Agenda - Navigating the Next Chapter: Leading Through Change. Building What's Next

Navigating the Next Chapter: Leading Through Change. Building What's Next.

The rural broadband industry continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace. From regulatory uncertainty and emerging technologies to workforce development, artificial intelligence, customer expectations, and long-term strategic planning, today's leaders are being called to make decisions that will shape the future of their organizations for years to come.

Join us November 4–6 at the beautiful Tapatio Springs Resort in Boerne, Texas, as industry leaders from across the state gather for the 2026 TRBA Fall Forum & Annual Meeting. This year's theme—Navigating the Next Chapter: Leading Through Change. Building What's Next.—focuses on preparing executives and leadership teams with practical insights, meaningful conversations, and strategies for the road ahead.

This year's Fall Forum also introduces an exciting new format. Wednesday begins with a golf outing, followed by an Executive Leadership Forum designed specifically for General Managers, CEOs, and executive leadership teams. This interactive, peer-driven session—Navigating Transition. Leading Through the Unknown.—will move beyond traditional presentations to focus on real conversations, practical leadership tools, collaborative problem-solving, and shared experiences from leaders facing many of the same challenges. The day concludes with a welcome reception, providing the perfect opportunity to reconnect with industry colleagues before the educational sessions begin.

We're excited to welcome Mike Romano, CEO of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, who will kick off Thursday's program with an industry update and keynote perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing rural broadband providers in Washington and across the nation.

Thursday and Friday feature a forward-looking lineup of educational sessions covering today's most important issues, including broadband strategy, customer engagement, AI and business transformation, Internet traffic trends, strategic planning, operational excellence, regulatory and legislative updates, and the future of rural broadband.

Whether you're looking to strengthen your leadership skills, gain practical ideas to bring back to your company, or connect with peers who understand the unique challenges facing rural broadband providers, the 2026 TRBA Fall Forum is designed to help you lead with confidence into what's next

WEDNESDAY, NOV 4

8 A.M. to 1 P.M. TRBA Golf Outing

2:30 pm- 4:45 P.M. Navigating Transition. Leading Through the Unknown.

As we begin 2027, General Managers, CEO's and Executive Leadership are facing an environment unlike any before—rapid technological change, workforce transitions, evolving regulations, increasing customer expectations, and difficult decisions that often don't come with clear answers.

This isn't another presentation full of leadership theory.

This interactive, peer-driven leadership session is designed specifically for rural broadband Leadership who want practical tools, honest conversations, and real-world solutions they can take back to their organizations immediately.

Through facilitated discussion, collaborative problem-solving, and shared experiences from fellow leaders, we'll explore two of the most pressing challenges facing today's executives:

Navigating Transition – Leading organizations through change while maintaining culture, stability, and momentum.
Leading Through the Unknown – Making confident decisions when the path forward isn't fully defined, balancing uncertainty with strategic leadership.

Participants should expect an engaging, discussion-based format—not a lecture. You'll leave with practical leadership frameworks, fresh perspectives from peers who understand your challenges, and actionable strategies to help lead your cooperative through whatever comes next.

5 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. Reception

THURSDAY, NOV 5

7 A.M. - 8:15 A.M. Breakfast

8:30 A.M. Welcome & Invocation

8:45 A.M. Keynote- Mike Romano

9:30 A.M. Evolving traffic patterns for rural ISPs

George Trejo | Regional Sales Manager | DE-CIX
The way broadband traffic moves across the Internet is changing rapidly, and those shifts are creating new opportunities for rural providers to improve network performance, reduce costs, and deliver a better subscriber experience. This session will examine the trends shaping today's Internet, why latency is becoming a key competitive differentiator, and how forward-looking operators can position their networks for long-term growth without simply adding more bandwidth.

10:15 A.M. Break

10:30 A.M. Customer First: Elevating Engagement in a Competitive Broadband Market

Nicki Britton, Senior Member Value Consultant | NISC In today’s hyper-connected world, customer expectations are evolving rapidly—especially in the broadband industry, where service quality and responsiveness are paramount. This presentation explores how broadband providers can build stronger, more meaningful relationships with their customers through strategic engagement. Attendees will gain practical tools for enhancing the customer journey and proven methods for increasing retention and satisfaction. From leveraging digital touchpoints to creating personalized experiences, this session offers a roadmap to transforming subscribers into loyal advocates in the broadband era.

11:15 A.M. The Future-Ready Broadband Leader: Strategy, Metrics, and AI

Vele Galovski | Regional Vice President, Business Transformation & AI Engagement | Calix As AI reshapes customer expectations and business operations, rural broadband providers have an opportunity to rethink how they grow, compete, and serve their communities. In this session, Vele Galovski will explore how forward-looking broadband leaders are aligning strategy, metrics, processes, and technology to support long-term business transformation and AI readiness.

Attendees will gain insight into the evolving role of data-driven decision-making and emerging approaches to customer and operational workflows. This session is ideal for leaders seeking to better understand the role AI is playing in shaping the future of broadband operations and business performance.

10:15 A.M. Break

10:30 A.M. Customer First: Elevating Engagement in a Competitive Broadband Market

Nicki Britton, Senior Member Value Consultant | NISC
In today’s hyper-connected world, customer expectations are evolving rapidly—especially in the broadband industry, where service quality and responsiveness are paramount. This presentation explores how broadband providers can build stronger, more meaningful relationships with their customers through strategic engagement. Attendees will gain practical tools for enhancing the customer journey and proven methods for increasing retention and satisfaction. From leveraging digital touchpoints to creating personalized experiences, this session offers a roadmap to transforming subscribers into loyal advocates in the broadband era.

11:15 A.M. The Future-Ready Broadband Leader: Strategy, Metrics, and AI

Vele Galovski | Regional Vice President, Business Transformation & AI Engagement | Calix
As AI reshapes customer expectations and business operations, rural broadband providers have an opportunity to rethink how they grow, compete, and serve their communities. In this session, Vele Galovski will explore how forward-looking broadband leaders are aligning strategy, metrics, processes, and technology to support long-term business transformation and AI readiness.

Noon- 1:00 P.M. Lunch

1:15 P.M. WTA Update with Derrick Owens

2:00 P.M. Economic Impact
Hunter Hook | Managing Director | CoBank
A discussion of current economic conditions and how they are impacting rural LECs with a focus not just on what has happened but the threats that exist in the near future. A discussion on interest rates, the Federal Reserve, and inflation will of course be included.

2:45 P.M. Break

3:00 P.M. Keeping More of What you Earn
Ryan Johnson | Partner, Communications + Utilities | Aldrich CPAs + Advisors LLP
An informative session exploring practical tax and wealth strategies designed to help you maximize what you've earned and build a more tax-efficient financial future. Topics include retirement and investment planning, real estate opportunities, charitable giving strategies, estate and generational wealth planning, and additional tax-saving ideas to help support your long-term financial goals.

3:45 P.M. NTCA REGIONAL Q&A
Craig Cook, HCTC & Jennifer Prather, TotelCom

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6

7:00 A.M. – 8:15 A.M. Breakfast

8:30 A.M. Strategic Planning: Navigating the Unknowns
Kristy Szabo, Director of Consulting | Vantage Point
How can providers effectively plan for the next 3–5 years amid regulatory uncertainty, evolving funding programs, shifting competitive dynamics, and rapid technological change? This session would explore structured approaches to strategic planning, including scenario-based forecasting, risk management, and capital prioritization. Attendees would gain practical frameworks to remain flexible while making confident investment decisions and navigating challenges related to funding sustainability, technology evolution, and long-term market positioning.

9:15 A.M. Maximizing Operational Performance:
Baker Tilly
With the FCC considering potentially significant changes to the regulatory environment and universal service funding mechanisms, now is the time to be considering the potential implications of those reforms on your revenue streams and operating model. This session will focus on aspects of rural broadband providers’ operations that may be ripe for improvement, including real world solutions that providers are implementing to maximize efficiency and reduce cost.

10:00 A.M. Break

10:15 A.M. MEMBER ONLY MEETING

TRBA REG/ LEG UPDATE/ 2027 PLAN
TRBA ANNUAL MEETING

11:45 A.M. FALL FORUM ADJOURNS

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