Conference & Sessions

An overview of CHECK 2021

CHECK 2021 will be held completely online on Wednesday, May 19 and Thursday, May 20. The two-day schedule will feature multiple sessions in a variety of formats, including presentations, discussions, sponsor sessions, a CIO panel and more. Registration and sessions will be provided through our event platform, Hopin.

Thumbnail List

Keynote Speaker

Jeff Perry, Digital Transformation Co-Pilot, Google

Jeff Perry, Digital Transformation Co-Pilot, Google

Jeff Perry is a seasoned technology executive who has been a CTO, VP, Founder, and a Digital Transformation advisor to many of the top organizations in the world.  He serves as a subject matter expert to help key organization accelerate their technology driven initiatives and operate in more agile, customer-centric, and sustainable ways.

A winner of the ‘US CTO of the Year’ award, Jeff brings 20+ years of experience navigating the intersection between customers, people, processes, and technology.  He has extensive experience in Cloud Computing, Organizational Change, IT Security and Governance, and Consulting.

Jeff was the CTO and Head of Research Computing at the University of Kansas.  He has built and led teams at a number of major technology companies & built startups in the web space.  Jeff advises & teaches courses in the area of high performing teams, technology management, and technical computing areas.  He is an avid maker, woodworker, reader, hiker, and technology wonk.  Jeff has a passion for expanding access to education, healthcare, and ending poverty & homelessness. He resides outside of Kansas City with his family and a menagerie of animals his kids brought home.

Jeff Perry on LinkedIn

Sessions and presenters

Click on the title to see the session description.

Session information for CHECK 2021
DateTimeTitlePresentersSchool
Wednesday, May 198:45 - 10:30 a.m.Opening remarks, keynote, and optional Q&ASuzie Johannes, Mary Walsh, Jeff PerryMultiple
Wednesday, May 1910:45 - 11:30 a.m.Extreme customer support operations in challenging times, how we kept IT support for our customers goingWaldo Berry, Fred Darkow, Erik Crouch, Erik Carlson, John Haverty, Tami Koester, Milissa Hawkins, Ross Powell, Shadi Tafaroji, Melanie Jones, Jake Coffman, Michael NeaseMultiple
Wednesday, May 1910:45 - 11:30 a.m.Partnering for innovation: PSU, The City of Pittsburg, and Pitsco Education create an innovation space in historic downtown Pittsburg buildingsShawn Naccarato, Jay Byers, Matt FrankenberyPittsburg State University
Wednesday, May 1910:45 - 11:30 a.m.As you build it they will come: How a journal club prepares campus for an innovation labCarol Sevin, Emily Finch, Renee Gates, Jeffrey SheldonKansas State University
Wednesday, May 1910:45 - 11:30 a.m.Netbox - Cleaning up IPAM/DCIM documentation and begining to automate using Python with NetmikoIsaac DuryeaWashburn University
Wednesday, May 192 - 2:45 p.m..Off balance: Find your work-life balance as a 24/7, on-call, in-demand IT geekJeff Burns,Luecrita Haraughty,John Kuefler, Amanda WilliamsPittsburg State University
Wednesday, May 192 - 2:45 p.m.Building KU's custom, enterprise content management system with DrupalAdam Braun, Chris Welchhans
Wednesday, May 192 - 2:45 p.m.The research cyber-infrastructure ecosystemJames DeatonGreat Plains Network
Wednesday, May 193 - 3:45 p.m.The transformative effect of broadband infrastructure on higher educationCortney BuffingtonKanren
Wednesday, May 193 - 3:45 p.m.Changing the culture one dad joke at a timeJessica Smith, Dominique NewlandUniversity of Kansas Medical Center
Wednesday, May 193 - 3:45 p.m.Security Onion: From PoC to productionRick WhitmoreUniversity of Kansas
Wednesday, May 193 - 3:45 p.m.Free Stuff! 2021 EditionJohn KueflerPittsburg State University
Thursday, May 199-9:45 a.m.The Pandemic Pivot: How higher education pivoted to meet the IT needs brought on by the pandemicStaff from PSUPittsburg State University
Thursday, May 209 - 9:45 a.m.Making the Makerspace: How We Created the Sunderland Foundation Innovation LabJeff Sheldon, Jahvelle Rhone, Renee Gates, Carol Sevin, Shelly Griffin, Kevin ShippyKansas State University
Thursday, May 209 - 9:45 a.m.Exploring university hosted cloud, video sharing, and socialMark ArrasmithWichita State University
Thursday, May 2010 -10:45 a.m.Project management to the rescue: A hero during pandemic pandemoniumAngela Neria, Lucrita HaraughtyPittsburg State University
Thursday, May 2010 -10:45 a.m.DevOps : How to get started with CI/CD pipeline and KubernetesHope SunUniversity of Kansas
Thursday, May 2010 -10:45 a.m.Using Discourse to drive content and student engagementJohn HammondWichita State University
Thursday, May 2011 - 11:45 a.m.Leveraging COVID-19 to drive digital transformationBrett MorrillWichita State University
Thursday, May 2011 - 11:45 a.m.Endpoint management and security using PDQ ToolsDavid Nance, Jon Cooper, Amanda WilliamsPittsburg State University
Thursday, May 2011 - 11:45 a.m.Additive manufacturing in the workplace: Why every team needs a 3D printerErik CarlsonWashburn University
Thursday, May 2011 - 11:45 a.m.Pain point: Updating IT policiesRebecca Gould, Betsy DraperKansas State University
Thursday, May 2012 - 1 p.m.Lunch with the CIOs (CIO Panel Discussion)Mary Walsh, Angela Neria, Cory Falldine, Mark Griffin, Gary Pratt, John Godfrey, Ken HarmonRegents Information Technology Council (RITC) CIOs
Thursday, May 202 - 2:45 p.m.Amazon Web Services - Cost optimizationGreg Dressman, Kurt ZoglmannKansas State University
Thursday, May 202 - 2:45 p.m.Editing digital imagery in research: Exploring the fidelity-to-artificiality continuumShalin Hai-JewKansas State University
Thursday, May 202 - 2:45 p.m.Helping users succeed in technology trainingJoshua CollinsUniversity of Kansas Medical Center

Code of Conduct:

Our conference is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), or technology choices. We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for any venue, including presentations, online platforms, and event-related social events. Conference participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference at the discretion of the conference organizers.

Anyone witnessing or subject to unacceptable behavior should notify Tanya Rhodd at tanyar@ku.edu.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Our goal is to create a safe, inclusive and respectful conference environment that invites participation from people of all ethnicities, countries of origin, gender identities and expressions, ages, abilities, religions, sexual orientations, physical appearances, body sizes, economic backgrounds, scholarly or professional backgrounds, employment, religions, and other differences.