Briteskies at COMMON POWERUp 2025: Connections, Insights, and Disney Magic

A Week of Sunshine, Connections, and Community

Our Briteskies IBM i team recently returned from COMMON POWERUp 2025 at Disneyland, energized by the warm weather, the magic of the parks, and—most importantly—the vibrant IBM i community. It was a week filled with reconnecting with old friends, meeting new faces at our booth, and sharing knowledge during our hosted sessions.

Briteskies was proud to host several well-attended sessions,  sharing our expertise and best practices with the IBM i community. Our lineup included Bill Onion’s discussion on Integrating CRMs like HubSpot with your ERP, Phil Tolbert’s engaging VS Code Talk, Rob Nettgen’s insightful presentations on 30 Security Tips and Introduction to Cyber Security Frameworks, and Nate Schieder’s session on N2i (New to the i).  Each session offered valuable insights and sparked meaningful discussions among attendees.

In addition, Briteskies is excited to share that Robert Nettgen was honored as a Bronze Award winner for his sessions last year, joining a list of some well-respected, heavy hitters within the IBM i community.

Our booth was a hub of excitement, offering attendees the chance to spin the wheel for prizes—including Disney ears,  free tech audits, and our signature “I go where the i goes” T-shirts in Briteskies orange. The after-hours event at the Palm Breeze Bar was a highlight, bringing together IBM i customers and vendors for cocktails, conversation, and camaraderie.

Team Highlights and Favorite Moments

Our team shared some of their favorite moments from the event:

• Meaningful Connections: “My favorite booth moment was scanning the last person, who happened to have two retiring developers and wanted to schedule a meeting. It was the perfect exclamation point to a week of meeting potential prospects.”
• Iconic Memories: “The monitor photo of Bill and me is an instant classic—I’ll remember that moment forever!”
• Nightlife and Networking: “The bar on Tuesday night with new acquaintances and old friends was one of the best nights I’ve ever had entertaining clients.”
• Growth and Word of Mouth: “We’ve made great strides from last year. Word of mouth is the best thing we could have brought to the booth.”
• Embracing AI and New Tools: “AI is here, and everyone is using it. I’m intrigued by Watsonx and all the new tools that are coming with it!”
• N2i Success: “I was pleased to have about 10 N2i individuals—some in sales, some developers—and received positive feedback from each. With five minutes left, I connected with everyone individually on LinkedIn.”
• Personal Growth: “My ability to speak to prospects and vendors alike has greatly improved. It’s a nice challenge to represent Briteskies in a positive light!”
• Walking the Expo, Building Relationships: "Spending time walking through the expo center, engaging with exhibitors, and building connections was great. These interactions helped introduce Briteskies to new people and reinforced our presence in the community."

Key Takeaways: COMMON POWERUp 2025

The commitment of event attendees to the IBM i platform was unmistakable, with a clear focus on both its current strengths and its evolving future. Throughout the conference, keynote messages consistently emphasized the ongoing evolution and enduring relevance of IBM i, highlighting its adaptability and staying power in today’s technology landscape.

Participants expressed strong interest in adopting new technologies for the IBM i environment. They showed a collective desire to move beyond traditional green screen tools, underscoring the community’s readiness for innovation. This forward-thinking mindset was reflected in several major themes that emerged during the event:

• Watsonx Code Assistant for i is shaping up to be a game-changer for development, although it’s not intended to replace human developers.
• IBM i remains a robust backbone platform, but the limited number of ISV-supported applications may limit developer interest.
• Integration with adjacent applications is a key focus for organizations leveraging IBM i.
• Administration and security are top priorities, reflecting increased awareness and responsibility.
• VS Code is generating significant interest, though there’s still some confusion about source repositories and testing workflows.

Benefits of Attending COMMON POWERUp

Attending PowerUp is an invaluable experience that opens up a wealth of opportunities for our team and our company. By participating in this premier event, we not only keep our finger on the pulse of the latest trends in the IBM i community, but we also play an active role in shaping its future.   Here are just a few of the key benefits we gain by being part of this dynamic event:

• Learn from industry experts and stay on top of emerging trends.
• Reinforce our credibility within the IBM i community through our speaking opportunities.
• Connect on a personal level with potential new clients—people buy from people they know and trust.
• Develop relationships with industry experts whom we can lean on in the future.
• Building and strengthening relationships with vendors, partners, and companies running IBM i through face-to-face conversations.

Looking Ahead

Given our success this year, we’re already planning for COMMON 2026 in New Orleans! Our planning and teamwork made this year a standout, and we’re excited to build on this momentum. See you next year!

Interested in learning more about how Briteskies can support your IBM i needs? Contact us today to start a conversation—or check out last year’s recap for more insights from the IBM i community!