COMMON POWERUp 2024

About Avatier
Avatier is the leading workforce driven identity management company. Our Identity Anywhere cutting-edge identity management platform with a patent pending user experience framework secures and simplifies any IT operation through orchestration with push notification automated workflows and user-friendly self-service options.
Effortlessly Connect, Provision, & Audit Any Identity or App Using Today's Latest Platforms
Avatier Identity Anywhere™ offers a seamless, secure, and scalable experience, using the latest software innovations to provide an identity foundation for user lifecycle management, requesting access, orchestration, single sign-on, self-service password management (SSPM), vendor neutral passwordless windows workstation login, MFA migration management, and access governance. Whether you're in the cloud or on-premises, our platform seamlessly integrates with your favorite apps and devices. Plus, with our rapid deployment in just 14 days or less, along with personalized support from our expert team... Read more

Founded and forged during Y2K planning, AveriSource accelerates legacy modernization through application analysis, business rules extraction and AI-powered code transformation. Our mission is to eliminate the time, risk, and cost of application modernization—all within a single platform. Trusted by global Fortune 500 companies, the AveriSource Platform™ has analyzed over two billion of lines of code and has enabled more than 250 successful modernization projects. AveriSource is recognized as an AWS Migration and Modernization ISV Partner and is listed on the AWS Marketplace. The AveriSource...

Trusted, tailored accounts receivable automation, bank reconciliation, deductions, collections and accounts payable software. Powered by a seamless integration between banks and ERPs. Proven to increase cash flow management, eliminate manual processes, reduce DSO, and improve cash visibility. Discover how our global clients achieve significant levels of automation and completely transform their finance department. There is now a better way. 

CNX is the company behind the Valence Framework. Designed for both IBM i programmers and power users alike, Valence tools help you build intuitive, world-class desktop and mobile business applications in minimal time. Valence includes a portal for logging into your IBM i system through a browser or smartphone, a low-code "app builder" tool for creating custom apps and dashboards with little or no programming, a treasure trove of state-of-the- art UI components for use in your custom applications and more.
Get off to the races FAST with Valence — you can have some elaborate apps ready for your... Read more

Curbstone’s credit card transaction processing engine maximizes security while deeply and seamlessly integrating with core RPG-based business applications running on IBM i. Our technologies allow merchants to avoid storing, processing, touching, or transmitting credit card data and can remove their entire existing IT infrastructure from PCI scope, while retaining real-time card, integrated processing.

Since 1978, Cybernetics has specialized in helping corporations address disaster recovery and archiving requirements. In the early 1990s, Cybernetics introduced the world’s first disk-based virtual tape library (AS/400 compatible) capable of incredible backup and restore performance unparalleled in the industry. Cybernetics has continued to improve disk based backup and recovery for IBM midrange customers providing redundancy, encryption, deduplication, replication, thin tape provisioning and many more modern features for today’s data protection and rapid recovery requirements.

Fortra is a leader in IBM i security and automation. We're creating a simpler, stronger future for our customers. Our trusted experts and portfolio of integrated, scalable solutions bring balance and control to organizations around the world. We’re the positive changemakers and your relentless ally to provide peace of mind through every step of your IT journey

M81 software house = 600 firms are trusting our 2 products (Flash for i & Control for i) running on 1000+ IBM i LPARs in 23 countries = 10 years old = 48 partners (Resellers, Cloud providers, MSP) in the Americas and Europe.

M81 provides solutions to :
- Eliminate nearly completely the backup windows.
- Perform Save21 without production downtime.
- Generate or refresh on demand your UAT and Preprod environments.
- Make daily several ‘Instant-Copies’ (using few disk space) of your Prod LPAR for recovery purposes in case of data loss, corruption or encryption.
- Enrich your enterprise monitorin... Read more

Established in 1982, Software Engineering of America (SEA) has built a worldwide reputation as a leading provider of data center software solutions for organizations using IBM i and IBM Z technology. With products licensed at over 10,000 data centers worldwide, SEA’s customers include 9 of the Fortune 10 and over 90% of the Fortune 500. Our formula of superior product development, continual enhancement, and responsive service gives customers benefits and advanced capabilities that are unmatched in the marketplace. We provide a portfolio of highly intelligent and functionally rich tools that enable... Read more

I am a developer and open-source advocate. Ask me about Node.js, VS Code, app deployment and CICD :) 

Accelerating Change and Integration on IBM i
IBM i shops large and small trust software and services from Midrange Dynamics North America to evolve their IT strategies without hampering productivity. With Midrange Dynamics integrated solutions, you can meet your DevOps, application modernization, and CI/CD goals on schedule and on budget. Whether you are just getting started ‒ or lack software updates, responsive support, and reasonable fees from your current vendor ‒ we can help. Our team’s decades of experience will make it easier for you to build great applications...

Robert Andrews is a Principal Security Consultant, Senior Technical Staff Member (STSM), and the Team Lead for the IBM i Security and Authentication Technology Expert Labs team in Rochester, MN. He is an IBM certified Thought Leader and The Open Group certified Distinguished Technical Specialist having specialized in IT Security since 1994. As a Principal Security Consultant, Robert helps organizations across various industries worldwide strengthen their IBM i security posture. He is widely recognized for his deep understanding of IBM i systems, his ability to translate complex technical concepts... Read more

IBM Champion for Power since 2016, love the IBM i platform since my very first contact with it in 1997. Today I am the CEO for Load System in Sweden. An IBM business partner with focus on IBM Power, IBM Storage, IBM Z and LinuxONE.
CEO for Load System AB in Sweden since January 2024
Also Vice President for Common Europe.

Niel is FalconStor’s Regional Pre Sales Consultant and is a systems engineer with 30 years of data center infrastructure experience. Niel began his professional career at UPS, where he first worked on the IBM i platform as an AS/400 Systems Programmer. While at IBM, Niel was a development engineer in the storage, blade, and enterprise Power hardware brands. At Sirius, Niel was a Sr. Power Systems Engineer, where he was a 3-time IBM Power Champion. Niel uses systems engineering, problem determination, and customer service skills to solve client business challenges. With experience in most vertical... Read more

Josh Bander is an IBM i Account Executive based in Cleveland, Ohio. He works at Rocket Software, one of the leading IBM i software providers with familiar products such as Rocket DevOps (Aldon), iCluster, and Rocket API. Recently, Josh has become well-known within the IBM i community on LinkedIn for his #IBMiEverywhere series, in which he features various companies that run on the IBM i platform.

He was named a 2023 IBM Rising Star and a 2024 IBM Champion.

An avid cyclist with two young children at home, one of Josh's primary passions is in increasing productivity and efficiency in his professional life... Read more

Boris is a Principle Technology Architect for the Assure Security product at Precisely where he's helping to architect security solutions for IBM i. Boris started his career in IT security in the year 2000 as a Windows and IBM i developer in a start-up named Bsafe (later known as Enforcive). Since then he has helped to develop and then design and architect multiple security solutions on IBM i, Windows, Linux and AIX. Solutions like System Access Control, Reporting and Alerting, Event Log Management, Privileged Account Management, Encryption and Masking, Corporate and Regulatory Compliance, Password... Read more

Over thirty years of experience in the information technology profession, focusing in software application development and web-based architecture. Comprehensive knowledge of application development focusing on Intel and IBM based server platforms.

Responsible for the analysis, planning, development and project management of company's emerging technology strategies, Internet/Intranet activities.

Disciplines include PHP, AJAX, JSON, XML, HTML5, CSS3 and jQuery.

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 and COMMON certification tests. Jim has co-authored several IBM i books with Bryan Meyers that are used by many companies and in colleges worldwide, "Programming in ILE RPG" 5th Edition being the latest in 2015.Other accomplishments include; recipient of the 2007 IBM System i Innovation – Education Excellence Award, 201... Read more

IPASA is an IBM BP since 1986, almost from the  begining of IBM BP plans. Since then we have been IBM Power i specialists (S/36 and S/38 then) and we have built an customers Group as well. We meet every month to study and share new knowledge, techniques and experience around IBM Power i since a long time ago (more than 30 years)
Glad to be here.

Developer with 30+ years experience. Talk to me about IBM i, RPG, and SQL.

Don't ask me, if you do not want to know the answer ;-)

I'm a 40 year veteran of the IBM i (System/38,AS/400, iSeries, IBM i). My background is in Manufacturing and Performance. I specialize is tuning older systems to extend their life.

I am also a JDE CNC (18 years), and my second specialty is JDE/IBM i/Weblogic.

I work for IBM Technology Expert Labs, where our consultants’ proven expertise derives from a combination of business and extensive practical technical experience, leveraging proven tools and methodologies. Our Expert Labs consultants perform IT Infrastructure services for clients on site, helping them solve business challenges, gain new skills, and discover best practices. We have a global presence and can deploy its consultants in any region as required. We have IBM i experts!

* Ranga has been using IBM i and its predecessors in his entire IT professional career at Jules Bordet Institute, the Comprehensive Cancer Centre of the University of Brussels, Belgium.
* Ranga is passionately active since 1987 in IBM Power Systems user groups with special interest in IBM i
* Ranga's passion is Environment, Sustainability and Governance in IT and especially IBM Power Systems.
* Ranga is an IBM Champion since 2012; Common Europe Hall of Fame inductee in it's inaugural year 2023 and is a recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award of the CIO Executive Circle, Belgium.
* He is Immediate... Read more

Ann Detjen is professional services delivery leader with over 300 consultants that have deep technical expertise and extensive project experience in cloud, automation, security, modernization, resiliency and performance. This experienced team of IBM Power experts around the globe, leverage proven methodologies, practices, and patterns are at your service to help develop solutions to complex problems, while creating better business outcomes with a higher return on investment. Having the right technology is important, but even more critical is having the right expertise as part of your extended team... Read more

Jessica joined IBM in 2001 as a Mechanical Design Engineer working on Power, Storage, and Research Systems. After five years working in mechanical design, she then moved into managing software and hardware test teams within the Systems Assurance organization. She also led the Power Client Care Project Office, which was responsible for resolving formal complaints and critical situations for clients, followed by a role with Systems Strategy. A 13-month assignment in Armonk, NY followed as Chief of Staff for IBM Senior Vice President, Bob Picciano. This role led to her executive appointment in 2019... Read more

I'm part of a two men team and are responsible for the day to day management of our Power and IBM i platform. We know a few things about BRMS, HA, Performance Tools and the Power hardware as well as external storage (DS8K).

Database design, Modernization for the database as well green screens. Tools we use are: MDCMS for change management, TAATOOLS, RDi, Webreport/i for emailing reports, Robot/Schedule, GoAnywhere, DBU, X-Analysis, Presto

For over 30 years, Ray has helped companies understand, develop and manage their RPG, COBOL and CA 2E application environments. He also specializes in helping clients enhance and modernize their systems to meet evolving business demands and take advantage of digital transformation opportunities.

Margaret started working for IBM in 1983 on the S/36. From 1986-1994 she worked in various areas of what is now the IBM i including Authorization Management support of POSIX and the integrated file system. She worked on the port of SAP R/3 from 1994-1997. In 1998 Margaret joined the integrated file system team. As a member of the integrated file system team she has worked on the file server, QFileSvr.400 file system and the utilities to convert to the new directory format. Margaret is currently a member of the integrated file system and servers development team.

A young IBM i enthusiast who is ecstatic to have found such an amazing community! Specialized in systems administration, network administration, cybersecurity, with a programming background from university. Eager to learn and help more and more people realize the potential the system i has for businesses and organizations. Let's change the world!  

I embarked on a dynamic career journey leading me to IBM, where I've dedicated over two decades to diverse roles. Beginning as an intern in 2004, I've navigated through Sales Operations, IT Strategy Consulting, and leadership in Systems Technical Sales, making significant contributions to various business units, including IBM Services and IBM Software Group. After leading the Lenovo Systems portfolio in Brazil after IBM's x86 spin-off, I returned to IBM in 2018 with leadership roles in IBM Systems for Latin America. Since 2020, I've been at the forefront of the worldwide business for IBM Power... Read more

Websmart
Agile
Dev Ops
Working in IT for 30+ years. In the Mortgage Industry for 28 of those.

Vern has worked on IBM midrange systems for over 30 years, beginning with the System/38 and AS/400. At present he is a senior software engineer for the Pest Elimination division of Ecolab. He serves on the COMMON Americas Advisory Council (CAAC) and SET and is one of the SMEs for Db2. He is also honored to have been named an IBM Champion for 2024. He is degreed in both music and mathematics, which gives him a distinct approach to the art and science of programming. In his spare time he participates in various musical pursuits. Most recently he directs a church choir, plays keyboard in the Zuhrah... Read more

Let's talk about Mult-Carrier Shipping Software that runs natively on Your IBMi Power server.

I've got one year to go before I retire....  The boss said to "give back", and since that matched my plans anyways; here we go.  I present 4 classes on IBM i Security, showing all of the gory details.  Some can be leveraged for just system administration, and some elements work for security as well.  Always good if we can get more effect from less work.

I like being a system administrator - always a challenge, and usually interesting stuff.

Considering becoming available as a consultant for system admin and security; should there be interest...
-- in any case; my code is available in each cou... Read more

VP, Technology

I consult with clients regarding Cloud and Managed Services.

Tom Huntington is Executive Vice President of Technical Solutions at Fortra, and has been with the company for over 35 years. He helps manage the worldwide Fortra software engineer team that works to integrate and promote our automation and security solutions to partners and customers around the globe.Tom often speaks on enterprise scheduling, security, automation topics, IBM i technology, and the Fortra products, and hosts technical presentations on a variety of automation topics. He is the author of the Fortra IBM i Marketplace Survey and has written articles on automated operations, security, cloud computing, and business intelligence for leading trade journals and newsletters. He was named an IBM Champion the past seven consecutive years for his more than three decades of advocation and thought leadership on the IBM i platform... Read more

Simon Hutchinson has been writing his highly acclaimed IBM i blog, RPGPGM.COM, for eleven years sharing his knowledge, experience, and giving many detailed examples of the latest RPG, SQL, and CL. His work has led him to be recognized by IBM as an IBM Champion for Power and IBM i Community Advocate. He is a subject matter expert for COMMON North America and, last year, winner of their John Earle Speaker Scholarship in recognition for his contribution to the community. Since its founding Simon has been the president of the Central Texas IBM i User Group (CTXiUG... Read more

Formerly Krengeltech, Kato Integrations is an IBM i solution provider offering API toolkits used to connect many of today’s most popular services with the IBM i platform. Combined with hosting services and a highly experienced professional services team, Kato Integrations has become a leading solution provider for today’s most competitive businesses.

IBM i and JD Edwards Developer. Free RPG, SQL, JDE, Java interfaces, MS SQL

I have been involved in High Availability and Disaster Recovery Power Systems and previous models for over 20 years.

Scott Klement is a Development and Solutions Architect at Midrange Dynamics. He also volunteers as a member of COMMON's Board of Directors and Strategic Education Team. He is the author of around 1000 articles and a dozen open source projects. Scott's efforts to help out the IBM i Community have resulted in dozens of awards and accolades, including an IBM Innovation Award, Gary Guthrie Award, Al Barsa Scholarship, John T Earl Scholarship, medals from the American Society of Business Publication Editors, and the COMMON Speaker Excellence Hall of Fame. IBM has named Scott an IBM Champion for Power... Read more

Puneet Kohli is the President of Application Modernization BU at Rocket Software. Puneet has two decades of experience managing all facets of engineering for enterprise software. Puneet has deep knowledge of Identity and access management, governance risk & compliance, Devops, hybrid converged infrastructure and modernization. Puneet has held leadership positions at RSA, Dell& CA technologies in past.

Programming software development provider offering services for a wide range of businesses including Fortune 100 companies and NYSE-listed companies. We have over 1,000 developers on staff we can help with almost any development need. We believe we should modify our process and goals for the client, not the other way around. Our flexibility gives our clients peace of mind. As our client, you can hire individual developers or a whole team. You can hire us just for a project, or you can turn your software over to us for timely upgrades and support. We offer the option to hire full-time, part-time... Read more

James is Executive Director of the OpenPower Foundation, with over 10 years of open source experience across hardware, software, and network engineering disciplines. James brings a passion for open source and is committed to growing OpenPower Foundation’s membership, community, and ecosystem.
He is a seasoned entrepreneur with a background in enterprise technology and has worked in roles spanning operations, business development, product management, and engineering.

Previously, James was co-founder and COO at Hyper.sh, an open source cloud-native virtualization startup and creator of the OSS K... Read more