The 2026 GNTC Summit will take place on Wednesday, September 9 and Thursday, September 10 in Nashville, TN.

Wednesday, Sept 9 · 4:00–6:00 PM
Pre-Summit Happy Hour
Bungalow Studios
915 Twin Elms Ct
Nashville, TN 37210

The GNTC Summit kicks off the night before with a happy hour at Bungalow Studios, a working soundstage and podcast production facility – included automatically with your Summit registration, no extra sign-up required. The event will include a live podcast with voices from the local tech community, lively music, small bites and fun drinks, networking with Nashville’s tech community in a one-of-a-kind space.

Presented by
Happy Hour Sponsor

Thursday, Sept 10 · 7:00 AM–4:00 PM
GNTC Summit
Omni Nashville
250 Rep. John Lewis Way S
Nashville, TN 37203

SUMMIT SCHEDULE – SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

Full program 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Open seating – no advance sign-up. New sessions announced weekly.

7:00 – 8:00 AM – Registration, badge pickup & breakfast

8:00 – 8:10 AM – Welcome & opening remarks |Mark Blaze, President & CEO, GNTC

8:10 – 8:55 AM – Opening keynote | Gary Sorrentino, Global CIO, Zoom

9:00 – 9:15 AM – Transition

9:15 – 10:00 AM Concurrent sessions I
Breakout #1 – Earning Loyalty: The AI-Driven Customer Experience
Nate Brown, Founder & Executive Director, CX Accelerator

Breakout #2 – The Optimization Paradox: Why AI Makes Human Discernment the Ultimate Competitive Advantage
Shruti Sharma, Data Operations Leader, Philips

Breakout #3 – Session details announcing soon!

10:00 – 10:30 AM – Networking break

10:30 – 11:15 AM Concurrent sessions II

Breakout #4 – Session details announcing soon!

Breakout #5 – Session details announcing soon!

Breakout #6 – Session details announcing soon!

11:15 – 11:30 AM – Transition

11:30 – 12:45 PM – Lunch | Seated lunch and open networking

12:45 – 1:30 PM Concurrent sessions III

Breakout #7 – Build Your First AI Employee, Live: 5 Guardrails Before It Touches Your Business
Shakita Trigg, CEO & Founder, Aligned Strategy Partners

Breakout #8 – From Ad Hoc to Agentic: A Field Guide to Real-World AI-Driven SDLC
Saman Saadat, Vice President, CGI Inc.

Breakout #9 – Session details announcing soon!

1:30 – 2:00 PM – Afternoon break

2:00 – 2:45 PM Concurrent sessions IV

Breakout #10 – Session details announcing soon!

Breakout #11 – Session details announcing soon!

Breakout #12 – Analytics Without Barriers: How Open Standards Make Data Actionable for Business Leaders
Heather VanCura, VP External Standards & Engagement, Oracle

2:45 – 3:00 PM – Break

3:00 – 3:45 PM – Closing keynote | Speaker announcing soon!

3:45 – 4:00 PM – Closing remarks & adjourn
Mark Blaze, President & CEO, GNTC

Program subject to change. Rooms confirmed on printed program.

$295 Members / $395 Non-Members
*includes both events

Nate Brown, Founder & Executive Director, CX Accelerator

Mark Blaze, President and CEO, GNTC

Mark Hammock, Enterprise Analytics Program Manager, Qlik

Saman Saadat, Vice President, CGI Inc.

Shruti Sharma, Data Operations Leader, Philips

Gary Sorrentino, Global CIO, Zoom

Shauna Sprague, Founder & Head of AI Initiatives, Elevate AI Studio

Shakita Trigg, CEO and Founder, Aligned Strategy Partners

Heather VanCura, VP External Standards & Engagement, Oracle

GNTC Innovation Lab, powered by Slalom Consulting LLC 

Don’t miss your chance to showcase your technology, connect with industry leaders, and be part of the innovation driving Middle Tennessee forward at GNTC Summit 2026! Apply Here: https://form.jotform.com/261934971568169

SHOWCASE. CONNECT. COLLABORATE.

Step into the future of technology at the GNTC Innovation Lab, an interactive, expo-style space designed to spotlight emerging tech, visionary products, and forward-thinking companies.

The immersive experience brings together startups, establishing organizations, and innovators ready to share what’s next in tech.

Whether you’re unveiling a new product, showcasing a demo, or looking to connect with industry leaders, the Innovation Lab is your platform for visibility and collaboration.

Spark conversation. Drive partnerships. Inspire the community.

Want in on The GNTC Summit 2026 – without the ticket price? We’re looking for volunteers to help bring The GNTC Summit to life on September 9–10 in Nashville.

Volunteer for the day and you’ll get free admission to the full Summit -including the pre-Summit Happy Hour at Bungalow Studios – while helping make the event run smoothly for hundreds of tech professionals from across the region.

It’s a great way to be in the room with speakers like Gary Sorrentino (Zoom), and Heather VanCura (Oracle) – and meet the people shaping Nashville’s tech scene, all while giving back to the community that makes it happen.

Spots are limited.
Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/261896212510151