Agenda

SUNDAY

3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. 
REGISTRATION 

5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. 
Welcome Reception 

MONDAY

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast

8:30 a.m. – Noon 
General Session

Opening Keynote: Dare to Matter 
Pete Smith, Speaker, Coach and Author 
Significant people create significant results. The keys to maximizing contributions, igniting inspiration, and boosting culture, morale and performance exist not just alongside a burning desire to achieve individual and organizational success and happiness. Rather, they are evident when we willingly choose to pursue a challenging, unpredictable and unapologetic life of significance.  

10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. 
Break 

10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 
Thriving Rural Communities
Angie Dickison, Broadband Development Manager, State of Minnesota (Bloomington)
Patrick Woodie, President, NC Rural Center (Savannah) 
Economic development is a hot topic for leaders in rural areas and telco directors can play a unique role in supporting and encouraging these efforts. Hear about success stories from rural communities and how you can work with others in your community to find your own unique successes. 

11:00 a.m. – Noon 

Cybersecurity: At Home and in the Board Room 
Jake Anderson, President of Business Solutions, BEVCOMM 
Have you been hacked? Would you even know? In this low-tech session, see how phishing, vishing and impersonation breaches can wreak havoc on your company and personal information. Learn how to protect yourself and see real, first-hand examples of how these attacks are planned and executed. 

Noon – 1:30 p.m. 
Lunch on Your Own 

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. 
Roundtables 
Gather with peers from similar-sized companies to discuss the topics that matter most. Share your stories and learn from others how telco boards across the country tackle common issues.  

2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. 
Break Out Sessions

Starting Points 
The Basics of Board Duties
Mark Marion, Director of Training and Development, NTCA
Whether you are a new board member or in need of a refresher, this session details the successful practices of exceptional board members.  

Charting Your Path 
Better Board Meetings 
Todd Thorson, Partner, BKD 
From key reports to delivery methods and internal controls, hear how you can improve the effectiveness and decrease the length of your regular board meetings. 

Future Destinations 
What Every Board Should Know About Business Combinations
Judi Ushio, Midwest Division Manager, GVNW Consulting 
The industry has seen a recent increase in merger and acquisition activity, and there is no indication of that trend slowing down. Learn about the board’s role in these discussions and the questions you should ask to exercise your duty of care. 

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 
Breakout Sessions Repeat 

5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. 
Networking Reception 

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. 
NTCA Rural Broadband PAC Event 

TUESDAY

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. 
Continental Breakfast  

8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. 
Director Town Hall 
NTCA wants to hear from you. Let us know how the association can better meet the needs of your company and get information from NTCA staff about making the most of your membership. 

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. 
Break Out Sessions

Starting Points 
Modern Telecom 101
Bree Conrardy, Engineering Staff, Vantage Point (Bloomington)
Brad Penney, Engineering Staff, Vantage Point (Savannah)
This high-level look at the technology that drives modern telecommunications will leave you with a better understanding of current challenges and opportunities for network growth.

Charting Your Path 
A Necessary Look at Board Policies 
Daniel Gibson, Partner, Richards, Elder & Gibson
Whether your board currently doesn’t have any formal policies in place, or the policies haven’t been updated or utilized in the recent past, this session provides a path to get governance back on track. 

Future Destinations 
Strategy: By Thought and Plan 
Mark Marion, Director of Training and Development, NTCA
Exceptional boards engage in strategic thinking constantly, and periodically they pursue strategic planning to formally capture those thoughts and provide direction to the company. Learn how to make your approach to strategic governance exceptional. 

10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. 
Breakout Sessions Repeat 

Noon – 1:15 p.m. 
Group Luncheon and Awards 

1:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. 
Closing General Session 

1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. 
Successful Succession 
Dennis Renowski, Member Relations Manager, NTCA (Bloomington)
Jennifer Jushchuk, VP of Technology, Talent and Culture, NTCA (Savannah)
When it comes to planning for future transitions, board members usually think only about the general manager position, but what role do directors play in ensuring planning for transition in board positions and key operational staff? These tips will keep you on track with succession planning at all levels.

2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. 
Understanding the New Competitive Landscape 
Jeff Johnston, Lead Communications Economist, Knowledge Exchange, CoBank
Especially for long-serving directors, the telecom business sure isn’t what it used to be. This update on the current and evolving business landscape will help you better understand where the competition is headed.  

2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 
Break

3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. 
Regulatory and Policy Update for Directors 
Mike Romano, Sr. VP of Industry Affairs and Business Development, NTCA
Tammie Logan, Director of Government Affairs, NTCA (Bloomington)
Michael Daniels, Director of Government Affairs, NTCA (Savannah)
NTCA provides a report from the FCC and the Hill to keep you up-to-date with the latest in Washington developments. 

3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. 

Toward Next Level Governance: Moving from Foundations to Strategic Impact 
Leslie Watson, Consultant and Member-Owner, Columinate 
Joshua Youngblood, Research and Outreach Services Librarian, University of Arkansas 
This interactive, energetic presentation will explore the type of impact possible when a board governs effectively. From asking why an organization needs a board in the first place to finding a deeper sense of purpose in your board service, you will leave with a new perspective on the lasting impact you can have on your company and community. 

WEDNESDAY

Post-conference session  requires advance registration for an additional fee. 

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. 
Continental Breakfast  
(For post-conference workshop attendees)  

8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. 

Post-Conference Session: Bringing It All Home  
Lead by: Leslie Watson, Consultant and Member-Owner, Columinate 
Joshua Youngblood, Research and Outreach Services Librarian, University of Arkansas 

You’ve just spent two days talking about new ideas and learning successful practices in governance.  Now, it’s time to work with your fellow board members and create an action plan to implement your takeaways. Whether you have two directors attending or eleven, the symposium facilitators will guide your group through focused discussions and activities.  

Starting with a self-evaluation exercise and culminating with a list of priorities, action plans and timelines, each board member will leave with a roadmap for future meeting agendas. This is a great opportunity to customize your learning experience and maximize the value of your conference attendance.