2024 NTA Fall Conference | NTA Website 10-2021

*Voted one of the top 7 State Telecom conferences in the Nation by attendees

SEPTEMBER 30 - OCTOBER 3, 2024

Tuscany Suites & Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

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Book a Hotel Room at Tuscany

Book a room(s) at the Tuscany Suites & Casino. Every room is a suite!

Register to play in the NTA golf Tournament Oct 1 at Chimera Golf Course, Henderson, NV. Transportation provided to/from the Tuscany Hotel.

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Sponsor the Conference

Sponsor the NTA conference! Download the PDF below to see the packages available.

Enter the Scholarship Raffle

Enter to win one of three (3) great prizes. All proceeds got the NTA Scholarship fund. Scroll down to check out the prizes.

2024 NTA CONFERENCE DOCUMENTS

2024 NTA Conference Sponsorship Prospectus

2024 NTA Conference attendee list as of 9/21/2024
(updated as needed)

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2024 NTA Conference shipping instructions

2024 NTA Conference Golf Pairings, Rules

Exhibitor Notes:

The Exhibit hall is UP THE ESCALATOR near the Casino wing of the Tuscany Hotel.
Please take note of the CHECK-IN DATES AND TIMES
- If you’re going to be there on MONDAY, Sep 30 and want to check-in early, the NTA staff will be there from 3:30pm to 5:00pm
- If checking-in on Tuesday, October 1, the NTA staff will be there from 10:00am to 4:00pm
EXHIBIT HALL HOURS:
- The Exhibit hall will be open on WEDNESDAY, Oct 2, from 11:00am to 3:15pm
- The Exhibit hall will be open on THURSDAY, Oct 3, from 8:00am to 11:30am
IF YOU NEED POWER AT YOUR TABLE, it is first come first serve. We can accommodate eight (8) tables with 110v power. Power for the show is $200 for both days which will be billed after the conference.
SOMEONE MUST BE AT YOUR TABLE at all times.
Please do NOT play music at your table.

NTA 2024 Fall Conference Speakers

Tim Timrawi is the CEO & Founder of Sharktech which offers global DDoS mitigation, Cloud Hosting, and Infrastructure Development services to small to mid-sized businesses and he collaborates internationally with other cyber security experts.

Mr. Timrawi is also Chairman and President of LVIX, a new non-profit internet exchange serving the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Mr. Timrawi studied Management Information Systems at the American University of Science and Technology in Beirut, Lebanon.

Speaking at the NTA Conference on Wednesday Oct 2nd, at 10:20am - 11:50am

timt@sharktech.net

Brendan Dailey serves as director of government affairs at NTCA. He works with the government affairs team to execute legislative and regulatory policies that build a better broadband future for rural America. He also serves as the point of contact between NTCA members and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Before joining NTCA, Brendan worked in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives for Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). He served as legislative assistant on the senator’s priorities on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.

Speaking at the NTA Conference on Wednesday Oct 2nd, at 9:10am - 10:10am

bdailey@ntca.org

Mike Andrewes is Founder and Lead Cybersecurity Consultant of Yastis, which offers cybersecurity consulting for small to mid-sized US businesses that interact with sensitive data using a website or app. Prior to founding Yastis in 2019, Mr. Andrewes was the Lockheed Martin Classified Cyber Security Lead for three classified F-35 programs at Nellis AFB.

He has 20 years of total Air Force service and an active Top Secret clearance. Mr. Andrewes holds a master’s degree in information systems from Wright State University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Speaking at the NTA Conference on Wednesday Oct 2nd, at 10:20am - 11:50am

mike@yastis.com

Ann C. Pongracz is a nationally recognized expert in utility-related matters involving telecommunications/broadband, energy/climate, water/wastewater, and EVs/LEVs and autonomous systems. She moved to Las Vegas in 1993 to serve as General Counsel to Sprint’s ILEC serving Southern Nevada, and also supported Sprint’s competitive long distance and wireless divisions.

Ms. Pongracz directs Sklar Williams’ Regulatory Law and Government Relations Group, where she specializes in helping companies and government agencies solve complex problems through regulatory and legislative processes and creative negotiations and contracting. She holds an A.B. cum laude degree in Government from Harvard University, and a J.D. from Temple University’s James E. Beasley School of Law.

Speaking at the NTA Conference on Wednesday Oct 2nd, at 10:20am - 11:50am

apongracz@sklar-law.com

Randy Brown was appointed to the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada by Governor Joe Lombardo, effective Oct. 1, 2023.

Commissioner Brown worked in public utility accounting, tax and regulatory affairs for more than 26 years. Commissioner Brown previously led regulatory operations for AT&T in Nevada and previously served as a Commissioner on the Nevada Tax Commission from 2017 to 2023.

A native of Reno, Nevada, Commissioner Brown holds a degree in accounting from the University of Nevada, Reno, and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the state of Nevada. He is a graduate of the Leadership Reno-Sparks program and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Speaking at the NTA Conference on Wednesday Oct 2nd, at 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Please email Debbie his assistant at christensen@puc.nv.gov

Brian Mitchell serves as the Director of the Office of Science, Innovation and Technology (OSIT), the State of Nevada's Broadband Office, and oversees the planning, mapping and procurement of broadband infrastructure. Brian leads the State's High Speed Nevada Initiative, a $1 billion program to achieve the goal of universal access to affordable, reliable, scalable broadband.

Speaking at the NTA Conference on Thursday Oct 3rd, at 9:00am - 10:00am

blmitchell@gov.nv.gov

Queenie has over a decade of experience in the Human Resources profession, beginning her career at MGM Resorts International. She has held various roles, including FMLA/Absence Management Specialist, Labor Relations Partner, and Benefits Operations Manager for Mirage Hard Rock.

She holds an Advanced Human Resource Management Professional Certificate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in 2016. Additionally, she holds a Master of Arts in Guidance & Counseling from Cagayan State University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from St. Paul University.

Speaking at the NTA Conference on Thursday Oct 3rd, at 10:15am - 11:15am

queenie.miller74@yahoo.com

Melody is Director – Member Services for NECA’s Western region. She is responsible for overseeing pool assurance, member company training and member service activities for 195 study areas in Alaska, American Samoa, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and several Missouri.

She is also responsible for NECA’s EXPO. Melody began her NECA telecommunications career in 1984 and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design from Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design.

Speaking at the NTA Conference on Wednesday Oct 2nd, at 2:10pm - 3:10pm

mcrane@neca.org

Mr. Isar practices in the area of specialized and complex regulatory compliance, public policy, government and industry relations, focusing on regulatory compliance and issues affecting the competitive telecommunications industry. He is also engaged in government affairs and public policy representation before federal, state and municipal government and regulatory agencies, and federal and state legislators.

Mr. Isar represents a variety of telecommunications and IP-enabled service providers to state and federal regulators. Mr. Isar earned a Masters of Science degree from the University of Southern California suma cum laude and Bachelor of Business Administration degree cum laude from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Speaking at the NTA Conference on Wednesday Oct 2nd, at 3:20pm - 4:20pm

aisar@millerisar.com

Brandon is Senior Manager – Member Service in the NECA Western region. He has been with NECA for 23 years and is the primary contact for members in Colorado, California, Nevada, Alaska and Hawaii. He has previously worked with members in North and South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.

He is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln with a Bachelor of Science in business administration and minors in economics and psychology. He lives in Denver with his wife Michelle and daughters Gwen (11) and Claire (9).

Speaking at the NTA Conference on Wednesday Oct 2nd, at 2:10pm - 3:10pm

bgardner@neca.org

Dan Martin is the NV/UT Regional Sales Manager for Calix which offers a platform, cloud, and managed services allowing our Broadband Service Provider customers to simplify their operations, subscriber engagement, and services; innovate for their consumer, business, and municipal subscribers; and grow their value for members, investors, and the communities they serve.

He has been in the communications industry for over 27 years and lives in Denver with his wife and two kids.

Speaking at the NTA Conference on Wednesday Oct 2nd, at 8:00am - 9:00am

dan.martin@calix.com

Justin has practiced public accounting since 2006. He provides assurance services to clients in the telecommunications industry, including risk assessment, testing internal controls over financial reporting, and preparing financial statements and related disclosures.

Justin also has experience performing audits for defined benefit employee benefit plans and state Universal Service Funds.

Speaking at the NTA Conference on Thursday Oct 3rd, at 7:45am - 8:45am

justin.wardle@mossadams.com

Nick is a CPA and has practiced public accounting since 2010. He provides assurance, cost study development, continuing property records, forecasting, lead-lag studies, and other regulatory compliance services for small and mid-sized rural telecommunications companies.

His clients include wireline ILEC & CLEC commercial and cooperative enterprises, wireless carriers, fiber transport companies, cable television companies, and telephone associations.

Speaking at the NTA Conference on Thursday Oct 3rd, at 7:45am - 8:45am

nick.huckaby@mossadams.com

Mr. Millar has served in CISA since 2009, working to strengthen the nation’s cyber defenses and resilience against emerging threats. His work has included increasing the level of public, private and international partner engagement, and supporting initiatives to improve information sharing, such as the standardization of the Traffic Light Protocol. As the Branch Chief of Cyber Resilience within the Cyber Security Division, he oversees CISA’s architectural cybersecurity assessments, the Cybersecurity Performance Goals program, and training and standards for assessment performance.

Prior to his cybersecurity career, he served as a linguist with the 22nd Intelligence Squadron of the United States Air Force. Mr. Millar holds a Master’s of Science from the George Washington University and is a Distinguished Graduate of the National Defense University’s College of Information and Cyberspace.

Speaking at the NTA Conference on Wednesday Oct 2nd, at 10:20am - 11:50am

thomas.millar@cisa.dhs.gov

Schedule of Events

3:30pm - 5:00pm
- Exhibitor Set-Up
  (primarily for those playing golf, otherwise set-up day is Tuesday Oct 1)
3:30pm - 5:00pm
- NTA Board Meeting
6:00pm - 8:00pm
- NTA Board Dinner

7:30am
- Welcome (Rusty Shaffer & Gary Earl)
8:00am - 10:00 am
- Buffet breakfast in outer hall
8:00am - 9:00am SPEAKER

TOPIC: Expand upon your success – Leveraging your broadband network to unlock opportunity and drive growth.
- Dan Martin - Calix
9:10am - 10:10am SPEAKER

TOPIC: Washington/election update on the impact on telecom, USF reform, taxation on grants, ACP
- Brendan Dailey - NTCA
10:20am - 11:50am SPEAKER

TOPIC: Cybersecurity threats and practical steps telecom/broadband companies can take to mitigate their risks.
- Ann Pongracz - Sklar Williams, Tim Timrawi - Sharktech - Mike Andrewes, Yastis, Tom Millar - CISA U.S. Gov
11:00am
- Exhibitor Hall open
- Silent Auction begins
11:00am - 12:30pm
- Buffet lunch in exhibitor hall
1:00pm - 2:00 pm SPEAKER

TOPIC: How the PUCN works
- Randy Brown, PUCN Commissioner
2:10pm - 3:10pm SPEAKER

TOPIC: NECA update and hot topics in telecom
- Brandon Gardner and Melody Crane, NECA
3:15pm
- Exhibit Hall Closes
3:20pm - 4:20pm SPEAKER

TOPIC: The Federal USF and the impact of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruling
- Andrew Isar - Miller Isar
6:00pm - 7:50pm
- Associate Supplier Member Dinner - Tuscany Hotel
  - Associate Supplier Board Member announcement
  - Announcement of 2025 NTA Board
  - Outgoing President Gary Earl handoff to incoming President Brad Lyon
8:00pm - 11:00pm
- Reception for all - Tuscany Pool area
9:00pm
- Silent Auction ends

8:00am - 10:00am
- Buffet breakfast in exhibit hall
8:00am - 11:30am
- Exhibitor Hall open
7:45am - 8:45am SPEAKER

TOPIC: Financial Benchmarking & Implications on NUSF Support
- Justin Wardle and Nick Huckaby, Moss Adams
9:00am - 10:00am SPEAKER

TOPIC: BEAD and other relevant broadband issues for Nevada
- Brian Mitchell - OSIT
10:00am
- Scholarship Raffle winners announcement
10:15am - 11:15am SPEAKER

TOPIC: HR issues in the 21st century
- Queenie Miller, MGM HR Expert
12:00pm
- Conference ends

10:00am - 4:00pm
- Exhibitor Set-Up and check-in for attendees
6:30am
- Transportation to Chimera Golf course
8:00am
- NTA Member golf tournament starting time
12:15pm
- Golf tournament lunch at Chimera Golf Club, Henderson NV
1:15pm/1:30pm
- Transportation to Tuscany Hotel
3:00pm
- NTA Board Member Event. Transportation to Channel Corporation factory tour
4:30-4:45pm
- Transportation from Channel Corp. Factory back to Tuscany Hotel

NTA
SCHOLARSHIP RAFFLE

Scan the QR CODE or click this link, https://nta.vraffle.org, to enter the 2024 Scholarship Raffle. Drawing to be held at the NTA Fall Conference in Las Vegas NV Oct 2. Prizes awarded to 3 winners. All proceeds go to the NTA Scholarship fund which benefits Nevada high school seniors who are going to college or a trade school.