Operations, Network Planning & Construction

Track Sponsor

Building Resilient, Agile, and Scalable Networks

As broadband providers race to deploy scalable, resilient networks, the integration of planning, operations, and construction is more vital than ever. This track explores key disciplines—network design, deployment, and lifecycle optimization—highlighting tools, strategies, and innovations that drive faster rollouts, efficient resource use, and long-term scalability amid evolving industry challenges.

Track Speakers

Chris Anderson

Principal Advisor, National Security & Emergency Preparedness
Lumen Technologies

Brad Baumann

President
Sellenriek Construction and Anderson Underground

Chantal Blake

Technical Program Manager
Comcast

Andrew Bundy

Director, Business Intelligence & Analytics
Comcast

Derek DiGiacomo

Senior Director, Energy Management Programs and Business Continuity
SCTE

Kevin Domer

National Security/ Emergency Preparedness Manager
Comcast

Alexander Falcon

Senior Product Manager
Comcast

John Fluharty

Project Executive
Troy Construction

Matt Fragale

Vice President
Irth Solutions

Dervon Gaskins

Vice President
ITG

Bo Gresham

Vice President of Strategy
Dycom Industries

Nick Holcomb

Director, Access Network Engineering
Mediacom Communications

Ron Hranac

Adam Kersnowski

SVP of Strategic Accounts
AirWorks

Dan Levac

Senior New Business Development Manager
Preformed Line Products (PLP)

Amir Leventer

Vice President Product, Cloud Services
Harmonic

Arni Lundale

NFT Lead Hand, Niagara Region
Cogeco Connexion

Sarah Magruder Lyle

President & CEO
Common Ground Alliance

Allen Maharaj

Principal Access Network Designer
Rogers Communications

Jensen McCoy

Sr. Staff Engineer
GCI

Patrick McLaughlin

Group Editorial Director
Endeavor Business Media Digital Infrastructure Group

James Medlock

Founder & CEO
Akleza

Ryan Mountin

Vice President
Midwest Fiber Solutions

Mike O’Dell

Distinguished Engineer
Comcast

Ian Oliver

Technology and Project Consultant
Globema

Alexander Podarevsky

Chief Technology Officer
Promptlink Communications

Jason Rupe

Distinguished Technologist
CableLabs

Jennifer Smardo

SVP, Network Implementation
Comcast

Rick Suarez

Group President
MasTec Communications Group

Foad Towfiq

CEO
Promptlink

Track Sessions​

Agenda Tabs
Operations, Network Planning & Construction

Track Keynote: Protecting What Lies Beneath: Advancing Standards for Underground Damage Prevention

1:00 PM
- 1:20 PM
Moderator
Patrick McLaughlin
Group Editorial Director
Endeavor Business Media Digital Infrastructure Group
Sarah Magruder Lyle
President & CEO
Common Ground Alliance
Operations, Network Planning & Construction

Future-Proofing Underground Infrastructure

1:20 PM
- 2:15 PM
Moderator
Andrew Bundy
Director, Business Intelligence & Analytics
Comcast
Dervon Gaskins
Vice President
ITG
Matt Fragale
Vice President
Irth Solutions
Melissa Watters
Construction Manager
Charter Communications
Operations, Network Planning & Construction

Smart Construction for a Connected Future

2:30 PM
- 3:45 PM
Moderator
Dan Levac
Senior New Business Development Manager
Preformed Line Products (PLP)
Moderator
Jennifer Smardo
SVP, Network Implementation
Comcast
Brad Baumann
President
Sellenriek Construction and Anderson Underground
Adam Kersnowski
SVP of Strategic Accounts
AirWorks
Bo Gresham
Vice President of Strategy
Dycom Industries
John Fluharty
Project Executive
Troy Construction
Ryan Mountin
Vice President
Midwest Fiber Solutions
Rick Suarez
Group President
MasTec Communications Group
Operations, Network Planning & Construction

Automating the Future of Operations

4:00 PM
- 5:15 PM
Chantal Blake
Technical Program Manager
Comcast
Amir Leventer
Vice President Product, Cloud Services
Harmonic
Allen Maharaj
Principal Access Network Designer
Rogers Communications
Nick Holcomb
Director, Access Network Engineering
Mediacom Communications
Ian Oliver
Technology and Project Consultant
Globema
Jensen McCoy
Sr. Staff Engineer
GCI
Operations, Network Planning & Construction

Disaster Resilience and Power Continuity for Broadband Infrastructure

12:30 PM
- 1:45 PM
Moderator
Derek DiGiacomo
Senior Director, Energy Management Programs and Business Continuity
SCTE
Victor Valentine Davis
Deputy Executive Assistant Director, Emergency Communications Division
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
Chris Anderson
Principal Advisor, National Security & Emergency Preparedness
Lumen Technologies
Joe Viens
Vice President, Regulatory Affairs
Charter Communications
Alexander Falcon
Senior Product Manager
Comcast
Kevin Domer
National Security/ Emergency Preparedness Manager
Comcast
Operations, Network Planning & Construction

PNM Live! 2025: Proactive Maintenance Makes Reliable Networks

2:00 PM
- 3:15 PM
Moderator
Brady Volpe
Chief Product Officer
Open Vault
Jason Rupe
Distinguished Technologist
CableLabs
Larry Wolcott
Engineering Fellow
Comcast
Mike O’Dell
Distinguished Engineer
Comcast
Foad Towfiq
CEO
Promptlink
James Medlock
Founder & CEO
Akleza
Arni Lundale
NFT Lead Hand, Niagara Region
Cogeco Connexion
Mark Trudeau
CEO
OpenVault
Operations, Network Planning & Construction

Mastering Proactive Network Maintenance (PNM)

3:30 PM
- 4:45 PM
Moderator
Ron Hranac
Jason Rupe
Distinguished Technologist
CableLabs
Arni Lundale
NFT Lead Hand, Niagara Region
Cogeco Connexion
Alexander Podarevsky
Chief Technology Officer
Promptlink Communications
James Medlock
Founder & CEO
Akleza