Zack Kass

Futurist, Former Head of Go To Market at OpenAI

Zack Kass is an AI Futurist, keynote speaker, consultant, adjunct professor and the former Head of Go To Market for OpenAI. He has spent over 14 years in AI, leading large teams at some of the industry’s most important companies. His mission is to ensure individuals, businesses, and governments are active participants in the AI-powered future by demystifying AI, making it accessible and understandable for everyone, and helping leaders navigate the rapidly evolving environment.

While Head of Go To Market at OpenAI, Zack worked at the helm of the key team channeling OpenAI’s innovative research into tangible business solutions. Zack built the teams responsible for OpenAI’s sales, partnerships, and customer success and served as a personal advisor to countless executives deploying the technology across their business. 

Today, he is considered one of the foremost thinkers in Applied AI. His thought leadership and techno-optimist views have been featured in countless publications, such as Fortune, Newsweek, Entrepreneur, AdAge, and Business Insider. Zack supports education and research at two major universities, and still advises Fortune 1,000 board rooms, including Coca-Cola, Morgan Stanley, and Amgen.

Zack received his BA from The University of California, Berkeley, and resides in Santa Barbara, California.

Damian Poltz

SVP, Wireline Networks & PMO, Rogers

As the Senior Vice President of Wireline Networks & PMO, Damian Poltz is responsible for leading Rogers wireline network and technology teams and national program management office. This includes consumer/business technologies, broadband, video, communication, customer equipment, core network and access technologies, as well as wireless, wireline and build programs. His responsibilities include driving cross-functional collaboration around technology strategy, and the modernization and growth of Canada’s largest cable and wireless footprint.

Throughout his 27-year career at Rogers and Shaw, Damian has served in strategic leadership roles including: SVP Wireline Technology & Strategy, VP Technology Strategy & Networks, Director of Network Technology, Sr. Director Communication Systems, Director IP Application Services, and Sr. Manager Video Application Development. Damian is currently serving as secretary on the Board of Directors for the SCTE, as well as secretary of the CableLabs Technology Committee.
Damian holds an MBA with distinction from Cornell University and Queen’s University, and a B.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of Calgary.

Jessica Shrum

Executive VP & Chief Strategy Officer, Cox Communications

Jessica Shrum is executive vice president and chief strategy officer, Cox Communications. She first joined Cox Communications in 2006, supporting several strategy, product and operations initiatives and has spent the last decade helping Cox Automotive develop and execute its future growth strategy.

At Cox Automotive, Jessica led strategy for the domestic portfolio where her team worked with senior leadership to set the direction for the automotive business. Jessica’s team defined how to optimize growth, prioritize strategic decisions and recommend near and long-term investments. In her most recent role, she led operations for one of the fastest growth divisions in the Cox family of companies – the Cox Automotive Mobility business. Jessica and her team delivered profitable, scalable growth for fleet vehicle repair and maintenance services and helped define the trajectory for the EV battery future.

Before joining Cox, Jessica served in corporate strategy at BellSouth/AT&T and advised numerous clients for Andersen Business Consulting.

An active volunteer in her community, Jessica recently served as the finance chair for a local non-profit, Communities in Schools of Atlanta (CISA), which was founded by Anne Cox Chambers. She also holds numerous volunteer positions at her children’s school.

Kevin Robinson

CEO, Wi-Fi Alliance

Kevin Robinson is a 15-year veteran of Wi-Fi Alliance and became CEO of the organization in October 2022. Kevin is focused on securing sufficient, harmonized global Wi-Fi spectrum, deepening engagement and cohesion across the Wi-Fi ecosystem, and evolving the organization to ensure it remains as nimble as the industry it serves.

Serving as Wi-Fi Alliance’s Vice President of Marketing for the last seven years, Robinson has led many of the organization’s most transformative initiatives and has been a leading ambassador for promoting Wi‑Fi and Wi‑Fi Alliance as a collaboration forum worldwide. Kevin oversaw branding, communications, market development, product management, program marketing, and public relations for the organization. He was also responsible for driving the development of Wi-Fi Alliance corporate strategy.

Before joining Wi-Fi Alliance in 2008, Kevin enjoyed working with early-stage technology startups on business strategy consulting and technology market research. Kevin is a veteran of the United States Army, where he served as a Captain in the Infantry. Kevin holds a BS in Computer Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point and an MBA with a specialization in Entrepreneurship from The University of Texas at Austin. He lives with his family in Austin, Texas.

Anne Nguyen

Managing Director, Corporate Strategy, Liberty Global

Anne Nguyen is the Managing Director of Corporate Strategy for Liberty Global, responsible for developing strategies related to Connectivity, Video, AI and Future trends as M&A support and corporate development.

Anne was previously Managing Director & Partner at Boston Consulting Group in TMT and Digital Advertising, with further experience working with digital native companies in the publishing and automative space.

She is a graduate of Claremont McKenna College and Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

Larry Wolcott

Engineering Fellow, Comcast

Larry Wolcott is an Engineering Fellow at Comcast based in Denver, Colorado. Larry began his software career in 1986 and has been doing research and development in communications technology for the last 25 years. His main area of focus has been cable operations including tools, technology and has over 30 related patents. Larry is a founding member and active contributor to the CableLabs and SCTE Proactive Network Maintenance (PNM) working groups. He is active with SCTE chapters, the Expo Program Committee and board member for the SCTE Foundation.

Wei Cai

Sr. Lead Data Scientist, Cox Communications

Data Science Lead with over 10 years of experience in engineering and advanced analytics, specializing in the development and implementation of scalable machine learning and AI systems. Holds a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics, along with Master’s degrees in Actuarial Science, Risk Management, Business Analysis, and Big Data Analytics. Proven expertise in applying machine learning to solve business challenges, including capacity management, growth prediction, customer churn, and dynamic pricing, using high-performance AI/ML models.

Pao Lo

Vice President of Network Engineering, Midco

Dr. Pao Lo is the Vice President of Network Engineering at Midco and is responsible for the network architecture from the outside plant to the peering point that includes Core Routing and Optical Transport, MPLS Business Network, and Access Network. In the role, Dr. Lo has helped Midco define a fiber strategy for its next generation network. In 2021, Midco announced a $500 million, multi-year fiber investment initiative – Fiber Forward. The expansive investment will use the company’s robust fiber network and next gen fiber tech to bring 10 Gig speeds to Midco’s customers. Dr. Lo has been in the telecom industry for 25+ years.

Dr. Lo has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from NC State University; MBA from Wake Forest University; and an Educational Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University.

Noopur Davis

EVP, Chief Information Security and Product Privacy Officer, Comcast

Noopur Davis is Executive Vice President, Global Chief Information Security and Product Privacy Officer, Comcast Corporation and Comcast Cable. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the full range of cybersecurity and product privacy functions for all Comcast Cable businesses, including all products and services delivered to our residential and business customers. Her responsibilities include product security and privacy, information and infrastructure security, data protection, security architecture and engineering, security operations and incident response, threat hunting, security intelligence and analytics, identity management, technical fraud, and the Legal Response Center.

Noopur joined Comcast from Intel, where she served as Vice President, Global Quality, Intel Security Group. Previously, she was a Visiting Scientist and Senior Member of Technical Staff at the Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute, a Principal of management consulting firm Davis Systems, and held various leadership and technical positions in Fortune 500 companies such as Chrysler and Intergraph.

She is a champion of women in technology and serves on the Advisory Board of Comcast/NBCUniversal TechWomen. She is the recipient of the WICT Women in Technology and Woman of the Year awards, WeQual 2021, and has been included on the Cablefax 100, Most Powerful Women and Top Women in Technology lists multiple times.

Noopur holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Auburn University and a Master of Science in Computer Science from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Regions Financial and of Entrust.

Sean Erkonen

Wireless Network Engineering Manager, Midco

Sean Erkonen serves as Midco’s Wireless Network Engineering Manager. He specializes in Wi-Fi solutions for venues, MDUs, and temporary events. Sean joined the Midco team in 2012 after working as Systems Engineer at Mitel.

In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, engaging in outdoor activities, and volunteering at local running events.

Kim Keever

SVP & CISO, Cox Communications

Ms. Keever currently serves as senior vice president and CISO for Cox Communications, leading all aspects of cybersecurity for all products and services delivered to residential and business customers. She and her team collaborate extensively with industry to develop innovative capabilities to protect customers and critical infrastructure of our country. In 2023, President Joe Biden appointed Kim to the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) where she works with other industry leaders to advise the White House on key aspects of communications and information infrastructure. She also serves on the board for the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power and Potential, the board of the Georgia Institute of Technology Scheller College of Business and is a board advisor to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Dawit Afasha

Sr. Director of Strategy & Architecture, Rogers

Dawit has over 20+ years of experience in building networks and leading teams to achieve the ultimate goal of satisfying customers in a cost-effective manner. As a strong strategic thinker using a data driven approach using he is able to synthetizing a holistic strategy.

Diana Linton

Principal Engineer I, Charter

Dr. Robert Howald

Fellow, Comcast

Dr. Howald has over 38 years of technology and executive experience in commercial and military communications systems.  He is currently a Comcast Fellow, focused on the evolution of cable systems and services, future network architectures, and emerging broadband technologies. Rob held similar technology, management, and strategy roles within the cable industry at ARRIS, Motorola, and General Instrument. Rob was also Vice President of Engineering at Xytrans, specializing in millimeter wave systems for cellular backhaul and people screening for commercial asset protection and homeland security applications.

Dr. Howald has taught graduate courses in communications and wireless systems engineering, and has published and presented hundreds of technical papers related to cable technology and communications systems in industry and academic conferences and journals. He has a BSEE and MSEE from Villanova University, a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering from Drexel University, and a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) from DeSales University.

Elizabeth Chernow

Executive Director, Public Policy, Comcast

Robert Gaydos

Fellow, Comcast

As a Comcast Fellow, Robert “Bob” Gaydos leads the network architecture team, providing a strategic technical roadmap and managing all tools, systems and technologies for the core and access networks. With extensive experience in building and operating large-scale systems and platforms, Bob has become an industry thought leader in network virtualization and software-defined networking. He has played an integral role in deploying DOCSIS 4.0 technologies, introducing next-generation virtualization, developing workflow management systems and designing continuous improvements infrastructures.

Bob joined Comcast in 2005 as Director of Video On-Demand for the Product Engineering group, where he led the expansion of the content library by 1000-fold and made significant contributions developing the Cloud DVR and all-IP architecture. In 2017, he joined the Next Generation Access Network team as a Fellow, spearheading the virtualization of CMTS and Passive Optical Network. He integrated AI/ML and Software Defined Networking into the access network and applied these technologies to the Core IP Network.

Prior to Comcast, Bob worked in the cable and industrial process control industries. He has a B.S. degree in Computer Science from Lehigh University and holds several U.S. patents and a Technical Emmy Award.

Sebnem Ozar

Distinguished Engineer, Charter

Sebnem Ozer is a seasoned industry leader with 24 years of expertise in systems and product development. Currently serving as a Distinguished Engineer at Charter Communications, she leads efforts in advancing low-latency access networks. Her extensive career includes roles as a systems architect and manager at Comcast, Arris, Google, Motorola, and MeshNetworks. Sebnem’s expertise spans a broad range of technologies, including wired and wireless networks such as HFC, PON, Wi-Fi/Mesh, and Mobile Networks. She also specializes in data-driven performance analytics, Software Defined Networks, and Network Functions Virtualization. Sebnem earned her Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. She has authored numerous patents and publications and has presented at various industry and academic events.

Jud Whiteneck

VP, Internet Product, Charter

Jud Whiteneck is the Vice President of Internet Product at Spectrum with responsibility for strategy, product development, and product management of its residential and SMB products. Jud owns the long term product roadmap and provides leadership on the network evolution strategies for the DOCSIS and PON networks. In 2025, Jud led the launch of Spectrum’s first multi-Gbps product and is leading Spectrum’s launch of Low Latency DOCSIS.

Jud was previously responsible for internet product performance and network intelligence where he focused on product performance, reliability, and strategic insights. He launched Spectrum’s CPE based speed test platforms and developed E2E latency measurement tools. He also established Spectrum’s Executive Steering Committee focused on internet reliability and led the development of many analytic data sets providing new visibility into the network, customer usage trends, and product performance.

Jud joined Spectrum in 2011 and has a B.S. in Finance from the University of Colorado and an MBA from the University of Denver.

Keith Davis

Assistant Vice President, Cox

Keith Davis, AVP of Product Management at Cox Communications, leads the Connected Home Products team encompassing the company’s Internet, Entertainment, Smart Home, and MDU product categories. Keith and his team are committed to delivering exceptional product experiences that enable seamless connectivity for how customers live, learn, and connect.

Ahmed Jafri

Manager, Wireless Access Network Expansion, Rogers

Ahmed holds a Master’s degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the University of Waterloo and brings over 15 years of experience in the wireless industry. He has been at the forefront of launching 5G networks, trialing and evaluating new RAN technologies with multiple vendors, ensuring alignment with 3GPP specifications and business needs.

Recently, Ahmed’s work has focused on the adaptation of Fixed Wireless Access using 5G technology, helping to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban communities. Additionally, he leads a team that delivers tailored enterprise solutions through Wireless Private Networks.

With his experience spanning from 2G, 3G, WiMAX, LTE, Wi-Fi, IoT, and 5G, Ahmed has witnessed the transformative potential of these technologies firsthand

Emma Fox

Director of Product Management, Midco

Emma Fox leads product strategy across Midco’s Residential, Business, Properties and Advertising portfolios, generating value for almost 500,000 customers. Her team’s goal is to ensure that every feature and decision drives better experiences and stronger returns. Emma joined Midco in 2019; prior to Midco, she owned the snacks e-commerce portfolio at General Mills and worked in Corporate Affairs at Tesco PLC, the third largest international grocery retailer. Emma earned her MBA from Harvard and her BA from Trinity College Dublin.

Chris Burke

Principal Wireless Engineer III, Charter

Christopher Burke currently serves as Principal Engineer III, Wireless Core Engineering at Charter Communications. In his current role, Burke leads the 5G network architecture and engineering of mobile core initiatives at Charter. Burke is responsible for next gen initiatives including 5G Hybrid Mobile Network Operator, private wireless, and Fixed Mobile Convergence.

Burke has 25 years of experience in wireless and mobile data, serving in a variety of engineering, management, and consulting roles. Burke holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from Texas Tech University.

Rizwan Butt

Manager, Analytics & Insights, Rogers

Muhammad Rizwan Butt is a seasoned technology leader with deep expertise in AI, machine learning, data science, and mobile networks. With over 12 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, he has held strategic leadership roles at tier-1 telecom operators, driving innovation in capacity planning, broadband strategy, and network optimization.

As Manager, Analytics & Insights at Rogers, Rizwan has led AI-driven platforms to enhance network utilization, demand forecasting, and next-generation connectivity. His work has been pivotal in shaping the 5G+ and Fixed Wireless Internet market strategy and supporting major industry transformations, including the Rogers-Shaw merger.

Pradeep Kanda

VP, Network Security, Mediacom

Pradeep heads Cybersecurity at Mediacom for both customer network and internal enterprise network. He built the security program there and has been in charge of running it for the past 15 years. In addition to security, Pradeep is also responsible for managing network infrastructure for Mediacom’s internal enterprise network and IP Video network. Prior to Mediacom, Pradeep consulted on various security projects for several government agencies, financial, hospitality and telecommunication companies while he was at BearingPoint (formerly KMPG Consulting) in the Risk, Compliance and Security practice.

Pradeep holds a Master’s degree in Telecommunications from State University of New York Polytechnic Institute and a Bachelor’s in Electronics and Communications Engineering from the University of Madras.

Sanket Walavalkar

VP Network Data Sciences, Comcast

Sanket leads Network Data Sciences at Comcast. He gets to work with Data Scientists and Network Engineers (Access and Core) to innovate solutions resulting in optimized network effectiveness and unlocking new growth opportunities. 

Pablo Castillo

Technological Innovation Manager, Izzi

Pablo Castillo has been at the forefront of the telecommunications industry since 2009, specializing in the selection, testing, and deployment of emerging technologies into large-scale operations. With deep expertise in network and operations development, he has played a key role in the consolidation of Mexico’s cable industry, driving innovation and efficiency in critical infrastructure. 

Currently based in Monterrey, Mexico, Pablo is passionate about technology, knowledge management, and network automation. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, reading, and hosting barbecues. 

Alex Reichl

VP, Mobile & API Service, Liberty Global

Alex has spent her career in TMT, across Consultancy & Technology Strategy. In her current role, VP Mobile & API Services, she is engaged with evaluating emerging technologies and opportunities in the space, presently driving thinking on the opportunities associated with Network as a Service & 6G within Liberty Global.

Don Annett

Principal Strategist, Rogers

Don Annett is a Principal Strategist in Rogers Wireline Strategy and Architecture team. He is responsible for evaluation of future wireline technologies with a focus on wireline and wireless convergence. He also participates in leading the Wireline organization through a DevOps transformation and is leading the creation of an innovation in lab Calgary with close collaboration with CableLabs.

Don has 30 years of telecom industry experience. He spent 15 years at Nortel as an RF Hardware and System designer, 5years at TRLabs working with industry, government, and academia to advance technology commercialization, then joined Shaw 10 years ago. At Shaw, he was responsible for the development of their business wifi managed services and was involved in Shaw’s large public wifi deployment. He is a technologist at heart.

Venk Mutalik

Fellow, Comcast

Venk Mutalik is a Comcast Fellow working on optical technology and strategy. In Comcast, Venk has pioneered continuous and pervasive monitoring of all optical assets, created the converged access architecture, introduced bi-directional Coherent optical links and investigated innovative optical fiber technologies and construction techniques.

In his career, Venk has pioneered research into Multi Wavelength Networks, Optical non-linearities, OBI mitigation in FTTH networks and introduced several key innovations into Cable Networks over the last 2 decades. Venk holds 30 patents and has published more than 30 papers at various industry forums and peer-reviewed journals.

Previously, Venk worked as Engineering Fellow and VP of Technology and Strategy at ARRIS. Venk has worked as Chief Technologist at C-COR and as Technical Director at Philips Broadband.

Venk has a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Connecticut and an MBA from Syracuse University.

Becky Tangren

Vice President & Associate General Counsel, NCTA

Becky Tangren is Vice President & Associate General Counsel at NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, where she focuses on wireless and spectrum policy issues.  Prior to joining NCTA, Becky was Director, Technology Policy at CableLabs, where she analyzed public policy issues of competitive importance to the cable industry.  Prior to CableLabs Becky spent ten years in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), holding the positions of Senior Policy Advisor, and Legal Advisor to the Office of the Bureau Chief and Attorney Advisor in the Mobility Division.  Becky also worked as Director of Regulatory and Government Affairs at the Telecommunications Industry Association.  After earning degrees in Public Relations and Political Science from the Pennsylvania State University, Becky attended the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America, where she received a J.D. and a certificate in Communications Law. 

Eric McLaughlin

VP & GM Wireless Solutions, Intel Corporation

Eric McLaughlin is the Vice President and General Manager of the Connectivity Solutions Group for Intel Corporation responsible for delivering wireless solutions (e.g. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) and software for Intel PC and IoT platforms. Eric is a 23-year Intel veteran with 19 of those years leading innovation, marketing, business development, and Product Line Management for Intel’s wireless portfolio. Prior to joining Intel in 2000, Eric held multiple management positions in the computer/technology industry including IT Manager, GM, VP, and CEO for small/medium businesses in the Seattle, WA area. Eric is a graduate of Brigham Young University.

Xin Qiu

Sr. Director, CommScope

Dr. Qiu is an accomplished leader with over 25 years of experience in Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), post-quantum cryptography (PQC), and AI-driven security services. With a portfolio of 80+ patents, her groundbreaking work spans product security, software supply chain security, and manufacturing supply chain security.

As the Sr. Director of the CommScope PKI Center and Security Solutions, she leads a multi-disciplinary team with full P&L and functional responsibility across product strategy and marketing, R&D, security operations, partnership development, and customer support. Her technical expertise and strategic vision have driven impactful collaborations and large-scale PKI deployments with global manufacturers and network operators. Widely recognized as the architect behind CommScope’s world-class PKI, as well as its code signing and software asset management services, she has been instrumental in safeguarding billions of devices from cyberattacks by malicious actors.

Dr. Qiu, a Motorola Science Advisory Board Associate, was a key designer of the Emmy-award-winning MediaCipher Conditional Access System. She also authored the DFAST cryptographic algorithm, a cornerstone of the CableCard Copy Protection standard, which played a pivotal role in combating piracy in the cable industry.

Before joining CommScope, she served as a security architect, leading software and network security teams at startups. Her firsthand experience addressing real-world security challenges has given her deep insights into the evolving cybersecurity landscape.

Passionate about protecting connected devices and critical infrastructure, Dr. Qiu is committed to delivering innovative solutions that shape the future of cybersecurity.

Jayasheel Shetty

Head of Solutions, Mobile Networks, Nokia

Jayasheel Shetty is currently serving as Head of Solutions, Mobile Networks, Nokia for US Major customers is responsible for leading RAN wireless solutions catering to a diverse range of operators across various segments in the US with primary objective to ensure connectivity across different landscapes and customer bases including MSO players on 5G RAN solutions.

Jayasheel has over 20 years of global experience in the field of Cellular & Wireless Broadband networks primarily working on the cellular RAN solutions.

Cory Baldwin

CEO, Aispire

Cory is the Chief Executive officer and founder of Aispire, a software company based in San Diego offering Network Intelligence solutions that empowers communication service providers (CSP) with end-to-end observability of the content and services they deliver to their customers 24×7. Aispire is leading the application of Big Data analytics and Artificial Intelligence to enable more informed, data-driven decision making across CSP organizational roles – that leads to optimized resource allocation, improved customer experience, and effective personalized marketing.

Andrew Skafel

President & CEO, Edgewater Wireless

Andrew Skafel is a recognized thought leader in wireless and next-generation Wi-Fi technologies, with a proven track record of driving innovation and customer-focused solutions. As President and CEO of Edgewater Wireless, Andrew has positioned the company as a global leader in Wi-Fi Spectrum Slicing technology, a revolutionary approach to addressing the challenges of high-density wireless environments.

Under his leadership, Edgewater Wireless has developed groundbreaking products that empower service providers, enterprises, and industrial IoT networks to achieve unmatched performance, scalability, and reliability. Andrew’s visionary approach is rooted in a deep understanding of customer needs, ensuring that the company’s patented solutions address real-world challenges while setting new standards in wireless connectivity.

Andrew’s expertise spans over two decades, encompassing roles in product development, strategy, and executive leadership within the telecom and technology sectors. He has successfully cultivated partnerships with industry giants and key stakeholders, driving Edgewater’s growth and influence in the ever-evolving wireless ecosystem.

Committed to advancing the future of connectivity, Andrew is frequently sought after for his insights on Wi-Fi innovation and its transformative impact on global communications. His dedication to customer success and technology excellence continues to shape Edgewater Wireless as a pioneer in next-generation wireless solutions.

Charles Cheevers

CTO, Vantiva

Charles is Vantiva Chief Technology Officer, responsible for the 3-5 year technology directions of the company. Working with the leading Global Services Providers he has helped create the next generations of wired and wireless access network and home services to consumers as well as fundamental broadband, video and IoT solutions that are part of consumers’ digital lives.   

For the last 13 years he has focused on the consumer home and the technologies and products that are required to align with the services offered by the worlds Service Providers to their customers. He has worked closely with silicon partners and Hyperscalers to drive innovation in product and service delivery to consumers in key areas like Wi-Fi and new areas like health and telemedicine. Recently, he and his team have been implementing AI solutions in new forming Edge and Cloud hierarchical AI architectures. A regular on the industry speaking circuit Charles has been a valued voice in driving the directional technology vectors of future evolutions of the connected consumer home experiences.  

Charles was CTO of CommScope Home Networks until January of 2024 before its acquisition by Vantiva. He has previously worked with ARRIS Inc, Com21 Inc and Apple in executive and senior management roles. He was also inducted into the Cable Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2024.

Edward Boyd

VP of PON R&D, Ciena

Edward Boyd is the VP of PON R&D for Ciena Corp. In December of 2022, Ciena acquired Tibit Communications where Mr. Boyd was the Chief Technical Officer and Co-Founder. Tibit Communications was a Northern California startup company developing Pluggable Network Interface solutions including the world’s first Micro-OLT in an SFP+ form factor. Before Tibit, Mr. Boyd was the CTO and Co-Founder of Teknovus, Inc before it was acquired by Broadcom in March of 2010. Mr. Boyd was Senior Technical Director for Broadcom Corporation working on the Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) products before leaving to become a Co-Founder of Tibit. Mr. Boyd has more than 30 years of experience defining and developing ASICs for data communications, cable access networks, and telecom access networks. Mr. Boyd holds numerous patents in areas of cable modem, PON, and Ethernet networks. Mr. Boyd has been active in CableLabs, ITU-T (BPON/GPON), 25GS MSA, and IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet/EPON/EPoC) standards bodies.

Andrii Vladyka

Product Manager, Harmonic

Andrii Vladyka leads cOS Core Platform product management at Harmonic Inc. He specializes in network convergence, driving innovation in network virtualization, software-defined networking, and next-generation broadband solutions. At Harmonic, Andrii plays a key role in advancing broadband access products and solutions, leveraging virtualization to improve network scalability and performance, and enhance customer experience. Andrii’s hands-on engineering approach and problem-solving skills have been instrumental in large-scale, real-world deployments, helping to shape the future of broadband connectivity.

Andrii holds a Master’s degree in Telecommunications. He co-authored several SCTE whitepapers and U.S. patents, and was honored with the SCTE Wilt J. Hildenbrand Jr. Award for notably advancing cable industry innovations.

Asaf Matatyaou

Sr. Vice President, Product & Broadband, Harmonic

Asaf Matatyaou drives the strategic vision for Harmonic’s broadband solutions, leading product management, strategy and solution architectures, including the company’s cOS™ virtualized broadband platform and device portfolio. With over 20 years of experience as an engineer, inventor and executive in the broadband industry, Asaf pioneered the evolution of access solutions and has been instrumental in advancing key industry initiatives, helping shape the future of broadband technology. A recognized thought leader, he frequently shares insights at industry events and contributes to the broader dialog on the transformation of broadband networks. Asaf holds a B.S. degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of California, Davis.

Payam Maveddat

VP, Business Development, Shabodi

Payam Maveddat is the Vice President of Business Development at Shabodi, bringing over three decades of experience in high-tech and telecommunications. He has a proven track record in product development, strategy, sales, and business growth across semiconductors, hardware, software, and cloud technologies. Prior to Shabodi, Payam held executive roles at leading firms such as Oracle, VIAVI Solutions, Mavenir, and InfoVista. He specializes in driving innovation and monetization strategies for emerging technologies, including 5G, private networks, and API-driven applications. Payam holds an MSc in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Tech and an MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Ewam de Freitas

Chief Product Officer, Veea

Ewam de Freitas drives product innovation as Chief Product Officer at Veea, a pioneer in edge computing solutions transforming how businesses deploy and manage connected devices. At Veea, he leads the development of their groundbreaking edge Platform-as-a-Service (ePaaS), enabling seamless deployment of IoT applications and services at scale.

Previously, as Product & Technology Lead at Liberty Latin America, Ewam spearheaded digital transformation across 20 countries, revolutionizing how millions of customers experience mobile, cloud, connectivity, and entertainment services. His leadership roles at Level (3), Charter, and Comcast shaped the
evolution of digital, consumer, and network services. Ewam holds multiple patents in network security methods that have strengthened the backbone of modern streaming platforms.

Ewam combines his unique background from James Madison University with executive business education from Daniels College of Business and Ross School of Business, bringing a distinctive perspective to technological innovation and product development.

Clint Schow

Academic Professor, UCSB

Clint Schow received B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. After positions at IBM and Agility Communications, Dr. Schow spent more than a decade at the IBM T.J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, NY, as a research staff member and manager. He has led international R&D programs spanning chip-to-chip optical links, VCSEL and Si photonic transceivers, nanophotonic switches, and new system architectures enabled by high-bandwidth, low-latency photonic networks. Dr. Schow is currently a professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of California Santa Barbara.

Dr. Schow has been an invited speaker and served on committees for numerous international conferences. He is a fellow of the IEEE and Optica, has published more than 250 journal and conference articles, and has 33 issued patents.

Dejan Leskaroski

VP and Head of Product Management, Packet Core, Mavenir

Dejan Leskaroski is the Vice President and Head of Product Management at Mavenir. He is responsible for product-related activities as part of the Mavenir MAVcore business unit. The product portfolio includes the Mavenir Evolved Packet Core (EPC), the Mavenir cloud-native 5G Core (5GC), and the Mavenir Converged Packet Core providing support across 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and Wi-Fi access. Dejan has over 25 years of telecom experience delivering products and solutions for many leading Tier-1 operators worldwide. He has managed Core and Radio Access Networks product porfolios, spanning across multi-genrational Network Functions, cloud-native platform integration, and network orchestration.

Brady Volpe

Chief Product Officer, OpenVault

Mr. Volpe, Chief Product Officer at OpenVault, brings over 30 years of expertise in the broadband cable and telecommunications industry. As the founder of The Volpe Firm, Inc., and Nimble This (now part of OpenVault), he has played a pivotal role in developing and launching innovative products. Through his widely acclaimed blog, podcast, and livestream, he shares deep insights into high-speed data, DOCSIS, Proactive Network Maintenance (PNM), HFC, machine learning (ML), performance management analytics (PMA), RF, artificial intelligence (AI), and more. Known for his unwavering dedication to broadband innovation, Mr. Volpe continues to drive advancements that shape the future of connectivity.

Luke Barlow

CEO, Netduma

Luke Barlow is the CEO of Netduma, a company dedicated to eliminating poor-quality internet through cutting-edge CPE software. Trusted by customers including BT and Telstra, Netduma’s technology tackles the root causes of streaming, video call, and gaming performance issues.

Luke oversees the company’s strategic growth, driving partnerships and innovation from its Cambridge headquarters, where Netduma’s solutions now power millions of routers worldwide. 

Aaron Weimer

CTO & Co-Founder, Wiring the Future Networks

With over 25 years of pioneering experience in Network Engineering and Operations, Aaron Weimer has consistently proven himself as a high-impact leader and catalyst for change. His professional journey has been marked by a relentless drive, leading him through various leadership positions in Engineering and Operations at Comcast, a global media and technology conglomerate, to his current role as CTO and Co-Founder of Wiring the Future Networks.

At Wiring the Future Networks, Aaron’s core mission is to address the digital divide in rural areas by crafting innovative solutions. He, alongside his team, collaborates closely with operators to facilitate the deployment of broadband networks, employing cutting-edge yet cost-effective technologies to ensure maximum reach, efficiency, and reliability. Aaron’s approach is community-centric, customizing solutions to fit the unique needs of each locale, with the goal of delivering reliable, high-speed internet to regions that need it most. His vision is to make the advantages of the digital era accessible to all.

Aaron’s commitment to professional excellence is reflected in his continuous education, having received advanced training from Harvard Business School in Executive Leadership and Dale Carnegie, while also pursuing further studies in Network Engineering and Technology. His dedication has earned him recognition from the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) for his exceptional contribution to service standards, his influence on infrastructure innovation, operational transformation, and his ability to elevate team culture in the media sector.

A visionary in his field, Aaron is deeply committed to mentorship, leadership development, and staying at the forefront of industry trends. He actively contributes as a board member, technology advisor, and participant in various corporate and community initiatives. Aaron currently holds the positions of Chair for the SCTE Member and Support Committee, Chair of the SCTE/CableLabs Standards subcommittee on Network Reliability, and Member of the Fiber Broadband Association technology committee, demonstrating his extensive involvement in shaping the future of telecommunications.

Alex Cronin

CEO, Nanites.ai

Alex Cronin is an AI evangelist, technology leader, and entrepreneur with over 17 years of experience transforming network infrastructure through innovation. As CEO of Nanites.ai, he is pioneering an autonomous AI-driven system designed to reduce MTTR and troubleshoot networks incidents up to up to 100x faster.

Alex’s expertise spans industry-leading technologies, including Arista, Juniper, SONiC, NVIDIA, and Cisco, as well as open-source infrastructure solutions. He has successfully led infrastructure projects from strategy and design to implementation and ongoing support, creating scalable and cost-effective solutions for data centers, service providers, and enterprises.

Alex has also recruited and managed teams of personnel across engineering, sales, and marketing, closed thousands of deals, and forged over 50 channel and OEM partnerships. A thought leader and technical writer in open networking, he leverages AI and open-source technologies to empower organizations to innovate and drive measurable business impact.

Alex is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Phil McKinney

President & CEO, CableLabs

Phil McKinney is the president and CEO at CableLabs, a non-profit research & development lab funded by the global cable industry. With a strong focus on innovation, McKinney is responsible for leading the development of technologies and specifications for the secure delivery of high speed data, video, voice and next generation services. He oversees testing, certification facilities and guides the
technical leadership for the industry, charting the course for future technology and
innovation.

Prior to CableLabs, McKinney held technology and innovation leadership positions in major companies including serving as the vice president and CTO for Hewlett-Packard’s Personal Systems Group, where he was responsible for long-range strategic planning, research and development for the company’s PC product lines. In addition, he was the founder and leader of HP’s Innovation Program Office
(IPO). The IPO was chartered to identify, incubate and launch adjacent and fundamentally new technologies, products and services that would become the future growth engines for HP. The success of the IPO is now shared in widely used case studies at Stanford University and Harvard Business School. McKinney also served as senior vice president and CIO at Teligent, and as a director at CSC.

Author, speaker and innovation guru, McKinney shares his rule-breaking approach to innovation and creativity in his book “Beyond the Obvious.” He has been credited with forming and leading multiple teams that Fast Company and BusinessWeek have listed as being one of the “50 Most Innovative.” His recognition includes Vanity Fair naming him the “The Innovation Guru,” MSNBC and Fox Business calling him “The Gadget Guy” and the San Jose Mercury News dubbing him the “chief seer.” In July 2015, his podcast, Killer Innovations™, became a nationally syndicated radio show that is carried by more than 30 radio stations across the U.S. In 2017, The Cable Center named McKinney an Innovation
Laureate, in recognition of his role as a trailblazer and key influencer who is
mentoring, teaching and motivating the next generation of cable industry leaders.

McKinney serves on the advisory board for Hacking Autism and he is chairman of the board for Pioneer Education Africa. In his spare time, he oversees his family VC fund, the Techtrend Group, that invests in for-profit start-ups to create economic growth as an alternative to traditional charity models.

Mark Bridges

Executive VP & CTO, CableLabs

Mark Bridges is Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at CableLabs, the non-profit research & development and innovation lab funded by the global cable industry. He leads CableLabs’ long-term vision by driving the development of technologies critical to the industry’s evolution including wired, wireless, network convergence and security. His areas of expertise include research and development of software-defined networks, network as a service/platform and cloud native architectures.

Mark previously served as the Vice President of the Future Infrastructure Group as part of the Office of the CTO at CableLabs, where he spearheaded strategic planning for the future of access network technologies and software platforms. With nearly 30 years of experience in communications and software development, Mark is a seasoned industry professional with a deep understanding of the communications and technology industries. His tenure at CableLabs began in 2010, and over the years, he has made significant contributions to the company’s technological advancements and strategic direction.

Prior to joining CableLabs, Mark was Director and Chief Architect at Avaya where he was instrumental in defining the technology strategy and architecture for Avaya Global Services’ next-generation service delivery platforms. Before joining Avaya, Mark was the founder and CEO of VCS, Inc., a systems integrator, and platform development company focused on creating business operations and service delivery support systems for various industries, with a particular emphasis on OSS/BSS platforms for the telecommunications industry. He led VCS to a successful merger in 2001.

Mark studied Information Systems at the University of Georgia where he met and married his wife of over 30 years. During his leisure time in the fall season, Mark can be spotted on Saturdays at his favorite breweries in his hometown, Longmont, Colorado – always cheering for his Dawgs!

Ron Reuss

EVP and Chief Strategy Officer, CableLabs

Ron Reuss is Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at CableLabs. Ron and his team work with CableLabs colleagues, members, and across the cable ecosystem to develop and deliver insights about customers, network behavior, markets, costs and competition. Ron’s team is also responsible for the management of innovation processes and working with teams to develop innovations, helping to ensure CableLabs’ ability to consistently bring game-changing solutions to the cable industry.
Ron has over 30 years of experience in the communications industry and was formerly Vice President of Technology Strategy at CableLabs. Prior to his tenure at CableLabs, he held roles in product management, product development and venture investment at
companies including Level 3 Communications, BellSouth, and Gray Ventures.

Ron holds a Master of Science degree in Management from Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from University of Pennsylvania and Bachelor of Science degrees in Computer Science and Humanities from MIT. He is also a certified competitive intelligence professional.

Dr. Steve Jia

Fellow & Director of Advanced Optical Technologies, CableLabs

Dr. Zhensheng (Steve) Jia is a Fellow and Director of Advanced Optical Technologies at CableLabs, where he leads research and innovation in optical communications and broadband networking. With over two decades of experience, his work encompasses optical system design, including multiplexing, modulation, coding, and DSP, as well as innovative architectures for optical access networks and converged fiber and mobile technologies. Dr. Jia has published over 200 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers, one book, and eleven book chapters, and has been invited to speak at many conferences, webinars, and workshops. He also holds more than 200 U.S. and international patents. He is a Fellow of both Optica and IEEE.

Josh Redmore

Principal Architect, CableLabs

Josh Redmore is Principal Architect, Wireless Access Technologies at CableLabs (Louisville, CO), where he focuses on inventing the future of Wi-Fi customer experience.
He holds leadership positions in the Wireless Broadband Alliance, Wi-Fi Alliance, and contributes to numerous other standards organizations.

Prior to CableLabs, Josh spent eight years leading a global support organization for Voice over Wi-Fi products, and a further decade in wired networking.

He holds an Engineering Master’s degree from the University of Colorado, has multiple patents in wireless signal identification and optimization, serves on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair, and is CWNE #376.

Matt Schmitt

Distinguished Technologist, CableLabs

Matt Schmitt is a Distinguished Technologist at CableLabs. Matt has worked in the cable industry on DOCSIS® and other technologies for over 25 years with CableLabs and several manufacturers. On the DOCSIS technology side he led the development of the DOCSIS 3.1 specifications at CableLabs, and has also led or played a significant role in the development of the DSG, Modular CMTS, DOCSIS 3.0, CCAP, and C-DOCSIS specifications. After leading the Lab Services team at CableLabs for several years, Matt returned to the R&D side of CableLabs and has since become deeply involved in projects related to coherent optics, first leading the CableLabs Point-to-Point Coherent Optics effort, and now leading the Coherent PON (CPON) project. Additionally, Matt has continued to support a variety of efforts at CableLabs ranging from low latency to fixed-mobile convergence, while maintaining responsibility for the various CableLabs Certification programs (including the DOCSIS 4.0 Certification Program).

Luther Smith

Distinguished Technologist, CableLabs

Luther Smith is a Distinguished Technologist and Director of Wireless at CableLabs. While Luther’s current focus is within the Wireless technology, Luther has experience in many Wired, and Video technologies. Over Luther’s 20+ years at CableLabs, his roles have extended from testing and specification development to leading the Wireless Access Team. In addition to his work within CableLabs, Luther is an active contributor and work group chair within the WFA, WBA, IEEE, and WinnFourm. Luther holds a Master of Information Systems and MBA in Technical Management. Luther is ISC2 CISSP certified and a member of the SCTE and IEEE.

Neeharika Jesukumar

Lead Wireless Architect, CableLabs

Neeharika Jesukumar (Allanki) is a Lead Wireless Architect at CableLabs. Currently, her focus is on all things Wi-Fi, Wireless-Wireline Convergence and Home Networking. She has over a decade of Wireless experience within which she has led multiple projects and working groups within CableLabs. She is an active member of the Wi-Fi Alliance (WFA) and Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) as well.  

Neeharika holds a Master’s degree in EE from The University of Colorado, Boulder and has multiple patents and publications in the Wireless domain.

Jason Rupe

Distinguished Technologist, CableLabs

Jason got his Ph.D. modeling large scale systems and networks for performance and reliability. He has held titles including senior technical staff and director at USWEST, Qwest, Polar Star Consulting, and Tenica. He was the last Managing Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Reliability, Denver Section Chair, and co-chair of IEEE Blockchain initiative. He is currently the President of the IEEE Reliability Society, and writes a quarterly column article in Reliability Magazine. At CableLabs, he is the Distinguished Technologist working on Proactive Network Maintenance, Network and Service Reliability, DOCSIS® Tools and Readiness, Optical Operations and Maintenance, and reliability advancement for the industry. He was the RS Engineer of the year for 2021, and CableLabs inventor of the year for 2020.

Mark Walker

VP, Technology Policy, CableLabs

Mark Walker is Vice President, Technology Policy at CableLabs. He joined CableLabs in 2015 and leads the Technology Policy team which focuses on spectrum policy, broadband policy, cybersecurity and supply chain security policy, privacy, artificial intelligence, and energy efficiency and sustainability policy. Prior to joining CableLabs, Mark was the Deputy Chief in the Telecommunications Access Policy Division of the Federal Communications Commission that led the policy team for the E-rate Program (more formally known as the “Schools and Libraries Universal Service Mechanism”). While at the FCC, Mark also served as a Legal Advisor to the Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau as well as an Attorney Advisor on the E-rate and Rural Health Care teams. Prior to joining the FCC, he worked in private practice representing clients in telecommunications and other closely regulated industries. Mark holds a Bachelors degree in Engineering Science and Mechanics from Penn State University, an MBA from Lehigh University, and a JD from the University of Colorado.

Mark Poletti

Sr. Director of Mobile Networks & Principal Architect, CableLabs

Mark Poletti is the Sr Director of Mobile Networks and Principal Architect at CableLabs; a non-profit R&D organization that is dedicated to creating and driving technologies and innovations critical to the cable industry’s technology roadmap, including 5G, 6G, Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 8 and spectrum policy. In this role, Mark is responsible for wireless R&D activities across fixed, mobile, and emerging wireless technologies for the secure delivery of high-speed data, video, voice, and next-generation services.

Prior to CableLabs, Mark built, managed, and operated 2G, 3G and 4G networks for US WEST, T-Mobile, and Clearwire. He has also been addressing mobile operator design, operations, and performance issues of 2G, 3G, 4G, and satellite networks for over 30 years with companies such as ViaSat, Clearwire, ATECS/Centerline, U S WEST/Qwest, and General Electric.

Mark holds a M.S. in Telecommunications from University of Colorado, B.S. Physics from SUNY Buffalo and has multiple issued and pending patents.

Cody Lundie

Lead Software Architect, CableLabs

Cody is a software development professional with a background in Computer & Electrical Engineering who built a career leading software teams in the aerospace industry. His experience in leading projects focused on RF testing automation—developing high-reliability, scalable software solutions—has translated into the cable industry, where automation and interoperability are essential for advancing network technologies.

Currently serving as a project lead for the Zero-Touch Onboarding (ZTO) initiative, Cody leads efforts in technical development, API standardization, and collaboration with member and vendor communities to drive the adoption of Zero-Touch technologies.

As moderator for “The Power of NaaS: Simplifying Connectivity with Zero-Touch Onboarding” at Winter Conference ’25, Cody brings his background in Network-as-a-Service to guide a discussion on how Zero-Touch Onboarding is reshaping device connectivity and how seamless connectivity unlocks untapped use cases.

Randy Levensalor

Distinguished Technologist, CableLabs

Randy Levensalor is a technologist at CableLabs, a non-profit research and development laboratory supported by the global cable industry. As a principal member of the Future Infrastructure Group (FIG), he engages in various disciplines. His responsibilities include developing edge computing, wireless-wireline convergence, and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) architectures. Additionally, he focuses on the evolution strategy of Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial (HFC) networks to ensure that the industry can meet its customers’ future needs.  Randy was recognized in Fierce Telecom’s “The top 25 movers and shakers in the telecom industry.” 

Prior to joining CableLabs, Randy gained extensive experience leading R&D, DevOps, and product management across several Hewlett-Packard divisions focusing on successfully delivering its public cloud, Linux and converged management solutions.   

Randy is a long-time supporter and contributor to open source communities. Currently, his open source activities focus on CAMARA, where he is helping to lead multiple APIs and contribute to several others. He has also worked with the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), Linux Foundation Networking, OpenStack, and OpenDaylight, contributing to important industry standardization initiatives, including ETSI NFV. As a subject matter expert, Randy has spoken on a wide range of topics at numerous conferences, such as the Open Networking Summit, OpenStack Summit, OPNFV Summit, Big Communications, SCTE Cable Tech Expo, NFV World Congress, SDN World Congress, and Linux Conference Australia, among others. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Virginia Tech. 

Dr. Alberto Campos

Fellow, CableLabs

Dr. Alberto Campos joined CableLabs® in 2002 and holds the title of Fellow. He has been responsible for the DRFI, DOCSIS 3.0 and 3.1 PHY specifications, and he has conducted seminal work in the areas of Proactive Network Maintenance (PNM), DOCSIS 3.1 and coherent optics. Dr. Campos has worked on broadband access networks, covering cable, DSL, wireless and optical transport technologies for 30+ years. A pioneer in his field and the first to earn the title of Fellow at CableLabs, He is recognized for his commitment to inventing the future. He has written numerous publications and is regarded as a “Founding Father of PNM.” He holds over 230 patents granted in the areas of HFC, wireless and optical networks. He was named CableLabs’ “Inventor of the Year” in 2013 and 2016 and received CableLabs’ 2022 Inventor Hall of Fame Award. In 2019 he published the book “Coherent Optics for Access Networks” through the CRC press, year in which he also received CableFax’s “Engineer of the Year” Award. 

Dr. Campos holds a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Science and a Ph D. in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University in Massachusetts. 

Gabby Gordon

Manager of Security Technologies, CableLabs

Gabby Gordon is the Security and Privacy Technologies Manager at CableLabs. Gabby has more than 18 years of experience in the telecommunication industry. She has held various roles during her career at CableLabs including testing services for interoperability and certification, supporting technologist transitioning projects from development to field trial.  She has worked extensively on various operator deployment support programs such as DOCSIS® 3.1 Certification and Remote PHY interoperability testing. Currently, Gabby manages a team of Security and Privacy technologists on strategic implementation of advanced technologies and governance to protect data and privacy in our networks.  

Shafi Khan

Lead Software Solutions Engineer, CableLabs

Shafi Khan is a Lead Software Engineer at CableLabs’ Future Infrastructure Group, specializing in enhancing network performance through application-driven intelligence. With expertise spanning both the physical and application layers, he has developed firmware for embedded devices and worked on applications that run on them, giving him a deep understanding of network performance from infrastructure to end-user experience. In his current role, Shafi is leading the Quality by Design (QbD) initiative, leveraging application data and real-time network insights to optimize user experience. His work focuses on integrating context-aware network technologies, enabling dynamic service differentiation based on key performance indicators such as application demand, network congestion, and device-specific requirements. As the moderator for Context is King: Unlocking Differentiated Services with Smart Networks, Shafi will guide discussions on how operators can harness contextual intelligence to deliver high-value, personalized services and drive new revenue opportunities. 

Sanjay Patel

Senior Director, Strategy, CableLabs

As a senior member of the Technology Strategy team, he partners with the organization’s innovation and R&D groups on technical, competitive and economic analyses. His areas of focus include Wireless (Wi-Fi, 5G, Fixed Wireless Access) and Wired-Wireless Convergence where he leads CableLabs Convergence Program as GM, working closely with members, vendors and CableLabs subject matter experts. 

Before joining CableLabs in 2014, Sanjay led product and strategy for Comcast’s wholesale services business unit. Prior to that, he held several roles in finance, product, strategy and corporate development for Level 3 Communications. In addition, Sanjay has worked as a Certified Public Accountant, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University. 

Dr. Curtis Knittle

VP Wired, CableLabs

Dr. Curtis Knittle is the Vice President of Wired Technologies at CableLabs, the non-profit research & development lab funded by the global cable industry. Curtis and his team are responsible for specifying scalable deployment solutions in both hybrid fiber coax and all-fiber access networks for CableLabs’ member companies. DOCSIS® technologies, Distributed CCAP Architectures, Point-to-Point Coherent Optics, and Coherent Passive Optical Networking are a few current high priority projects under his leadership.  

Prior to joining CableLabs, Curtis led an engineering team at Harmonic, Inc to develop the world’s first CMTS-in-a-node and Ethernet-switch-in-a-node, both solutions representing the first instantiation of what today is called deep fiber distributed architecture solutions for the cable industry. Curtis also chaired the IEEE 802.3ca 50G-EPON task force, helping to usher in the first 50 Gb/s PON solution.  

 Curtis holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Mexico, and Master and Bachelor of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering from Colorado State University. 

Karthik Sundaresan

DT & Director of HFC Solutions, CableLabs

Karthik Sundaresan , Distinguished Technologist and Director of HFC solutions at CableLabs, is responsible for the development and architecture of cable access network technologies. He is the technical lead and long-time contributor to the family of DOCSIS technologies (D4.0, D3.1, D3.0, RPHY, eDOCSIS, L2VPN, PCMM).  He has pioneered work on Profile management applications (PMA) helping operators optimize their networks. He is focused on MAC and IP layer protocols, with recent research in areas around Latency Measurement, Low Latency DOCSIS, PON technologies, implications of virtualization, wireless convergence, and machine learning on data from cable networks.  

Previously, he developed SoC & ASIC designs for MPEG encoders, analog video decoders and cable modems at Conexant Systems, and developed embedded software for telecom networking equipment at Carrier Access. Karthik holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (University of Colorado, Boulder), a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and is a past Chair of the IEEE Communications Society, Denver Chapter. 

Ben Hepworth

Principal Architect, CableLabs

Ben is a software and technology architect with 25+ years experience designing and leading large-scale platforms in the broadband, IoT, and cloud industries. Throughout his career, he has focused on building scalable, interoperable, and developer-friendly systems that drive innovation and efficiency in network technology. 

As Principal Architect at CableLabs, Ben plays a key role in shaping the future of broadband by driving API-first strategies and network automation initiatives. He is also helping drive network APIs at CAMARA, ensuring next-generation networks are built with flexibility, security, and interoperability at their core.  

As moderator for API First Networks: Building the Foundation of the Future at Winter Conference ’25, Ben will lead a discussion on the foundations of API-first network architecture, its role in enabling new differentiated services, and how it enhances customer experiences by reducing friction. 
 | Hyatt Regency Orlando

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Winter Conference 2025

Connect and strategize with fellow industry experts on topics that will shape the future of connectivity

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REGISTRATION ENDS

About the conference

Influence the Direction of the Industry Together

In two full days of high-impact sessions, we will dive into the Technology Vision for the industry, exploring the architectures, protocols, technologies and strategies required for an agile, next-generation network that is equipped to meet the demands of tomorrow. Each session will bring into focus a different component of the Technology Vision framework and shine light on next steps for building and evolving the network of the future together.

 

The action-packed forum kicks off Monday, March 10, with a welcome reception for attending members and exhibiting vendors, and wraps up Thursday, March 13, with member-exclusive project meetings.

Venue Details

Hyatt Regency Orlando

9801 International Dr, Orlando, FL

Why Attend

An Event With Impact

  • Explore the Industry’s Technology Vision

    Delve into the technologies that define this strategic framework.​

  • Connect With Fellow Experts

    Engage in strategic discussions and exchange ideas with leaders in the field.​

  • Future-Proof Your Networks

    Acquire essential insights to prepare your networks for upcoming challenges and opportunities.​

Agenda Highlights

Keynote Speaker Zack Kass

Leveraging AI to Accelerate Innovation and Streamline Operations

Zack Kass, AI futurist and former head of go-to-market at OpenAI, will take the stage to unpack his vision of a future powered by AI, providing a thought-provoking look into the technologies driving its evolution and actionable strategies for you to harness its potential.

Tuesday, March 11: 9:00 – 10:00am

Zach Kass, AI leader and futurist
Zach Kass, AI leader and futurist

NEW this year

neXus: Startup and Scaleup Spotlight

Four global startups/scaleups that are disrupting connectivity will share their vision on how they can help our industry deliver a complete internet quality of experience. Learn how with their insights on:
  • troubleshooting and remediating network incidents faster than ever before
  • how operators can deliver dramatically lower latency (50% +) and up to 18X performance gains over legacy Wi-Fi architectures.

March 11 & 12: 2:30 – 3:00pm

Featured Session

The What, Why and How of Future HFC Solutions

In this two part series, discover how future generations of DOCSIS technology will support HFC networks and how MSOs can leverage HFC assets for new applications.

Tuesday, March 11 – Part One: 12:45 – 1:30pm | Part Two: 1:40 – 2:25pm

A futuristic cityscape

Featured Session

Balancing Economic Trade-Offs in the Last Mile

Explore how operators can grow their networks and products while balancing opportunities with constraints.

Wednesday, March 12: 3:30 – 4:15pm

Wooden blocks carefully balanced

Featured Session

Shaping the Security Evolution: Strategies From Industry CISOs

Tune in to this insightful session of three CISOs sharing current cyber threats, incident reporting and government collaboration, highlighting their strategies to protect networks from advanced threats and its impact on service differentiation and network security.

Wednesday, March 12: 12:45 – 1:30pm

Featured Session

Context Is King: Unlocking Differentiated Services With Smart Networks

Discover how to harness the power of context-aware technologies to transform your network into a dynamic platform delivering differentiated services that optimize performance, prioritize high-value traffic, enhance customer satisfaction and create new revenue opportunities.

Wednesday, March 12: 3:30 – 4:15pm

A group of people with high tech gadgets on a sofa

Industry Professionals

Featured Speakers

March 10-13, 2025

Conference Agenda

Please note: All times are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Agenda details are subject to change.

  • 7:30 am - 9:00 am
    Smaller Market Breakfast
    9:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Smaller Market Conference (CableLabs Member and NCTA Guest Event) – Register Here
    5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
    Welcome Reception for All
  • 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Conference Registration & Information
    7:00 am - 8:30 am
    Conference Attendee Breakfast
    8:30 am - 9:00 am
    Opening Session
    9:00 am - 10:00 am
    10:00 am - 10:30 am
    Break
    10:30 am - 11:15 am
    11:15 am - 12:45 pm
    11:30 am - 12:30 pm
    12:45 pm - 1:30 pm
    1:40 pm - 2:25 pm
    2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
    3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
    Break
    3:30 pm - 4:15 pm
    4:15 pm - 4:45 pm
    Closing Session
    5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
  • 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Conference Registration & Information
    7:00 am - 8:30 am
    Conference Attendee Breakfast
    8:30 am - 9:00 am
    Opening Session
    9:00 am - 10:00 am
    10:00 am - 10:30 am
    Break
    10:30 am - 11:15 am
    11:15 am - 12:45 pm
    12:45 pm - 1:30 pm
    1:40 pm - 2:25 pm
    2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
    3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
    Break
    3:30 pm - 4:15 pm
    4:15 pm - 4:45 pm
    Closing Session
    5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

  • Project Meetings (All sessions on March 13 are CableLabs Member Only)

    7:00 am - 8:30 am
    CableLabs Member Breakfast
    8:00 am - 12:30 pm
    Conference Registration & Information
    8:30 am - 11:30 am
    12:00 pm - 12:30 pm
    Grab-and-Go Lunches Available for Attendees

This year's

Exhibitors

Register Now to Attend This Exclusive Event

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Apply to Exhibit

Venue

Hyatt Regency Orlando
9801 International Dr, Orlando, FL

Cost

CableLabs Member: $450

CableLabs Vendor: Please visit the exhibitor page for details

Have additional questions?

Contact us at
events@cablelabs.com

A map of downtown Orlando, FL

Pre-conference Event

Smaller Market Conference

Are you a small or mid-tier operator? Join us March 10, 2025 for this pre-conference event hosted by CableLabs and NCTA – The Internet & Television Association. Available for CableLabs members and NCTA guests; separate registration required.

Learn More

Join us at CableLabs Winter Conference 2025

CableLabs vendors must apply for a demo table to attend.

Register Now (Members)
Apply to Exhibit