TribalNet offers something for everyone.
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or just starting your journey, a technical expert, or a non-technical professional – this event is designed with you in mind. Explore diverse sessions, connect with industry leaders, and gain insights tailored to tribal operations across all sectors.
- General Technology
- Cybersecurity
- AI
- Leadership/Executive
- Let’s Get Technical
- Tribal Gaming/Hospitality
- Tribal Government/Member Services
- Tribal Health Info Management
Sessions
| Time | Session | Speaker | Track | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, September 20, 2026 | ||||
| 8:45am to 9:15am CDT |
Coffee and Refreshments for Golfers
Registered for and heading to the Tribal-ISAC charity golf event? Fuel-up before you go! |
|
Golf Outing | Golf Pass Required |
| 9:15am to 9:15am CDT |
Shuttle to Tribal-ISAC Charity Golf Event
Must register in advance to participate. Visit tribalisac.org for more info. Grab a water or coffee to get you ready for the day. Hop on our shuttle for a free ride to the course. |
|
Golf Outing | Golf Pass Required |
| 9:45am to 10:45am CDT |
Player Check-In and Welcome Party
Check-in with us, grab your drinks and raffle tickets and try your hand at the putting contest! We'll help you get the day kicked off right! |
|
Golf Outing | Golf Pass Required |
| 11:00am to 11:00am CDT |
Tribal-ISAC Charity Golf Event - Shotgun Start
4-person scramble format, club rentals available, ask in advance to reserve |
|
Golf Outing | Golf Pass Required |
| 4:00pm to 5:00pm CDT |
Prizes, Raffles, Awards, and Hors D'oeuvres
Stick around for this fun gathering! |
|
Golf Outing | Golf Pass Required |
| 5:00pm to 5:00pm CDT |
Shuttle to Hotel
Don't miss your ride back to the hotel. |
|
Golf Outing | Golf Pass Required |
| 6:00pm to 7:30pm CDT |
The First Hello Cocktail Hour
Leave no guessing about where everyone will be—this is the official gathering spot to find old friends and make new connections! Settle in, grab a drink, and connect with the community as we kick off what’s sure to be an incredible week ahead. The perfect place to reunite, meet new faces, and start the event on a great note before the main programming begins. |
|
All | |
| Monday, September 21, 2026 | ||||
| 7:00am to 9:00am CDT |
Breakfast - Sponsored by NetApp
Thank you to our breakfast sponsor! Our MC will get you ready for the days ahead- lots of info to help you have the best experience at TribalNet 2026 |
|
Green & Blue | |
| 7:00am to 3:00pm CDT |
TribalHub DataHub - Sponsored by Agilysys and Tribal PPM Powered by Rego Consulting
Visiting TribalHub's DataHub ensures your tribe or tribal enterprise's technology profile is accurate and up to date. Check your badge for your DataHub ticket; it only takes a few minutes. As a thank you, you will receive a TribalNet T-shirt (only as supplies last) and a gift card for the onsite coffee shop. |
|
Green | |
| 7:00am to 3:00pm CDT |
VIP Welcome Lounge (*tribal gov't/enterprise members only)
Tribal Government or Enterprise members only. |
|
TribalHub Members (no associate members) | |
| 7:00am to 3:30pm CDT |
Registration/Check-In/Badge Pickup
Come see the TribalNet team to pick up your badge and all of your conference materials to get you set for the week. |
|
All | |
| 7:00am to 4:00pm CDT |
Tradeshow Setup ONLY
Sponsors can begin booth setup before the tradeshow officially opens. |
|
Blue & Red | |
| 7:30am to 2:30pm CDT |
Device Station - Sponsored by Microsoft
Open for all! Special thanks to Microsoft for keeping us connected. No need to run back to your room or find the business center. Stop by the Microsoft Device Center to keep up with emails in between sessions. |
|
All | |
| 9:00am to 9:30am CDT |
TribalNet Welcome - Making the Most of Your Time & TribalHub Community Recognitions
Join us for the opening of our 27th Annual TribalNet Conference & Tradeshow. Our MC will get you ready for the days ahead- lots of info to help you have the best experience at TribalNet 2026. Plus, we will kick off the week celebrating the TribalHub community and give special recognition to some of our community members who go above and beyond to engage, connect, and strengthen the TribalHub community throughout the year. Honoring this year’s standout Community Connectors, Regional Hosts, Creative Sponsors, and more! Get ready for an incredible week at TribalNet 2026! |
Green & Blue | ||
| 9:45am to 10:45am CDT |
Technology Responsibilities of Non-Tech Executives
This presentation combines the perspectives and offers attendees a practical view of how executive leadership influences technology outcomes beyond technical implementation. Grounded in real-world lessons learned from technology transformations, system implementations, process improvements, and organizational change efforts. Rather than focusing on technology itself, speakers provide actionable guidance on the leadership behaviors, decisions, and accountabilities that most directly impact project success, adoption, and long-term value realization. Attendees will leave with practical tools they can immediately apply within their own organizations, regardless of technical background. Learn how to confidently ask the right questions, evaluate tech proposals, and champion major IT initiatives from the top down. |
Leadership/Executive | Green & Blue | |
| 9:45am to 10:45am CDT |
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) - keeping the crown jewels of the organization safe
Every organization possesses critical data like customer records, employee and tribal enrollment files, and proprietary financial data—all of it must be protected at all costs. But do you know exactly where that data lives, where it travels, and who has access to it? This session demystifies Data Loss Prevention (DLP). Discover how to understand and map your organization’s "crown jewels," helping you build practical DLP policies that don't choke productivity, and leverage modern tools to stop data leaks before they happen. |
Cybersecurity | Green & Blue | |
| 9:45am to 10:45am CDT |
AI Purchasing and Licensing - what to consider in agreements and operations
Buying AI software is fundamentally different from purchasing traditional software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms. AI vendor contracts introduce entirely new legal and operational questions regarding data ownership, model training rights, algorithmic liability, and shifting cost structures. This session prepares procurement officers and leaders for AI negotiations. What to focus on, cut through the noise, paths to acquisition and alignment. Learn the critical clauses to look for in AI vendor agreements and how to ensure your organization retains complete ownership of its data. |
AI | Green & Blue | |
| 9:45am to 10:45am CDT |
The Tech Behind Better Guest Experiences
Moderated by Adam Dunn |
Tribal Gaming/Hospitality | Green & Blue | |
| 10:45am to 11:00am CDT |
Break - Sponsored By Eaton and World Wide Technology
Thank you to our break sponsors for helping us all re-fuel |
|
Green & Blue | |
| 11:00am to 12:00pm CDT |
The Foundational Policies and Practices for Tribes
AI isn't dangerous because it's powerful; it's dangerous when it's powerful without boundaries. Understanding why AI governance must come before AI adoption is paramount in keeping data secure and being successful in your AI endeavors. Before any tribal government or enterprise deploys an AI tool, a clear governance framework must be established to protect tribal resources, sovereignty, and employee integrity. Jumping into AI without clear guardrails invites severe data and compliance risks. This session outlines the essential first steps for crafting an organizational AI policy. Learn how to define acceptable use cases, establish basic security baselines, and protect your tribal data from being ingested by public AI models. The success of your AI strategy won't be defined by what it can do, but by how well you control it. Responsible AI use requires essential security baselines that include data protection, access control, and oversight. In this session we will review the foundational security practices that must be in place to safely support AI initiatives. |
AI | Green & Blue | |
| 11:00am to 12:00pm CDT |
Leadership's Role in AI
Non-IT Leaders have a very large role in setting the foundation and strategy for AI in their tribe or tribal enterprise. Leaders must define the strategic vision, set the boundaries, and guide the organizational culture through this massive technological shift. This session explores how executives can successfully champion AI initiatives, manage change resistance, and ensure AI adoption directly supports the long-term vision of the tribe or tribal enterprise. Pairing two perspectives the topic demands: a tribal CEO who owns AI strategy, investment, and risk at the enterprise level, and the IT leader responsible for turning that direction into working systems. Together, the speakers show the conversations between a CEO and an IT leader that shaped their approach, where leadership must set direction, and where it must get out of the way. Hear about what worked, and what didn't |
Leadership/Executive | Green & Blue | |
| 11:00am to 12:00pm CDT |
Data-Driven Health Tech - streamlined data systems
See how secure, connected data systems enhance care coordination, support informed decision-making, and help shape the future of behavioral health services. Go behind the scenes with the Choctaw Nation Tribal Research department to discover how they are transforming behavioral health grant evaluation through innovative, secure, and data-driven technology solutions. Through a real-world case study, this session will showcase the journey from spreadsheets to Power Apps and PowerBI dashboards, highlighting how streamlined data systems can reduce provider burden, strengthen care coordination, protect sensitive information, and support smarter decision-making for the future of tribal healthcare. |
Tribal Health Info Management | Green & Blue | |
| 11:00am to 12:00pm CDT |
Quantum and AI Frontiers - safeguarding tribal data sovereignty against emerging threats
This session empowers Tribal IT and security leaders with actionable insights into two rapidly evolving threat landscapes: quantum computing and frontier AI. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of where quantum technology stands today, which Tribal systems are most vulnerable, and how to build a cryptographic inventory and phased PQC migration plan tailored to real Tribal budgets and staffing. The session also explores how adversaries are leveraging advanced AI—including deepfakes, voice clones, and AI-driven attacks—across Tribal government, health, education, and gaming environments. Practical defense strategies are covered, such as verification protocols, AI-assisted detection for lean teams, securing AI deployments, and governance guardrails to protect Tribal data sovereignty. Participants leave with a prioritized roadmap, key vendor questions, and guidance on what to tackle in the next 12 months versus the next five years. |
Let’s Get Technical | Green & Blue | |
| 12:00pm to 1:15pm CDT |
Lunch - Sponsored By ImageSource
Thank you to our lunch sponsor! |
|
Green & Blue | |
| 12:30pm to 1:15pm CDT |
Conference Kick-Off with our MC, Chad Dixson
Join us and our amazing MC, Chad Dixson for the official kick-off to TribalNet 2026! Technology is changing the game for tribes—and no matter your role, that’s why you’re here. This welcome video will help you make the most of your TribalNet experience by connecting with your peers, discovering new ideas, and learning from the people shaping what’s next for Indian Country. Because no tribe is smarter alone. |
Green & Blue | ||
| 1:30pm to 2:30pm CDT |
The Active Directory Security Controls Attackers Hope You’ve Ignored
Active Directory remains a crown jewel for attackers looking to escalate privileges and move laterally across your network. This session gets into the weeds of AD hardening, focusing on misconfigurations that standard audits miss. This session breaks down ten overlooked Active Directory hardening measures that can significantly reduce ransomware risk, limit lateral movement, and prevent common privilege escalation techniques. Attendees will leave with a practical checklist for improving security without requiring a complete infrastructure redesign. |
Let’s Get Technical | Green & Blue | |
| 1:30pm to 2:30pm CDT |
Using PATH EHR to Enhance Traditional Medicine Practices for Holistic Care
This session explores how PATH EHR will support integration of traditional Native American healing practices into modern healthcare delivery while honoring cultural values and patient-centered care. PATH EHR allows documenting culturally relevant health information and incorporating traditional healing practices into care plans and improves communication among healthcare providers to promote holistic care. This session will discuss considerations for data governance, privacy, cultural sensitivity and care coordination, using uniquely created and thoughtfully designed workflows, to support improved health outcomes for Native American communities. |
Tribal Health Info Management | Green & Blue | |
| 1:30pm to 2:30pm CDT |
Regulators and IT - best practices for best results
The relationship between IT departments and regulatory bodies is often viewed as a balancing act between technological innovation and strict compliance. It doesn’t have to be a battle. This session discusses strategies for fostering a collaborative partnership between tech teams and gaming regulators and provides insight into the reasonings and motivations behind the actions of tribal gaming regulatory authorities. Recognize the root causes of friction between regulators and IT teams and translate regulatory requirements into clear, actionable language. Building an environment of trust that accelerates technology use while maintaining full compliance and a shared understanding of security and risk mitigation. Leave this session with more clarity on creating a partnership that supports innovation, security and regulatory confidence. |
Tribal Gaming/Hospitality | Green & Blue | |
| 1:30pm to 2:30pm CDT |
Leading and Managing the Tech Generation
This session is designed to move beyond generational stereotypes and give leaders practical ways to build connection across age, experience, and technology preferences. Today’s workforce spans multiple generations, each with wildly different expectations, habits, and preferences when it comes to technology. Managing this environment requires a thoughtful leadership strategy. Hiring, retaining, mentoring, and engaging the new generation of workers is a skill. What does the younger worker expect and need? It can be just as difficult for a young worker to understand a much older worker as it is for the older employee to understand the younger one. New tools that automate and digitize proven personal assessments and leadership concepts might be the best way to bridge the gap. In this sessions, we discuss creating a practical leadership plan to bridge generational gaps at work by using scalable coaching habits and technology to support connection, engagement, knowledge transfer, and long-term performance. |
Leadership/Executive | Green & Blue | |
| 2:30pm to 2:45pm CDT |
Break - Sponsored By Docusign and Esri
Thank you to our break sponsors for helping us all re-fuel |
|
Green & Blue | |
| 2:45pm to 3:45pm CDT |
Tribal-ISAC Turns 5 - celebrating our community, sharing the pulse - NOTE, THIS SESSION IS CLOSED TO VENDORS
Join Tribal-ISAC as we mark five years of strengthening cybersecurity across Indian Country! In this open session, we'll look back at key milestones and look ahead at what's next for our Tribal-ISAC community. We'll unveil highlights from The Pulse: The State of Cybersecurity Within Tribal Nations, our annual survey report capturing how tribes are evolving on staffing, budgets, and security practices. And because five years deserves a celebration, we're closing things out with an interactive game built just for this crowd. Expect laughs, friendly competition, and a few surprises. Whether you're a longtime member or learning about Tribal-ISAC for the first time, come connect, celebrate, and see what's possible when tribal nations share knowledge to stay secure together. |
Cybersecurity | Green (No Vendors) | |
| 2:45pm to 3:45pm CDT |
Understanding and Establishing AI Data Governance
AI tools are completely dependent on the data fed into them—meaning poor data quality or unmapped access controls will result in flawed outcomes and serious security liabilities. This session focuses on building an AI-ready data governance framework. This session dives into the CARE Principles (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, and Ethics), alongside OCAP and Free, Prior, and Informed Consent where relevant, to draft an Indigenous Data Sovereignty plan. Discussion on evaluating AI vendors and contracts against risk and operational governance. Learn how to cleanse and classify your organizational data, manage user access permissions across AI applications, and ensure your internal data architecture complies with tribal data privacy standards. |
AI | Green & Blue | |
| 2:45pm to 3:45pm CDT |
Creating and Supporting Enhanced Tribal ID's
Enhanced Tribal ID production and acceptance have turned out to be ongoing challenges for many tribes. They represent a powerful assertion of sovereignty, streamlining border crossings, federal identification compliance, and access to services for tribal citizens. However, launching and maintaining an enhanced ID program requires a complex blend of secure technology, intergovernmental cooperation, and careful data management. This session covers the technical infrastructure, security standards, and operational workflows necessary to successfully issue and support secure, legally-compliant Enhanced Tribal IDs. |
Tribal Government/Member Services | Green & Blue | |
| 2:45pm to 3:45pm CDT |
Super Users - the key to successful application use
Launching a massive new software application is only half the battle; getting your staff to actually use it correctly is the real challenge. It is not IT, but the super user that is REALLY responsible for continuing full and proper use of their operational software system. Learn about strategies to identify the best system for your property and how to create, support, and maintain application super users. Discover how these frontline advocates can drive software adoption, provide immediate peer-to-peer troubleshooting, and drastically reduce the burden on your IT helpdesk. Communication at all levels is critical to success- we will discuss managing change, buy in, training plans, processes, timelines and how to set and meet your goals and objectives. Real life examples and industry experts share lessons learned to be applied to improve the future. |
General Technology | Green & Blue | |
| 4:15pm to 5:00pm CDT |
VIP Early Access to Kick Up Your Boots: The TribalNet Meet & Greet Event - TribalHub Members ONLY
Members get more and this is no exception. This event will be outdoors. |
|
Green OR Purchased Tix | |
| 5:00pm to 7:00pm CDT |
Kick Up Your Boots: The TribalNet Meet & Greet Event Sponsored by GDIT and Oracle Health
Join us for our biggest networking event of the week, a uniquely Texas experience designed for catching up with familiar faces and making new connections. |
|
Green OR Purchased Tix | |
| Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | ||||
| 7:00am to 8:00am CDT |
Breakfast - Sponsored By Salesforce/Carahsoft
Thank you to our breakfast sponsors! Fuel up and get yourself ready for a great day ahead. |
|
Green & Blue | |
| 7:00am to 3:30pm CDT |
Registration/Information/Check-In
Come see the TribalNet team to pick up your badge and all your conference materials to get you set for the week! |
|
All | |
| 7:30am to 2:30pm CDT |
Device Station - Sponsored by Microsoft
Special thanks to Microsoft for keeping us connected. No need to run back to your room or find the business center. Stop by the Microsoft Device Center to keep up with emails in between sessions. |
|
All | |
| 8:00am to 9:15am CDT |
MC's Morning Kick Off and Keynote Session - digital revolutionaries, delivered by Greg Verdino
DIGITAL REVOLUTIONARIES |
Keynote | All | |
| 8:00am to 1:30pm CDT |
Tradeshow Setup ONLY
Sponsors can begin booth setup before tradeshow officially opens! |
|
Blue & Red | |
| 9:15am to 10:15am CDT |
Enterprise AI in Healthcare
Navigating HIPAA, data security, and the limits of autonomous AI. As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes healthcare, organizations face a critical divide between enterprise-grade AI systems and standalone consumer AI tools. Differentiate between enterprise-grade AI solutions and standalone consumer AI tools, including where each may or may not be appropriate in healthcare settings. Participants will learn about the intersections between HIPAA and other healthcare regulations as they apply to AI use in tribal health systems and clinics. This session explores what is actually possible—and what is strictly off limits—shape the safe use of AI with protected health information when deploying AI in environments governed by HIPAA and other healthcare regulations. |
Tribal Health Info Management | Green & Blue | |
| 9:15am to 10:15am CDT |
Data Sovereignty, Solved - how to classify, assess, and protect your tribe’s digital estate
Tribal organizations know their data needs protection, but many are stuck between knowing it matters and knowing how to take action to thoughtfully secure it. This session gives tribal technology leaders a structured, step-by-step process for classifying sovereign data, assessing where it is stored and who has access, and mapping the specific controls needed to protect it in cloud environments. Every attendee leaves with a practical framework, a protection controls matrix, and a 30-day action plan ready to execute. |
Tribal Government/Member Services | Green & Blue | |
| 9:15am to 10:15am CDT |
Business Continuity - connecting the non-tech executives to incident response
Business Continuity - engaging the non-technical executives in the need to plan and test beyond the incident response and disaster recovery plans. When a cyber incident strikes, it isn't just an IT problem; it’s a business crisis. Yet, a massive gap often exists between technical recovery plans and executive decision-making. This session focuses on bridging that divide. What is most important? Who is most important? Who needs to be engaged and what should we be planning for? Join this session to discuss the importance of business continuity planning and testing. |
Cybersecurity | Green & Blue | |
| 9:15am to 10:15am CDT |
Vendor Success Meeting - ACCESS FOR VENDORS ONLY
Whether it's your first TribalNet or your 27th, join fellow sponsors, exhibitors, and vendors for this annual kickoff meeting. We'll share tips, reminders, and advice to help you maximize your time onsite and make the most of the week. We'll also wrap up with a brief look at what's new at TribalHub, upcoming opportunities, and a sneak peek at what's ahead. |
|
Any Vendor | |
| 9:15am to 10:15pm CDT |
Upskilling - preparing your employees for AI
The AI revolution isn't coming for your workforce—it's already here. And the organizations that will fall behind aren't the ones that failed to buy the right tools. They're the ones that bought the tools and left their people behind. To remain competitive, organizations must proactively prepare their teams for this shift. This session provides a practical roadmap for employee upskilling. Discover how to identify AI skill gaps across various departments, design effective internal training programs, and teach employees how to leverage AI tools safely and creatively to eliminate mundane tasks. Learn about practical roadmaps for building an AI-ready workforce, not by replacing people, but by giving them the skills and confidence to work alongside AI tools in ways that make their jobs easier, their decisions smarter, and their organizations more competitive. Identify where AI can genuinely help your people, how to design training that actually sticks, and how to establish guardrails that protect your data and sovereignty while still moving forward. The tribes that get this right won't just keep up. They'll set the standard. Attend this session to learn more! |
AI | Green & Blue | |
| 10:15am to 10:30am CDT |
Break - Sponsored By NinjaOne and Acuvance ROI
Thank you to our break sponsors for helping us all re-fuel |
|
Blue & Green | |
| 10:30am to 11:30am CDT |
Cybersecurity Awareness - how to increase participation and achieve better results
A real business or tribal "culture of cybersecurity" starts with an effective cybersecurity awareness program. Those standard, boring compliance videos aren't stopping modern cyber threats—but an engaged workforce can. Join us to discover how to transform your security awareness program from an ineffective chore into an effective cybersecurity culture. Learn operations and psychological hooks that increase employee participation, gamification strategies that work, and how to measure real behavioral changes that will lower your cybersecurity risk. |
Cybersecurity | Green & Blue | |
| 10:30am to 11:30am CDT |
PATH EHR in Action - bringing modern healthcare tools to Indian Country
The PATH EHR—the Indian Health Service’s new enterprise electronic health record solution—is no longer just a vision; it’s actively taking shape in IHS facilities today. Named to reflect “Patients at the Heart,” PATH EHR represents IHS’s commitment to delivering a modern, patient-centered system built to support high quality, sustainable, and easy to use care tools across Indian Country. As we continue charting the next generation of IHS care, this session will highlight substantial progress made in pilot site implementation, system build, testing, and readiness activities. The IHS Modernization Program team will share key milestones, new functionality now coming online, and lessons learned from the pilot site. Attendees will gain insight into how PATH EHR is designed to minimize disruptions, strengthen data access across facilities, and provide clinicians with a comprehensive view of patient health—while empowering patients with greater control over their care. Whether you work in clinical care, administration, or IT, this session offers an inside look at what’s working, what’s improving, and what comes next as PATH EHR moves toward wider rollout. |
Tribal Health Info Management | Green & Blue | |
| 10:30am to 11:30am CDT |
The Metrics of Healthy IT
This session breaks down the essential metrics every leader should track. Learn how to measure system reliability, security posture, and project delivery in a way that aligns with your organization's broader financial and strategic goals. How do you know if you are investing adequately in IT resources, if your technology investments are actually delivering value, or if your technology infrastructure is at risk? To lead effectively, executives need clear indicators of IT health and performance that go beyond standard jargon. |
Leadership/Executive | Green & Blue | |
| 10:30am to 11:30am CDT |
Gaming Systems Panel - hear from industry leaders
Hear directly from gaming system providers about where they think the industry is going, what new advancements we should expect in gaming systems, how gaming systems are staying secure in an age of increasing cyber-attacks, and how casinos can better leverage their CMS capabilities. We will have panelists representing gaming system leaders at Aristocrat, IGT, Light & Wonder and CasinoTrac speaking on these topics and taking questions from the audience. Moderated by Patrick Tinklenberg, VP of IT at Sycuan Casino. You don’t want to miss this engaging and informative discussion! |
Tribal Gaming/Hospitality | Green & Blue | |
| 11:30am to 12:30pm CDT |
Lunch - Sponsored By Arctic IT
Thank you to our lunch sponsor! |
|
Green & Blue | |
| 12:15pm to 12:30pm CDT |
Members, Recognition & Community
Join us as we celebrate recent CTTP graduates, spotlight the TribalHub community, and talk about regional groups! We’ll kick things off with a special CTTP graduation recognition and a look at what makes TribalHub so strong (HINT: It's our MEMBERS!). Then, it's the time to visit your Regional Group Table, register for upcoming meetings, meet fellow members, and grab a pin to show your regional pride! |
Green & Blue | ||
| 12:30pm to 12:45pm CDT |
Regional Groups - GET CONNECTED!
Head to YOUR region's table to meet Regional Ambassadors, learn about upcoming regional meetings, and find out how staying connected with your regional tribes can strengthen your network beyond TribalNet. |
|
Green | |
| 12:45pm to 1:45pm CDT |
Understanding What Technology Structure is Right for Your Tribe
Every tribe has a unique organizational blueprint, often balancing government services, health clinics, and diverse commercial enterprises. Consequently, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to organizing your IT department. Should you centralize all technology under one roof, or decentralize IT across separate entities? This session analyzes the pros, cons, and operational impacts of various IT structures, helping you determine the ideal framework to support your tribe's specific goals. |
General Technology | Green & Blue | |
| 12:45pm to 1:45pm CDT |
Engaging Tribal Youth in Government Through Culture and Technology
This session explores innovative, culturally centered approaches to engaging Indigenous youth in government and technology. Speakers will highlight hands-on programs—including Cherokee Nation’s syllabary bingo game, Run IT for a Day, and AISES’s Auntie Tech Collective and micro‑bit climate action projects—to demonstrate how digital tools can strengthen cultural learning, civic awareness, and pathways into tribal tech careers. |
Tribal Government/Member Services | Green & Blue | |
| 12:45pm to 1:45pm CDT |
Transformation and Automation - what to focus on
We all want to harness technology solutions to save us money, make us more money, reduce risk, improve customer satisfaction, and make our lives more simple. Which operations should you focus on with existing modern technology? This session cuts through the hype to help leaders identify which legacy processes should be top-of-mind for automation. Learn how to calculate the true ROI of a digital transformation project, avoid common deployment pitfalls, and focus your resources where they will yield the greatest impact on efficiency and employee morale. |
Leadership/Executive | Green & Blue | |
| 1:45pm to 2:00pm CDT |
Tradeshow Ribbon Cutting
It's time to start networking! |
|
All | |
| 1:45pm to 2:15pm CDT |
Break - Sponsored by Box and Kahtnu
Thank you to our break sponsors for helping us all re-fuel |
|
Green & Blue | |
| 2:00pm to 6:30pm CDT |
Vendor Tradeshow Floor Open
Join us for the opening of our 27th Annual Tradeshow Floor |
|
All | |
| 3:30pm to 6:00pm CDT |
Drinks on the Tradeshow Floor - Sponsored by Signature Systems, Inc. and SHI
Time to network! Don’t forget your wristband. Wear it to enjoy drinks on the tradeshow floor. |
|
Green & Blue | |
| 6:30pm to 7:30pm CDT |
TribalNet Cocktail Hour - Sponsored By Synergy Information Solutions
Thanks to our sponsor for bringing the fun! Don't forget to check your badges for your drink tickets. |
|
All | |
| Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | ||||
| 7:00am to 8:00am CDT |
Breakfast - Sponsored By Lenovo
Thank you to our breakfast sponsor! Fuel up and get yourself ready for a great day ahead. |
|
Green & Blue | |
| 7:00am to 1:30pm CDT |
Registration/Information/Check-In
Come see the TribalNet team for information, to pick up your badge and all your conference materials. |
|
All | |
| 7:30am to 12:30pm CDT |
Device Station - Sponsored by Microsoft
Special thanks to Microsoft for keeping us connected. No need to run back to your room or find the business center. Stop by the Microsoft Device Center to keep up with emails in between sessions. |
|
All | |
| 8:00am to 9:00am CDT |
MC's Morning Kick Off and Keynote Session - amplifying leadership to inspire success, delivered by Jennifer Morgan
In many organizations today—especially those managing complex communities like Tribal enterprises—technical experts and leadership teams often struggle to fully understand each other. IT leaders speak in systems. Executives think in strategy. Boards focus on impact and outcomes. |
Keynote | All | |
| 9:15am to 10:15am CDT |
Harnessing Shadow IT Rather Than Fighting It
Uncovering "Shadow IT" across the organization and tips and tricks to reign it in through better shared understanding, communication, and meeting the technology needs and timing that supports success for employees and operational departments. When employees feel stymied by slow IT processes, they take matters into their own hands—downloading unauthorized software and cloud apps to get their jobs done. This "Shadow IT" creates massive security and compliance risks, but it also highlights a genuine user need. Instead of fighting an endless war against unauthorized apps, this session teaches you how to harness that user drive. Learn how to discover hidden applications on your network, evaluate their utility, and safely bring them into the official organizational fold. |
General Technology | Green & Blue | |
| 9:15am to 10:15am CDT |
Protecting the Care Continuum (Ancillary Services)
Securing ancillary services data without disruption. Ancillary services-lab, imaging, therapies and home care for example, are essential to patient care, but they also introduce complex challenges in data protection, privacy, and operational security. This session explores how healthcare organizations can safeguard sensitive patient data across these environments while minimizing disruption to clinical workflows. We will examine the unique risks associated with ancillary systems. |
Tribal Health Info Management | Green & Blue | |
| 9:15am to 10:15am CDT |
Third-Party Vendor Risk - is this your weakest cyber link?
Do you know how secure (or unsecure) your vendors are? Your internal defense network might be a secure cyber fortress, but how secure are the vendors connected to it? Recent tribal cybersecurity surveys support that third-party software, cloud providers, and external contractors represent one of the fastest-growing attack vectors for tribes and tribal enterprises. Do you fully understand the third-party threat landscape? This session breaks down how to identify, assess, and mitigate vendor risk. Learn how to establish a practical vendor risk management process, enforce strict security requirements in service contracts, and ensure your partners aren't accidentally opening the back door to your data. |
Cybersecurity | Green & Blue | |
| 9:15am to 10:15am CDT |
The AI Steering Committee - engaging the entire organization
Move collaboratively from AI curiosity to AI action. AI adoption shouldn't be dictated solely by the IT department or restricted to executive or individual department silos. Because AI impacts every facet of operations, successful implementation requires an "entire organization" approach. This session covers how to design and run an effective AI Steering Committee. Attendees will learn how to structure an AI steering committee that includes representation from leadership, operations, IT, legal, and front-line staff, ensuring diverse perspectives guide adoption decisions across the organization. Leave with ideas to ensure AI initiatives directly align with the tribes strategic AI and technology goals and a playbook for prioritizing AI use cases through a steering committee lens, balancing quick wins against long-term strategic value while managing risk, budget, and change fatigue across the enterprise. |
AI | Green & Blue | |
| 10:15am to 10:30am CDT |
Break - Sponsored By Poppulo and LogicMonitor
Thank you to our break sponsors for helping us all re-fuel |
|
Green & Blue | |
| 10:30am to 11:30am CDT |
The Tech Tools Making Executives More Productive Today
True leadership productivity isn't about working harder or filling your day with more administrative tracking. It is about building smart, sustainable systems that give you the clarity to lead effectively. This session introduces essential, easy-to-use technology driving executive productivity right now. Learn practical techniques and how to leverage the latest in AI, task management, and communication tools to streamline your daily routine, eliminate administrative bottlenecks, and lead your organization with greater efficiency. Walk away with ideas for better workflows, communications, automation and beyond. |
Leadership/Executive | Green & Blue | |
| 10:30am to 11:30am CDT |
Mobile Apps - managing "an app for that" world
Every property desires a single integrated mobile app, but launching a successful one requires a strategy that goes far beyond a simple download link. Guests and players expect mobile apps to seamlessly handle booking, communications, mobile gaming, digital keys, cashless, and loyalty rewards all in one place. This session tackles the operational realities of mobile app management. Learn methods and strategies to avoid app fatigue and keep customers engaged long after they leave your property. |
Tribal Gaming/Hospitality | Green & Blue | |
| 10:30am to 11:30am CDT |
Strategy and Innovation - where technology really shines
Technology is a key part of every single operation across your tribe or tribal enterprise. So, why is it so difficult to engage key executives, IT leaders, and the organization in building a technology strategy and innovation roadmap? When properly aligned with long-term strategy, IT becomes an incubator for new revenue streams and optimized services. This session explores how to build an innovation accelerator hub that the entire organization can get behind to shift your organization's mindset from reactive IT maintenance to proactive technology strategy. Move from putting out fires to strategic initiatives. Learn how to foster a culture of innovation and use emerging tech to gain a true competitive advantage. |
General Technology | Green & Blue | |
| 10:30am to 11:30am CDT |
We Will Rock You - the power of information sharing
Information sharing is one of the most effective—and underutilized—tools in cybersecurity. Through an interactive demonstration and practical examples, this session explores how individuals and organizations can become information sharing champions and strengthen resilience by sharing timely, actionable information. Attendees will explore proven best practices for information sharing within their organizations and across trusted partner networks while examining the role of ISACs, collective defense, and public-private partnerships in strengthening cybersecurity. Participants will leave with practical, actionable steps they can implement immediately to improve information sharing and strengthen their organization's security and resilience. |
Cybersecurity | Green & Blue | |
| 11:30am to 12:30pm CDT |
Lunch - Sponsored By Dell
Grab your lunch and find a seat- this is our closing lunch- thank you to our sponsor! |
|
Green & Blue | |
| 12:15pm to 1:15pm CDT |
Keynote Session - strategies to level up your leadership, delivered by Tracy Spears
With over 30 years of experience in developing leaders, inspiring teamwork, and enhancing inter-office communication, Tracy Spears brings a wealth of knowledge to help leaders at all levels. Tracy will share actionable strategies and tactics designed to strengthen your leadership, improve collaboration, and drive personal and professional success. Whether you're looking to refine your skills, build stronger teams, or communicate more effectively, you will leave this session with the knowledge and the application to level up your leadership. |
Keynote | Green & Blue | |
| 1:00pm to 6:00pm CDT |
Vendor Tradeshow Floor Open
Last chance to make you way around the tradeshow floor - over 200 products and solutions to explore! Plus, fun, prizes, and great new connections. |
|
All | |
| 1:15pm to 1:30pm CDT |
MC Wrap Up and $1000 Drawing - Sponsored By Wipfli and Vasion/PrinterLogic
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! |
Green & Blue | ||
| 1:30pm to 1:45pm CDT |
Break - Sponsored by NetCov and Xerox IT Solutions
Thank you to our break sponsors for helping us all re-fuel |
|
Green & Blue | |
| 3:30pm to 6:00pm CDT |
Drinks on the Tradeshow Floor - Sponsored by ServiceNow and Insight Public Sector
Time to Network! Don’t forget your wristband. Wear it to enjoy drinks on the tradeshow floor. |
|
Green & Blue | |
| 5:00pm to 6:00pm CDT |
Booth Prizes and Awards
Attendees gather as we give away some amazing booth prizes from the exhibitors on our show floor. |
All | ||
| 5:00pm to 6:00pm CDT |
Bingo Run $2500 Drawing - Sponsored By IBM and IMPRES
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. |
All | ||
| 6:00pm to 7:00pm CDT |
TribalNet Cocktail Hour - Sponsored By Business Operational Concepts
Thanks to our sponsor for bringing the fun. Don't forget to check your badges for your drink tickets |
|
All | |
| Thursday, September 24, 2026 | ||||
| 7:30am to 9:00am CDT |
Breakfast - Sponsored By Comcast
Thank you to our breakfast sponsor! Fuel up and get yourself ready for a great day ahead. |
|
Green & Blue | |
| 8:30am to 12:30pm CDT |
Workshop - from Co-Pilot users to Co-Pilot builders
Microsoft is delivering a two-part training and build program with a single objective: make Copilot normal across the tribal enterprise. Not a pilot in one department. Not a proof of concept on a shelf. Normal—the way email and Teams are normal. Present in every workflow, governed by tribal leadership, and built by the people who actually run the operations. The program pairs a six-session virtual prep series with a four-hour, hands-on workshop at TribalNet. It moves participants from foundational fluency to building real agents grounded in their own data, their own governance, and their own operational needs — then puts those agents on a path to production within 30 days. This is not a demo. Every session produces a working deliverable. Participants will work together in small groups and an assigned Microsoft expert. Groups will each work on an agent that solves a common manual process within their tribal department or agency and at the end of the 4 hours, everyone will leave with access to all of the agents that were created. Along with the confidence and knowledge to create additional agents within their own tribal entity. |
AI | Green & Blue | |
| 10:30am to 10:45am CDT |
Break - Sponsored By Cisco and Veeam
Thank you to our break sponsors for helping us all re-fuel |
|
Green & Blue | |
| 12:30pm to 12:30pm CDT |
Conference Ends - See you in 2027
Be sure to join us next year for TribalNet 2027 |
|
All | |
Attend the TribalNet Conference & Tradeshow to network, learn, and build partnerships with your peers working with tribes and tribal enterprises across the nation.
Don’t miss the top event to connect with tech decision makers from tribal governments, gaming, hospitality, and health centers nationwide.