Top 5 Must‑Attend Breakout Sessions for Engineers at IoT World Forum 2014

For engineers and engineering‑focused executives, the Internet of Things World Forum in Chicago (October 14‑16, 2014) offers a rich lineup of breakout sessions that address the most pressing challenges in IoT deployment, security, standards, and partnership strategies. Below are the five sessions we recommend not to miss.

1. IoT Customer Panel: Best Practices for Successful Deployments

Date & Time: Tuesday, 3:30 – 4:15 PM
Speaker: Chris White, VP, Cisco

Explore the critical factors that drive successful IoT rollouts. Chris White, who steers Cisco’s IoT go‑to‑market strategy, will lead the discussion and invite real‑world customers to share lessons learned, obstacles overcome, and measurable business outcomes.

2. IoT Security: Convergence in Three Dimensions

Date & Time: Tuesday, 4:15 – 5:00 PM

• Francis Cianfrocca, Founder, Chairman & CEO, Bayshore Networks Inc.
• Kai Hui, CTO, Bitstew Systems Ltd.
• Brian Ray, Founder & CEO, Link Labs
• Paul Roberts, Founder & Editor‑in‑Chief, The Security Ledger
• Michael Garrison Stuber, Engineering Advisor, Itron

Security threats evolve as IT and OT networks converge. This panel presents a multi‑dimensional strategy to protect connected devices, data, and infrastructure while ensuring compliance and resilience.

3. Standards: Breaking Down the Cross‑Vertical Barriers

Date & Time: Wednesday, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM

• Roberto Aiello, Technology Advisor, Itron
• Oleg Logvinov, Director, Special Assignments, STMicroelectronics
• Gary Stuebing, Manager – Engineering, Cisco

Engineers looking to streamline product integration should attend this session, where experts discuss how emerging standards can simplify cross‑industry interoperability.

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Breakthrough Best Practices: Smart City Policies

Date & Time: Wednesday, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM

• Brenna Berman, CIO, City of Chicago
• Hardik Bhatt, Director, Smart+Connected Communities, Cisco
• Nandini Jolly, Co‑Founder, CEO & President, CryptoMill Technology
• Melanie Nutter, Principal, Nutter Consulting
• Anne Pramaggiore, President & CEO, Commonwealth Edison
• Sabina Sitaru, CIO, City of Hartford Metro Hartford Innovation Services

For application‑focused engineers, this panel showcases real‑world smart city deployments and the policies that enable them.

4. The Power of Partnering in the IoT Market

Date & Time: Wednesday, 4:00 – 4:30 PM

This breakout explores how cross‑sector partnerships can unlock new opportunities, accelerate innovation, and bridge the IT/OT divide. Panelists will present tangible examples of successful collaborations.

5. Disruptive Players Revolutionizing IoT Go‑to‑Market Strategies

Date & Time: Thursday, 9:45 AM

• Ali Sebt, President & CEO, Renesas Electronics America Inc.
• Steve Steinhilber, VP Industry Solutions Group Partner Ecosystems, Cisco
• Zia Yusuf, CEO, Streetline, Inc.
• Brian Ray, Founder & CEO, Link Labs

Hear from industry leaders on how platform‑centric approaches are shaping the next wave of IoT innovation and the strategic steps required to stay ahead.

We hope you find these sessions valuable. Stop by the Link Labs exhibitor booth to discuss your ideas, explore partnership opportunities, or learn more about our solutions.