September 2026 Tech Upload
NEW Digital News
2026 Tech Summit Speaker Lineup Announced — Register Today!
The 2026 NEW Digital Alliance Tech Summit is less than one month away! Join us on Wednesday, September 30, from 1:00–5:00 p.m. at the Best Western Premier Bridgewood Resort Hotel in Neenah for an afternoon focused on:
The Next IT Workforce: How AI Is Reshaping Technology Careers, Teams & Leadership
This year’s summit will explore how AI is changing the work of IT professionals, from the skills and roles that will matter in the future to the real-world challenges organizations are navigating today around adoption, governance, data and organizational readiness.
We’re excited to welcome three technology and workforce leaders who will bring distinct perspectives to the conversation:
🎤 Matt Kirchner | Internationally recognized speaker, author and host of The TechEd Podcast
Matt will kick off the afternoon by exploring how AI is reshaping technology careers, teams and leadership—and what it means for the future of the IT workforce.
🎤 Rusty Zaspel | Director, Business Transformation Office; Faith Technologies Incorporated
Rusty will bring a practical, real-world perspective on how FTI is approaching AI and using emerging technology to transform the way work gets done.
🎤 John Kreul | Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer & Digital Officer; Jewelers Mutual
John will share how Jewelers Mutual is navigating AI adoption, including organizational readiness, governance, data and responsible use.
 Matt Kirchner |
 Rusty Zaspel |
 John Kreul |
The afternoon will also feature a moderated discussion bringing together our regional technology leaders to dig deeper into what organizations are learning as they prepare their people and technology teams for an AI-enabled future.
Registration is FREE, but advance registration is required.
Thank You to Our Tech Summit Sponsors
We are grateful to the organizations helping us bring this event to Northeast Wisconsin’s technology community at no cost to attendees:
| Tech Summit Partner | AI Innovation Sponsor | Supporting Sponsors |
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Sponsorship & Exhibitor Opportunities Still Available
There’s still time to get your organization involved! We have AI Innovation Sponsorships, Supporting Sponsorships and Exhibitor Tables available for organizations looking to connect with technology professionals and leaders from across Northeast Wisconsin.
Sponsorship not the right fit? We are also accepting donations of technology-related door prizes, such as TVs, laptops, tablets, headphones, smart devices and other tech items.
To learn more about sponsorship, exhibiting or donating a door prize, contact us at info@newdigitalalliance.org.
We hope you’ll join us September 30 as we explore what’s next for the IT workforce!
Thank you to our investors.
The NEW Digital Alliance would like to thank the following for their support as Strategic Level investors!
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Upcoming northeast Wisconsin IT events
Sip & Sync Appleton
Wednesday, September 16
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Copper Rock Coffee Company (College Ave location)
Organizer: Women in Technology (WiT)
Campus Sip & Sync
Wednesday, September 16
8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
Reeve Union Coffee House, UW-Oshkosh
Organizer: Women in Technology (WiT)
Sip & Sync Green Bay – After Hours
Thursday, September 17
4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Titletown Tech, Green Bay
Organizer: Women in Technology (WiT)
IT Roundtable: The Next Phase of AI – From Tools to Digital Teammates
Thursday, September 24
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Virtual
Organizer: NEW Digital Alliance
WITforGirls Bites & Bytes: A STEM Adventure
Tuesday, September 29
5 – 7 p.m.
Schreiber Foods, Green Bay
Organizer: Women in Technology (WiT)
2026 Tech Summit: The Next IT Workforce
Wednesday, September 30
1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Best Western Premier Bridgewood Resort, Neenah, WI
Organizer: NEW Digital Alliance
Early Bird Deadline Approaching for Fox Cities Chamber AI Business Summit
Register by September 4 to Ensure Early Bird Pricing and be Entered to Win Meta AI Glasses
The Fox Cities Chamber is reminding businesses and individuals that early bird pricing for the 2026 AI Business Summit ends September 4. In addition to receiving discounted registration rates, those who register by the early bird deadline will be entered to win a pair of Meta AI Glasses, courtesy of Network Health.
The AI Business Summit will be held Tuesday, November 3, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hilton Paper Valley in Appleton. The event brings the region’s business community together for a full day of insight, innovation and real-world application of artificial intelligence in the workplace.
The AI Business Summit is designed for businesses of all sizes and at all stages of their AI journey. The day-long program will feature engaging keynote presentations, breakout sessions and opportunities to explore practical AI applications, emerging trends and real-world case studies shaping the future of business.
Returning keynote speaker Rebecca Ryan, APF, FRSA – Futurist, will kick off the event. A nationally recognized futurist, economist, best-selling author and entrepreneur, Ryan is a noted top 50 professional futurist and the founder of NEXT Generation Consulting. She partners with government leaders across the country to look a generation ahead and develop strategies in areas including urban planning, economic development and workforce development.
Ryan’s forward-looking perspective will challenge participants to think differently about AI, leadership and what’s next for their businesses and communities.
Early bird registration rates through September 4 are:
- Early Bird Member Ticket: $175
- Early Bird Non-Member Ticket: $195
Everyone who registers during the early bird period will be entered to win a pair of Meta AI Glasses, courtesy of Network Health.
Team discounts are also available. Organizations purchasing six or more tickets can save $20 per ticket.
For more information about the AI Business Summit, breakout session speakers, detailed pricing information and vendor and sponsorship opportunities, visit https://members.foxcc.net/chamber-events/Details/2026-ai-business-summit-1553598?sourceTypeId=Website.
Labor Market Insights: August 2026
This month’s headline that the U.S. lost 23,000 jobs is certainly attention-grabbing. And it may prove significant, but not necessarily yet.
We know labor market data moves in cycles, and one month’s headline isn’t enough to establish a trend. YTD job growth has been largely healthy, so rather than overreact to a single data point without a clear trend line, I’d like to focus on two other headlines making the rounds that I believe could be misleading.
Network Security in the Age of AI
EDCi is hosting an in-person Network, Security, and AI conference on November 10 in Neenah, Wisconsin. The event is free to attend.
Network Security in the Age of AI brings together technology and business leaders for an afternoon of practical insights, real-world strategies, and meaningful connections. Hear from local IT leaders, security experts, and organizations putting AI into action with a focus on the evolving world of AI and security.
Attendees will enjoy an inspiring keynote, an expert customer panel featuring Endries, WSI, and Washington County – plus interactive breakout sessions led by industry leaders and partners. Explore new ideas, learn what’s working, and leave with actionable takeaways for what’s next.
Other IT News
How are tech jobs faring in the hiring market?
(Photo cred: Dice)
By Dice Staf
Dice
The August 2026 Dice Tech Jobs Report found that U.S. tech job postings fell 10% from June to July but remained 10% higher than a year earlier. More strikingly, AI-related skill requirements appeared in 79% of U.S. tech job postings in July. Separately, CompTIA’s analysis of federal jobs data found that tech-sector employment actually increased by 3,700 jobs in July even as the broader U.S. labor market contracted. This would fit really nicely with the theme of your upcoming Tech Summit because it gets at the question of whether AI is eliminating IT jobs or reshaping the skills attached to them.
‘Spooky’ Particles Transit DC Suburbs, a Step Toward a Quantum Network
(Credit: Megan King/NIST)
By National Institute of Standards & Technology
This one is just plain interesting. Researchers from NIST and their collaborators successfully transmitted entangled photons across 62 kilometers (38.5 miles) of commercial fiber between NIST’s Gaithersburg campus and the University of Maryland. The experiment demonstrated that fragile quantum entanglement can survive over existing telecommunications infrastructure under real-world conditions, a meaningful step toward future quantum networks that could eventually support quantum computing, scientific applications and highly secure communications.
Cloud infrastructure spending just hit an eight-year high
(Image credit: Getty Images)
By Ross Kelly
IT Pro
Global spending on cloud infrastructure services reached $143 billion in Q2 2026, up 43% year over year and representing the fastest growth rate in eight years, according to Synergy Research data. AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud together now account for roughly two-thirds of the market. AI is certainly helping fuel the growth, but the larger story is how rapidly enterprise computing continues shifting toward cloud infrastructure and how much money organizations are pouring into the capacity required for the next generation of workloads.
Personal Information Exposed in Apollo Global Data Breach
(Photo cred: Security Week)
By Security Week
A recent wave of attacks against major U.S. financial firms is a good reminder that cybersecurity doesn’t always come down to advanced exploits. Hackers have been using phone calls and credential-stealing sites to trick employees into providing access. Private equity giant Apollo Global Management disclosed that a social engineering attack allowed hackers to gain access to some of its cloud platforms, exposing personal information including names, contact information and Social Security numbers. The attack appears connected to a broader campaign using IT helpdesk-themed voice phishing (vishing) to target organizations in financial and professional services.