Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 6:30 am to 1:30 pm

Gaylord Springs Golf Course

Golf Tournament

Gaylord Springs Golf Course

Advanced reservations required. Please contact Deven Plant at dplant@thechannelcompany.com if you are interested in golfing.

Sponsored by:

 HP Enterprise/Intel

 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Tennessee Ballroom Foyer

Registration

Registration will be open for both attendees and sponsors.

 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm

Hermitage D

FOR VENDORS ONLY: MES Training for International Sponsors

This training will provide our International Sponsors the best practices for engaging with MES attendees and getting the most ROI from the event.

 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 2:30 pm to 2:50 pm

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Orientation

CIOs and Senior IT Leaders hear tips and tricks from staff and advisory board members to make the most of their time at MES.

Sponsored by:

ShoreTel

 

 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 3:00 pm to 3:30 pm

Tennessee Ballroom

Five Trends Driving Change in the Midmarket

The midmarket is undergoing a phase of rapid growth, investment and productivity. Business leaders of midsize companies are experiencing a high level of confidence which IT leaders can leverage for investment in key projects to continue driving company growth. In this session, attendees will gain an understanding of the major trends shaping the midmarket--one of the least understood segments of today's economy. This session will unveil the myths of the midmarket then dive deeply into the five trends. While we don't want to spoil the surprise some of those trends include the adoption of emerging data center solutions, enablement of the digital workplace and how analytics are improving business and IT operations. Make sure you come to this kick off session to hear the other trends and all the details.

 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 3:30 pm to 4:00 pm

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Executive Keynote: Accelerate Innovation In An Age Of Digital Disruption

Digital transformation is disrupting every industry, driving better customer experiences, new and improved products and services, and more efficient business operations. Learn how HPE is helping customers accelerate value by making hybrid IT simple and exploiting the network’s Intelligent Edge, where the next generation of digital experiences will be created.

 

Sponsored by:

 HP Enterprise/Intel

 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 4:00 pm to 4:05 pm

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Vendor Spotlight Interviews

The industry is changing from minute to minute so why not spend a few precious minutes getting to know some of today’s leading service and technology suppliers. Each company featured in the MES Vendor Spotlight interview, hosted by MES’ SVP Robert DeMarzo, will provide insight into their value proposition and how their solutions can benefit CIOs and senior IT leaders. Some people say you can live a lifetime in a minute. 

 

 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 4:20 pm to 4:50 pm

See Personal Agenda for Locations

MES Boardroom Peer-To-Peer Meet & Greet

The interactive boardrooms are one of the core components of the MES agenda.  This meet and greet session will allow you to better understand how the boardrooms work and how you can get the most value out of them.

 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 4:55 pm to 5:25 pm

See Personal Agenda for Locations

MES Interactive Boardrooms
 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 5:30 pm to 6:15 pm

Tennessee Ballroom Foyer

MES Networking Break
 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 5:30 pm to 6:15 pm

Magnolia Ballroom

MES First-Time Attendee Reception

This invitation only reception is designed for attendees who are brand new to Midsize Enteprrise Summit. 

Sponsored by:

 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 5:30 pm to 6:15 pm Ask-An-Analyst Roundtables (advanced registration required)

Ask an Analyst Roundtables are optional, advanced registration required, due to limited seating.

Ask an Analyst Roundtables are small group sessions, moderated by a Gartner Analyst, focusing on the exchange of ideas and best practices with your peers.  The topics during this time slot with be:

  • Hyperconvergence and Cloud Strategy - Moderated by Mike Cisek, Gartner
  • Budgeting and Cost Optimization - Moderated by Jim McGittigan, Gartner
  • Security - Moderated by Brian Reed, Gartner
  • IaaS and Managed Service Provider - Moderated by Mike Dorosh, Gartner
 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 6:30 pm to 7:15 pm

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Keynote: The Loyalty Switch

In this fascinating and highly entertaining presentation, James Kane takes his audiences on a journey into the human brain, explaining the science behind true loyalty and human relationships. Building on more than 40 years of research, Kane makes the case that human beings have a fundamental need to be loyal and actively seek out specific clues from others that tell them when they can and should be. When organizations or individuals are able to understand and demonstrate those loyalty-building behaviors, they can develop relationships that will last a lifetime and result in unwavering and unlimited support.

 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Water's Edge

MES Welcome Reception

Enjoy food and drinks while networking with vendors and attendees.

Sponsored by:

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 7:00 am to 7:45 am

Delta B

MES Networking Breakfast

Take time to recharge the batteries and enjoy a meal with your fellow CIOs and senior IT leaders. This is time exclusively designed so attendees and technology suppliers can have private conversations, compare notes and build new relationships.  

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 7:00 am to 7:45 am

Magnolia Ballroom

FOR VENDORS ONLY: Vendor Breakfast And Gartner Midmarket Perspectives

Get an overview of Gartner's latest midmarket research, including strategies, opportunities, trends, priorities and challenges. This is a must-attend session for vendors and sponsors.

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Ryman B2 - B3

Solutions Pavilion: Vendor Set-Up
 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 8:00 am to 8:10 am

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Event Update And Give-Aways
 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 8:10 am to 8:40 am

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Interview: Confessions Of Successful Business Technology Leaders

Brian Watson is the co-author of Confessions of a Successful CIO: How the Best CIOs Tackle Their Toughest Business Challenges (Wiley, March 2014), and writes the "CIO Confessions" column for CIO.com. He will interview a top CIO onstage, seeking answers on:

  • How have they handled their most challenging business problems
  • How do they anticipate changes to their business and respond—before the business comes knocking
  • How they make critical decisions around strategy and IT to not only benefit their companies, but in some cases, to save them from becoming obsolete.
  • What are their perspectives on managing people, crises and balancing the risks and rewards of their "bet the farm" strategies"
 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 8:40 am to 9:10 am

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Executive Keynote: Expand Your Possibilities. Not Your Data Center.

Hyperconverged infrastructure is overtaking traditional IT and growing faster than public cloud.  What’s driving this momentum?  Business and IT leaders are recognizing the potential of hyperconvergence to drive down operational costs, fuel future growth and edge out competitors.  The statistics tell the story of the benefits of hyperconvergence including a dramatic increase in time spent on innovation, device reduction, TCO savings compared to not only traditional IT infrastructure but AWS as well. Join this keynote presentation by Marty Sanders, SVP Americas sales at HPE SimpliVity, a recognized leader in hyperconvergence. Sanders will explain how hyperconvergence can help midsize enterprise CIOs and IT leaders  expand their reach, possibilities and impact without expanding their data center footprint.

Sponsored by:

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 9:10 am to 9:25 am

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Tech Symposium: Don't Be The Next Victim Of Ransomware

Mid-size enterprises are a prime target for hackers. Ransomware has evolved dramatically over the last few years, but one thing remains the same: it can wreak havoc. Don’t let your organization become the next victim. An easy to deploy, layered approach to security provides the best protection. During this session, CIOs and IT leaders will learn how WatchGuard provides award-winning, enterprise-grade protection for mid-size enterprises in one centrally managed solution. Attendees will learn more about how WatchGuard’s advanced security services, APT Blocker and Threat Detection and Response, can protect organizations and individuals from ransomware before file encryption takes place.

This session includes a short demonstration of our robust preventive or corrective action against threats.

Sponsored by:

WatchGuard

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 9:45 am to 10:45 am

Magnolia Ballroom

FOR VENDORS ONLY: Partnering With The C-Suite

The days of all technology spending happening at a tactical level within the ranks of IT are gone! More and more technology investments are not only being made by the CIO, but many companies are seeing Business Unit executives, CMOs, CFOs and other senior executives exercising increasing levels of control over the checkbook for technology investments. Strategic selling of products and services to a C-Level executive is a very different sales process and value proposition than selling tactical capabilities to Director and VP level technology executives. This session will help you identify the mindset, concrete steps and approaches required to sell higher up the value chain to C-Level executives ensuring larger sales can be accomplished more expeditiously by partnering with executives with access to broader financial resources.  

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 9:45 am to 11:35 am

See Personal Agenda for Room Locations

Interactive Boardroom Sessions

CIOs and senior IT leaders are assigned into peer groups of 12-15 based on business focus and technology interests.  Vendors meet with the boardrooms for 30 minutes, presenting new products and opportunities - in an environment conducive to spirited conversation and constructive feedback.

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 9:45 am to 11:35 am

Tennessee Ballroom Foyer

Gartner Analyst One-on-Ones With Vendors

Analyst meetings must be pre-scheduled.  Analysts are available to vendors during this time for one-on-one meetings.  Be sure to schedule your session at the registration desk and take advantage of this valuable opportunity.

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 11:45 am to 12:15 pm

Magnolia Ballroom

Executive Session 1: Talent Management--Attracting, Developing and Retaining High Performers

Today's IT organizations struggle to identify, attract, develop and retain high performing staff. It is very much a sellers market with open positions outstripping quality candidates to play these roles. Come to this interactive session to learn best practices on how to attract, grow and retain the kind of high performing staff who will be the difference in helping you achieve your strategic objectives.

Key take-aways from this session include:

* How to develop an organizational brand that attracts external talent

* Creating personalized value propositions to maximize retention

* Developing effective development plans for your staff

* Creating a culture that people won't want to leave!

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 11:45 am to 12:15 pm

Hermitage C

Executive Session 2: Infrastructure-as-a-Service Trends For The Midmarket
Public cloud IaaS continues to grow as not only an alternative to in-house physical assets, but also as an enablement platform for newly conceived digital business applications. This session details the most recent Magic Quadrant, which highlights the technologies and providers in the market.
 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 11:45 am to 12:15 pm

Hermitage D

Executive Session 3: Business Intelligence Data Analytics Trends For The Midmarket

Business intelligence is once again the hot topic for IT leaders of midsize companies. BI and analytics solutions today are more affordable, less complex and easier to support. BI an analytics are also at the center of many IoT initiatives which are suddenly the focus of many CIOs. Gartner's, Kurt Schlegel studies how organizations apply analytic capabilities to improve performance and optimize decision making He will focus this session on understand the data side of BI with practical reporting and analytics applications. 

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 12:15 pm to 1:15 pm

Delta B

MES Lunch & Learn--Peer Perspectives On Today's Hottest Issues

This networking luncheon will feature insightful and educational peer-led conversations around some of the most pressing issues facing IT leaders of midsize enterprises. A leader will be assigned to each MES luncheon table who will be responsible for initiating and fostering a conversation around the topics listed below among others. At each table, IT leaders will gain insight from their peers and have the opportunity to ask questions and be heard. Peer perspective is rated as one of the most important components of the MES experience so don’t miss this valuable opportunity and discussion.

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 1:15 pm to 2:00 pm

Tennessee Ballroom Foyer

MES Networking Break
 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 1:15 pm to 2:00 pm Ask-An-Analyst Roundtables (advanced registration required)

Ask an Analyst Roundtables are optional, advanced registration required, due to limited seating.

Ask an Analyst Roundtables are small group sessions, moderated by a Gartner Analyst, focusing on the exchange of ideas and best practices with your peers.  The topics during this time slot with be:

  • Hyperconvergence and Cloud Strategy - Moderated by Mike Cisek, Gartner
  • Budgeting and Cost Optimization - Moderated by Jim McGittigan, Gartner
  • Security - Moderated by Brian Reed, Gartner
  • IaaS and Managed Service Provider - Moderated by Mike Dorosh, Gartner
  • Bi and Analytics - Moderated by Kurt Schlegel, Gartner
 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 2:15 pm to 3:25 pm

See Personal Agenda for Room Locations

Interactive Boardroom Sessions

Senior IT Leaders are assigned into peer groups of 12-15 based on business focus and technology interests.  Vendors meet with the boardrooms for 30 minutes, presenting new products and opportunities - in an environment conducive to spirited conversation and constructive feedback.

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 2:15 pm to 3:25 pm

Tennessee Ballroom Foyer

Gartner Analyst One-on-One Meetings With Vendors

Analyst meetings must be pre-scheduled.  Analysts are available to vendors during this time for one-on-one meetings.  Be sure to schedule your session at the registration desk and take advantage of this valuable opportunity.

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 3:40 pm to 4:10 pm

Magnolia Ballroom

Breakout 1: Transform Customer & Employee Experiences Via The Intelligent Edge

Exciting opportunities for innovation and growth are happening at the Intelligent Edge – where people, apps, data and things converge. Beyond reliable and secure connections, new sources for data and analytics provide context and insights that drive new value. Learn the importance of going beyond the mobile-cloud to the Intelligent Edge.

Sponsored by: 

HP Enterprise/Intel

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 3:40 pm to 4:10 pm

Hermitage C

Breakout 2: HPE Synergy--Power Your Business Engine With Composable Infrastructure

HPE Synergy empowers IT to create and deliver value instantly and continuously, composing physical and virtual compute, storage, and fabric pools into any configuration for any application. Learn how HPE Synergy can reduce operational complexity and enable your IT organization to rapidly launch new applications and services for your business.

Sponsored by: 

HP Enterprise/Intel

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 4:20 pm to 5:30 pm

See Personal Agenda for Room Locations

Interactive Boardroom Sessions

Senior IT Leaders and CIOs are assigned into peer groups of 12-15 based on business focus and technology interests.  Vendors meet with the boardrooms for 30 minutes, presenting new products and opportunities - in an environment conducive to spirited conversation and constructive feedback.

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 4:20 pm to 5:30 pm

Tennessee Ballroom Foyer

Gartner Analyst One-on-Ones With Vendors

Analyst meetings must be pre-scheduled.  Analysts are available to vendors during this time for one-on-one meetings.  Be sure to schedule your session at the registration desk and take advantage of this valuable opportunity.

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 5:40 pm to 6:10 pm

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Keynote: Creating Tomorrow's Winning Workplace

Businesses that are succeeding clearly get what millennials want and expect from their employers and careers.  In this session, solution providers will learn from the companies that get it. All businesses must understand the secrets to leveraging the unique competencies, strengths and value that millennials bring to the workplace and how to guide and empower them to create winning workplaces.

Today there are 2.4 billion millennials, they represent 36 percent of the workforce, control $660 billion in spending and will represent 75 percent of the employee and customer base by 2025.  They grew up differently, view the world differently and are changing the way we run our businesses and sell  products and services. Think of Nexflix’s impact on Blockbuster or Uber’s disruption of the taxi industry or even how Airbnb is changing the hotel industry. IT leaders must ask what their business is doing to create a workplace that attracts, engages and retains the next generation of employees.

In this provocative, interactive keynote, Dan Negroni of Launchbox365 will share what millennials want from their employers and case studies of cutting-edge companies that are getting it right.  Attendees will learn:

  • The positive characteristics and strengths that millennials bring to the workplace
  • What millennials expect and value from their job and employers
  • 6 key steps to engaging the next generation
  • What the most innovative companies are doing to leverage millennials’ strengths and create a connected workplace
 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 6:10 pm to 6:25 pm

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Tech Symposium: The Fortinet Security Fabric--An Intelligent, Collaborative Approach To Solving Today’s Security Challenges

Having the right security woven throughout the network can make the difference between running a smooth, safe network, or being the latest security breach headline. The Fortinet Security Fabric gives customers control, integration, and easy management of security across the entire organization, all through a single pane of glass. Attendees will learn why a fabric approach is superior to platforms, allowing an organization to maximize current investments while creating a security network that dynamically expands and adapts as more workloads and data are added. At the same time the Fabric protects data, users, and applications as they move back and forth between the IoT, endpoints, and cloud environments so businesses can focus on growth, not risk.

Sponsored by:

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 6:25 pm to 6:30 pm MES Vendor Spotlight Interviews: The Comtel Group & SAS

The industry is changing from minute to minute so why not spend a few precious minutes getting to know some of today’s leading service and technology suppliers. Each company featured in the MES Vendor Spotlight interview, hosted by MES’ SVP Robert DeMarzo, will provide insight into their value proposition and how their solutions can benefit CIOs and senior IT leaders. 

Featuring:

The Comtel Group 

 

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Ryman B2-B3

Solutions Pavilion

Sponsors showcase their products and solutions in booths on the show floor.  It is an exciting, interactive setting for live product demonstrations, face-to-face conversations and networking.

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 7:00 am to 7:45 am

Delta B

MES Networking Breakfast

Take time to recharge the batteries and enjoy a meal with your fellow CIOs and senior IT leaders. This is time exclusively designed so attendees and technology suppliers can have private conversations, compare notes and build new relationships.  

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 8:15 am to 9:00 am

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Keynote: Cost Optimization & Budgeting--Prepare Now For Cloud's Impact On Capex/Opex

CIOs investing in cloud-based services must address the impact on the Opex and Capex mix or run the risk of losing  Opex funding. This session will explore the issues surrounding the impact of cloud and how to deal with key financial issues that often impede investment in the right technologies.  First have a dual challenge. They must understand their current and projected Opex/Capex mix of IT spend then they must communicate the strategy to move away from IT becoming an internal "software house" to help explain the shift from Capex to Opex. This session will also include the following: 

  • How to build a well-constructed business case that includes a TCO view of IT spend  
  • Look to capitalize some parts of moving to the cloud to reduce the impact on Opex  
  • GAAP changes that may impact the Opex/Capex ratio  
  • How to budget track and reduce public cloud spending 
 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 9:00 am to 9:15 am

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Tech Symposium: Breaking the Cycle: Making Obsolete . . . Obsolete

Time is undefeated.  It catches up with all of us, making what was the fastest and strongest look very ordinary. Find out how the Ruckus division of Brocade is breaking all the rules and helping CIOs and IT leaders defeat time, making networks last longer and stronger. The key message from this session is how IT leaders can make obsolete. . .obsolete.

Brought to you by:

 

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 9:15 am to 9:30 am

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Tech Symposium: Three Ways The Cloud is Transforming The IT Landscape

 

Brought to you by:

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 9:30 am to 9:35 am

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Vendor Spotlight Interviews: ShoreTel and SilverPeak

The industry is changing from minute to minute so why not spend a few precious minutes getting to know some of today’s leading service and technology suppliers. Each company featured in the MES Vendor Spotlight interview, hosted by MES’ SVP Robert DeMarzo, will provide insight into their value proposition and how their solutions can benefit CIOs and senior IT leaders. 

Brought to you by:

ShoreTel

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 10:00 am to 11:50 am

See Personal Agenda for Room Locations

Interactive Boardroom Sessions

Senior IT Leaders and CIOs are assigned into peer groups of 12-15 based on business focus and technology interests.  Vendors meet with the boardrooms for 30 minutes, presenting new products and opportunities - in an environment conducive to spirited conversation and constructive feedback.

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 10:00 am to 11:50 am

Tennessee Ballroom Foyer

Gartner Analyst One-on-One Meetings With Vendors

Analyst meetings must be pre-scheduled.  Analysts are available to vendors during this time for one-on-one meetings.  Be sure to schedule your session at the registration desk and take advantage of this valuable opportunity.

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

Delta B

MES Networking Lunch

Take time to recharge the batteries and enjoy a meal with your fellow CIOs and senior IT leaders. This is time exclusively designed so attendees and technology suppliers can have private conversations, compare notes and build new relationships. 

Brought to you by

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm

Ryman B2 - B3

Solutions Pavilion Bonus Time

Squeeze in a little more time with vendors in the Solutions Pavilion. There are no pre-scheduled vendor one-on-one meetings during this time, so attendees are free to seek out the companies they want to learn more about. 

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm

Magnolia Ballroom

Executive Session 1: • Your CEO Just Asked For Your Succession Plan—Now What?

It is time to take succession planning seriously. It is one of those topics everyone talks about but few, if any, take action on for a variety of reasons. There are always more pressing issues to address when it comes to IT strategy and advancing the business. But a new way of thinking about succession planning can change the perception of IT leaders as individuals on the forefront of talent nurturing, leadership development and diversification. CIOs today must have a sound succession plan because they are being pulled into so many strategic projects and initiatives that require support from IT. This panel discussion will help IT leaders with the tools they need to help identify and mentor those in the IT department that show leadership potential. The importance of looking outside of IT for talent will also be discussed. Hand-in-hand with succession planning is the need to diversify the IT department with individuals who bring different perspectives to the table. Panelists will also address the need of having more women play important roles in IT. Succession planning is not all about future. If done correctly, it will increase a CIO's effectiveness by allowing them to build better relationships with the business stakeholders and enable them to show leadership in an area critical to businesses' success.

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm

Hermitage C

Executive Session 2: Data Security Strategies For Midmarket IT Leaders--Phishing and Ransomware

Many midmarket IT leaders are focusing on their overall information security strategy but they must factor in two emerging threats—phishing and ransomware. IT leaders must understand these threats and which solutions, vendors or products can help midmarket organizations better deal with these and other data security concerns. Attendees will learn how their organization can formulate a common-sense data security strategy that fits their limited budgets, personnel and resources.

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm

Hermitage D

Executive Session 3: Is Hyperconvergence Overhyped?

Midmarket IT leaders have placed hyperconvergence as one of their top 3 infrastructure priorities for 2017. It is also driving change in the midmarket as CIOs adopt emerging data center solutions. Hyperconvergence is dominating the headlines as vendors move aggressively into the market with acquisitions or investments in specific HCI solutions for midmarket companies. In this session, attendees will gain insight into the changing landscape, key vendors and how IT leaders can implement HCI solutions.

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 2:45 pm to 5:20 pm

See Personal Agenda for Room Locations

Interactive Boardroom Sessions

Senior IT Leaders and CIOs are assigned into peer groups of 12-15 based on business focus and technology interests.  Vendors meet with the boardrooms for 30 minutes, presenting new products and opportunities - in an environment conducive to spirited conversation and constructive feedback.

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 2:45 pm to 5:20 pm

Tennessee Ballroom Foyer

Gartner Analyst One-on-One Meetings With Vendors

Analyst meetings must be pre-scheduled. Analysts are available to vendors during this time for one-on-one meetings.  Be sure to schedule your session at the registration desk and take advantage of this valuable opportunity.

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Ryman B2-B3

Solutions Pavilion

Sponsors showcase their products and solutions in booths on the show floor.  It is an exciting, interactive setting for live product demonstrations, face-to-face conversations and networking.

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm

Ryman B2-B3

Solutions Pavilion: Vendor Tear-Down

Vendors can tear down their booths during this designated time period.

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm

Tennessee Ballroom

Midsize Enterprise XCellence Awards

The MES XCellence Awards measure IT executive attendee perceptions of sponsor products, services, and presentations during the event.  The awards program will recognize the companies who earned the most votes at Midsize Enterprise Summit.

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 9:30 pm MES After Party

Join us for a rockin' good time at the MES After Party.  We'll have complimentary shuttles (though its just a short walk) to the Nashville Palace.

The Nashville Palace first opened its doors in 1977 and quickly became the hotspot for Opry legends to pop into following their performances at the Opry House located across the street. Artists who have performed at the Nashville Palace over the years include Randy Travis, George Jones, Roy Acuff, Mel Tillis, Jack Greene, Porter Wagoner, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings and many more.

 Download to your calendar 
Wed, May 3, 2017 - 7:00 am to 10:00 am

Ryman B2-B3

Solutions Pavilion Tear Down

Vendors continue to break down their exhibit booths. 

 Download to your calendar 
Wed, May 3, 2017 - 8:00 am to 1:15 pm

Hermitage A-B

MES UNIVERSITY: IT SECURITY

Security continues to be the midmarket IT leaders’ top challenge. This half-day workshop will deep-dive into the types of security threats facing midmarket organizations and how IT leaders can mitigate those risks.  

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MES UNIVERSITY: IT SECURITY WEBSITE

 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 6:30 am to 1:30 pm

Gaylord Springs Golf Course

Golf Tournament

Gaylord Springs Golf Course

Advanced reservations required. Please contact Deven Plant at dplant@thechannelcompany.com if you are interested in golfing.

Sponsored by:

 HP Enterprise/Intel

 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Tennessee Ballroom Foyer

Registration

Registration will be open for both attendees and sponsors.

 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm

Hermitage D

FOR VENDORS ONLY: MES Training for International Sponsors

This training will provide our International Sponsors the best practices for engaging with MES attendees and getting the most ROI from the event.

 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 2:30 pm to 2:50 pm

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Orientation

CIOs and Senior IT Leaders hear tips and tricks from staff and advisory board members to make the most of their time at MES.

Sponsored by:

ShoreTel

 

 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 3:00 pm to 3:30 pm

Tennessee Ballroom

Five Trends Driving Change in the Midmarket

The midmarket is undergoing a phase of rapid growth, investment and productivity. Business leaders of midsize companies are experiencing a high level of confidence which IT leaders can leverage for investment in key projects to continue driving company growth. In this session, attendees will gain an understanding of the major trends shaping the midmarket--one of the least understood segments of today's economy. This session will unveil the myths of the midmarket then dive deeply into the five trends. While we don't want to spoil the surprise some of those trends include the adoption of emerging data center solutions, enablement of the digital workplace and how analytics are improving business and IT operations. Make sure you come to this kick off session to hear the other trends and all the details.

 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 3:30 pm to 4:00 pm

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Executive Keynote: Accelerate Innovation In An Age Of Digital Disruption

Digital transformation is disrupting every industry, driving better customer experiences, new and improved products and services, and more efficient business operations. Learn how HPE is helping customers accelerate value by making hybrid IT simple and exploiting the network’s Intelligent Edge, where the next generation of digital experiences will be created.

 

Sponsored by:

 HP Enterprise/Intel

 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 4:00 pm to 4:05 pm

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Vendor Spotlight Interviews

The industry is changing from minute to minute so why not spend a few precious minutes getting to know some of today’s leading service and technology suppliers. Each company featured in the MES Vendor Spotlight interview, hosted by MES’ SVP Robert DeMarzo, will provide insight into their value proposition and how their solutions can benefit CIOs and senior IT leaders. Some people say you can live a lifetime in a minute. 

 

 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 4:20 pm to 4:50 pm

See Personal Agenda for Locations

MES Boardroom Peer-To-Peer Meet & Greet

The interactive boardrooms are one of the core components of the MES agenda.  This meet and greet session will allow you to better understand how the boardrooms work and how you can get the most value out of them.

 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 4:55 pm to 5:25 pm

See Personal Agenda for Locations

MES Interactive Boardrooms
 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 5:30 pm to 6:15 pm

Tennessee Ballroom Foyer

MES Networking Break
 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 5:30 pm to 6:15 pm

Magnolia Ballroom

MES First-Time Attendee Reception

This invitation only reception is designed for attendees who are brand new to Midsize Enteprrise Summit. 

Sponsored by:

 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 5:30 pm to 6:15 pm Ask-An-Analyst Roundtables (advanced registration required)

Ask an Analyst Roundtables are optional, advanced registration required, due to limited seating.

Ask an Analyst Roundtables are small group sessions, moderated by a Gartner Analyst, focusing on the exchange of ideas and best practices with your peers.  The topics during this time slot with be:

  • Hyperconvergence and Cloud Strategy - Moderated by Mike Cisek, Gartner
  • Budgeting and Cost Optimization - Moderated by Jim McGittigan, Gartner
  • Security - Moderated by Brian Reed, Gartner
  • IaaS and Managed Service Provider - Moderated by Mike Dorosh, Gartner
 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 6:30 pm to 7:15 pm

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Keynote: The Loyalty Switch

In this fascinating and highly entertaining presentation, James Kane takes his audiences on a journey into the human brain, explaining the science behind true loyalty and human relationships. Building on more than 40 years of research, Kane makes the case that human beings have a fundamental need to be loyal and actively seek out specific clues from others that tell them when they can and should be. When organizations or individuals are able to understand and demonstrate those loyalty-building behaviors, they can develop relationships that will last a lifetime and result in unwavering and unlimited support.

 Download to your calendar 
Sun, Apr 30, 2017 - 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Water's Edge

MES Welcome Reception

Enjoy food and drinks while networking with vendors and attendees.

Sponsored by:

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 7:00 am to 7:45 am

Delta B

MES Networking Breakfast

Take time to recharge the batteries and enjoy a meal with your fellow CIOs and senior IT leaders. This is time exclusively designed so attendees and technology suppliers can have private conversations, compare notes and build new relationships.  

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 7:00 am to 7:45 am

Magnolia Ballroom

FOR VENDORS ONLY: Vendor Breakfast And Gartner Midmarket Perspectives

Get an overview of Gartner's latest midmarket research, including strategies, opportunities, trends, priorities and challenges. This is a must-attend session for vendors and sponsors.

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Ryman B2 - B3

Solutions Pavilion: Vendor Set-Up
 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 8:00 am to 8:10 am

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Event Update And Give-Aways
 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 8:10 am to 8:40 am

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Interview: Confessions Of Successful Business Technology Leaders

Brian Watson is the co-author of Confessions of a Successful CIO: How the Best CIOs Tackle Their Toughest Business Challenges (Wiley, March 2014), and writes the "CIO Confessions" column for CIO.com. He will interview a top CIO onstage, seeking answers on:

  • How have they handled their most challenging business problems
  • How do they anticipate changes to their business and respond—before the business comes knocking
  • How they make critical decisions around strategy and IT to not only benefit their companies, but in some cases, to save them from becoming obsolete.
  • What are their perspectives on managing people, crises and balancing the risks and rewards of their "bet the farm" strategies"
 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 8:40 am to 9:10 am

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Executive Keynote: Expand Your Possibilities. Not Your Data Center.

Hyperconverged infrastructure is overtaking traditional IT and growing faster than public cloud.  What’s driving this momentum?  Business and IT leaders are recognizing the potential of hyperconvergence to drive down operational costs, fuel future growth and edge out competitors.  The statistics tell the story of the benefits of hyperconvergence including a dramatic increase in time spent on innovation, device reduction, TCO savings compared to not only traditional IT infrastructure but AWS as well. Join this keynote presentation by Marty Sanders, SVP Americas sales at HPE SimpliVity, a recognized leader in hyperconvergence. Sanders will explain how hyperconvergence can help midsize enterprise CIOs and IT leaders  expand their reach, possibilities and impact without expanding their data center footprint.

Sponsored by:

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 9:10 am to 9:25 am

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Tech Symposium: Don't Be The Next Victim Of Ransomware

Mid-size enterprises are a prime target for hackers. Ransomware has evolved dramatically over the last few years, but one thing remains the same: it can wreak havoc. Don’t let your organization become the next victim. An easy to deploy, layered approach to security provides the best protection. During this session, CIOs and IT leaders will learn how WatchGuard provides award-winning, enterprise-grade protection for mid-size enterprises in one centrally managed solution. Attendees will learn more about how WatchGuard’s advanced security services, APT Blocker and Threat Detection and Response, can protect organizations and individuals from ransomware before file encryption takes place.

This session includes a short demonstration of our robust preventive or corrective action against threats.

Sponsored by:

WatchGuard

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 9:45 am to 10:45 am

Magnolia Ballroom

FOR VENDORS ONLY: Partnering With The C-Suite

The days of all technology spending happening at a tactical level within the ranks of IT are gone! More and more technology investments are not only being made by the CIO, but many companies are seeing Business Unit executives, CMOs, CFOs and other senior executives exercising increasing levels of control over the checkbook for technology investments. Strategic selling of products and services to a C-Level executive is a very different sales process and value proposition than selling tactical capabilities to Director and VP level technology executives. This session will help you identify the mindset, concrete steps and approaches required to sell higher up the value chain to C-Level executives ensuring larger sales can be accomplished more expeditiously by partnering with executives with access to broader financial resources.  

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 9:45 am to 11:35 am

See Personal Agenda for Room Locations

Interactive Boardroom Sessions

CIOs and senior IT leaders are assigned into peer groups of 12-15 based on business focus and technology interests.  Vendors meet with the boardrooms for 30 minutes, presenting new products and opportunities - in an environment conducive to spirited conversation and constructive feedback.

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 9:45 am to 11:35 am

Tennessee Ballroom Foyer

Gartner Analyst One-on-Ones With Vendors

Analyst meetings must be pre-scheduled.  Analysts are available to vendors during this time for one-on-one meetings.  Be sure to schedule your session at the registration desk and take advantage of this valuable opportunity.

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 11:45 am to 12:15 pm

Magnolia Ballroom

Executive Session 1: Talent Management--Attracting, Developing and Retaining High Performers

Today's IT organizations struggle to identify, attract, develop and retain high performing staff. It is very much a sellers market with open positions outstripping quality candidates to play these roles. Come to this interactive session to learn best practices on how to attract, grow and retain the kind of high performing staff who will be the difference in helping you achieve your strategic objectives.

Key take-aways from this session include:

* How to develop an organizational brand that attracts external talent

* Creating personalized value propositions to maximize retention

* Developing effective development plans for your staff

* Creating a culture that people won't want to leave!

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 11:45 am to 12:15 pm

Hermitage C

Executive Session 2: Infrastructure-as-a-Service Trends For The Midmarket
Public cloud IaaS continues to grow as not only an alternative to in-house physical assets, but also as an enablement platform for newly conceived digital business applications. This session details the most recent Magic Quadrant, which highlights the technologies and providers in the market.
 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 11:45 am to 12:15 pm

Hermitage D

Executive Session 3: Business Intelligence Data Analytics Trends For The Midmarket

Business intelligence is once again the hot topic for IT leaders of midsize companies. BI and analytics solutions today are more affordable, less complex and easier to support. BI an analytics are also at the center of many IoT initiatives which are suddenly the focus of many CIOs. Gartner's, Kurt Schlegel studies how organizations apply analytic capabilities to improve performance and optimize decision making He will focus this session on understand the data side of BI with practical reporting and analytics applications. 

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 12:15 pm to 1:15 pm

Delta B

MES Lunch & Learn--Peer Perspectives On Today's Hottest Issues

This networking luncheon will feature insightful and educational peer-led conversations around some of the most pressing issues facing IT leaders of midsize enterprises. A leader will be assigned to each MES luncheon table who will be responsible for initiating and fostering a conversation around the topics listed below among others. At each table, IT leaders will gain insight from their peers and have the opportunity to ask questions and be heard. Peer perspective is rated as one of the most important components of the MES experience so don’t miss this valuable opportunity and discussion.

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 1:15 pm to 2:00 pm

Tennessee Ballroom Foyer

MES Networking Break
 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 1:15 pm to 2:00 pm Ask-An-Analyst Roundtables (advanced registration required)

Ask an Analyst Roundtables are optional, advanced registration required, due to limited seating.

Ask an Analyst Roundtables are small group sessions, moderated by a Gartner Analyst, focusing on the exchange of ideas and best practices with your peers.  The topics during this time slot with be:

  • Hyperconvergence and Cloud Strategy - Moderated by Mike Cisek, Gartner
  • Budgeting and Cost Optimization - Moderated by Jim McGittigan, Gartner
  • Security - Moderated by Brian Reed, Gartner
  • IaaS and Managed Service Provider - Moderated by Mike Dorosh, Gartner
  • Bi and Analytics - Moderated by Kurt Schlegel, Gartner
 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 2:15 pm to 3:25 pm

See Personal Agenda for Room Locations

Interactive Boardroom Sessions

Senior IT Leaders are assigned into peer groups of 12-15 based on business focus and technology interests.  Vendors meet with the boardrooms for 30 minutes, presenting new products and opportunities - in an environment conducive to spirited conversation and constructive feedback.

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 2:15 pm to 3:25 pm

Tennessee Ballroom Foyer

Gartner Analyst One-on-One Meetings With Vendors

Analyst meetings must be pre-scheduled.  Analysts are available to vendors during this time for one-on-one meetings.  Be sure to schedule your session at the registration desk and take advantage of this valuable opportunity.

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 3:40 pm to 4:10 pm

Magnolia Ballroom

Breakout 1: Transform Customer & Employee Experiences Via The Intelligent Edge

Exciting opportunities for innovation and growth are happening at the Intelligent Edge – where people, apps, data and things converge. Beyond reliable and secure connections, new sources for data and analytics provide context and insights that drive new value. Learn the importance of going beyond the mobile-cloud to the Intelligent Edge.

Sponsored by: 

HP Enterprise/Intel

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 3:40 pm to 4:10 pm

Hermitage C

Breakout 2: HPE Synergy--Power Your Business Engine With Composable Infrastructure

HPE Synergy empowers IT to create and deliver value instantly and continuously, composing physical and virtual compute, storage, and fabric pools into any configuration for any application. Learn how HPE Synergy can reduce operational complexity and enable your IT organization to rapidly launch new applications and services for your business.

Sponsored by: 

HP Enterprise/Intel

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 4:20 pm to 5:30 pm

See Personal Agenda for Room Locations

Interactive Boardroom Sessions

Senior IT Leaders and CIOs are assigned into peer groups of 12-15 based on business focus and technology interests.  Vendors meet with the boardrooms for 30 minutes, presenting new products and opportunities - in an environment conducive to spirited conversation and constructive feedback.

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 4:20 pm to 5:30 pm

Tennessee Ballroom Foyer

Gartner Analyst One-on-Ones With Vendors

Analyst meetings must be pre-scheduled.  Analysts are available to vendors during this time for one-on-one meetings.  Be sure to schedule your session at the registration desk and take advantage of this valuable opportunity.

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 5:40 pm to 6:10 pm

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Keynote: Creating Tomorrow's Winning Workplace

Businesses that are succeeding clearly get what millennials want and expect from their employers and careers.  In this session, solution providers will learn from the companies that get it. All businesses must understand the secrets to leveraging the unique competencies, strengths and value that millennials bring to the workplace and how to guide and empower them to create winning workplaces.

Today there are 2.4 billion millennials, they represent 36 percent of the workforce, control $660 billion in spending and will represent 75 percent of the employee and customer base by 2025.  They grew up differently, view the world differently and are changing the way we run our businesses and sell  products and services. Think of Nexflix’s impact on Blockbuster or Uber’s disruption of the taxi industry or even how Airbnb is changing the hotel industry. IT leaders must ask what their business is doing to create a workplace that attracts, engages and retains the next generation of employees.

In this provocative, interactive keynote, Dan Negroni of Launchbox365 will share what millennials want from their employers and case studies of cutting-edge companies that are getting it right.  Attendees will learn:

  • The positive characteristics and strengths that millennials bring to the workplace
  • What millennials expect and value from their job and employers
  • 6 key steps to engaging the next generation
  • What the most innovative companies are doing to leverage millennials’ strengths and create a connected workplace
 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 6:10 pm to 6:25 pm

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Tech Symposium: The Fortinet Security Fabric--An Intelligent, Collaborative Approach To Solving Today’s Security Challenges

Having the right security woven throughout the network can make the difference between running a smooth, safe network, or being the latest security breach headline. The Fortinet Security Fabric gives customers control, integration, and easy management of security across the entire organization, all through a single pane of glass. Attendees will learn why a fabric approach is superior to platforms, allowing an organization to maximize current investments while creating a security network that dynamically expands and adapts as more workloads and data are added. At the same time the Fabric protects data, users, and applications as they move back and forth between the IoT, endpoints, and cloud environments so businesses can focus on growth, not risk.

Sponsored by:

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 6:25 pm to 6:30 pm MES Vendor Spotlight Interviews: The Comtel Group & SAS

The industry is changing from minute to minute so why not spend a few precious minutes getting to know some of today’s leading service and technology suppliers. Each company featured in the MES Vendor Spotlight interview, hosted by MES’ SVP Robert DeMarzo, will provide insight into their value proposition and how their solutions can benefit CIOs and senior IT leaders. 

Featuring:

The Comtel Group 

 

 Download to your calendar 
Mon, May 1, 2017 - 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Ryman B2-B3

Solutions Pavilion

Sponsors showcase their products and solutions in booths on the show floor.  It is an exciting, interactive setting for live product demonstrations, face-to-face conversations and networking.

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 7:00 am to 7:45 am

Delta B

MES Networking Breakfast

Take time to recharge the batteries and enjoy a meal with your fellow CIOs and senior IT leaders. This is time exclusively designed so attendees and technology suppliers can have private conversations, compare notes and build new relationships.  

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 8:15 am to 9:00 am

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Keynote: Cost Optimization & Budgeting--Prepare Now For Cloud's Impact On Capex/Opex

CIOs investing in cloud-based services must address the impact on the Opex and Capex mix or run the risk of losing  Opex funding. This session will explore the issues surrounding the impact of cloud and how to deal with key financial issues that often impede investment in the right technologies.  First have a dual challenge. They must understand their current and projected Opex/Capex mix of IT spend then they must communicate the strategy to move away from IT becoming an internal "software house" to help explain the shift from Capex to Opex. This session will also include the following: 

  • How to build a well-constructed business case that includes a TCO view of IT spend  
  • Look to capitalize some parts of moving to the cloud to reduce the impact on Opex  
  • GAAP changes that may impact the Opex/Capex ratio  
  • How to budget track and reduce public cloud spending 
 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 9:00 am to 9:15 am

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Tech Symposium: Breaking the Cycle: Making Obsolete . . . Obsolete

Time is undefeated.  It catches up with all of us, making what was the fastest and strongest look very ordinary. Find out how the Ruckus division of Brocade is breaking all the rules and helping CIOs and IT leaders defeat time, making networks last longer and stronger. The key message from this session is how IT leaders can make obsolete. . .obsolete.

Brought to you by:

 

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 9:15 am to 9:30 am

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Tech Symposium: Three Ways The Cloud is Transforming The IT Landscape

 

Brought to you by:

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 9:30 am to 9:35 am

Tennessee Ballroom

MES Vendor Spotlight Interviews: ShoreTel and SilverPeak

The industry is changing from minute to minute so why not spend a few precious minutes getting to know some of today’s leading service and technology suppliers. Each company featured in the MES Vendor Spotlight interview, hosted by MES’ SVP Robert DeMarzo, will provide insight into their value proposition and how their solutions can benefit CIOs and senior IT leaders. 

Brought to you by:

ShoreTel

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 10:00 am to 11:50 am

Tennessee Ballroom Foyer

Gartner Analyst One-on-One Meetings With Vendors

Analyst meetings must be pre-scheduled.  Analysts are available to vendors during this time for one-on-one meetings.  Be sure to schedule your session at the registration desk and take advantage of this valuable opportunity.

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 10:00 am to 11:50 am

See Personal Agenda for Room Locations

Interactive Boardroom Sessions

Senior IT Leaders and CIOs are assigned into peer groups of 12-15 based on business focus and technology interests.  Vendors meet with the boardrooms for 30 minutes, presenting new products and opportunities - in an environment conducive to spirited conversation and constructive feedback.

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

Delta B

MES Networking Lunch

Take time to recharge the batteries and enjoy a meal with your fellow CIOs and senior IT leaders. This is time exclusively designed so attendees and technology suppliers can have private conversations, compare notes and build new relationships. 

Brought to you by

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm

Ryman B2 - B3

Solutions Pavilion Bonus Time

Squeeze in a little more time with vendors in the Solutions Pavilion. There are no pre-scheduled vendor one-on-one meetings during this time, so attendees are free to seek out the companies they want to learn more about. 

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm

Magnolia Ballroom

Executive Session 1: • Your CEO Just Asked For Your Succession Plan—Now What?

It is time to take succession planning seriously. It is one of those topics everyone talks about but few, if any, take action on for a variety of reasons. There are always more pressing issues to address when it comes to IT strategy and advancing the business. But a new way of thinking about succession planning can change the perception of IT leaders as individuals on the forefront of talent nurturing, leadership development and diversification. CIOs today must have a sound succession plan because they are being pulled into so many strategic projects and initiatives that require support from IT. This panel discussion will help IT leaders with the tools they need to help identify and mentor those in the IT department that show leadership potential. The importance of looking outside of IT for talent will also be discussed. Hand-in-hand with succession planning is the need to diversify the IT department with individuals who bring different perspectives to the table. Panelists will also address the need of having more women play important roles in IT. Succession planning is not all about future. If done correctly, it will increase a CIO's effectiveness by allowing them to build better relationships with the business stakeholders and enable them to show leadership in an area critical to businesses' success.

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm

Hermitage C

Executive Session 2: Data Security Strategies For Midmarket IT Leaders--Phishing and Ransomware

Many midmarket IT leaders are focusing on their overall information security strategy but they must factor in two emerging threats—phishing and ransomware. IT leaders must understand these threats and which solutions, vendors or products can help midmarket organizations better deal with these and other data security concerns. Attendees will learn how their organization can formulate a common-sense data security strategy that fits their limited budgets, personnel and resources.

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm

Hermitage D

Executive Session 3: Is Hyperconvergence Overhyped?

Midmarket IT leaders have placed hyperconvergence as one of their top 3 infrastructure priorities for 2017. It is also driving change in the midmarket as CIOs adopt emerging data center solutions. Hyperconvergence is dominating the headlines as vendors move aggressively into the market with acquisitions or investments in specific HCI solutions for midmarket companies. In this session, attendees will gain insight into the changing landscape, key vendors and how IT leaders can implement HCI solutions.

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 2:45 pm to 5:20 pm

See Personal Agenda for Room Locations

Interactive Boardroom Sessions

Senior IT Leaders and CIOs are assigned into peer groups of 12-15 based on business focus and technology interests.  Vendors meet with the boardrooms for 30 minutes, presenting new products and opportunities - in an environment conducive to spirited conversation and constructive feedback.

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 2:45 pm to 5:20 pm

Tennessee Ballroom Foyer

Gartner Analyst One-on-One Meetings With Vendors

Analyst meetings must be pre-scheduled. Analysts are available to vendors during this time for one-on-one meetings.  Be sure to schedule your session at the registration desk and take advantage of this valuable opportunity.

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Ryman B2-B3

Solutions Pavilion

Sponsors showcase their products and solutions in booths on the show floor.  It is an exciting, interactive setting for live product demonstrations, face-to-face conversations and networking.

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm

Ryman B2-B3

Solutions Pavilion: Vendor Tear-Down

Vendors can tear down their booths during this designated time period.

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm

Tennessee Ballroom

Midsize Enterprise XCellence Awards

The MES XCellence Awards measure IT executive attendee perceptions of sponsor products, services, and presentations during the event.  The awards program will recognize the companies who earned the most votes at Midsize Enterprise Summit.

 Download to your calendar 
Tue, May 2, 2017 - 9:30 pm MES After Party

Join us for a rockin' good time at the MES After Party.  We'll have complimentary shuttles (though its just a short walk) to the Nashville Palace.

The Nashville Palace first opened its doors in 1977 and quickly became the hotspot for Opry legends to pop into following their performances at the Opry House located across the street. Artists who have performed at the Nashville Palace over the years include Randy Travis, George Jones, Roy Acuff, Mel Tillis, Jack Greene, Porter Wagoner, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings and many more.

 Download to your calendar 
Wed, May 3, 2017 - 7:00 am to 10:00 am

Ryman B2-B3

Solutions Pavilion Tear Down

Vendors continue to break down their exhibit booths. 

 Download to your calendar 
Wed, May 3, 2017 - 8:00 am to 1:15 pm

Hermitage A-B

MES UNIVERSITY: IT SECURITY

Security continues to be the midmarket IT leaders’ top challenge. This half-day workshop will deep-dive into the types of security threats facing midmarket organizations and how IT leaders can mitigate those risks.  

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MES UNIVERSITY: IT SECURITY WEBSITE

 Download to your calendar 

Be A Speaker

The Channel Company strives to deliver events rich in content to our audiences. We are always interested in learning about prospective speakers ─ industry experts, inspirational leaders and individuals with unique perspectives ─ for our events. If you would like to be considered, please complete and submit a form to tell us a little about yourself and what you would like to present.