Join us for our sponsored Lunch and Learns, brought to you by our esteemed SHARE partners. These educational sessions offer attendees the opportunity to enjoy a complimentary lunch, courtesy of our sponsors, while gaining insights into the latest updates and innovations from the companies.
Reminder: Lunch & Learns will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis with no pre-registration required.
Monday, Feb. 23 | Noon - 1 p.m.
Broadcom Mainframe Software
- Title: Ready for the Next Wave: The Modern Mainframe Journey
- Speakers: Greg Lotko
- Abstract: Mainframes keep evolving because business keeps moving. Join us for lunch and leave ready for the next waves of modernization. Broadcom engineers and customers will share what worked and what they learned along the way. From ML to AI to quantum, you will hear how, with the right tech and the right crew, you won’t be watchin’ the waves, you’ll be riding ‘em.
- Room: Salon 13/14
IBM
- Title: AI Where It Matters Most: Agentic AI on IBM Z
- Speakers: Kye Maloy
- Abstract: For decades, the mainframe has been the most trusted platform in enterprise IT. Now it’s becoming even smarter. In this session, we’ll show how agentic AI on IBM Z, combined with the AI acceleration and resiliency of z17, enables intelligent agents to operate directly on mission-critical workloads. From anomaly detection to smarter development workflows, discover why the mainframe may be the best place in the enterprise to make an impact with AI.
- Room: Salon 17/18
BMC Software
- Title: Beyond Alerts and Manual Code: The AI Path to Automated Operations and Smarter COBOL-to-Java Transformation
- Speakers: Anthony DiStauro
- Abstract: As mainframe workloads grow and environments become more interconnected, teams are under pressure to reduce manual effort while adopting more modern ways of working. AI is emerging as a practical way to manage this complexity — automating routine tasks, applying hard-won institutional knowledge in context, and helping teams move faster with confidence across operations and development.This Lunch & Learn explores how AI agents and intelligent workflows move teams beyond reactive alerts toward guided action and automation — and, over time, toward more autonomous agentic workflows. You’ll see how AI can explain unfamiliar behavior, surface relevant knowledge at the moment it’s needed, and support modern operational practices without sacrificing stability. The session also examines how AI is reshaping application transformation through a more intentional approach to COBOL-to-Java conversion. Rather than treating conversion as a one-step exercise, AI helps teams understand and refactor existing code first—then convert what truly makes sense to Java. The result is lower risk, higher-quality outcomes, and modernization efforts that align with real business and architectural goals.
- Room: Salon 19
Cisco
- Title: Next Generation SAN Security With c-type
- Speakers: Judd Pickett
- Abstract: In this session we will cover the current security capabilities offered by c-type SAN including hardware acceleration, stronger quantum resistant ciphers, and security certifications. In addition, we will cover the latest FICON certification and c-type updates.
- Room: Salon 21
Hitachi Vantara
- Title: Unlock Next-Level Performance and Security: Brocade and Hitachi’s Latest SAN and Storage Solutions Deliver Game-Changing Benefits
- Speakers: Alain Beauregard
- Abstract: The Fibre Channel storage community continues its full-speed innovation with the introduction of the Hitachi-Vantara VSP One Block High End storage solution. Join us for a delightful lunch and learn how the VSP One Block High End empowers enterprise innovation — delivering blazing performance, scalable resilience and secure, sustainable data lifecycle management for AI-driven outcomes — without disruptive hardware upgrades. You will also learn how Brocade continues to drive the Fibre Channel SAN industry with the introduction of the Brocade Gen 8 SAN (Storage Area Network). Gen 8 is Brocade's latest generation of high-performance Fibre Channel networking, featuring 128GFC speeds, built-in AI for autonomous management (SAN Fabric Intelligence), and quantum-safe encryption, designed for modern AI, mission-critical, and secure data centers by offering extreme speed, advanced automation, and robust future-proofing against cyber threats. Please join us for an enjoyable and delectable introduction to these great new products from your key mainframe NextGen Partners!
- Room: Salon 16
Rocket Software
- Title: How To Navigate Evolving Regulations and Their Impact on Critical Systems
- Speakers: Barbara Ballard
- Abstract: As cybersecurity mandates and regulations continue to evolve, security and IT teams face a crucial mission: protecting critical systems like the mainframe, IBM i and others while meeting the rigorous demands of regulations like PCI DSS and New York State’s 23 NYCRR Part 500. In this session, we'll explore insights on addressing the unique challenges of critical system security within the framework of the various cybersecurity regulations you face today. The session will highlight key requirements, explain why critical systems must be a central focus, and explore the tangible costs of non-compliance. From MFA to vulnerability management and penetration testing, attendees will gain actionable insights to help take immediate steps toward compliance. Learn: -How to ensure defense in depth on your mainframe and other host systems with complete MFA -How to align critical system security, like mainframe and IBM i, with regulatory requirements Phased approaches to minimize disruption and meet regulatory needs Don’t miss this opportunity to gain clarity, reduce noise, and take control of your critical system security strategy.
- Room: Salon 15
Software AG
- Title: Mainframe Smarter: Reclaim Capacity, Unlock Data, and Innovate in Place
- Speakers: Robert Jeffcott
- Abstract: Modern enterprises face a dual challenge: maximizing efficiency while connecting critical mainframe data to cutting-edge AI and real-time applications. This session presents a two-pronged strategy to transform your existing infrastructure into a high-performance engine for innovation, without the risk or challenges of migration. Optimize COBOL Workloads Discover how to immediately free up general processor (GP) capacity by redistributing high-utilization workloads to the IBM z Integrated Information Processor (zIIP) by compiling COBOL source code into Java bytecode—without changing a line of code. You'll learn: How to dramatically reduce COBOL workloads running on the GP by up to 80 percent. Why you don’t need to rewrite code, migrate data, or disrupt business continuity to modernize workload processing. How reclaimed capacity provides the foundation for launching new, innovative projects on the secure IBM Z platform you already trust. Stream Mainframe Data. Anywhere, Anytime With resources reclaimed, the focus shifts to data accessibility. We will demonstrate how to bridge the gap between "locked" legacy data and modern systems like AI agents and real-time event streaming. Attendees will learn how to: Maintain data integrity while enabling real-time analytics. Create a secure access layer to feed legacy data directly into AI models and Kafka-based ecosystems. Use newly available processing power to fuel digital transformation initiatives. Join Software AG to learn how to turn your trusted infrastructure into a launchpad for innovation.
- Room: Salon 20
Tuesday, Feb. 24 | Noon - 1 p.m.
Broadcom Mainframe Software
- Title: Survey Says ... Life is Good With Mainframe
- Abstract: Join us for lunch, laughter, and some light-hearted competition with an encore presentation of Mainframe Family Feud! Two teams selected from among our amazing Mainframe community will showcase their quick-thinking talents as they face off for game-show glory. Life is always good when you have the Mainframe ... and bragging rights.
- Room: Junior Ballroom – Level 1
Thursday, Feb. 26 | Noon - 1 p.m.
IBM
- Title: IBM Z Cyber Quest! Role-Playing Game
- Speakers: Bryan Childs
- Abstract: That fictitious Mock-Up Services Enterprises (MUSE) company is back! The MUSE CTO is inviting you to join the staff meeting in reviewing IBM Z's security portfolio. Your participation is highly encouraged; your CTO needs your help in strengthening MUSE's overall security posture. He's even providing a team lunch.
- Room: Salon 17/18
CDW Corporation
- Title: Details to come.
- Speakers: Details to come.
- Abstract: Details to come.
- Room: Salon 19
Stonebranch
- Title: Stonebranch: More Than MFT: From Mainframe to Cloud, Secure, and Modern File Orchestration Made Simple
- Speakers: Huseyin Gomleksizoglu
- Abstract: It’s time to evolve beyond standalone managed file transfer (MFT) solutions. Join us to explore how orchestrated MFT, powered by a service orchestration and automation platform (SOAP), transforms traditional file transfers into intelligent, automated workflows that connect your entire hybrid IT environment — including mainframes. In this session, we’ll showcase how Stonebranch Universal Automation Center unifies secure, event-driven data transfers with full orchestration capabilities across mainframe, on-prem, and cloud platforms. Through a live demonstration, you’ll see how to integrate secure file transfer protocols and eliminate manual handoffs with event-driven automation. Enable real-time, policy-driven data movement that’s fully auditable, compliant, and seamlessly integrated with your enterprise workflows. Whether you’re replacing legacy MFT tools or modernizing your mainframe infrastructure, learn how to move data anywhere and orchestrate everywhere — all from a single, modern platform.
- Room: Salon 16