MISAC Connect Audio

This episode of MISAC Connect Audio takes you inside the 2026 MISAC Annual Conference in Monterey for something a little different.

Armed with a pair of microphones, we walked through the First-Time Conference Attendee gathering and handed the mic to MISAC members from agencies across California.

What follows is intentionally raw and largely unedited — conversations happening around the room, background noise, raffle announcements, laughter, interruptions, and plenty of people who weren't expecting to suddenly find themselves on a podcast.

The goal is simple: make you feel like you were there.

You'll hear from first-time conference attendees about what brought them to MISAC and what they're hoping to get from their first Annual Conference — including making new connections, finding peers facing similar challenges, learning from other public agencies, exploring new technology, meeting industry partners, and attending sessions on topics ranging from AI and cybersecurity to GIS, governance, purchasing, infrastructure, and more.

And because this is MISAC, a few longtime members and familiar faces take the microphone as well, sharing why they continue to come back and how the relationships built through MISAC can become such an important part of a career in public-sector technology.

With roughly 70 first-time attendees at this year's conference, this gathering offered a great snapshot of the next group of members beginning to plug into the broader MISAC community.

No studio. No formal interview setup. No heavy editing.

Just conversations from the room as the 2026 MISAC Annual Conference gets underway.

Welcome to Monterey — and welcome to MISAC.

Visit our MISAC Connect forum for more discussions and community engagement.

Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for updates and announcements.

Wi‑Fi plays an increasingly important role in how cities serve their staff and communities. In this episode, Allen Hammond talks with Caroline Brown and Eric Holland of SmartWAVE Technologies about outdoor public networks, the continuing gap in home broadband access, and what it takes to refresh an indoor network for today’s mobile workforce.

Drawing on the City of Pleasanton’s experience, they discuss Wi‑Fi at the sports park, aquatic park, and downtown; the demands of large events; and why dependable wireless connectivity matters in areas with poor cellular coverage. Allen also shares a conversation with the local school district that challenged his assumptions about students’ access to broadband at home.

In this episode:

• Designing outdoor Wi‑Fi for coverage, capacity, and events
• The difference between broadband being available and a household being able to use it
• SmartWAVE’s community connectivity work, including San José and Council Bluffs
• What public Wi‑Fi can—and cannot—promise when cellular coverage is weak
• Rethinking indoor Wi‑Fi as staff move between home, meeting rooms, and office workspaces
• Why cabling, switches, power, and backhaul belong in a wireless refresh plan
• Where cities with limited budgets can start

SmartWAVE Technologies is a MISAC strategic partner and has worked with the City of Pleasanton on its outdoor networks.

Links

• SmartWAVE Technologies
• SmartWAVE blog feed — add the RSS feed to your feed reader for new posts

Visit our MISAC Connect forum for more discussions and community engagement.

Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for updates and announcements.

The countdown to the 2026 MISAC Annual Conference is underway! In this solo update, we look ahead to MISAC’s largest Annual Conference yet, taking place September 27–30 in Monterey, and preview plans to capture short conversations with members during the conference for future episodes of MISAC Connect Audio.

We also introduce the upgraded MISAC Connect platform and mobile app and highlight what’s hot in the forum—including Microsoft Publisher’s retirement, California Senate Bill 122, the evolving relationship between IT and Public Information functions, and experiences with managed security service providers.

The episode also recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month and this year’s theme, “Unidos, Somos Más”—“Together, We Are More.”

We close by congratulating MISAC member Rolland Kornblau, CGCIO, whose chapter in PTI’s CIO Leadership for Cities and Counties: Emerging Trends and Practices explores why change management has become an essential responsibility of the modern CIO.

Chapters
00:00 Cold Open
00:35 The Countdown to Monterey Begins
02:55 MISAC Connect Is Now in Your Pocket
07:10 What’s Hot on MISAC Connect
12:55 Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
15:15 MISAC Member Recognition: Rolland Kornblau
17:35 See You in Monterey

Links Mentioned in This Episode

• Download MISAC Connect for iPhone and iPad
• Download MISAC Connect for Android
• The New Reality: When Technology Leadership Becomes Change Management

Visit our MISAC Connect forum for more discussions and community engagement.

Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for updates and announcements.

This episode of MISAC Connect Audio is another solo update focused on one of MISAC's biggest benefits: the value of the network. Allen recaps the recent Northern Chapter meeting at Raymond Vineyards in St. Helena, including a little wine-blending competition, and reflects on the value of getting local government IT professionals together to share common challenges, solutions, and lessons learned.

Allen also recognizes the industry partners who helped make the Northern Chapter event possible — Tanium, Salesforce, ePlus, and SuccessMetrics — with a brief look at what each company brings to the public-sector technology community and why relationships with MISAC's industry partners matter.

The episode also highlights an important cybersecurity opportunity for California public agencies: statewide MS-ISAC enrollment sponsored by Cal OES, which provides eligible agencies with access to cybersecurity resources, including threat intelligence, incident response and forensic support, a 24/7 Security Operations Center, and the MS-ISAC MemberConnect community.

Allen then previews the 2026 MISAC Annual Conference, September 27–30 in Monterey, and calls attention to the unofficial Tee Off with MISAC golf event at Laguna Seca Golf Ranch on September 26.

The episode closes with an audio adaptation of MISAC President Chris Skelly's Summer 2026 President's Message, including updates on AI, legislation, the new PTI partnership, upcoming MISAC education opportunities, and the importance of having a network of colleagues to learn from and lean on.

Chapters

00:00 Opening Remarks and the Value of the MISAC Network
01:03 Northern Chapter at Raymond Vineyards
04:30 MISAC Industry Partner Spotlights
08:03 Why MISAC's Industry Partners Matter
09:42 Free MS-ISAC Enrollment Through Cal OES
12:41 2026 MISAC Annual Conference in Monterey
13:58 Tee Off with MISAC Golf Event
15:41 Chris Skelly's Summer 2026 President's Message
19:20 Closing Thoughts — The Strength of the MISAC Network

Visit our MISAC Connect forum for more discussions and community engagement.

Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for updates and announcements.

This episode of MISAC Connect Audio marks the return of the podcast for Season 2 with a solo update on current MISAC happenings. Allen highlights the GovAI and City of Santa Clara Strategic Partner Case Study webinar, shares President Chris Skelly’s Spring 2026 message to the membership, previews the upcoming MISAC Tahoe Summit, and reminds members about the 2026 MISAC Annual Conference in Monterey, including the Call for Presentations deadline of May 31.

Allen also discusses the value of practical, real-world conversations within the MISAC community — especially around AI governance, cybersecurity, Zero Trust, local government technology leadership, and lessons learned from public-sector technology projects.

Chapters

00:00 Opening Remarks and Season 2 Return
02:51 GovAI and City of Santa Clara Case Study Webinar 
04:45 Future Deep Dive with Raj Singh and Willow Stuart
06:00 President Chris Skelly’s Spring 2026 Message
12:10 MISAC Tahoe Summit Preview
14:52 Tahoe Summit Vendor Presentation Highlights
18:31 2026 MISAC Annual Conference in Monterey
19:00 Call for Presentations Due May 31
20:40 Closing Thoughts and Welcome Back to Tim

Visit our MISAC Connect forum for more discussions and community engagement.

Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for updates and announcements.

This episode of MISAC Connect Audio, hosted by Allen Hammond, provides a post-conference wrap-up and a weekly digest of MISAC Matter Highlights. It includes shout-outs to the conference committee, recognition of award recipients, and discussions on upcoming educational opportunities and hot topics from the MISAC Connect Forum.

Chapters

00:00 Opening Remarks
01:39 Conference Highlights and Shout-Outs
05:00 Awards and Recognitions
10:48 Upcoming Educational Opportunities
17:00 Hot Topics from MISAC Connect Forum
19:30 MISAC Connect Forum Hot Topics:

Visit our MISAC Connect forum for more discussions and community engagement.

Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for updates and announcements.

BONUS PRE-CONFERENCE EPISODE

In this conversation, Alex and Allen discuss the evolution and importance of Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS) in the public sector. They explore the drivers for transitioning to UCaaS, the challenges faced by agencies with legacy systems, and the critical role of user adoption and change management in successful implementation. The discussion also highlights the significance of security and compliance, the need for a phased approach to migration, and the benefits of engaging knowledgeable partners like Packet Fusion to navigate the complexities of UCaaS transitions.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Its Purpose
05:49 Understanding UCaaS and Its Importance
12:04 Drivers for Transitioning to UCaaS
17:40 Challenges and Considerations in UCaaS Migration
23:44 Evaluating Vendors and Making Informed Decisions
29:35 Understanding User Workflows for Successful UCaaS Implementation
30:57 Common Pitfalls in UCaaS Migration
34:16 Change Management and User Adoption Strategies
37:11 Data Security and Compliance in UCaaS
40:29 Phased Approach to UCaaS Transition
42:50 Benefits of Full UCaaS Transition
49:19 Getting Started with UCaaS Transition
51:02 Final Thoughts and Partnering for Success
52:43 Overview of Packet Fusion's Services

Resources & Links:
📌 Learn more about MISAC Connect Audio – Member Only Link
📌 Connect with our guest:

• Packet Fusion -  LinkedIn
• Alex Stanich – LinkedIn

Visit our MISAC Connect forum for more discussions and community engagement.
Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for updates and announcements.

In this episode, Sean Canevaro and Matt Eickmann from KIS discuss VMware's current landscape and the impact of Broadcom's acquisition on licensing models. They explore the transition from perpetual to subscription models, the confusion it has caused among clients, and the importance of understanding the total cost of ownership. The conversation also touches on the future of virtualization, the role of cloud solutions, and how KIS aims to support clients in navigating these changes.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Technical Difficulties

04:07 Overview of KIS and Its Role

09:10 VMware and Broadcom: The Acquisition Impact

18:58 Subscription Model Transition and Client Reactions

28:59 The Debate on Subscription Software

30:44 Conclusion and Future Considerations

31:43 Navigating Budget Constraints and Client Control

38:12 Communicating IT Decisions to Stakeholders

44:38 Exploring Alternative Solutions in Virtualization

46:23 The Future of Virtualization and Cloud Solutions

53:10 Understanding KIS and Its Offerings

Resources & Links:
📌 Learn more about MISAC Connect Audio – Member Only Link
📌 Connect with our guest:

• KIS - Keep IT Simple - LinkedIn
• Sean Canevaro – LinkedIn
• Matt Eickmann - LinkedIn

Visit our MISAC Connect forum for more discussions and community engagement.
Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for updates and announcements.

In this conversation, Ryen Nelsen, IT Security Manager for Mission Viejo, shares his journey in the field of AI and cybersecurity, discussing his role in local government and the importance of community engagement. He elaborates on the formation and objectives of the MISAC AI Task Force, highlighting promising applications of AI in local government, the challenges faced in its adoption, and the future of AI in the public sector. Ryen emphasizes the need for collaboration, innovation, and a proactive approach to integrating AI technologies to enhance public service.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Personal Background
03:07 Career Journey and Community Engagement
05:46 AI in Cybersecurity and Local Government
11:51 The AI Task Force and Its Objectives
17:45 Promising Applications of AI in Local Government
24:38 Challenges in AI Adoption
31:23 Future of AI in Government
38:33 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Resources & Links:
📌 Learn more about MISAC Connect Audio – Member Only Link
📌 Connect with our guest:

• Ryen Nelsen (City of Mission Viejo) – LinkedIn

Visit our MISAC Connect forum for more discussions and community engagement.
Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for updates and announcements.

In this conversation, Brad Walker, the Executive Director of MISAC, shares insights into his extensive career in association management, the evolution of MISAC, and the importance of engagement among members. He discusses the role of the Association Resource Center (ARC) in managing MISAC, the dynamics of the state board, and the growth of membership over the years. Brad emphasizes the value of strategic partnerships and the upcoming conference highlights. He also offers advice for new IT leaders and reflects on his achievements within the association.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Technical Challenges
02:15 Brad Walker's Journey in Association Management
05:44 The Role of MISAC and ARC
09:48 Team Dynamics and Responsibilities
13:41 Evolution of MISAC and Membership Trends
19:30 Engagement Between New and Longtime Members
24:22 Future Priorities for MISAC
29:04 Strategic Partnerships and Vendor Relationships
35:22 Upcoming Conference Highlights
39:17 The Tahoe Summit and Its Unique Value
41:04 Advice for New IT Leaders
43:10 Achievements and Legacy

Resources & Links:
📌 Learn more about MISAC Connect Audio – Member Only Link
 

Visit our MISAC Connect forum for more discussions and community engagement.
Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for updates and announcements.