Secure and Connect 2026

Date & Title Wednesday, Jul 29, 2026 at 6:00 PM to Thursday, Jul 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM CDT

Location CHI Center, 455 N 10th St, Omaha, NE, 68102, United States

1. Select Seats

2. Review and Proceed

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Event Information

Wednesday, Jul 29, 2026 at 6:00 PM to Thursday, Jul 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM CDT

CHI Center, 455 N 10th St, Omaha, NE, 68102, United States.

Join us for Prime Secured’s 12th Annual Secure & Connect Conference! For the past 12 years, this event has brought together leaders across business, IT, and physical security to share ideas, learn from one another, and make real improvements in their organizations across Omaha and Lincoln. 
 
  • Welcome Reception:

    • July 29th | 6:00-8:00 PM

    • Location: The Garden @ Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement

  • Conference:

    • July 30th | 8:00 AM-5:00 PM

    • Location:@ CHI Center, Ballroom C

 

2026 Keynote Speaker:

Cybersecurity Expert, John Sileo, featured on 60 Minutes, Good Morning America, and Fox & Friends:

John Sileo

PRESIDENT & CEO | THE SILEO GROUP | HALL OF FAME SPEAKER

John Sileo lost everything—his multi-million-dollar business, life savings, and twoyears of young fatherhood—to cybercriminals who stole his identity and used it tocommit a series of felonies. Wrongly implicated, in financial ruin, and facing jailtime, John rose from the digital rubble with a mission: to turn his deeply personalloss into a powerful force for good.

Today, he’s a Hall of Fame keynote speaker, award-winning author, and trustedcybersecurity expert to organizations like the Pentagon, Amazon, and Schwab. Johnhas appeared on 60 Minutes, Anderson Cooper and in the WSJ to share his messageof security andresilience. One of his true-life stories even inspired a Hollywoodblockbuster film.

John is the CEO of The Sileo Group, a frequent board advisor, and a Harvard honorsgraduate. But his accomplishments have always taken a back seat to the time he spends with the family and friends who helped him turn life’s lemons into something farsweeter and more fulfilling.

 

2026 Emcee:

Scott Voorhees

Scott Voorhees hosts weekday mornings on NewsRadio 1110 KFAB in his hometown of Omaha.  While he has interviewed everyone from President Obama to “Weird Al” Yankovic, Scott prefers to talk with his fellow Nebraskans about things important to us as a community.  He’s married to his best friend, Felicia, and they have two children.
 

 

Event Location

About Organizer

Prime Secured Organizer name

www.primesecured.com

Speakers

https://www.prosperspark.com/
About Brandon Zobel
CEO & Owner
ProsperSpark
Jul 30, 2026
03:15 PM

AI and Automation: Practical Tools for Running a Smarter Business

03:15 PM - 04:00 PM

About Cesile Johnson
Chief Technology Officer
Core Bank
Jul 30, 2026
10:05 AM

Panel Discussion: Operational Growth, Leadership, and Scaling Effectively

10:05 AM - 10:50 AM
www.primesecured.com
About Jamie Bumgardner
CEO & President
Prime Secured
No Sessions Available
About Joshua Miller, MD
MD
Nebraska Emergency Medicine
Jul 30, 2026
02:15 PM

You're Probably a Manager, Not a Leader

02:15 PM - 03:00 PM
About Justin Ekstein
Director of Client Success
Prime Secured
Jul 30, 2026
09:05 AM

Work Smarter, Not Harder: How Microsoft Copilot Transforms Everyday Business Tasks

09:05 AM - 09:50 AM

https://www.axis.com/en-us
About Matt Kjin
Business Development Manager - Incubation
Axis Communications
Jul 30, 2026
10:05 AM

Connected Systems: Turning Security Infrastructure into Operational Intelligence 

10:05 AM - 10:50 AM

 Paul has been in the IT industry for 25 years, starting as a help desk engineer and eventually building, and selling multiple Managed Service practices. Paul is now at HPE Networking as a Senior Channel Systems Engineer designing and developing solutions for companies of all sizes, while training and developing partners and partner engineers on the entire HPE Networking portfolio and solutions.

https://www.hpe.com/us/en/home.html
About Paul Arthur
Senior Channel Systems Engineer
HPE
Jul 30, 2026
11:05 AM

The New HPE Networking – The Journey to a Self-Driving Network

11:05 AM - 11:50 AM

Phil Coppola, PSP is an accomplished professional with a proven track record in the fields of business development, sales and marketing. With a focus on video surveillance, mobile credentials, and physical access control systems (PACS), Phil Coppola has made significant contributions to the industry throughout his career.

Currently serving as the Business Development Director for Mobile Solutions - PACS North America at HID, Phil plays a crucial role in driving growth and expanding market presence. With a strong emphasis on innovation and client-centric solutions, he is instrumental in shaping the future of mobile credential technologies in the security industry.

As an active content creator, Phil has amassed a substantial following on LinkedIn with over 11,000 followers. His daily contributions on LinkedIn provide valuable insights, industry updates, and thought leadership to his engaged audience. Additionally, Phil shares his expertise and experiences with a growing community of over 4,000 subscribers on YouTube, where he publishes weekly videos offering valuable content and insights.

Phil is also the author of "The Inside Track Newsletter," a publication on LinkedIn that covers the latest trends, industry news, and best practices in the field of mobile credentials and physical access control systems.

With a passion for delivering exceptional results and a proven ability to drive business growth, Phil Coppola is a highly respected professional in the security industry. His dedication, expertise, and strong leadership have positioned him as a trusted advisor and a valuable asset to his partners.

https://www.hidglobal.com/
About Phil Coppola, PSP
Mobile Evangelist
HID Gobal
Jul 30, 2026
11:05 AM

Key Principles and Best Practices for Cybersecure & Modern Access Control

11:05 AM - 11:50 AM

Tawnya Starr is an entrepreneur, business consultant and executive advisor who works with entrepreneurs, CEOs, business leaders and teams to scale and transform organizations using applied analytical traits that allow individuals to better understand one another, leading to more effective communication, motivation and overall improved productivity and culture.

https://www.cultureindex.com/
About Tawnya Starr
Entrepreneur, Executive Consultant
Culture Index
Jul 30, 2026
09:05 AM

The People Problem: Why Strategy, Technology, and Security Initiatives Succeed or Fail

09:05 AM - 09:50 AM

Event Schedule

Session Date
Clear all ×

Sessions on Jul 29, 2026

06:00 PM

Secure & Connect Welcome Reception

06:00 PM - 08:00 PMThe Garden @ Tenaska Center for Arts & EngagementNetworking
Sponsors

Sessions on Jul 30, 2026

08:00 AM

Check-in, Breakfast & Exhibit Hall Opens

08:00 AM - 08:30 AMPre-Function & Ballroom CNetworking
Sponsors
08:30 AM

Morning Kickoff & Prime Panel

08:30 AM - 09:00 AMBallroom CNetworking
09:05 AM
    speaker

    Tawnya Starr

    Entrepreneur, Executive ConsultantCulture Index

    Tawnya Starr is an entrepreneur, business consultant and executive advisor who works with entrepreneurs, CEOs, business leaders and teams to scale and transform organizations using applied analytical traits that allow individuals to better understand one another, leading to more effective communication, motivation and overall improved productivity and culture.

    SocialLink
    Safety & Security

    Genetec SaaS

    09:05 AM - 09:50 AM
      speaker

      Justin Ekstein

      Director of Client SuccessPrime Secured
      SocialLink
      09:50 AM

      Break/Exhibitor Time

      09:50 AM - 10:05 AMBallroom C
      10:05 AM
        speaker

        Cesile Johnson

        Chief Technology OfficerCore Bank

        SocialLink
          speaker

          Matt Kjin

          Business Development Manager - IncubationAxis Communications

          SocialLink
          Sponsors
          IT Strategy & Cybersecurity

          Session: IT & Cybersecurity TBA

          10:05 AM - 10:50 AM
          10:50 AM

          Break/Exhibitor Time

          10:50 AM - 11:05 AMBallroom C
          11:05 AM
          Leadership & Performance

          Session 7

          11:05 AM - 11:50 AM
            speaker

            Phil Coppola, PSP

            Mobile EvangelistHID Gobal

            Phil Coppola, PSP is an accomplished professional with a proven track record in the fields of business development, sales and marketing. With a focus on video surveillance, mobile credentials, and physical access control systems (PACS), Phil Coppola has made significant contributions to the industry throughout his career.

            Currently serving as the Business Development Director for Mobile Solutions - PACS North America at HID, Phil plays a crucial role in driving growth and expanding market presence. With a strong emphasis on innovation and client-centric solutions, he is instrumental in shaping the future of mobile credential technologies in the security industry.

            As an active content creator, Phil has amassed a substantial following on LinkedIn with over 11,000 followers. His daily contributions on LinkedIn provide valuable insights, industry updates, and thought leadership to his engaged audience. Additionally, Phil shares his expertise and experiences with a growing community of over 4,000 subscribers on YouTube, where he publishes weekly videos offering valuable content and insights.

            Phil is also the author of "The Inside Track Newsletter," a publication on LinkedIn that covers the latest trends, industry news, and best practices in the field of mobile credentials and physical access control systems.

            With a passion for delivering exceptional results and a proven ability to drive business growth, Phil Coppola is a highly respected professional in the security industry. His dedication, expertise, and strong leadership have positioned him as a trusted advisor and a valuable asset to his partners.

            SocialLink
            Sponsors
            IT Strategy & Cybersecurity

            The New HPE Networking – The Journey to a Self-Driving Network

            11:05 AM - 11:50 AM
              speaker

              Paul Arthur

              Senior Channel Systems EngineerHPE

               Paul has been in the IT industry for 25 years, starting as a help desk engineer and eventually building, and selling multiple Managed Service practices. Paul is now at HPE Networking as a Senior Channel Systems Engineer designing and developing solutions for companies of all sizes, while training and developing partners and partner engineers on the entire HPE Networking portfolio and solutions.

              SocialLink
              Sponsors
              IT Strategy & Cybersecurity

              Session 9

              11:05 AM - 11:50 AM
              12:00 PM

              Lunch & Keynote Presentation

              12:00 PM - 01:30 PMPre-Function & Ballroom C
              Sponsors
              01:30 PM

              Break/Exhibitor Time

              01:30 PM - 02:15 PM
              02:15 PM
              Leadership & Performance

              You're Probably a Manager, Not a Leader

              02:15 PM - 03:00 PM
                speaker

                Joshua Miller, MD

                MDNebraska Emergency Medicine
                SocialLink
                Safety & Security

                Session 11

                02:15 PM - 03:00 PM
                IT Strategy & Cybersecurity

                Session 12

                02:15 PM - 03:00 PM
                03:00 PM

                Break

                03:00 PM - 03:15 PM
                03:15 PM
                  speaker

                  Brandon Zobel

                  CEO & OwnerProsperSpark

                  SocialLink
                  Safety & Security

                  Session 14

                  03:15 PM - 04:00 PM
                  IT Strategy & Cybersecurity

                  Session 15

                  03:15 PM - 04:00 PM
                  04:00 PM

                  Closing Party & Prizes

                  04:00 PM - 05:00 PMPre-FunctionNetworking
                  Sponsors

                  Who Should Attend?

                  • IT Directors & Network Engineers

                  • Physical & Cybersecurity Professionals

                  • Business Owners & C-Suite Executives

                  • Technology Decision-Makers

                   

                  Please note that participation in this event is intended exclusively for end-users and is not meant for other technology service providers.

                  Why Should You Attend?

                  Join security, IT, and business leaders for a free, educational conference built to help you scale, innovate, and future-proof your organization.

                  Enjoy a keynote from cybersecurity expert John Sileo, emcee Scott Voorhees, and three tailored session tracks for security, IT, and business leaders.

                  Giveaways all day, big grand prizes, and a welcome reception with food, drinks, and games!