Tech Con 2026 Recap
Summary
Tech Con 2026 gathered regional business and IT leaders to explore practical AI implementation, zero-trust cybersecurity, and modern IT governance. Key takeaways highlighted the shift from theoretical AI to secure, operational deployment, the critical role of zero-trust frameworks in protecting SMBs, and the value of community-driven collaboration in solving modern technology challenges.
Okay, we’re just going to say it: Tech Con 2026 was an absolute blast.
May 21st came and went way too fast. The DoubleTree by Hilton Minneapolis Airport was packed with some of the sharpest, most fun people in the region. Bankers, manufacturers, healthcare folks, educators, IT pros, and business leaders all under one roof, all bringing their A-game. The vibe was less “stuffy conference” and more “your favorite work event of the year.” And honestly? That’s exactly what we were going for.
If you were there, you already know. If you missed it, well, keep reading. You’re going to want to be first in line for 2027.
The Morning Energy Was Unmatched
There’s something special about a room full of people who are genuinely excited to be there. Morning check-in was buzzing before the first session even started. Good food, great coffee, and conversations happening everywhere. People weren’t just waiting around. They were already connecting, swapping ideas, and getting into it.
“Always a great event and huge attendance this year!” – Patrick Gibson of Atlasticity
CIT kicked things off with a welcome that set the tone for the whole day. Warm, energetic, and focused on what actually matters to the people in the room.
AI Stopped Being Scary and Started Being Exciting
The keynotes were a highlight reel all on their own. Speaker after speaker took AI off its intimidating pedestal and brought it down to earth in the best possible way. No doom and gloom. No buzzword bingo. Just real, practical, genuinely inspiring conversations about what’s possible right now for organizations like yours.
“Alot of brilliant speakers who made AI inspiring and not scary.” – Kelsie Treichel from Ciranda
That energy carried through every single session. People left the keynotes fired up, not overwhelmed, and that made all the difference.
The Sessions Were Next Level
Cybersecurity Track
ThreatLocker‘s Unmasking the Dark Web was one of those sessions where the whole room leaned in. Turns out the dark web is more accessible, and more dangerous, than most people realized walking in. Eye-opening doesn’t begin to cover it.
ArmorPoint brought the heat with Contested Supply Lines, shining a light on a risk hiding in plain sight: the vendors, software, and SaaS tools your business already trusts. With AI quietly expanding that attack surface every single day, this one hit home for a lot of people in the room.
Kaseya closed out the track with Cyber Insurance Is Getting Harder, the session every CFO in the building needed to hear. The tools you have (or don’t have) directly determine whether you qualify for coverage and what you’ll pay. Suddenly everyone was very motivated.
AI in Practice Track
This track was where curiosity turned into action. Attendees walked through hands-on AI workflows, automation tools, and real strategies for putting AI to work without creating new headaches. The sessions didn’t just explain what’s possible. They showed people how to get started on Monday morning.
“This is my second year attending and what I really liked this year was how hands on all of the options were from vendors to actual sessions. It offered a lot of that which is helpful when trying to promote true practice.” – Della Britton of Benafica, LLC
The Vendors Showed Up
This deserves its own moment. The vendor floor at Tech Con 2026 was genuinely fun to walk through, and a big reason for that is our sponsors showed up to educate, not just sell. Engaging conversations. Active demos. Real engineers you could actually talk to.
“Great selection of vendors and speakers. I really enjoy that the vendors are educational more so than giving sales pitches.” – Mike Babcock of Ergodyne
Thank You to Our Amazing Sponsors
None of this happens without the incredible partners who make Tech Con possible. A huge, heartfelt thank you to:
Platinum Sponsor: ThreatLocker
Terabyte Sponsors: ArmorPoint, Kaseya
Gigabyte Sponsors: Verkada, SentinelOne
Megabyte Sponsors: Barracuda, Genians, Scale Computing, Egnyte, TD Synnex
Kilobyte Sponsors: LastPass, HPE, HP
You all showed up and showed out. We couldn’t do it without you.
Already Counting Down to 2027
Tech Con keeps getting better, and we’re already dreaming about next year. If 2026 taught us anything, it’s that this community is something special. Curious, collaborative, and genuinely excited about what comes next.
We’re not done yet either. Stay connected with CIT for upcoming workshops, webinars, and all the resources from this year’s event.
Ready for Tech Con 2027? Get notified when registration opens and be first in line.
See you next year.