diff --git a/assets/events/2026-atlanta/speakers/anil-pantangi.png b/assets/events/2026-atlanta/speakers/anil-pantangi.png deleted file mode 100644 index 80363609cea..00000000000 Binary files a/assets/events/2026-atlanta/speakers/anil-pantangi.png and /dev/null differ diff --git a/assets/events/2026-atlanta/speakers/kimasia-ayers.png b/assets/events/2026-atlanta/speakers/kimasia-ayers.png deleted file mode 100644 index 21a77ad4f3e..00000000000 Binary files a/assets/events/2026-atlanta/speakers/kimasia-ayers.png and /dev/null differ diff --git a/assets/events/2026-atlanta/speakers/mykel-alvis.png b/assets/events/2026-atlanta/speakers/mykel-alvis.png new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..a79a1d78e28 Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/events/2026-atlanta/speakers/mykel-alvis.png differ diff --git a/assets/sponsors/r/refactrtech.png b/assets/sponsors/r/refactrtech.png index 1f9eddb0ad4..486f112a16d 100644 Binary files a/assets/sponsors/r/refactrtech.png and b/assets/sponsors/r/refactrtech.png differ diff --git a/content/events/2026-atlanta/program/anil-pantangi.md b/content/events/2026-atlanta/program/anil-pantangi.md deleted file mode 100644 index 2d5ca236c0f..00000000000 --- a/content/events/2026-atlanta/program/anil-pantangi.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,25 +0,0 @@ -+++ -Talk_date = "" -Talk_start_time = "" -Talk_end_time = "" -Title = "Streamlining AI Native Product Evals: LLM as Judge, Human in the Loop, and Reliable Agent Testing" -Type = "talk" -Speakers = ["anil-pantangi"] -+++ - -Enterprises deploying AI components need more than metrics. They need reliable -systems that developers can trust and iterate on quickly. In this talk, I will -share how to design product evaluation pipelines tailored for AI native -development workflows. We will explore how to utilize LLM as a judgment -technique, combined with human-in-the-loop feedback, to assess and refine -generated outputs in a manner that is both repeatable and efficient for -engineering teams. - -The session will cover how to transform evaluation into a developer-first -workflow, including patterns for parallel evaluation runs, reliability -tracking, and regression alerts. We will also discuss how to maintain -compliance and audibility in industries where trust and oversight are crucial. - -As a forward look, I will share how these evaluation practices build the -foundation for agentic systems that improve themselves and how they prepare -teams for future advancements and demanding customer needs. diff --git a/content/events/2026-atlanta/program/john-willis.md b/content/events/2026-atlanta/program/john-willis.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..d2b18b32261 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/events/2026-atlanta/program/john-willis.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ ++++ +Talk_date = "" +Talk_start_time = "" +Talk_end_time = "" +Title = "Schrödinger's cat, Quantum Computers, and why Observation gets Weird" +Type = "talk" +Speakers = ["john-willis"] ++++ + +Observability in the age of quantum computing. diff --git a/content/events/2026-atlanta/program/kimasia-ayers.md b/content/events/2026-atlanta/program/kimasia-ayers.md deleted file mode 100644 index 5c48c3c763d..00000000000 --- a/content/events/2026-atlanta/program/kimasia-ayers.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,55 +0,0 @@ -+++ -Talk_date = "" -Talk_start_time = "" -Talk_end_time = "" -Title = "Storytelling as a Strategic Tool in Tech Leadership" -Type = "talk" -Speakers = ["kimasia-ayers"] -+++ - -In today’s technology-driven world, innovation alone is not enough. The ability -to inspire, align, and mobilize teams, stakeholders, and entire ecosystems -often hinges on one thing: the story you tell. Storytelling is no longer a soft -skill, it is a strategic leadership tool that shapes perception, influences -decision-making, and drives adoption across products, processes, and projects. -Leaders who harness the power of narrative can translate complex ideas into -shared vision, turn data into action, and build cultures that thrive on -clarity, trust, and purpose - -This session explores how storytelling functions at the intersection of human -behavior, organizational dynamics, and technological innovation. Participants -will engage with frameworks such as the Axis of Assimilation, which uncovers -how social expectations shape organizational behavior; Spiderweb Theory, which -maps influence, power, and information flow within networks; and Social Capital -Theory, which highlights how relationships amplify messages and drive -organizational outcomes. Through real-world examples from product launches, -cross-functional projects, and global initiatives, attendees will learn how to -craft narratives that resonate with diverse audiences, bridge silos, and -accelerate impact. - -Beyond communication, storytelling becomes a lever for leadership: it shapes -culture, establishes credibility, and drives collective action. Participants -will leave with actionable strategies to articulate vision, influence decisions -at all levels, and embed narrative into leadership practices that guide product -strategy, team alignment, and stakeholder engagement. By mastering -storytelling, leaders can transform abstract concepts into actionable insight, -foster inclusive environments, and inspire innovation that resonates across -markets and communities. - -Key Takeaways -1. Narrative as Influence: Understand how strategic storytelling guides - decision-making, aligns teams, and drives adoption of initiatives and - innovations. -2. Map and Leverage Networks: Apply Spiderweb Theory and Social Capital Theory - to identify key stakeholders, influence information flow, and amplify - impact. -3. Lead Through Insight: Use the Axis of Assimilation to craft narratives that - navigate social and organizational dynamics, building trust, clarity, and - cohesion. - -By the end of this session, participants will be equipped to elevate -storytelling from communication tool to leadership instrument. They will leave -ready to influence projects, products, and processes, align diverse teams -around vision and strategy, and embed narrative into the core of tech -leadership, creating environments where innovation, engagement, and impact -flourish. diff --git a/content/events/2026-atlanta/program/mykel-alvis.md b/content/events/2026-atlanta/program/mykel-alvis.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..89b06a3fea4 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/events/2026-atlanta/program/mykel-alvis.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ ++++ +Talk_date = "" +Talk_start_time = "" +Talk_end_time = "" +Title = "Misadventures in Tactical Thinking" +Type = "talk" +Speakers = ["mykel-alvis"] ++++ + +The difference between doing something right and doing something right now. diff --git a/content/events/2026-atlanta/program/panel.md b/content/events/2026-atlanta/program/panel.md index b79e590bbbe..0eb904c9a7d 100644 --- a/content/events/2026-atlanta/program/panel.md +++ b/content/events/2026-atlanta/program/panel.md @@ -4,10 +4,10 @@ Talk_start_time = "" Talk_end_time = "" Title = "Living and Working in Real Life" Type = "talk" -Speakers = ["dave-snowden", "kimasia-ayers", "eb-ikonne", "john-willis"] +Speakers = ["dave-snowden", "eb-ikonne", "mandi-walls", "john-willis"] +++ -Join Dave Snowden, Eb Ikonne, Kimasia Ayers, and John Willis for a panel +Join Dave Snowden, Eb Ikonne, Mandi Walls and John Willis for a panel discussion with Q&A from attendees on how society is rebooting in the wake of AI, how this impacts the next generation of upcoming technologists, and what steps need to be taken to ensure our industries are adequately preserving diff --git a/content/events/2026-atlanta/speakers/anil-pantangi.md b/content/events/2026-atlanta/speakers/anil-pantangi.md deleted file mode 100644 index 23081c95c2e..00000000000 --- a/content/events/2026-atlanta/speakers/anil-pantangi.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,27 +0,0 @@ -+++ -Title = "Anil Pantangi" -Website = "https://aifn.co/profile/anil-pantangi" -linkedin = "https://www.linkedin.com/in/anilkpantangi/" -image = "anil-pantangi.png" -type = "speaker" -linktitle = "anil-pantangi" - -+++ - -Anil is an award-winning senior product, tech, and AI leader with over 15 years -of experience managing large-scale enterprise platforms and consumer-grade -products. He has a proven track record in leading high-performing teams through -strategy, development, and change management. - -Anil specializes in AI/ML initiatives, including conversational search, -recommendation systems, and Generative AI, delivering significant business -impact across various industries. His industry expertise spans telecom, media, -education technology, and HR. - -Professionally, Anil has held key roles at Amazon and Capgemini, driving -AI-powered solutions, improving product adoption, and enhancing customer -satisfaction. His AI/ML product strategy leadership has led to notable -achievements in marketing, sales, and customer care platforms. - -Anil is an official Forbes Technology Council member. He has been honored with -several prestigious awards, including recently the top AI 75 leader. diff --git a/content/events/2026-atlanta/speakers/kimasia-ayers.md b/content/events/2026-atlanta/speakers/kimasia-ayers.md deleted file mode 100644 index 7d5ab9cc4cb..00000000000 --- a/content/events/2026-atlanta/speakers/kimasia-ayers.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,29 +0,0 @@ -+++ -Title = "Kimasia Ayers" -linkedin = "https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimasiaayers/" -image = "kimasia-ayers.png" -type = "speaker" -linktitle = "kimasia-ayers" - -+++ - -Born in Orlando, FL, Kimasia Ayers is a multidisciplinary creative, -sociologist, and entrepreneur who has forged her own path by merging sociology, -creativity, innovation, and technology to empower communities. She founded The -Ultimate Muse, a creative consulting and production company that strengthens -brands through strategic market research, innovative marketing, and -transformative storytelling. - -In her free time, Kimasia hosts Kim'z Corner: Humanizing the Creative -Experience, a podcast amplifying the voices of those navigating the realities -of innovation, social change, creativity, and emerging technology. Through -interviews, professional panels, and community events, she fosters -conversations highlighting how creativity can drive social change and lay the -groundwork for future innovation. - -With over seven years of experience, Kimasia blends technology, sociology, and -creativity to foster innovation within underrepresented communities. Her work, -including coining several terms and a theory in sociology, exploring how -post-traumatic slave syndrome affects Black-owned businesses, and uncovering -how social perceptions of "text" reveal systemic implicit bias, continues to -influence the creative tech space and inspire impactful change. diff --git a/content/events/2026-atlanta/speakers/mykel-alvis.md b/content/events/2026-atlanta/speakers/mykel-alvis.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..8d9da36bbf6 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/events/2026-atlanta/speakers/mykel-alvis.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ ++++ +Title = "Mykel Alvis" +linkedin = "https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelalvis/" +image = "mykel-alvis.png" +type = "speaker" +linktitle = "mykel-alvis" + ++++ + +Mykel Alvis has over four decades of working in software development to arrive +at the hot mess that he is today. His career has covered essentially every +phase of the software delivery lifecycle, including support, operations, +testing, architecture and management. Mykel also organized for DevOpsDays +Birmingham. diff --git a/data/events/2026/atlanta/main.yml b/data/events/2026/atlanta/main.yml index 4569ed8e514..e3b7cd6b829 100644 --- a/data/events/2026/atlanta/main.yml +++ b/data/events/2026/atlanta/main.yml @@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ program: date: 2026-04-21 start_time: "10:50" end_time: "10:55" - - title: "kimasia-ayers" + - title: "mandi-walls" type: talk date: 2026-04-21 start_time: "10:55" @@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ program: date: 2026-04-22 start_time: "11:10" end_time: "11:20" - - title: "mandi-walls" + - title: "john-willis" type: talk date: 2026-04-22 start_time: "11:20" @@ -390,11 +390,11 @@ ignites: date: 2026-04-22 - title: "hajira-sultana" date: 2026-04-22 - - title: "anil-pantangi" - date: 2026-04-22 - title: "danny-castro" date: 2026-04-22 - title: "vadim-uchitel" date: 2026-04-22 - title: "jeff-diecks" date: 2026-04-22 + - title: "mykel-alvis" + date: 2026-04-22