Broadband Development Conference

August 10 - 12, 2026

Sheraton Downtown Denver Hotel

Denver Colorado

Building or Expanding Your Network?

Our Hosted Buyer Program is here to help!

We connect broadband providers with the industry’s finest eco system needed to deploy, operate, and grow successful networks.

Qualified ISPs are eligible for:

  1. All Inclusive expenses paid
  2. Curated meetings with solution providers
  3. Exclusive Networking opportunities 

Real Meetings, 
Real Opportunities

Looking to Meet Qualified ISP Buyers?

Connect with Qualified ISP Decision Makers.   Each actively evaluating solutions and planning network investments.

Hosted Buyer Sponsors Receive:

  1. Access to active network builders
  2. Enhanced visibility among decision makers
  3. Buyer-approved meetings

INDUSTRY LEADERS GATHER AT MOUNTAIN CONNECT

What’s NEW in 2026

For 2026, Mountain Connect has redesigned the conference experience to create faster discovery, higher-value meetings, and real outcomes. Here’s what’s new this year.

  • New Exhibit Hall Layout: A More Connected Exhibit Hall Experience.  The new Main Street + High Street floor plan is designed to keep attendees moving, meeting, and engaging. With networking lounges on both sides of Main Street, food and beverage at each end, and additional gathering points throughout the hall, the exhibit space becomes a true networking hub rather than a traditional trade show floor.
  • Hosted Buyer Program: Meet ISPs actively purchasing network infrastructure and services. Learn More.
  • BrainDate Lounge: Small-group or 1:1 conversations. Learn More.
  • Roundtables: Host or join facilitated roundtable discussions.
  • AI Matchmaking: Make every conversation count.

    Our AI Matchmaking feature connects you with the right people before you even arrive. Based on your interests, priorities, and goals, you’ll receive curated recommendations of attendees, exhibitors, and Hosted Buyers you should meet.  

    No more wandering the exhibit hall. No more misssed opportunities. Just smarter connections that drive real outcomes!

About the 2026 Conference

The broadband industry is entering a new operating environment. As the BEAD era winds down, operators must adapt to changing economics, increased competition, critical infrastructure requirements, and the rising influence of AI compute and power demand.

This year’s conference brings together ISPs, hyperscalers, data center operators, utilities, investors, and policymakers to address this transition through four focused tracks:

  • ISP Economics & Sustainability
  • Networks, Operations & Compute Infrastructure
  • Deployment, Workforce & Execution
  • Policy, Security & Critical Infrastructure

The agenda balances familiar broadband topics with forward-looking perspectives on data centers, grid capacity, quantum security, cybersecurity, and private capital. The result is a program designed for operators, investors, technologists, and policymakers who need clarity on the infrastructure stack that connects connectivity, compute, and power.

Who Attends
ISPs, cable operators, hyperscalers, data center operators, utilities, state broadband offices, federal agencies, PE & infra investors, construction firms, cybersecurity providers, and equipment vendors.

Speakers

Aaron Hildreth

Intellipop Internet Services, Co-Founder

Abbie O'Dell

Charter Communications, Sr. Director, Learning Services

Andy Davis

Overland Strategies, Founder & Principal

Angela Siefer

NDIA, Executive Director

Aquiles (“Alex”) Trujillo

Connect New Mexico, Deputy Director

Ashley Travers

KGPCo, VP Strategic Partnerships

Bill Blackford

CEO and General Manager, FTI WiFi

Bob Whitman

Corning, VP Market Development

Bobbie Gilbert

Ripple Fiber, Chief Government Affairs Officer

Brandy Reitter

Colorado Broadband Office, Executive Director

Bree Maki

Minnesota, Executive Director of the Office of Broadband Development

Brent Legg

Connected Nation, EVP, Government Affairs

Brett Bonomo

Castle Rock Microwave, CEO

Brian Allenby

CostQuest Associates, Director of State Solutions

Brian Greenlee

Volt Broadband, Network Engineer/Administrator

Brian Lubin

Moonshot, Managing Director of Digital & Compute Infrastructure

Brian Mitchell

ITG Communications, Principal Consultant

Carol Mattey

Mattey Consulting, Principal

Caroline Stratton

Benton Institute, Research Director

Casey Lide

Keller & Heckman, Partner

Cassie Bair

35 Mile Foundation, VP of Broadband Services

Chad Bolling

Wyoming, Broadband Manager

Christopher Perlitz

Managing Director, Municipal Capital Markets Group

Cory Gardner

NCTA, President & CEO

Dan McVaugh

Consultant

Dave Taylor

ECS, Owner and Lead Consultant

David Don

Comcast, SVP for Public Policy

David Reed

University of Colorado, Scholar in Residence

Dr. Cheryl D. Calhoun

Community College Baccalaureate Association, CEO

Drew Pappas

Bonfire, Director of Business Development

Earnie Holtrey

Myrta Consulting, Infrastructure Strategy Consultant

Elizabeth Bowles

Aristotle Unified Communications, CEO

Eric Bathras

AtkinsRéalis, VP Infrastructure Modernization and Cyber Resilience

Eric Rex

Key Bank, Director

Erin Loughney

Widelity, Senior Manager

Falko Hansch

TKI, Product Strategy

Gary Bolton

Fiber Broadband Association, CEO

Gene Crusie

Surf Internet, CEO

George B. Thomas

Founder, Sidekick Strategies

George Stegall

Vice President, Kinetic

Glen Howie

Arkansas, State Broadband Director

Greg Guice

Vernonburg Group, Chief Policy Officer

Greg Herrman

Core Telecom Systems, VP

Gregory Luhman

Adtran, Vice President of Business Development

Harrison Golson

Ripple Fiber, SVP of Engineering

Heather Mills

ITG Communications, Principal Consultant

Hilory Parker

Nexstream, COO

Hunter Newby

Newby Ventures, Owner

James Feger

Adtran, Strategic Advisor

James Jun

TOWARDEX Technologies, Founder and CEO

Jason Yaker

Local Fiber, Founder & CEO

Jeff Gavlinski

Mountain Connect, CEO

Jeff Reiman

The Broadband Group, President

Jeffrey R. Casey

Burns & McDonnell, Director

Jeremy Dreyer

SkyHelm, Founder and CEO

Jim Cannon

Pivot Tech, CEO & Founder

Jim Johnson

Google, Community and Workforce Development Manager

Jim Sanford

Managing Partner, Digital Infrastructure Group

Jim Staheli

Positron, Senior Vice President

Joe Baeumel

KGPCo, VP Strategy & Business Development

Joe Silverzweig

Thura TV, Founder

John Seaman

Cambium Networks, Western Region Sales Manager

John Stephenson

SVP, Public Policy, Global

Jonathan Nelson

Clearnetworx, Multi-Dwelling Unit Manager

Josh Nibet

Team Fishel, Business Development Manager

Julie DeCuypere

Michael Baker International, Program Manager, Broadband Consulting

Kevin Affotlter

Coherent, Senior Director of Product Marketing and Business Development

Kevin Driscoll

Netceed, Senior Vice President

Kim McKinley

TAK Broadband, Chief of Staff

Kimberly Glineski

Idaho Broadband Office, Project Manager

Krista Baker

Idaho Broadband Office, State Broadband Project Manager

Lene Schulze

Nord Strategies, Principal

Lindsay Kelley

Sonar Software, Vice President of Growth

Marc Powell

Alvarez & Marsal, Managing Director

Marissa Mitrovich

FBA, VP of Public Policy

Matt Schmit

Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Executive Director

Matt Smith

Skyline Technology Solutions, Chief Network Architect

Melissa Newman

Telecommunications Industry Association, VP

Michael Santorelli

NYLS, Director, Advanced Communications Law & Policy Institute

Mike Vermeer

Panduit, Manager of Broadband Solutions

Nick Bonomo

Castle Rock Microwave, System Engineer

Nick Maynard

US Ignite, Co-founder and CEO

Nick Pexton

Co-Founder & VP of Reliance Engineering Services

Paul Garnett

Vernonburg Group, Founder & CEO

Peter Voderberg

BroadbandOhio, Founding Chief

Robin Olds

Cisco, Senior Sales Business Development Manager

Roger Timmerman

UTOPIA Fiber, Executive Director

Russell Elliott

Siskiyou Telephone Company, CEO

Ryan Kudera

Essentia, Inc., Director of Broadband Solutions

Sarah Baska

Georgia Broadband Office, Director

Sarah Morris

HR&A, Senior Principle

Sean Stokes

Keller & Heckman, Partner

Shawna Taets

Illinois SBO, Broadband Policy Manager

Stacie McDonald

Harry Marketing, VP Strategic Communications

Stephen Rose

Render Networks, CEO

Steve Coran

Lerman Senter, Attorney

Steve Harris

UCL Swift, VP of Sales and Marketing

Steven Helton

Lightwave Resource Group, President

Thomas Tyler

C207 Partners, Co-Founder

Todd Jackson

FBA, Director of Workforce Development

Todd Way

Douglas Fast Net, CEO