BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//IT Professionals Conference - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu X-WR-CALDESC:Events for IT Professionals Conference REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Chicago BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20250309T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20251102T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20260308T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20261101T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20270314T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20271107T070000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T123000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T130000 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T183219Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T193523Z UID:9109-1779971400-1779973200@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:How I used AI to help with the IT Support Symposium DESCRIPTION:Room B2250 & Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\nAI is still “new” in the sense that we’re all trying to figure out exactly what it can be used for. I’ll share how I used it while planning the IT Support Symposium and facilitate a conversation with attendees on how others in the room have used it as well. \n\nPresenter(s)\n\nElla Tschopik URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/how-i-used-ai-to-help-with-the-it-support-symposium/ LOCATION:Morgridge Hall\, 1205 University Ave\, Madison\, WI\, 53706\, United States CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 Hybrid Session ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2025/05/IT-Connects_@0.5x-100-e1778182509968.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T123000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T130000 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T184531Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T195945Z UID:9107-1779971400-1779973200@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:Kuali Build: Power Your Forms. Streamline Your Workflow. DESCRIPTION:Room B2590 & Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\nDon’t settle for Google Forms or emailing fillable PDFs around for approvals; Kuali Build empowers non-IT\, business-centric staff to easily build fillable forms that can then be sent for approvals\, emails\, and tasks. In addition\, Kuali Build applications can leverage integrations across multiple systems\, including PersonAPI\, FinanceAPI\, and Data warehouses. This allows developers the ability to validate email addresses\, look up current jobs\, look up and validate Workday financial information to pull specific data into their forms and workflows. DoIT’s Low Code Solution team is here to assist and guide you in the process. \n\nPresenter(s)\n\nJoel Herron URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/kuali-build-power-your-forms-streamline-your-workflow/ LOCATION:Morgridge Hall\, 1205 University Ave\, Madison\, WI\, 53706\, United States CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 Hybrid Session END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T123000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T130000 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T184934Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T200010Z UID:9103-1779971400-1779973200@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:What Good Leadership Actually Looks Like. A Story About Mental Health\, Trust\, and Teams. DESCRIPTION:Hello World (Room 1570) & Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\nA few years ago\, I was standing on a bluff near my home. I had decided I was done. Two days later\, I checked myself into the psych ward at the VA hospital. \nI’m a DevOps engineer at UW-Madison and a US Army veteran with seven combat tours. The PTSD didn’t exactly come out of nowhere. But this talk isn’t really about that. It’s about what happened next. \nMy leadership team handled it right. Not from a playbook\, but in the ways that actually mattered. That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when a team has built something real\, where people actually matter\, and that doesn’t stop being true when things get hard. \nEvery team has someone carrying something heavy. Most of them are carrying it quietly. This talk is about what it looks like when a team gets it right\, and what any of us can do to be that for someone else. \n\nPresenter(s)\n\nDave Lyons URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/what-good-leadership-actually-looks-like-a-story-about-mental-health-trust-and-teams/ LOCATION:Morgridge Hall\, 1205 University Ave\, Madison\, WI\, 53706\, United States CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 Hybrid Session ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2026/05/Good-Leadership1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T131500 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T141500 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T185806Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T185806Z UID:9124-1779974100-1779977700@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:Normalizing Failure: How To Create Psychological Safety to Make Your Organization Successful DESCRIPTION:Room B2590 & Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\nIn our day-to-day work lives\, it is common to want to celebrate our successes. Social Media (e.g.\, LinkedIn) is rife with examples of people boosting themselves and others\, describing the successes and accomplishments that they’ve achieved. Similarly\, résumés and CVs are full of our achievements\, and\, as these tend to serve as our professional introductions to one another\, it’s no wonder many are afraid to talk about those not-so-successful outcomes that are as much a part of workplace life as the successes we achieve. \nThis is where normalizing failure comes into play! Creating an environment where team members are comfortable trying new initiatives\, developing creative\, innovative ways of tackling challenges\, and then determining what works\, figuring out what doesn’t\, and helping others learn from the lessons we experience\, helps to build a psychologically safe environment that people crave working in and that often celebrates ever-better achievements. \nLearn creative ways to make this happen in your environment… even if you have been afraid to fail before. \n\nPresenter(s)\n\nSean Bossinger URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/normalizing-failure-how-to-create-psychological-safety-to-make-your-organization-successful/ LOCATION:Morgridge Hall\, 1205 University Ave\, Madison\, WI\, 53706\, United States CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 Hybrid Session ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2026/05/Help-signs.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T131500 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T141500 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T190302Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T190302Z UID:9112-1779974100-1779977700@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:Raised on Anime\, Working in IT: How Japanese Anime Inspired Careers in IT and Cybersecurity DESCRIPTION:Hello World (Room 1570) & Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\nThis session dives into Japanese Anime (Manga) and its influence on people like us in IT who are motivated to pursue careers in STEM\, networking\, and cybersecurity. We will discuss how specific Anime genres (e.g.\, big robots\, cyberpunk\, isekai\, etc.) foreshadowed new technologies. Presenters Tomomi Imamura\, Didier Contis\, and Ryan Leavitt\, who grew up in Japan\, France\, and Wisconsin (respectively)\, and watched a wide range of anime\, will discuss their perspectives and how the anime shaped their interests. \n\nPresenter(s)\n\nTomomi Imamura\nDidier Contis\nRyan Leavitt URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/raised-on-anime-working-in-it-how-japanese-anime-inspired-careers-in-it-and-cybersecurity/ LOCATION:Morgridge Hall\, 1205 University Ave\, Madison\, WI\, 53706\, United States CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 Hybrid Session ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2026/05/anime.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T131500 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T141500 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T190428Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T190428Z UID:9122-1779974100-1779977700@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:Wardley Mapping: An Interactive Workshop to Map Strategic Planning DESCRIPTION:Room 1524 & Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\nWardley Mapping is a powerful tool that allows for visually mapping strategic moves. We will go through a brief introduction\, and then in the 2nd half\, we’ll get our hands dirty by actually mapping an example problem space. \n\nPresenter(s)\n\nPhil Jochimsen URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/wardley-mapping-an-interactive-workshop-to-map-strategic-planning/ LOCATION:Morgridge Hall\, 1205 University Ave\, Madison\, WI\, 53706\, United States CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 Hybrid Session ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2026/05/Mapping.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T131500 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T141500 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T191746Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T191746Z UID:9134-1779974100-1779977700@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:The Art of Adaptation: Real Stories of Navigating through Change DESCRIPTION:Room B2250 & Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\nWe’re all experiencing change at a rapid pace\, from leadership to major technical tools to campus structures. Being in and learning from the community can be both cathartic and helpful. This panel and conversation will explore how IT Professionals adapt\, respond\, and lead through uncertainty\, organizational shifts\, or personal transitions. \n\nPresenter(s)\n\nAmy Diestler\nElizabeth Simcock\n(more coming soon) URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/the-art-of-adaptation-real-stories-of-navigating-through-change/ LOCATION:Morgridge Hall\, 1205 University Ave\, Madison\, WI\, 53706\, United States CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 Hybrid Session ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2026/05/measuring-tape.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T143000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T150000 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T192121Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T192121Z UID:9131-1779978600-1779980400@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:AI Agents for IT Productivity DESCRIPTION:Room 1524 & Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\nExploring how ‘agentic’ IT tools\, including the ones available to everyone today\, can be used in powerful ways for personal productivity. \n\nPresenter(s)\n\nLucas Gallagher URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/ai-agents-for-it-productivity/ LOCATION:Morgridge Hall\, 1205 University Ave\, Madison\, WI\, 53706\, United States CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 Hybrid Session ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2024/05/Putting-AI-in-Your-Laptop-e1778181636750.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T143000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T150000 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T192452Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T192452Z UID:9139-1779978600-1779980400@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:Get It Out Of Your Head: Your brain wasn't built for this (and neither was Excel) DESCRIPTION:Room B2250 & Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\nYour brain is great at solving problems; it’s terrible at storing them. Yet many of us are mentally tracking dozens of tasks\, digging through reply-all chains\, and marking everything as “high priority.” Your teammates don’t know where things stand\, and on a bad week\, neither do you. Externalizing your work isn’t about bureaucracy; it’s about protecting your thinking\, making capacity visible\, and building a shared system that’s easier than the chaos it replaces. \n\nPresenter(s)\n\nRyan Horrisberger URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/get-it-out-of-your-head-your-brain-wasnt-built-for-this-and-neither-was-excel/ LOCATION:Morgridge Hall\, 1205 University Ave\, Madison\, WI\, 53706\, United States CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 Hybrid Session ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2024/05/Dont-hold-it-in-scaled-e1778181848696.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T143000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T150000 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T192728Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T192728Z UID:9136-1779978600-1779980400@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:Project Management for Messy People DESCRIPTION:Room B2590 & Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\nIn IT\, you may not always have a project manager\, but almost all of us are asked to execute on projects as part of our work. This session will focus on how to make project management principles work for those of us with busy jobs and busy lives. \n\nPresenter(s)\n\nRebekah Novak URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/project-management-for-messy-people/ LOCATION:Morgridge Hall\, 1205 University Ave\, Madison\, WI\, 53706\, United States CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 Hybrid Session ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2025/05/Networking-and-games_@0.5x-100-e1778181964881.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T151500 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T161500 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260505T220720Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260506T232149Z UID:9072-1779981300-1779984900@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:2026 IT Recognition Awards Presentation DESCRIPTION:Location TBA & Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \nView on YouTube (link will be available shortly before start of event) <– This link is provided for families and friends who wish to view the presentation but are not affiliated with UW \n\nJoin us as we honor our outstanding colleagues who have made significant contributions to the UW–Madison IT community. The 2026 IT Recognition Awards celebrate the dedication\, innovation\, and achievements of our talented IT professionals in 7 award categories: \n\nEllen La Luzerne Community Builder Award\nJanet E. Plato Diversity\, Equity & Inclusion Award\nLifetime Achievement Award\nRising Star Award\nTeam Achievement Award\nTransformational Achievement Award\nUnsung Hero Award\n\nTake 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. \nReception to follow for in-person attendees. \n\nLearn more about the awards and view past recipients: https://it.wisc.edu/uw-madison-it-recognition-awards/ URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/2026-it-awards/ LOCATION:Morgridge Hall\, 1205 University Ave\, Madison\, WI\, 53706\, United States CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 In-Person Only,2026 Networking Event ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-05-at-5.02.59-PM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T161500 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T164500 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260505T221217Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260506T215708Z UID:9080-1779984900-1779986700@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:IT Recognition Awards Reception DESCRIPTION:Garden Atrium (Lower Level) \n\nCelebrate with our IT Recognition Award winners! Light refreshments will be provided. \n\nThis event is open to all attendees\, regardless of whether they have registered for hybrid or virtual only attendance. URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/it-recognition-awards-reception/ LOCATION:Morgridge Hall\, 1205 University Ave\, Madison\, WI\, 53706\, United States CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 In-Person Only,2026 Networking Event ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2025/05/Reception-unstructured-networking_@0.5x-100.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T093000 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T220325Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T221632Z UID:9141-1780045200-1780047000@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:Faster\, Better and Cheaper: Refactoring Course Search & Enroll DESCRIPTION:Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\nIn this presentation\, we plan to share how we migrated the CS&E from a manually provisioned infrastructure into an environment provisioned with Infrastructure as Code. In the process\, we reduced AWS infrastructure costs by 35% (nearly $3.5K/month) and improved performance and reliability. This included replacing Apache/Shibboleth with Cloudfront/OIDC and replacing several containerized applications with lambda functions. \n\nPresenter(s)\n\nBrian Hill\nLyle Hanson\nBen Nylud\nNuwan Kumarasiri\nRiver Ali Alaqidy URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/faster-better-and-cheaper-refactoring-course-search-enroll/ CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 Virtual Only ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2025/05/Object-storage@0.5x-100-e1778191196191.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T093000 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T220816Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T220816Z UID:9150-1780045200-1780047000@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:How to build custom blocks for the new UW Theme 2.0 DESCRIPTION:Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\nJoin Andrea Roenning and Nate Finch as they demonstrate how to build and maintain custom WordPress blocks for the Block Editor. \nIn this session\, we’ll go over: \n\ngetting set up locally for block development\nchoosing a static or dynamic block\nusing WordPress Gutenberg components and libraries\nbuilding and maintaining small and large blocks\nbundling and distributing the blocks for use on sites\n\nBlock-building setup and development can be tricky when you’re first starting. Join us to see how you can build custom experiences for your users. \n\nPresenter(s)\n\nAndrea Roenning\nNate Finch URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/how-to-build-custom-blocks-for-the-new-uw-theme-2-0/ CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 Virtual Only ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2023/05/Tools-e1778191613425.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T093000 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T221953Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T221953Z UID:9152-1780045200-1780047000@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:Replacing Spreadsheets: A Consolidated View of Network Infrastructure Data DESCRIPTION:Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\nMost network teams juggle spreadsheets and siloed tools to track subnets\, VLANs\, firewalls\, and access. This session demos a single homegrown app that pulls everything together—including Infoblox—into a single\, reliable view. See how it improves visibility\, cuts down on manual work\, and makes it easier to understand and manage your network. \n\nPresenter(s)\n\nEric Dieckman URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/replacing-spreadsheets-a-consolidated-view-of-network-infrastructure-data/ CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 Virtual Only ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2026/05/Neon-Brain.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T094000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T104000 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T222410Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T222410Z UID:9159-1780047600-1780051200@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:Building an AI Tutor With Gemini-CLI and Obsidian DESCRIPTION:Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\nAn explanation and a technical demo of how to build an AI tutor for any skill with Google’s Gemini-CLI and the Obsidian text editor. By using Gemini in the filesystem\, users are able to save prompts from the LLM as files and then edit those files directly. This allows anyone to use Gemini-CLI to create a local tutor that will quiz you\, grade quizzes\, have persistent storage in the filesystem\, provide links to relevant documentation\, and iteratively improve as the user uses the tutor system. Because it is saved in the filesystem\, a user can come back to the folder days or weeks later\, and the full AI context will still be there\, by utilizing the GEMINI.md system instructions file as persistent state storage. I will have some slides to explain the theory and setup with a live technical demo creating an AI tutor for a new skill in real time\, showing how it can be designed\, implemented\, and used efficiently and safely. \n\nPresenter(s)\n\nSean McConnell URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/building-an-ai-tutor-with-gemini-cli-and-obsidian/ CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 Virtual Only ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2025/05/connecting-relationships-to-results.-enhancing-IT-and-buisness-partnerships-e1778192543566.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T094000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T104000 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T222834Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T222834Z UID:9162-1780047600-1780051200@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:Stop Solving. Start Asking: The Inquiry Mindset for IT DESCRIPTION:Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\nIn fast‑paced IT environments\, the pressure to provide quick answers can limit collaboration\, trust\, and innovation. This session introduces The Inquiry Mindset—a practical approach for IT professionals at all levels to shift from reacting with solutions to leading with thoughtful\, strategic questions. Drawing from frameworks like Humble Inquiry\, Power Questions\, and Appreciative Inquiry\, participants will learn how to use curiosity to defuse resistance\, strengthen partnerships\, uncover real needs\, and create psychological safety. You’ll walk away with simple language shifts and a set of powerful\, ready‑to‑use questions that elevate conversations and transform everyday IT interactions. \n\nPresenter(s)\n\nKen Fanta URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/stop-solving-start-asking-the-inquiry-mindset-for-it/ CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 Virtual Only ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2026/05/Question-marks-square.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T094000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T104000 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T223043Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T223043Z UID:9176-1780047600-1780051200@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:Looking at how LLMs might help your work DESCRIPTION:Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\nA lot of marketing out there is pitching “AI is for everything\, no one will have jobs”. This session aims to demystify that notion\, and give you a solid framework to evaluate what kinds of work might possibly be candidates for automation\, for document drafting\, and that which will never be for an AI to do. \n\nPresenter(s)\n\nPhil Jochimsen URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/looking-at-how-llms-might-help-your-work/ CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 Virtual Only ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2025/05/WCER-website-lifecycle_@0.5x-100-e1778193018886.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T105000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T112000 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T223352Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T223352Z UID:9156-1780051800-1780053600@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:AI and You DESCRIPTION:Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\nEncourage people to make individual choices about AI in their jobs\, within University guidelines and applicable standards. There will also be a brief discussion about applications outside work\, including trip planning\, writing\, and searches. \n\nPresenter(s)\n\nJulie Johnson URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/ai-and-you/ CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 Virtual Only ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2024/05/Navigating-Cybersecurity-e1778193165693.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T105000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T112000 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T223730Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T223730Z UID:9184-1780051800-1780053600@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:What even is technical debt? DESCRIPTION:Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\nA meditation on the nature of technical debt\, adjacent concepts\, and precision of language.\nWhere did this term come from?\nWhat do we mean when we use this term?\nCan we usefully distinguish “technical debt” from other categories of “things we don’t like”?\nWhat can we learn from the “debt” metaphor?\nWhat are the shortcomings of the “debt” metaphor? What other metaphors are available\, and what might we learn from them?\nWhat does all this mean? How can I responsibly navigate incurring and paying down technical debt in my IT work at the University? How does this affect the human beings who perform and are touched by this work?\nThis talk will examine the apparent origins of this concept from Ward Cunningham\, trace some of how it has been expanded upon and applied since. We will appreciate the metaphor while also considering its shortcomings. We will examine other available metaphors.\nThe audience will leave the talk more ready to think critically about “technical debt.” \n\nPresenter(s)\n\nAndrew Petro URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/what-even-is-technical-debt/ CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 Virtual Only ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2024/04/stuck-IT-project-e1778193386807.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T122000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T123500 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T224445Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T224445Z UID:9189-1780057200-1780058100@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:Appreciating jj-vcs DESCRIPTION:Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\njj-vcs (“Jujutsu”) is a free and open source distributed version control system interoperable with Git but offering different abstractions and arguably better ergonomics. This talk will describe jj-vcs both on its own terms and on how it relates to Git\, which may be familiar to many. We will work on a few examples of using jj-vcs to demonstrate the different abstractions and ergonomics. Is jj-vcs the future? I don’t know. However\, it is possible for it to be part of your immediate future\, because it interoperates with Git today.\nYou might prefer its abstractions and ergonomics. This flash talk is intended to give current Git users just enough of a taste to make an informed choice to learn more. \n\nPresenter(s)\n\nAndrew Petro URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/appreciating-jj-vcs/ CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 Virtual Only ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2026/05/Enhancing-Enterprise-IT-square.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T122000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T125000 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T224720Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T224720Z UID:9193-1780057200-1780059000@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:Simple Accessibility Wins in the KnowledgeBase DESCRIPTION:Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\nI have been the DoIT Help Desk KnowledgeBase (KB) Documentation Lead for 4 years\, and over this time witnessed many of the same common digital accessibility mistakes. I have a presentation with simple fixes for these common mistakes to help make your documentation much more accessible\, including correct heading numbering\, alt text for screenshots\, complex tables\, and more. It’s meant for the busy technologist who wants to successfully and quickly publish accessible documentation. \n\nPresenter(s)\n\nDana Gerber-Margie URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/simple-accessibility-wins-in-the-knowledgebase/ CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 Virtual Only ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2025/05/Making-digital-accessibility-work_@0.5x-100-e1778194016277.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T122000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T125000 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T225204Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T225204Z UID:9196-1780057200-1780059000@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:What Could Go Wrong? Building a Long-Term Archive in the Real World DESCRIPTION:Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\nWhen you build a system designed to preserve data for years\, you quickly discover that everything eventually goes wrong; storage fills up\, transfers fail\, files corrupt\, and assumptions break under real-world conditions. This talk tells the story of our Long Term Archive system: how it started\, the unexpected challenges we encountered in production\, and how we iterated toward robust\, reliable solutions. We’ll cover concrete examples and share the lessons we learned the hard way so you don’t have to. \n\nPresenter(s)\n\nPatrick Meade\nSteve Barnet URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/what-could-go-wrong-building-a-long-term-archive-in-the-real-world/ CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 Virtual Only ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2026/05/Lightning.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T131500 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T230557Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T230557Z UID:9204-1780059600-1780060500@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:Utilizing AI Tools to Design and Develop Engaging Online Compliance Training for UW-Madison Staff\, Faculty\, and Students DESCRIPTION:Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\nThis session will demonstrate how expert instructional designers on the DoIT-Academic Technology Learn@UW Team utilize AI tools and instructional technologies\, including LLMs\, NotebookLM\, and Articulate 360 AI Assistant\, to design and develop engaging online training. While our work is centered around UW-Madison and compliance training\, the same concepts can be applied across departments and institutions. We will discuss the steps we take to synthesize and organize content\, as well as assessments to evaluate learning. Finally\, we will end our talk with a review of best practice tips and tricks around using AI for instructional design purposes. \n\nPresenter(s)\n\nCori Schmidtbauer\nLily Sullivan URL:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/event/utilizing-ai-tools-to-design-and-develop-engaging-online-compliance-training-for-uw-madison-staff-faculty-and-students/ CATEGORIES:2026 Conference,2026 Virtual Only ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://itproconf.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/296/2026/05/Graduation-progress-square.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T133000 DTSTAMP:20260508T120411 CREATED:20260507T225833Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T225833Z UID:9199-1780059600-1780061400@itproconf.wisc.edu SUMMARY:So\, you need an Accessible web interface? DESCRIPTION:Virtual \nJoin the Zoom Event \n\nA triptych through recent additions to HTML\, CSS\, and JavaScript in the last 10 years that are useful for improving a bespoke or legacy web application\, which may not have been designed with accessibility in mind and predates some of the more advanced features that are now built into every modern web browser. \nExamples: \n\nBuilding a bespoke web app framework (like Django\, Dancer\, or Mojolicious) to separate server code from presentation while retaining as much of the legacy code base and structure as possible to avoid needing to rewrite the world\nUse of the HTML5 elements such as
and ; \, \, and ; text fields with client-side regex validation using the pattern attribute\, as well as accessibility using