# Event Details - **Event Name**: WMCUG June - Cisco Live recap and career conversations June 24th - **Event Start and End Date**: Wed, 24 Jun, 2026 at 06:00 pm – Wed, 24 Jun, 2026 at 08:00 pm - **Event Description**: A recap of the biggest news from Cisco Live then a panel discussion about careers. Join WMCUG in June for insights, dinner, and prizes!About this EventWe will start with a recap of Cisco Live. Andy Calderone will discuss the major announcements from Ciscove Live, US including the launch of Cisco Cloud Control, an AI-native management platform. Additionally, announcements regarding AgenticOps capabilities for autonomous troubleshooting and continuous network optimization, scalable AI-purpose-built devices including secure routers and wireless gateways, post-quantum cryptography for resilient security, hybrid mesh firewalling for micro-segmentation, and AI-ready data centers and workplaces to support digital resilience and future-proof enterprise networks will be reviewed.We will then move to a panel disccsions about carrers coveing a wide rang of topics including:What the IT Career field looks like todayHow is the talent pipline changingDiscuss how professionals can build skills and position themselves for success in today's rapidly evolving technology landscape-Enjoy dinner and enter our swag giveaway, courtesy of Cisco!-Our Panel:Eric Miller: Director of Talent and Employee EngagementEric is the Director of Talent and Employee Engagement at Van Andel Institute, a nonprofit biomedical research and science education organization. With over 15 years in HR, he leads institute-wide talent strategy and partners with senior leadership to connect the people function to VAI's mission and goals. He oversees full life-cycle recruitment and helps drive the organization's culture initiatives. bringing a strategic, structured lens to how talent gets hired, developed, and retained.Tony Ellis: Lead IT Domain Architect at HaworthTony, Lead IT Domain Architect at Haworth. Survived 15+ years in IT infrastructure and networking—starting by breaking things in engineering roles, now in senior leadership thanks to experience, certifications, and pure luck. Passionate about tech career growth (minus the scars).Lane May: Professional RecruiterLane is specialized in Data Center, Cloud, and DevOps recruiter with TEKsystems, where he has been since 2009. His focus is on supporting both technical professionals and organizations across West Michigan and the broader Midwest.Lane's main goal is connecting companies with high-impact IT talent. He works end-to-end in the hiring process—from identifying and qualifying candidates to guiding interviews, negotiating offers, and ensuring successful placements.What he really prides himself on being more than just a recruiter—He aims to be a value-added partner. Lane helps companies navigate a competitive talent market, build strong pipelines, and position opportunities in a way that resonates with top technical talent. He also spends a lot of time building genuine relationships with candidates so when the right opportunity arises, we can move quickly to submit and take advantage of the moment.Philip Straatsma: Fromer IT Operations Manager and Current Solutions EngineerPhilip Straatsma is currently a Solutions Engineer for Cisco, before this he spent 12 years in the K-12 education IT administration space for a national school system with 100+ locations. 7 of those 12 years were in leadership roles within IT Infrastructure with his prior experience being in the Network Engineering capacity. He focused on building effective teams by identifying the right talent for each role. Committed to long-term results, he supported professional development through mentorship and skill-building, helping his team remain prepared to address evolving challenges. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/grand-rapids/wmcug-june-cisco-live-recap-and-career-conversations-june-24th/100001991281062261 - **Event Categories**: business, science-fair - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 - **Event Highlights**: - Duration: 2 hours - Location: Davenport University Sneden Hall 1-2-3 - Languages: English ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 0, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Grand Rapids - **state**: MI - **country**: United States - **location**: Davenport University Sneden Hall 1-2-3 - **lat**: 42.84981079999999 - **long**: -85.53026520000003 - **full address**: Davenport University Sneden Hall 1-2-3, 6191 Kraft Avenue Southeast, Grand Rapids, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: WMCUG June - Cisco Live recap and career conversations June 24th - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events9/banners/e7ceff6a955809ff6ead22e03f7a37d489eac93631d6199f05f7c4dae32ee24d-rimg-w1200-h800-dc00407b-gmir.jpg?v=1780886720 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is WMCUG June - Cisco Live recap and career conversations June 24th being held? - **A:** WMCUG June - Cisco Live recap and career conversations June 24th takes place on Wed, 24 Jun, 2026 at 06:00 pm to Wed, 24 Jun, 2026 at 08:00 pm at Davenport University Sneden Hall 1-2-3, 6191 Kraft Avenue Southeast, Grand Rapids, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing WMCUG June - Cisco Live recap and career conversations June 24th? - **A:** WMCUG June - Cisco Live recap and career conversations June 24th is organized by West Michigan Cisco Users Group. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** WMCUG June - Cisco Live recap and career conversations June 24th is ideal for curious learners, students, and skill-builders looking to gain hands-on knowledge and practical expertise in a focused, interactive setting. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Grand Rapids, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. 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