description

Have you wondered why it’s so hard to get other people to change? You’re not alone. Organizations change all the time, yet change cannot happen without getting other people on board—and that can be a challenge. In this session we will introduce you to change management frameworks and tools that can help you better understand the people side of change and how you can be a more effective change leader. We will identify what people need to prepare for and adapt to change—and what steps you can take to support others through the process. We will include scenarios and interactive discussions on the multiple phases of change, how people experience transitions, and ways to respond to common forms of resistance.

Presenter Information

Jenny Erickson
Kate Kingery

Image Credit: Pexels

Life of the Party: Knowledge Management!
2023-06-02 10:30 - 11:00
Conference Session

Description

The key to good documentation that gets used is ongoing, regular maintenance baked into the organization’s workflow. I will highlight the importance of documentation for improved resilience in an organization, simpler internal knowledge transfer, and increased self-help from end-users. I will use examples from my experience as the Help Desk KB Administrator and Documentation Lead for Help Desk support documents. I will also draw on my experience co-leading the knowledge management workstream for DoIT and AIMS combining their two separate knowledge management systems. Our Help Desk agents truly see the internal Help Desk KB as the life blood or headquarters of their work, but maintaining it regularly is often forgotten. I’d love to change that!

Presenter Information

Dana Gerber-Margie

UW–Madison Profile: Building upon Salesforce Experience Cloud to Improve User Experiences
2023-06-02 10:30 - 11:00
Conference Session

Description

UW–Madison Profile aims to be the single, accessible, user-friendly resource for members of the UW community to view and manage their personal data and digital identity at the university. Profile is now live for everyone with a valid NetID who has an active role at UW–Madison. Before Profile, students and employees had to navigate obscure, fragmented and time-consuming systems to update or correct their personal information. The process for updating or correcting data was confusing and often frustrating, sometimes taking weeks and contact with multiple campus offices to resolve issues. By contrast, Profile takes a more user-focused approach, giving students and employees more transparency into their data and clear, simple steps for making updates and corrections.
Learn about:

The current capabilities of the UW-Madison Profile application
How we used Salesforce Experience Cloud, Salesforce Developer Experience, Salesforce Connect, and IICS to build Profile and achieve the project goals
How an Agile MVP methodology benefits the design and development of the UW-Madison Profile application
What enhancements are planned for the future

Presenter Information

Beth Richardson
Tyler Ratkowski

Ready, Set, Relaunch: A Website Success Story
2023-06-02 10:00 - 10:30
Conference Session

Description

The Office of the Registrar redesigned and relaunched its website over a period of two and half years during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this session, you will hear how the office was able to use inventories, feedback dashboards, and a unique student perspective to completely transform its website—which received over 1.7 million visits last year—in a fully virtual environment. The presenters, including the student employee of the year for innovation and technology, will walk you through their experience and share lessons they learned along the way.
You will learn strategies for coordinating a small or large redesign of your website and its content, and utilizing different data sources and working in a hybrid environment. Additionally, this presentation will highlight the student experience and using students to help design web content.

Presenter Information

Ellen Clark
Mahika Mohan

Safe and Predictable Team Collaboration with Cloud Platforms
2023-06-02 10:00 - 10:30
Conference Session

Description

With cloud platforms, teams can collaborate together or asynchronously to achieve common goals in a safe and predictable way. In this session, I’ll be covering how cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform help reduce team dependencies by giving teams more control over the services they run, while focusing less on the overhead of running IT infrastructure. I’ll share how teams can experiment and make changes to their IT services by using version control and deployment pipelines to increase confidence in successful production deployments.

Presenter Information

Jared Kosanovic

Image Credit: Pixabay
