UPCOMING EVENTS

IT Infrastructure, Operations Management & Cloud Strategies: Chicago (Rosemont/O’Hare), Illinois

October 24, 2025

9:00am-5:00pm

7 CPE / 0.7 CEU / CISSP / 7 PDU Credits Awarded

Conference location: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont (O’Hare) Illinois

Overview

Your business stakeholders and financial leaders demanding more value, reliability and agility from IT investments. But a dynamic economic and a rapidly changing technology ecosystem create tremendous challenges.

What You Will Learn

In this one day conference attendees will learn:

• The Future Implications of ChatGPT and Generative AI on I&O
• Using Cloud Services to Deliver Valuable Business Services
• Is Quantum Computing the Right Path for Your Organization Regarding Future Opportunities?
• How to Take Control of Your Cloud Strategy
• How to Work Through the Challenges of Infrastructure Automation
• How to Extract Business Value Through Technical Debt Management

CONFERENCE AGENDA

8:00am – 9:00am: Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00am – 10:00am: The Advantages and Disadvantages of AI in Cloud Computing (Fireside Chat)

Participants will include:

• Patrick Kinard, Head of Cloud and Infrastructure, Chicago Public Schools
• Additional Practitioners and Executives

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping how enterprises manage, optimize, and secure their cloud environments. From predictive analytics and automated resource allocation to intelligent cost management and anomaly detection, AI-driven tools promise unprecedented operational efficiency. Yet, alongside these advantages come challenges: increased complexity, dependency on data quality, governance concerns, and questions around trust and transparency.

In this fireside chat, a senior cloud and infrastructure leader will explore both sides of the AI-in-cloud equation—highlighting the real-world opportunities and potential pitfalls. Attendees will gain a nuanced understanding of where AI delivers measurable value today, what to watch for as adoption deepens, and how to prepare their organizations to harness AI responsibly and effectively.

Areas that will be covered include:

• Unlocking Efficiency: How AI can optimize workloads, automate operations, and reduce costs in cloud environments
• Enhanced Security and Monitoring: Using AI for anomaly detection, incident response, and predictive risk management
• Governance and Trust: The risks of algorithmic bias, data privacy, and loss of transparency in AI-driven operations
• Operational Complexity: Balancing automation with human oversight and skill development
• Practical Adoption: Strategies for evaluating AI capabilities in cloud management tools and aligning them with organizational goals
• Future Outlook: What’s next for AI-native cloud operations and how to prepare for an autonomous cloud future

10:00am – 10:30am  Refreshment & Exhibit Break

10:30am – 11:30am: Optimizing Operations Management with AI & Automation

Automation and AI are transforming how IT operations are managed. This session discusses how leveraging these technologies can lead to improved operational efficiency, faster incident response, and a more agile IT environment. Attendees will gain insights on automation tools, AI-driven monitoring, and predictive analytics.

• Key Topics:
  • Key AI/ML tools for proactive IT monitoring
  • Automated incident response and ticketing systems
  • RPA (Robotic Process Automation) in IT operations
  • Data-driven decision-making in operations management

11:30am – 12:30 pm: Cost Management Strategies in the Cloud Era

John Capello, Strategy and Field CTO Vice President, Nasuni

Cloud adoption brings flexibility but also cost challenges. This session delves into best practices for managing cloud costs, optimizing resource utilization, and leveraging cloud financial management tools. Learn how to create a sustainable, cost-effective cloud strategy without compromising performance.

Key Topics:

• • Cost forecasting and budgeting in cloud environments
  • Right-sizing and cost optimization techniques
  • Leveraging FinOps for financial governance
  • Managing multi-cloud costs and avoiding vendor lock-in

12:30pm – 1:30pm: Lunch & Exhibit Break

1:30pm – 2:30pm: Security in the Cloud: Strengthening IT Infrastructure Protection

Cloud security remains one of the top priorities for IT leaders. This session will focus on strategies and best practices to ensure that cloud infrastructures are secure and compliant with regulatory standards. Topics will include cloud-native security tools, access control, and managing third-party risks.

Key Topics:

• • Cloud-native security services (AWS, Azure, GCP)
  • Identity and access management (IAM) in the cloud
  • Ensuring compliance in a multi-cloud environment
  • Building a culture of security in hybrid IT ecosystems

2:30pm – 3:00pm: Refreshment & Exhibit Break

3:00pm – 4:00pm: The Future of DevOps in IT Operations

The DevOps approach is revolutionizing IT operations, making them more collaborative and agile. This session covers the evolving role of DevOps, best practices for integrating infrastructure with development processes, and how to scale DevOps practices across complex, multi-cloud environments.

Key Topics:

• • Key principles of DevOps and its evolution in the cloud
  • Automation tools for CI/CD pipelines
  • Managing infrastructure as code (IaC)
  • Scaling DevOps practices in large enterprises

4:00pm – 5:00pm: Leadership in IT: Navigating the Future of Infrastructure and Cloud Strategies (Panel Discussion)

In this final session, a panel of distinguished IT executives from leading organizations will share their experiences and insights on navigating the complex landscape of IT infrastructure, operations management, and cloud strategies. They will discuss the challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned from steering their organizations through digital transformation and adopting cutting-edge cloud technologies.

• • How to balance innovation with risk management in cloud strategies
  • Overcoming challenges in multi-cloud and hybrid environments
  • Managing IT talent in a fast-changing landscape
  • Predictions for the next 5-10 years in IT infrastructure and cloud strategies
  • Real-world examples of cloud migration successes and failures

Moderator: TBD

Panelists will include:

• Heather Fransen, Director, Managed IT, Cloud and Infrastructure, RSM US LLP
• Mark Lagoa, SVP, Infrastructure, Security, Data, & IT, Copado
• Steve Liegl , Director Infrastructure and Operations, WEC Energy Group
• Patrick McGinley, Information Technology Operations Manager, Mecum Auctions
• Patrick Stefanski, Manager- IT Infrastructure & Support, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, LLC
• Additional IT executives sharing experiences and lessons learned

Conference Price: $349.00 per person

Each attendee will receive a certificate awarding 7 CPE credits for CISSP continuing education, in addition to 0.7 CEUs and 7 PDUs. CISSP is a registered certification mark of (ISC)², Inc.

Exhibits

As is always the case at CAMP IT Conferences events, the talks will not include product presentations. During the continental breakfast, coffee breaks, and the luncheon break you will have the opportunity to informally meet representatives from the following sponsoring companies, who have solutions in the area of the conference.