COMMON POWERUp 2025: Full Schedule

Unlock the Power of IBM i at POWERUp 2025!

Join us in Disneyland, California, for POWERUp 2025, the premier conference for IBM i professionals. Whether you’re an experienced expert or just starting your IBM i journey, this event offers unparalleled education, hands-on workshops, and valuable networking opportunities. Stay ahead of the curve with insights from industry leaders, explore the latest innovations, and connect with a thriving community that shares your passion for IBM i. Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge, grow your skills, and power up your career!

3:15pm PDT

How to Remain Relevant in a changing IT Environment

Monday May 19, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT

Room 12

In today's dynamic IT and business landscape, both companies and employees face significant educational challenges. What skills are essential for current and future business demands? How can both parties navigate these challenges effectively? Decisions about what to learn, how to learn, and the timing of education are crucial when preparing for future needs, varying with an individual's career stage. Jim explores these issues and more in this presentation, offering insights valuable for both managers and employees.

The Question of Relevance?
How to Gauge Your Relevance
Uh Oh... I'm Not Relevant (What to Do)
Balancing Business and IT Skills
Specialist vs. Generalist - Should We Hire a Consultant?

Speakers

Jim Buck

CEO & Head Instructor, imPower Technologies

Jim Buck’s career in IT has spanned more than 35+ years, primarily in college education, manufacturing, and healthcare industries. Past president (13 years) of the Wisconsin Midrange Computer Professional Association (www.wmcpa.org) and has served on several teams developing IBM... Read More →

Monday May 19, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT
Room 12 1150 Magic Way, Anaheim, CA 92802

Developing Business Skills

5:05pm PDT

Using an Entrepreneurial Approach to Advance Your Career

Monday May 19, 2025 5:05pm - 5:25pm PDT

Room 2

In this session, participants will explore how adopting an entrepreneurial mindset can empower them to accelerate their career growth and achieve professional success. By leveraging the principles of entrepreneurship, attendees will discover strategies to navigate their career paths, seize opportunities, and drive their success.
Whether you're looking to climb the corporate ladder, transition to a new industry, or start your own venture, this session will provide valuable insights and actionable strategies to help you succeed. Participants will leave with a clear understanding of how to think and act like an entrepreneur in their careers.

Speakers

Kim Greene

Monday May 19, 2025 5:05pm - 5:25pm PDT
Room 2 1150 Magic Way, Anaheim, CA 92802

Developing Business Skills

9:15am PDT

Are you a Sail or an Anchor?

Wednesday May 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am PDT

Room 9

Throughout your career you will be placed into many situations. You will work with peers, subordinates and superiors. You will work with vendors and customers. You will work with those inside and outside of Information Technology. All of those people will form an opinion of you. What will it be?

Each time you meet a challenge, each time you are asked for your opinion, each time you will provide input. In what manner will you respond?

At the end of the day, will people think of you as a Sail or an Anchor?

Speakers

Larry Bolhuis

Cloud and Datacenter Engineer, IBM Champion, Service Express Inc.

Larry has grown up with computers since his father became a CE in 1967. He obtained a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Calvin College in 1982 and soon after began working on IBM midrange equipment with the S/34 and S/36. Larry began working on the As/400 at its introduction In 1988.After spending many years as a developer Larry began working on communications, networking, and systems management tasks. Years of... Read More →

Wednesday May 21, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am PDT
Room 9 1150 Magic Way, Anaheim, CA 92802

Developing Business Skills

10:45am PDT

A customer's journey: From Legacy to WOW!

Wednesday May 21, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am PDT

Room 4

We’ve all heard the saying: Don’t be afraid of change - be afraid of not changing. But let’s be honest - change is hard. Whether it’s outdated technology, entrenched processes, or resistance from within, modernization can feel like an uphill battle. Does it frustrate you when your applications are labeled legacy? You're not alone. This session is a real-world case study of how one retailer navigated the journey to modern application development using IBM technologies, including Power, IBM i, Ansible, and more. Along the way, they didn’t just modernize their apps—they transformed how IT is perceived within the company. IT is in a prime position to drive meaningful change. But how do you start? How do you overcome resistance and build excitement? In this session, you’ll learn practical strategies to shift mindsets, gain leadership buy-in, and turn legacy into WOW!

Speakers

Steve Wolk

CTO, PC Richard & Son

Steven Wolk is the Chief Technology Officer for PC Richard & Son, a family owned and operated chain of 66 appliance and electronics superstores located throughout NY, NJ, CT, and PA. Founded in 1909, PC Richard has always been known for honesty, integrity, and reliability throughout... Read More →

Wednesday May 21, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am PDT
Room 4 1150 Magic Way, Anaheim, CA 92802

Developing Business Skills

3:45pm PDT

Everything they never taught you!

Wednesday May 21, 2025 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT

Room 3

Ok, maybe we're setting the bar a little high by saying EVERYTHING, but did you ever feel like all the people around you seem to just KNOW things, things you don't? Sure, you're a wiz with SQL, and no one codes RPG like you do, but when it comes to people skills, to working in teams, to communicating well, to building your career... Well, they never taught you THAT! Come to this session to learn everything you've been missing out on.

Speakers

Steve Wolk

CTO, PC Richard & Son

Wednesday May 21, 2025 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT
Room 3 1150 Magic Way, Anaheim, CA 92802

Developing Business Skills

5:00pm PDT

The Ninja Guide to Building Teams and Creating Engagement!

Wednesday May 21, 2025 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT

Room 3

Sure, Ninjas are cool, and they're fun to talk about. And more importantly, there's a leadership lesson there... Ninjas are always 100% ENGAGED! They equate their personal success with the success of their team, and of their mission. How productive would your teams be if they were always completely engaged, like Ninjas? Whether you're a leader looking to learn the secrets behind building strong teams and keeping them engaged, or a team member who wants to better understand team dynamics, you'll find this session illuminating.

Speakers

Steve Wolk

CTO, PC Richard & Son

Wednesday May 21, 2025 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 3 1150 Magic Way, Anaheim, CA 92802

Developing Business Skills

3:00pm PDT

Accelerate your Excel!

Thursday May 22, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Room 3

Are you intimidated by spreadsheets? Do you use Excel for the basics, but know you could be so much more productive with it if only you knew how? Do you cringe when other business people within your company ask for data in spreadsheet form? Excel is a wonderful tool, especially when paired with the IBM i! It's incredibly powerful, and can save you lots of time. This session will begin with the basics and then progress through more advanced Excel topics such as functions, pivot tables, and array formulas. Using real life examples, you'll see how these new skills will help you in your career. Finally, we'll review powerful methods of pulling data from your IBM i directly into Excel spreadsheets! You'll even leave with sample code you can leverage within Excel to give you one click access to run an SQL statement from your desktop, and have the results returned in a spreadsheet. After each of the 25 topics covered, we’ll review by playing Excel Bingo, for prizes! Learn some great new Excel skills, have some fun, and maybe leave with a prize!

Speakers

Steve Wolk

CTO, PC Richard & Son

Thursday May 22, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 3 1150 Magic Way, Anaheim, CA 92802

Developing Business Skills