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

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

Bios:

Steve Mai, Principal, The New Perimeter

Stephen Mai is a versatile and experienced Identity Security expert, a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and proven Transformational IT Leader with 25 years of experience in Cyber Security, IT Infrastructure, IT architecture, IT project management and Software Development at multiple Fortune 500 companies. He is well-versed in cloud, hybrid-cloud and legacy/on-prem architectures. And he has both built and led multiple highly-technical teams, programs and portfolios. He is experienced in waterfall, Agile/SCRUM and Lean management. He holds an MBA from the University of Wisconsin, a Master of Science in Scientific and Technical Communication from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Possessing a strong technical background, he is adept at managing and communicating with a wide variety of technical engineers, and translating complex issues to stakeholders.