• Sam Knutson - Fully Wired MVS Free Software Tools and Tips Update Reloaded

Sam Knutson is a Senior Software Engineer at ASG focused on TMON for MVS. He holds a B.S. in Computer Science from DeVry Institute of Technology and has worked in IBM data processing for the last 16 years although he has enjoyed working with computers his whole life. Sam strongly believes that computer user groups and free software are essential to the continued growth of computer professionals and is active with SHARE, CMG, and the CBT Tape free software project. Sam is one of the principal volunteers with the CBT MVS Utilities Tape and runs the CBT web site, available from the NaSPA website, which is the CBT Tape Home page.

• Jimmy Lee - Introduction to Linux and Advanced Linux

Director, Life Sciences - Mainline Information Systems

• Management responsibility for strategic business practice in support of IBM products and services for the Life Science’s industry
• Key business focus: Genomic’s, Proteomic’s, Pharmaceutical, Biotech, Government, Academia, Agri-science, Research and Development, High Performance Computing, Imaging, Healthcare, Data Storage and Management, Security, Backup and Recovery, and e-Business applications
• Independent Software Vendor business partnerships
• IBM sales linkages, brand relationships, and alliances
• Platforms, infrastructure, implementation and support
• Utilities, conversion tools, and porting services
• Global Integration Center and solutions showcase

• Rick Nashleanas - Regaining Employment after a Layoff (Roundtable), author of monthly jobs article in Technical Support Magazine

After a corporate career with several consulting and manufacturing companies, Rick founded a mainframe software company in 1985. Over a period of a decade, Rick grew the company into an international concern as the chief technologist and spokesman for the company, writing award-winning articles, giving speeches around the world, and even appearing on the award-winning PBS television show "The Computer Chronicle". Seven years ago, Rick sold the company to a major German firm. Rick's friends in the industry then called upon Rick to help them find talent for their difficult-to-fill positions. Rick now heads Monarch Technology - a recruiting and contracting firm specializing in mainframe talent - and writes numerous columns and newsletters on IT career issues.

• Judy Serwatka, EDD, Purdue University, Member of the NaSPA Board of Directors.
Keynote Speaker: "Maintaining Job Skills in a Tight Economic Market Using On-Line Training"

• Matthew Fisher - How to Hack a Website

Matthew Fisher, Senior Security Engineer for SPI Dynamics, is responsible for advising and consulting the federal government, military and the Fortune five on web application security.

Prior to joining SPI Dynamics, he served for six years in the Army reserves where he acted as an intelligence analyst within an infantry unit.

He holds multiple certifications from Microsoft, Checkpoint and ICS² including the CNA, MCP, CCSA and CCSE. He also retains a CISSP Certification (Certified Information Services Security Professional).

Matthew has spoken on the topic of web application security at numerous conferences including the Gartner's Sector5. IP3 and the Department of Interior CyberSecurity Conference. He recently addressed the New York State Government and an ISSA (Information Systems Security Association) chapter in St. Louis on the topic.

• Chris Ross - Be the First to see Microsoft Office 2003

Christopher M. Ross is a Business Productivity Technology Specialist, responsible for the Microsoft Office System, Windows XP and the Tablet PC. Located in the Midwest, he is primarily engaged to advise IT management and business executives regarding technical merits and business value associated with Microsoft's products, and how to integrate them into their environments. Prior to joining Microsoft, Chris spent 16 years in consulting and IT management roles in the manufacturing and financial services industries.