Thank you to everyone who made this year unforgettable

By Marina Schwenk, WMCPA President

On behalf of the WMCPA Board, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made iCON 2026 such a tremendous success - to our speakers, who generously shared their expertise and passion for the IBM i platform, to our sponsors, whose support makes everything we do possible, and to each and every one of our attendees, who brought the energy that made this conference something truly special - thank you.

This year's conference was a powerful reminder of how strong and forward-looking our community really is. From packed sessions on AI and RPG development to thought-provoking conversations about bringing the next generation of developers into the fold, we're proud to say that iCON 2026 delivered on every front. We were especially proud to welcome, not 1, not 2, but 12 IBM Champions to the event - 5 of whom serve on our very own WMCPA Board.

Below, you'll find a recap of some of the highlights from this year's conference. If you were there, we hope it brings back great memories. If you couldn't make it, consider this your invitation to join us next time.

iCON 2026 featured three outstanding keynote presentations from two of the most influential voices on the IBM i platform:

Steve Will, IBM i Chief Technology Officer and Chief Architect, opened the conference with a keynote sharing his insights and advice for IBM i professionals. He returned later with a deeper dive into IBM i in 2026: Strategy and Roadmap in the Era of AI, giving attendees an inside look at where the platform is headed and how AI is shaping its future.

Tim Rowe, IBM i Business Architect, closed out the keynote lineup with What Is IBM Bob and How Can Bob Work for You - an introduction to IBM's latest agentic-style tool for AI-assisted code assessment and review. IBM Bob was one of the most talked-about topics at this year's conference, and for good reason.

One of the standout moments of our conference was the Tuesday night Expert Roundtable, emceed by none other than everybody's favorite Mike Pavlak and featuring an all-star panel of IBM i leaders: Steve Will, Adam Shedivy, Jordan Antonoff, Steve Pitcher, Tim Rowe, and Alan Seiden.

The discussion covered some of the biggest questions facing the workforce today - such as how AI is transforming the way we work, and what the shifting landscape means for both new and seasoned professionals going forward. It was an engaging, heated conversation that had the room buzzing long after it wrapped up.

The discussion covered some of the biggest questions facing the workforce today - such as how AI is transforming the way we work, and what the shifting landscape means for both new and seasoned professionals going forward. It was an engaging, heated conversation that had the room buzzing long after it wrapped up.

iCON 2026 featured a packed schedule of sessions, and several stood out for their depth and energy:

• Simon Hutchinson delivered an impressive eight sessions focused on RPG development and education - a marathon effort that helped attendees sharpen their skills across the board.
• Megan Olson made her speaking debut at iCON with sessions covering encryption on IBM i using field procs, practical data lockdown strategies, and modernizing IBM i development - sharing fresh perspectives and lessons learned from her experience joining the platform.
• Adam Shedivy brought the AI conversation to the session level with presentations on the IBM i MCP server, agentic native capabilities of IBM i, and building an agent from scratch - giving attendees hands-on insight into what AI-driven development looks like on the platform.

A special Visual Studio Code lab was also held, which included working with IBM Bob - giving attendees a chance to get hands-on with the tool in a guided environment.

This year, we invited sponsors to participate in a Vendor Showcase for AI-First Companies, featuring presentations from CM First Group, Eradani, and Profound Logic. Each showcased their unique value propositions, capabilities, and the innovative work they've been doing with AI on the IBM i platform.

Our Business in IT session - also known as A Walk in the World of IT - was a great success and gave students and early career professionals an opportunity to learn what a typical day in the life is like for developers and admin.

A highlight of every iCON, this year's RPG competition brought out some outstanding talent. Congratulations to all of the winners:

• 1st Place: Cedric Herron & Matteo Kramer-Tamburrino
• 2nd Place: Levi McIntyre (not pictured) & Colin Nguyen
• 3rd Place: Solange Mihanda Muhima & Mathew Flores (both not pictured)

Our generous sponsors made sure there was no shortage of excitement on the event floor:

• Fortra - Drone won by Brooke Bazeley
• Arbor Solutions - Giveaway won by Dillon Low & Tim Cortez
• Marble Raffle - Won by Jordan Hundt & Stephanie Bock, and a special shoutout to Ismael Castro, who had the fortune of winning two prizes in a row!

Casino Night was a blast, with winners all across the board. It was a great way to unwind after a packed day of sessions and connect with fellow attendees in a more relaxed setting. Good times were shared all around, and it's no wonder that it's been one of our most well-remembered activities at the conference.

Student Scholarship Sponsors

One of the things that makes WMCPA and iCON so special is our community's deep commitment to bringing the next generation of IBM i developers into the fold. None of that is possible without the generosity of our Student Scholarship Sponsors:

• Steve Pearson
• Don Anderson
• Peter Langhammer
• Vern Hamburg

Their contributions are significant and truly cannot be understated. These scholarships give students the opportunity to attend the conference, learn from industry leaders, and connect with potential employers - experiences that can shape the trajectory of their careers.

A Very Special Thank You to Steve Pearson

We want to take a moment to recognize Steve Pearson for his extraordinary generosity. Steve has provided exceptionally large donations to our students over the past several years - contributions that total what would normally cover several sponsor booths, all on his own. Beyond that, Steve is a regular presence at nearly all of our monthly dinner meetings. He means the world to us, and we truly cannot thank him enough for everything he does for the students and for this community.

Thank you to Our iCON 2026 Sponsors

We couldn't have done it without you

We are incredibly grateful to the 16 sponsors who made iCON 2026 possible. Their support keeps this conference - and this community - going strong.

Gold Sponsor

Arbor Solutions - Our Gold Sponsor for iCON 2026. Arbor Solutions has contributed above and beyond, not just this year but in years prior as well, helping keep us going strong. We sincerely appreciate their continued partnership.

Please explore their solutions below and see how you can make the most of their services and tools.

All Sponsors

• IBM
• Service Express
• Midrange Dynamics
• Arbor Solutions
• ARCAD Software
• Eradani
• Kato Integrations
• programmers.io
• imPower TechnologiesFortra
• Gateway Technical College
• COMMON
• Agile Technology Architects
• Profound Logic
• Cybernetics
• CM First

In Closing

Thank you again to everyone who made iCON 2026 one for the books. Whether you are at home, in office, or working from a coffee shop, we hope you feel the energy of what this community is building together. We're already looking ahead - stay tuned for details on future events and ways to stay connected with WMCPA. Next year is our 40th anniversary, and we have some exciting plans in store.