Winter Convention Agenda

► Saturday, Jan. 14:

  • 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: OPASTCO Board of Directors Meeting
  • 6:00 p.m.: Past Presidents/Chairmen Dinner

► Sunday, Jan. 15:

  • 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: FRED Board of Directors Meeting
  • OPASTCO Committee Meetings:
    • 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Technical (Fantasia C&D)
    • 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Regulatory Policy (Fantasia E&F)
  • 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.: Welcome Reception
    • Start your OPASTCO convention with fireworkes by joining fellow attendees for the Welcome Reception.  Enjoy food, friends, and Walt Disney World's famous nightly fireworks display.
  • 8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.: JSI's 50th Anniversary Celebration
    • Join John Staurulakis, Inc. immediately following the Welcome Reception, and raise a toast to JSI's 50th anniversary!  All convention attendees and their guests are invited to attend, and the celebration will be held in the same venue as the Welcome Reception.

► Monday, Jan. 16:

  • 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.: General Breakfast
  • 8:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.: General Session
    • Welcome: John Rose, OPASTCO
    • Chairman's Address: Ron Laudner, OmniTel Communications
    • Guest Speaker: Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.)
      Save Rural Broadband Campaign
      • With more than 30 years on Capitol Hill and raised in a town of 300, this champion of rural America will share his perspective on what OPASTCO members need to do to sustain and grow their broadband networks.
    • Keynote Speaker: Dr. James H. Johnson, Jr.
      University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
      "Disruptive Demographics in the Telecommunications Industry"
      • Change is coming!  Come hear how change in demographics, such as population growth, ethnic diversity and cultural trends will affect your company, and learn strategies on how to evolve with these trends to keep your company thriving.
    • Wrap-Up
  • 9:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.: Coffee Break
  • 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.: Town Hall Meeting
    • Mike Osborne, OPASTCO; Sandy Vandevender, NTCA
  • 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Breakout Sessions
    • Transitioning Your Telco to a Competitive Culture
      Coordinated by the OPASTCO Marketing/PR Committee
      Moderator: Scott Meyer, Innovative Systems
      Panelists: Ed Cushing, Ketchikan Public Utilities Telecommunications; Ron Strecker, Panhandle Telephone Cooperative, Inc.
    • Tomorrowland Operations for ILECs and CLECs
      Chuck Flournoy, Mapcom Systems; John Granger, Mapcom Systems; David McCartney, Peninsula Fiber Network, LLC; Tony Stout, Palmetto Rural Telephone Cooperative, Inc.; Ray Cantrell, Ben Lomand Communications
    • ILEC Survival in the Age of VoIP
      David George, Jayson Jones and Tim Hausman, Ironton Telephone Company
    • A Strong Smart Grid Needs Communications
      Robert Bengel, NISC; David Bonnett, NISC
    • Legislative and Regulatory Policy Updates
      Randy Tyree and Stuart Polikoff, OPASTCO
  • 2:00 p.m.: OPASTCO Committee Meetings:
    • Marketing/PR (Fantasia C&D)
    • Business Development (Fantasia E&F)
    • Wireless (Fantasia B)
  • 4:00 p.m.: FRED Event

► Tuesday, Jan. 17:

  • 8:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.: Annual Meeting Breakfast and General Session
    • Presentation of Proposed 2012 Board of Directors; Vote on Bylaws
    • Sponsor Recognition
    • FRED Presentation
    • Grassroots Advocacy Excellence Award
    • Innovations Showcase Recognition
    • Guest Speaker: "A Disney Legacy: Keep Moving Forward"
      Presented by the Disney Institute
      Sponsored by FRED
      • Walt Disney is considered to be one of the most significant creative forces of the 20th century.  From artist and filmmaker to visionary leader, discover how Walt Disney and his drive to keep moving forward transformed the entertainment industry and inspired today's leaders.
  • 9:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.: Coffee Break
  • 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.: Town Hall Meeting
    • Mike Osborne, OPASTCO; Sandy Vandevender, NTCA
  • 12:00 p.m.: Buses Depart for Golf Tournament
  • 1:00 p.m.: Golf Tournament at Disney's Magnolia Golf Course

► Wednesday, Jan. 18

  • 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.: General Breakfast
  • 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.: Final General Session
    • Welcome
    • Guest Speaker: "Change Leadership"
      Presented by the Disney Institute
      • The reasons for leading a change effort in an organization are typically very simple: we want to do it, we need to do it, or we have to do it.  Creating a positive, lasting change is not always as easy.  Come hear valuable insights on when and why an organization should change and the role of the leader in shaping a positive, sustainable change.
    • Guest Speaker: FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn
    • Presentation of the 2012 Board of Directors
    • Passing of the Gavel
    • Leadership Address: Mike Osborne, Ace Communications Group
      Incoming Chairman of the Board
    • Wrap-Up
  • 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Breakout Sessions
    • New Product Development: Business Cases and Planning
      Moderator: Russ Ramsey, Toledo Telephone Company, Inc.
      Presenters: George Henny, Whidbey Telecom; Rob Riordan, Nsight
    • BTOP Networks: Alliance Opportunities for OPASTCO Members
      Moderators: Laura Dodson, NTIA; William Maguire, NTIA
      Panelists: Tim Berelsman, ComNet; Tad Deriso, Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative; Paul Ludwick, Nebraskalink
    • Making Change Happen: What You Need to Know About Leading People Through Tough Times
      Derrick Nielsen, Allen, Gibbs & Houlik, LC
    • USF: "A Whole New World" - An Aladdin Tale
      Coordinated by the OPASTCO Associate Member Committee
      Panelists: Paul Dauby, Mid-State Consultants, Inc.; Tory Richtmeyer, Mid-State Consultants, Inc.; Steve Meltzer, JSI; Steve Gleave, Metaswitch; Douglas Wenzlaff, Solarus
    • Call Termination: Seeking Solutions
      Moderator: Bob Gnapp, NECA; Panelists: Mary Retka, CenturyLink; David Lewis, ANPI; Brian Benison, AT&T Services, Inc.; Penn Pfautz, AT&T
  • 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.: Speaker Luncheon
    • "The Future of Your Business and the FCC Impacts"
      Moderator: Larry Thompson, Vantage Point
      Panelists: Bob DeBroux, TDS; Manny Staurulakis, JSI; John Rose, OPASTCO; Mark Gailey, Totah Communications
  • 2:30 p.m.: OPASTCO Committee Meetings:
    • Legislative Policy (Fantasia E&F)
    • Associate Member (Fantasia C&D)
    • Membership (Fantasia B)
  • 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.: Chairman's Reception
  • 7:00 p.m.: Closing Banquet - A Lion King Evening
    • Join fellow OPASTCO members for an evening spent in true Disney fashion.  This year's entertainment will feature an extravagant performance from the Disney classic, A Lion King!  You won't want to miss it!