Agenda
25th Annual TribalNet Conference & Tradeshow

Do you know what data you can access about tribes and tribal technology from TribalHub? Is your own tribe or tribal enterprise tech data updated so you can benchmark your own tech systems and structures against other tribes across the nation? What about your contacts? Stop by the DataHub to make sure your tribe’s technology profile is current and to let Connor or Samantha from TribalHub quickly assist you with any updates or information. Every person that comes by to update their information will receive an entry into a drawing to win one of THREE great prizes. Make sure you get to the DataHub!

Come see the TribalNet team to pick up your badge and all your conference materials to get you set for the week!

Grab breakfast sponsored by SHI International Corp. and Samsung! MC Chad Dixson gets you ready for the days ahead- lots of info to help you have the best experience at TribalNet 2024. Also be ready in the crowd to snag a FREE TribalNet 25th anniversary t-shirt- will be giving several away during this opening!

We love our TribalHub Members! Come enjoy refreshments and grab your Welcome Gift! (*Tribal Government/Enterprise members only)

Special thanks to Microsoft for keeping us connected! No need to run back to your room or find a business center- stop by the device station to keep up with emails between sessions.

There are lots of methods to budget for technology in a tribe, but is there a best proven practice among those? How do you fairly and accurately fund shared resources like: hardware, software, people, infrastructure, communications, capital outlays, licensing, maintenance and more. Attend this session to hear our presenters discuss options for tribes to consider in IT budgeting and management. Best practices for elevating your capital budgeting process. Overcoming top challenges in budgeting: Data integrity, manual time consuming processes, and capex budget and ongoing maintenance agreement budgets. Processes for budgeting depending on your FPA maturity level: best practices to strategize for and enhance your budgeting processes to ensure the latest technology is available and annual licensing costs are not missed throughout the budget cycle. Considerations for Centralized vs Decentralized budgeting processes: best practices for budgeting for capital asset wish lists, maintenance agreements, and annual licensing needs.

Why do departments and key users continue to isolate, protect and use their own limited data silos? What can you do to fix this? In this session we will be discussing the importance of removing data silos, AI and its impact when data silos are removed and the impact on value creation. Success stories of early adopters will be shared in this journey to digital transformation. A look at the role of the casino leadership team in unleashing value from data. Hear lessons learned and takeaways. Is it time to rethink the way business is run?

Developing talent and providing a career path in IT can be challenging. With technical skills in high demand, it is often difficult to simply retain talent and recruit for your own open positions. This is particularly true with the plentiful number of remote positions out there from technology companies much larger than tribes. So, how can you identify talent for career progression and successfully put individuals on a path that will benefit your own organization for the investment you are making? Listen in on this session as the discussion highlights opportunities to develop a pipeline of talent and best practices in cultivating this talent.

Security Awareness programs will remain critical to every tribe and tribal enterprise as long as we continue to deal with cybersecurity threats. The weakest link in the chain and easiest attack vector for threat actors continues to be….people. Learn what trends to monitor and how to understand user behavior within departments and teams. Discuss ways to encourage and celebrate secure user behavior. Speaker will touch on tailored training content as well as not only how to just discover problem areas but solutions to address those weaknesses. Last, one of the most critical parts- leadership engagement. A successful cybersecurity awareness program REQUIRES executive level support. This session is one on the cyber track that is meant for EVERYONE!

Thank you to our break sponsors for helping us all re-fuel!

Every tribe should have at least an “Acceptable Use” policy for AI and AI tools in their tribe, and this session is intended to help you make sure to have that done professionally in your own tribe. You probably don’t want to lose the benefits that AI tools and systems can provide, but you also don’t want to put your data or systems at risk in a “wild west” AI environment.

Learn about the dominant project management methodologies and how to choose the right one for your project. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of each style and get tips for applying them effectively.

Join our presenters in this session to learn about some of the newest technologies and tools that are helping tribes to improve their operations, raise revenues or reduce costs. Especially important given the increasing pressure of inflation, rising labor costs and economic uncertainty. What technology can leadership invest in to continue to provide member services and be competitive and successful in enterprises? Sometimes it is the simple things and purpose driven technology that make the greatest difference. What can you be considering?

Recognizing that cybersecurity is a fundamental organizational responsibility, this session will explore critical strategies for tribal executives and IT leadership to foster a robust security culture. Our presenters will delve into practical steps to prioritize and implement effective cybersecurity practices across the entire organization, emphasizing the importance of securing buy-in from all levels of the organization to ensure a unified and proactive approach to cybersecurity.

Do NOT miss this!!!! Not only will you be hungry for lunch after a great first day morning, this is THE 25th Anniversary kick off! Words from our MC, Chad Dixson, giveaways and a Then and Now video you won’t want to miss.

An overview of how Choctaw Nation Information Security created a comprehensive Vulnerability Management Program. Over the course of 18 months CNO Information Security transformed how the tribe identifies, tracks, and remediates vulnerabilities. We moved from simply scanning assets every month and emailing reports to system owners, to identifying and scanning assets, tracking vulnerabilities, automating ITSM tickets for remediation, measuring remediation efforts and reporting progress to leadership. We successfully created a VMP working group that meets monthly to discuss challenges, share tips and tricks, identify emerging threats, and celebrate successes.

With great power comes great responsibility. Those are important words when it comes to harnessing AI tools, generative AI and AI produced output. What does it mean to use AI responsibly or ethically. This session will discuss those topics and provide some recommendations

Everyone involved in gaming and hospitality should join this session to hear directly from our panelists representing gaming system leaders at Aristocrat, IGT, Light & Wonder and CasinoTrac on the current and future technology surrounding core casino gaming systems. Questions answered and topics covered such as; Industry Trends and Future Outlook, Technological Advancements, Regulatory and Compliance Challenges, Customer Experience and Personalization, Competitive Landscape, Operational Efficiency, Future Strategies and Customer Support. Moderated by Virgil Debrosse, IT Sr Account Manager at Chickasaw Nation and Patrick Tinklenberg, VP of IT at Sycuan Casino with time for questions from the audience, this session is a must attend!

How involved are you with the election process at your tribe and what best practices could you be implementing and should you know about holding tribal elections? It’s a critical part of tribal community development and future generations. Hear from a tribe as well as the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC). The EI-ISAC works with state, local, tribal and territorial election officials to protect critical election infrastructure. With the Presidential election rapidly approaching, this presentation will focus on how the election environment has changed since 2020 and the cyber, physical and insider threats election officials are facing. Learn about some best practices surrounding this important topic for any Native American tribal community large, midsize or small.

Would you like to join us for an insightful session on “Shared Services – Driving Efficiency and Excellence”? Our presenters will delve into the transformative power of centralizing support functions within organizations. Consolidation in areas such as Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Supply Chain, and Technology Services often proves advantageous through economies of scale. Attendees will gain valuable perspectives into the benefits and challenges of consolidating shared service offerings, as discussed by our expert presenters.

Thank you to our break sponsors for helping us all re-fuel!

Join members of the Tribal Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Tribal-ISAC) 501(c)3 non-profit for tribes, by tribes, Steering Committee as they lead an informative and immersive session giving attendees an experience of what it’s like to be a Tribal-ISAC member. This session is open to those employed by tribal governments, gaming enterprises or health facilities only.

AI isn’t just a dream anymore. Tools and concepts can provide opportunities for tribal health facilities that gain them time, improve efficiency and improve overall care. In this session speakers focus on the potential of AI for optimizing clinical operations. Learn how AI can improve efficiency in patient and administrative processes. Discover strategies to help providers overcome hesitancy around adopting AI to streamline patient encounters. Learn best practices for successful AI implementation in tribal health settings with insights from both an administrator and a provider.

Native American tribes and enterprises are increasingly utilizing drones to support a range of activities in their communities and businesses. These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are being deployed for environmental monitoring, such as tracking wildlife, assessing the health of forests, and monitoring water sources. Drones are also being used in land management to survey and protect sacred sites, map tribal lands, and monitor illegal activities like poaching or trespassing. Additionally, they play a role in disaster response by providing real-time data during wildfires or floods. Drones and ArcGIS help Tribal communities preserve their lands, resources, and cultural heritage more effectively. ArcGIS also enables tribes to share this information within their community and with external entities.

What information matters most to you, your team, and your leadership? How do we help lead the strategy and critical business decisions of your organizations? In this session we will discuss how to best communicate your contribution to business value, and how to best leverage current data analytics, tools, and meaningful KPIs to enable truly data driven timely decisions for our organizations.

As a leader, what should you know OR be asking for? Communicating the needs, success and large risks of any cybersecurity team or program can be complicated and challenging. In this session, we will demystify Cybersecurity Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), focusing on how Tribal entities can develop and utilize simplified, meaningful, and impactful metrics. We will discuss the importance of selecting KPIs that align with the unique cultural, economic, and operational contexts of Tribal organizations. Attendees will learn how to identify critical metrics that effectively measure cybersecurity posture, track progress, and communicate risks to leadership and community stakeholders. Key topics will include incident response planning, vulnerability management, user awareness training, and compliance with regulatory requirements. By the end of the session, Tribal admin and IT leadership will be equipped with practical tools to create a cybersecurity KPI framework that enhances transparency, supports strategic decision-making, and fosters a robust security culture within their communities.

Come see the TribalNet team to pick up your badge and all your conference materials to get you set for the week!

Do you know what data you can access about tribes and tribal technology from TribalHub? Is your own tribe or tribal enterprise tech data updated so you can benchmark your own tech systems and structures against other tribes across the nation? What about your contacts? Stop by the DataHub to make sure your tribe’s technology profile is current and to let Connor or Samantha from TribalHub quickly assist you with any updates or information. Every person that comes by to update their information will receive an entry into a drawing to win one of THREE great prizes. Make sure you get to the DataHub!

We love our TribalHub Members! Come enjoy refreshments and grab your Welcome Gift! (*Tribal Government/Enterprise members only)

Fuel up and get yourself ready for a great day ahead!

Leadership is the process of influencing others in a manner that enhances their contribution to the realization of group goals.
Effective Leadership is a function of the Leader’s Style, Followers' Motivation and Skills, and the Business Environment. This requires self-awareness, self-learning, and self-regulation, in short, self-leadership.
Everyone can be a self-leader, taking ownership and responsibility for achieving objectives, but often hit the roadblocks of 'framing' and 'firefighting'. Andrew illustrates how to accelerate with self-leadership and achieve accelerated results by having the right conversations.
Participants leave inspired, with increased ownership, self-awareness, and a practical framework to improve their leadership conversations, and deliver results.

Special thanks to Microsoft for keeping us connected! No need to run back to your room or find a business center- stop by the device station to keep up with emails between sessions.

The Indian Health Service (IHS) has progressed into the building phase of the complex, multi-year effort to modernize its Health Information Technology (IT) infrastructure. IHS will fully replace the Resource and Patient Management System (RPMS) and the RPMS Electronic Health Record (EHR) with the modern and commercial PATH EHR solution. HIT modernization will be a transformational effort for IHS and our tribal and urban Indian organization partners. This session will: 1) Provide an update on the progress of the HIT Modernization project to date, including the launch of the PATH HER brand; 2) Discuss the approach for enhancing data management and accessibility with PATH EHR; and 3) Share details on key benefits and features of using a shared EHR.

Unleashing AI tools with your tribal data offers unique opportunities and challenges compared to using open internet data. To gain real insights on customers or processes, it’s essential to connect AI to your valuable data – but preparation is key. This session covers best practices for AI readiness in the tribal government and enterprise space.

Use cases, downside and upside- funding, loading, cost, customer experience- all of it! What have we learned when it comes to cashless and digital wallets across tribal casinos, hotels and retail? Has it lived up to the initial hype in the venues that have embraced it? What are the pros and cons? If you are considering a move to cashless or just want an update on where this technology is at, this session is for you.

Growing, advancing and improving your existing leadership teams is a problem we all face. Join this session to learn how operational team strategy sessions can provide more engagement, collaboration and an improved culture at your tribe.

Thank you to our break sponsors for helping us all re-fuel!

AI 101: Join this session to learn in simple terms what AI is, what it is not, and what all leaders should know about AI and their tribe or tribal enterprise. This session is intended for tribal executives that want to quickly get up to speed on AI, or for technical leaders that want to learn some ways to talk about AI with their own Executive Teams.

Join this session as we discuss how seemingly endless digital display expansion requires effective content delivery and management systems and operations. From wayfinding to marketing displays, menu displays, advertising displays and multi-use displays – the need to consolidate and coordinate content management has never been greater. How do you make it easier to deliver the perfect message, ad or content on the correct device at the right time?

As technology rapidly evolves, so too does its potential to transform healthcare. This session, tailored for Native American technology professionals, explores the future of Health IT with a focus on how emerging innovations can address the unique healthcare needs and challenges faced by Native communities. We will delve into advancements in telemedicine, electronic health records, and AI-driven diagnostics, digital transformation and cybersecurity, emphasizing their applications in improving accessibility and quality of care in remote and underserved areas. Our discussion will also highlight successful case studies where technology has bridged gaps in healthcare delivery, providing actionable insights on integrating these solutions into tribal health systems. Furthermore, we will explore ethical considerations, data sovereignty, and the importance of culturally sensitive technology design. Join us to envision a future where Health IT not only advances medical care but also respects and enhances the values and traditions of Native American communities.

The increase in ransomware attacks, particularly at tribal properties, continues to keep IT teams and leadership up at night. What information can help to prepare, protect and mitigate? This all-star panel will lead the discussion in ransomware threat landscape from a Former FBI perspective, insights from a global cyber law firm on the legal watch outs and speed of engagement during a ransomware event, and finally identifying key preparation steps, rehearsal, communication plans, and a ransomware decision matrix. These and many other items will aid you in your first twenty-four hours! Attendees of this session will be initially or further familiarized with key legal considerations and key communication strategies during and after a ransomware incident. This is one not to miss.

All Vendors at TribalNet, whether you are Sponsoring, Exhibiting, or coming as an Attendee, are welcome to join us and learn more about TribalHub’s initiative in providing opportunities for tribes to access to new products, services, learning and more through our TribalHub divisions. How does your organization fit into the picture?

Thank you to our lunch sponsors!

Tribes have a unique challenge of maximizing both business value and the cultural or government needs of the tribe. How do you balance those to achieve maximum success? Our presenters discuss the challenges and opportunities with aligning these competing priorities. They will be discussing setting up your economic development organization for success: do’s and don’ts as well as how to set expectations for success with your Tribal Government. Considerations on how to balance membership expectations with business development goals.

In a world where digital connectivity is no longer a luxury but a necessity, digital citizen engagement is your gateway to unlocking transformative potential for tribal nations of all sizes. Effective digital outreach empowers your tribe to meet unexpected challenges, streamline services, and assert sovereignty in the digital age. Join us for this vital session designed to guide you through the critical steps of establishing and sustaining robust digital outreach strategies that serve all community members, regardless of their technical capabilities.

Join us for an inspiring and empowering women in technology panel. This panel brings together a diverse group of accomplished women in who are in pursuit of positively impacting the current underrepresentation of young girls and women in technology. Attendees will hear stories of the impact and the progress being made towards a shared support for women in technology. Hear and contribute to the discussion of personal journeys, strategies, opportunities and groups that support the effort. A session creating the space for knowledge sharing, idea generations, and the exploration of new possibilities for collective action and a celebration of the power of alliance and potential for organizations to create meaningful change when they come together.

Meet 200+ technology focused exhibitors in ONE place. The premier vendors and suppliers that support the massive amount of technology used by tribes and tribal enterprises all in one place.

Thank you to our break sponsors for helping us all re-fuel!

Green and Blue badge holders- don’t forget your blue wristband! Wear it to enjoy food and drinks on the tradeshow floor.

Fuel up for a great day ahead!

It’s 2024, yet IT-related security events and confirmed data breaches are still dominating the headlines. The interesting thing is most of today’s security challenges have already been solved. The solutions are often crystal clear, yet they're quickly downplayed, ignored, or simply forgotten. There’s seemingly not enough time in the day or money in the budget to make things happen. No matter how resilient your IT environment appears, there’s always more that can be done. This is especially true in terms of the security "basics". In this informative keynote address, Kevin will borrow concepts from human psychology and share stories from his work to make the case that, once certain impediments are overcome, reasonable security can be achieved to stop this cycle of security incidents moving forward.

Come see the TribalNet team to pick up your badge and all your conference materials to get you set for the week!

Special thanks to Microsoft for keeping us connected! No need to run back to your room or find a business center- stop by the device station to keep up with emails between sessions.

Disaster Recovery and Incident Response have intersected in modern technology policy and procedures. What should be included in these plans, and how can it be done in a realistic and achievable manner? In this session presenters will discuss the various parts of a DRP and best practices for getting this critical roadmap in place. Additionally, regardless whether it’s a cyberattack or a nautical disaster, having a business impact analysis is a crucial step to identify potential impact if/when a disruption occurs. Presenters in this session will share best practices and some lessons learned.

Healthcare organizations are a highly lucrative and vulnerable target for hackers. There are steps healthcare organizations can take to pre-assess vendors for risk, incorporate risk management into contracts, continuously monitor vendors for security risk and collaborate with them to protect against a breach. Security breaches in healthcare can have the following impacts: financial, reputational, patient care, recovery and lawsuits.

Are great leaders born that way, or do they evolve into leadership over time? What are the secrets to success as a leader? Our presenter will guide you through the habits and skills that great leaders possess. Participants will be able to: Identify their own leadership strengths regardless of their role in an organization Participants will be able to: Articulate 5 exemplary practices of excellent leadership Participants will be able to: Design a goal to integrate on of the exemplary practices of excellent leadership Participants will be able to: Reflect on leadership at the level of organization and identify opportunities for growth. This session will be a workshop format that first deals with secrets of success for leaders at the individual level, it will then move on to leadership at the organizational level and share best practices for organizations to articulate leadership behaviors that are unique to their organization.

Highlighting the importance of building relationships to establish and cultivate collaboration between IT and the businesses we support; this session aims to give attendees the necessary takeaways to become their own IT champion and business advocate. We will discuss tools for improving collaboration, bridging communication gaps and overcoming common obstacles we experience when trying to align IT vision and business needs.

Thank you to our break sponsors for helping us all re-fuel!

No longer a future technology, AI is already being used inside of tribes in government, gaming & hospitality and healthcare. Join this session as our presenters share some real world examples of how AI is being leveraged in these areas of focus. Attendees will be empowered to make smart, value-generating decisions around AI that benefit their tribes and enterprises. Not only understanding AI fundamentals but a clear understanding of what Artificial Intelligence (AI) is, its different types, and how it’s moved from theory to real-world use. Participants of this session will be able to see real examples of how AI is being used to improve decision-making, enhance customer experiences, and drive innovation. Discover new trends, opportunities and identify potential risks in this field. Leave this session prepared to ask the right questions and provide strategic guidance to your teams in exploring AI opportunities

Clean data is important in many sectors, but in healthcare it’s critical. Data governance is the foundation for clean, reliable data, and if you’re engaged in a data migration project –to a new EHR or other clinical, financial, or business application – a clear data governance strategy is a must. In Tribal Health, the stakes are clear – a trusted data foundation is the cornerstone to both quality patient care, and the financial health of your organization. In this session we’ll discuss the key components of a data governance strategy, including considerations for legacy data, regulatory requirements, release of information requests, financial reimbursement, reporting and analytics, and much more. We will help you evaluate your organization’s readiness to support change and provide actionable steps to make a sustainable data governance program a reality.

When it comes to hospitality, you need to strategically balance the desire to maximize customer experience with the reality of operational and cost efficiency. This session is all about discussing the ways to do just that. How do you know if you are making the right investment- what’s too much and what’s not enough. Finding the right mix of customer experience enhancing technology solutions for your size property and your core customer expectations.

When it comes to data sovereignty, very few leaders at tribes and tribal enterprises are confident that they have a completely clear understanding of how to achieve this. Putting in place best practice data governance, data classification and data security is complicated and difficult in any tribe. Having a clear understanding of the “crown jewels” of data that truly needs to be protected is also a challenge to achieve. This session will share some ideas and practices that can help participants better understand, target and achieve stronger data sovereignty practices. Speakers will cover understanding the terms; Sovereignty and Security and reinforce that you can’t have one without the other. Hear practical strategies for exercising data sovereignty as well as managing third party risk.

Grab your lunch and find a seat- this is our closing lunch- thanks to our sponsors!

We all want to be brave. We all want to deliver when it matters... and in this session, you’ll be inspired to do both. Enduring tough times and turbulent change can bring fearful doubt which can affect our focus, wellness and the way we serve others. Based on his new book The Warrior Within, D.J. shares a unique, powerful perspective from Native American culture on what the warrior role is (and isn’t) about and how we can emulate the principles of that role to stay strong to contribute to our “tribe” (family, company, clients, community, etc.) -- and understand that the role of warriors can make us warriors in our roles! As he did as the host of his own PBS special Discovering Your Warrior Spirit, he’ll share with you, in a straightforward and entertaining way, how to navigate change with confidence and clarity, leverage scarce resources for maximum effect, maintain perspective, health (and a sense of humor) and continue to serve at our best even in chaos. Whether preparing to tackle the next 25 days, 25 weeks or 25 years, these principles will serve you well as we celebrate TribalNet’s 25th Annual Conference. Now is the time for warriors to stand up, be strong and lead by example – are you ready?

Explore the latest technological innovations and solutions that can benefit your organization. Over 200 vendors on the floor!

Check your badge holder and drop your keynote raffle ticket in the ballot box at the ballroom entrance to be entered to win! Winner announced at the close of the keynote. Must be present to win!

Thank you to our break sponsors for helping us all re-fuel!

Green and Blue badge holders- don’t forget your blue wristband! Wear it to enjoy food and drinks on the tradeshow floor.

Attendees gather as we giveaway some amazing booth prizes from the exhibitors on our show floor. PLUS, one lucky winner will win $2500- be sure you’ve collected your stamps and participated in the bingo run for your chance to win! Must be present to win.

Fuel up for a great day ahead or if you are traveling home today- let us get you started!

Empower your leadership and drive meaningful change in your organization! Join Purpose & Performance Group for an engaging and consultative workshop designed specifically for tribal technology leaders. This interactive session will guide you through the essential process of change management, helping you identify and overcome obstacles to change within your team or organization. Participants will explore various types of team and organizational changes that are unique to tribal contexts and brainstorm actionable areas for improvement. By the end of the workshop, participants will have designed a tangible change management plan, complete with feedback and support to ensure successful application post-conference.

In this interactive session, participants will be led through an actual workshop on cyber resilience – addressing why and how to develop cyber discussion-based exercises like workshops and tabletop exercises (TTXs). Through a modular approach, like most actual exercises, participants will discuss background concepts for exercises, what is needed, ways to make them successful, different types for different audiences and outcomes, and more. The session will be led by Andy Jabbour, founder and managing director of Gate 15, and a senior exercise practitioner and subject matter expert. Participants will be encouraged to share and learn from one another and to ask questions to help them leave with the information and confidence they need to return to their tribes and businesses able to bolster their organization’s cyber resilience through effective exercises.

Thank you to our break sponsors for helping us all re-fuel!

Be sure to join us next year for TribalNet 2025 in Reno, Nevada!