TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026

Agenda

Click Here for a Full Conference Agenda PDF

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026 - PRE-CONFERENCE

2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Hands-on Marketing Workshop

Join marketing experts from the Fiber Broadband Association's Marketing Committee for a small-group workshop on marketing tactics that have delivered results. We'll dig into stakeholder engagement, paid media, promotional tactics, and effective communications. You’ll leave with a plan to grow your footprint, increase take rate, and improve subscriber retention.
Click HERE to RSVP
View Workshop Agenda

Location: Harborview Room, 15th Floor

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Member Meetup

Networking with Fiber Broadband Association as we prepare to kick off the full conference.

Location: Pulaski Room, 1st Floor

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Co-Mixer

Hosted by FBA’s Women in Fiber Committee – This event is open to all. Cash bar available.

Location: Proof and Provisions' Library, 1st Floor

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026 - MAIN CONFERENCE

7:15 AM

Registration Opens

7:15 AM - 8:00 AM

Networking Breakfast with Exhibitors

8:00 AM - 8:05 AM

Welcome & Introduction

Patrick Mulhearn, Director, Government Affairs, Ripple Fiber

8:05 AM - 8:20 AM

Fiber Broadband: The Future that Fiber Enables

Gary Bolton, President & CEO, Fiber Broadband Association

8:20 AM - 8:25 AM

Platinum Sponsor Welcome & Introductions

Amanda Halvorson, Senior Director Business Development, Adtran

8:25 AM - 9:05 AM

A Case In Point: LiveOak Fiber - Your Local Provider

Steve Smith, Founder & Chief Community Development Officer, LiveOak Fiber

Ryan Moore, President & CEO, Golden Isles Development Authority
Danny Smith, Assistant Manager, Glynn County
Nick Palumbo, Executive Director, Startup Savannah
Mark Metcalf, Founder & President, Teton Telecom
Bert Brantley, President & CEO, Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce

9:05 AM - 9:30 AM

Fireside Chat: Permit Me to Move Rural Broadband Forward

U.S. Congressman Buddy Carter with Tinae Bluitt, Public Policy Manager, FBA

9:30 AM

Breakfast Sponsor Remarks

Brendan O’Bolye, National Sales Manager, Communications Markets, PLP.com

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Fireside Chat: Broadband’s Low Country Boil

Sarah Baska, Director of Georgia’s State Broadband Office, Georgia Technology Authority, and Jim Stritzinger, Jr., Director, South Carolina Broadband Office, South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff, with Lukas Pietrzak, Interim Head of Public Policy, FBA

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

Networking Break with Exhibitors

10:45 AM

Networking Break Sponsor Remarks

Greg Glass, Vice President, Sales, AEX, Inc.

10:45 AM - 10:50 AM

AARP OATS Senior Center and FBA Program

Ashley Travers, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, KGPCo

10:50 AM - 11:20 AM

Fireside Chat: Telling the Story with Data: Turning Subscriber Insights into Action

Susan Shiflett, Director, Global Integrated Marketing, TiVo and Amanda Sosne, Head of Business Intelligence & Analytics, gFiber

11:20 AM - 11:50 AM

AI and the Marketing Paradigm: Where, When, and How

Amanda Halvorson, Senior Director Business Development, Adtran

Joe Baeumel, Vice President, Business Development & Partner Strategy, KGPCo.
Stephanie Foulds, Vice President of Marketing, Fibernow
Amber Rodriguez, Senior Director of Marketing, Surf Internet

11:50 AM - 12:30 PM

Networking Lunch

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM

Networking Dessert with Exhibitors

1:00 PM

Lunch Sponsor Remarks

Scott Jackson, National Market Manager, Graybar

1:00 PM - 1:40 PM

Customer Experience Marketing: Marketing Beyond Speeds

Shapur Izadiyar, Manager, Industry Associations & Private Capital, Calix

Kimberly Biddy, Manager of Social, Digital, and Traditional Media, EPB
Kim Smithers, CMO, IQ Fiber
Dustin Schlaefli, Vice President of Customer Experience, Nex-Tech
Michelle Harvey, Vice President of Marketing, TruVista Fiber

1:40 PM - 1:45 PM

Membership Update and Introductions

Jennifer Vassil, Vice President of Membership, FBA

1:45 PM - 2:25 PM

Deployment Challenges and Realities: Go-to-Market Don’ts to Avoid Marketing Headaches

Brendan O’Boyle, National Sales Manager – Communications Market & FBA Board

Walt Donovan, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, DYCOM
Derek Kelly, VP, Market Development, Lumos Fiber

2:25 PM

Networking Reception Sponsor Remarks

Thomas Sullivan, Vice President of Partnerships, Actifai

2:30 PM - 2:50 PM

Sip & Stretch Coffee and Snack Break

2:50 PM - 2:55 PM

FBA OpTIC Path™ Program: Developing that Workforce Needed

Laura Hartman, Workforce Development Program Manager, FBA

2:55 PM - 3:30 PM

Whole Community Marketing: Residential, Business, and Municipal GTM

Patrick Mulhearn, Director, Government Affairs, Ripple Fiber

Lisa Santelli, Director, Marketing, Communications & Channel Support, TWN Communications
James Nester, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Director of Client Advocacy, MCNC
Jill Marx, Marketing and Communications Manager, Fort Collins Connexion

3:30 PM

Closing Remarks

Patrick Mulhearn, Director of Government Relations, Ripple Fiber

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Networking Reception with Expo Hall

Registration Rates & Sponsor/Exhibitor Opportunities

Registration Rates

Attendee Type

Member

Non-Member

Network Operators

$99

$199

Public Officials

$99

Vendors & Suppliers

$249

$349

Professional Services

$149

$249

Non-Profits

$99

Academic/Education

N/A

$99

Enterprise/Commercial

N/A

$359

Sponsors/Exhibitors

Contact Us

Lucy Green

[email protected] | 714-768-1606

NEED ASSISTANCE?

SPONSOR/EXHIBITOR:
Already sponsoring or exhibiting? Contact our Expo Services Team at [email protected] or call +1.202.624.1759
For inquiries about sponsor or exhibitor opportunities, contact Lucy Green at [email protected] or call +1.714.768.1606
REGISTRATION:
Contact us at [email protected] or +1.202.624.1756
Open weekdays, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm ET, excluding holidays.
MEMBERSHIP:
Contact us at [email protected]

Ready to join us in Savannah?

Hotel Details

DeSoto Hotel

Address: 15 East Liberty Street, Savannah, GA 31401
Phone: 866-810-5325
Check-in/out time: 4:00 pm / 11:00 am

Hotel Room Discounted Group Room Rate: $239/night plus $5.00 State Occupancy Fee, $1.00 city fee & 15% taxes
Hotel Cut-off date: Monday, October 5th at 11:59 pm ET or when the block sells out, whichever comes first.
Booking Link: Reserve Your Room

Thank You to Our Sponsors & Exhibitors