August 2026 – Cloud-Managed Services vs. Platform Approaches + Solution Architect Panel

We look forward to seeing you at our August event! This event will take place in two parts, setting up the conversation around the ever-changing landscape for solution architects and the platforms they manage!

2:00-3:00pm: 

Navigating the Enterprise Kubernetes Landscape: Cloud-Managed Services vs. Platform Approaches

Kubernetes has won the container orchestration war, but choosing how to run it remains one of the most consequential infrastructure decisions enterprises face today. This session breaks down the real-world tradeoffs between cloud-managed services (EKS, AKS, GKE), traditional enterprise platforms (Red Hat OpenShift, SUSE Rancher), and the Nutanix Kubernetes Platform — covering cost models, operational overhead, day-2 operations, hybrid and multi-cloud flexibility, and how AI workloads are reshaping platform requirements. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for evaluating Kubernetes platforms against their organization’s skills, budget, and cloud strategy.

Presenter: Michael Stizza, Solution Specialist, Nutanix

 

3:00-4:00pm:

Solution Architect Panel

The Future Solution Specialist: Skills That Matter in the AI Era

AI is fundamentally changing the way Solution Specialists engage customers, from discovery and solution design to demos, architecture, and implementation. Following the keynote session, join Michael Stizza again as he moderates a panel of Solution Specialists and Solution Architects discussing how the role is evolving alongside AI, cloud-native platforms, and increasingly complex enterprise environments.

Moderator:

Michael Stizza, Solution Specialist, Nutanix

Panelists:

Steve Mai, Principal, The New Perimeter

Michael Barrett, CIO, Potawatomi Ventures

Randy Henderson, Senior Solution Architecture Manager, Cellcom (Nsight)

Andy Meier, Senior Manager, Commercial Solution Architecture, Molson Coors Beverage Company

 

4:00-6:00pm: Networking Happy Hour

 

Bios:

Steve Mai, Principal, The New Perimeter

Steve Mai has led Identity Security, Infrastructure Security, and Cloud Transformation programs at multiple Southeastern Wisconsin companies. At Clarios, he planned, built, and operated a greenfield Identity Management platform, program, and team as the company separated from Johnson Controls. At Kohl’s Department Stores, he led multiple infrastructure transformation and modernization initiatives and created the company’s Privileged Access Management program. He is currently Principal of The New Perimeter, an Identity Security consultancy.

Steve brings nearly 30 years of Enterprise IT experience to the conversation—from the birth of e-commerce and the adoption of open-source platforms, through the migration to the cloud, and now into the era of AI.

 

Michael Barrett, Chief Information Officer, Potawatomi Ventures.

Michael Barrett serves as Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Potawatomi Ventures, overseeing the overall strategy for IT and infrastructure development across the company and subsidiaries, and the overall direction and long-term growth plans for the company.

Michael’s prior experience includes working as Chief Technology Officer at River Run Managed Services, and senior director of digital products at Northwestern Mutual.

Michael serves on the Cedarburg Education Foundation Board as Technology Committee Chair, Ozaukee Central Fire Department as firefighter, master pump operator, and emergency medical technician, and Ozaukee County’s Mutual Aid Box System (MABAS) as Division President.

Michael has a bachelor’s degree in political science and public policy from the University of Wisconsin –Whitewater, and an Executive MBA from Marquette University.

 

Randy Henderson, Senior Solutions Architecture Manager, Cellcom (Nsight)

Randy Henderson is a technology leader and solutions architect with a passion for helping organizations navigate an increasingly connected world. As Senior Solutions Architecture Manager, he leads a team of SAs that work with businesses to design and implement technology solutions that support growth, improve operations, and drive innovation.

With a background spanning telecommunications, networking, managed services, and enterprise IT, Randy has spent his career translating complex technical challenges into real-world business outcomes. He enjoys working alongside customers and teams to build solutions that are both practical today and adaptable for the future.

At this panel event, Randy brings firsthand experience from the intersection of technology strategy, customer engagement, and emerging industry trends.

 

Andy Meier, Sr. Manager of Commercial Solution Architecture, Molson Coors Beverage Company

Andy is an enterprise technology leader with 20+ years experience driving architecture strategy, Agile transformation, and technology platform delivery at Fortune 500 scale.  In his current role at Molson Coors, he leads a team of SA’s that collaborate closely with internal commercial product teams to understand the business needs and design technology solutions to fit.  He also services as the program architect on a large SAFe Agile Release Train, leading solution architecture across a complex, global Salesforce based set of solutions.

With a background of experience including designing and implementing solutions related to network and telephony, end user computing, identity and access management, and leadership roles, Andy brings a broad perspective to the technical solutions.  As enterprise technology rapidly transforms through AI and cloud-native approaches, Andy focuses on equipping teams and customers to adapt—combining systems thinking with practical guidance on emerging technologies and modernized delivery methods.