Join Us for Techfest Louisville 2026!
Techfest Louisville 2026 represents TALK’s 8th Techfest experience for IT professionals and others dealing with the impact of AI and other rapid changes in technology within their company or organization. TALK, your employer-led, non-profit area tech council in Louisville, KY, works diligently to curate its two-day event to bring you a cross section of today’s hot topics with five tracks. This year, we will put the spotlight on: AI, Cybersecurity, Healthcare IT, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Robotics/Automation. This conference will delve into case studies, in-depth learning curves, how-to tips and tricks, as well as tech trends and IT implementations within organizations experiencing innovation and transformation by design. AI coordination within the ranks can augment human capabilities, increasing productivity and accuracy, and in our sessions, we will look at the pros and cons of how to manage AI governance, as well as successfully step forward in your use of multi-tiered technology solutions across the enterprise.
Techfest Louisville 2026 promises solid debates, increasing insights, and valuable knowledge for those who come to learn. Our tradeshow will allow for more drilldown questions to assist in your next software and hardware purchases, as well as guide paths for proper IT management. And, of course, the networking at our breakfast, lunches, and cocktail hour allow for the opportunity to discuss and be inquisitive for modelling your own unique approaches to advancements within your IT and tech environments. We look forward to seeing you!
Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased in bulk for corporate teams. Sponsorships are available at varying levels. Join more than 285 professionals in business and tech circles, as well as startups, government workers, and those in higher education for this exciting and stimulating event.
Schedule for Thursday August 20
8:30 AM
Trade Show Setup
9:00 AM
Tradeshow opens. Corporate IT Leader Speaker. TBD.
10:00 AM
“Delving into the Creation of A Dynamic Agent Team Framework.”, Richard Schramm, Fairwind Technologies, Founder.
11:00 AM
“A Healthcare IT Story: Trilogy’s Data Engineering for Enterprise Transformation”, Andrew Garbe, VP of Information Systems, Trilogy Health Services
12:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 PM
Keynote:
Diane Janosek, PhD, Esq, CISSP, LPEC. CEO, Janos LLC. “Identity Management: Confronting AI-Generated Content As Fact or Fiction.”
In a world shaped by AI-generated content, deepfakes, and curated digital realities, how do we separate fact from fiction—truth from illusion? How do we protect our systems? This provocative keynote challenges our assumptions about what we see, hear, and believe in an age of information overload. With insight, wit, and urgency, the speaker will explore how technology is reshaping our perceptions, why critical thinking has never been more vital, and what it means to seek authenticity in a world that often deceives our senses. Prepare to question everything—and walk away seeing the world a little differently.
2:00 PM
“Virtualization & More: How to Rethink What You Are Doing to Save Money.”, Tim Pritchett, VP of Service Delivery, Matrix Integration.
2:30 PM
“Understanding Agent-Based Automation Design Principles and Examples.”, George Danner, President, Business Laboratory
3:00 PM
TBD
4:00 PM
Cocktail Hour
Tradeshow Ends.
Schedule for Friday August 21
10:00 AM
“Navigating the Digital Quilt: State Privacy Laws”, Kathie McClure, Partner, Bricker, Graydon & Wyatt.
There are now 19 comprehensive state consumer data protection laws in effect, and the list of proposed legislation continues to grow in 2026. On top of this, “privacy testers” are suing website owners left and right alleging that consumer tracking technologies commonly deployed on websites violate state wiretapping and/or pen register laws (regardless of complying with the CCPA or other applicable comprehensive data privacy law). This is a must know topic for every business with a webpage or mobile app – no small or large business is immune. Does your business really know what personal data is being collected by the cookies/scripts/SDKs on your webpage or in your mobile app and shared with third parties? Do the data mapping to ensure your house is in order!
11:00 AM
Panel: What’s New for the Defender’s Guide on Cyber Enforcement 2026
Panelist: Kathie McClure, Partner, Bricker, Graydon & Wyatt. Others to Be Determined.
Cyber Enforcement 2026. Overview of government enforcement activity regarding cybersecurity laws that are applicable to various industry sectors: healthcare (HIPAA), financial institutions, auto dealers, education, CPAs, (GLBA/SOX/SEC), defense contractors (DFARS,CMMC), govt contracting (FedRAMP), retail/consumer services (FTC Act, PCI DSS), plus “critical infrastructure” defined broadly (CIRCIA). Ransomware and other cyber intrusions have only ramped up and state and federal enforcement authorities are cracking down. Understand which laws apply to your business.
12:00 PM
Lunch Buffet Served
1:00 PM
Keynote: TBA
2:00 PM
TBA
2:30 PM
TBA
TechFest Louisville Sponsors for 2026
Our Mission
Our mission: Workforce and economic development
Goal: To create opportunities for job growth, job training, STEAM curriculum, plus public policy and advocacy around technology subjects at the state and federal level.
- One of 65+ tech councils in North America, including Canada.
- Member of TECNA (Tech Councils of America)
- Independent, non-profit educational organization
- Registered 501C3.
- Established officially April 22, 2014. First official meetup February 2013.
- In short: Create and identify jobs. Train people.
