4:00-6:00 p.m. | Outside Jr. Ballroom
5:30-7:00 p.m. | Jr. Ballroom
7:30-9:00 a.m.
8:00-9:00 a.m.
9:00 a.m. (10 mins)
9:10 a.m. (20 mins)
Gain a clear, executive-level perspective on why quantum belongs in the boardroom, not just the lab. Presented by Janet Rehberg, CEO of EPB, this session highlights how EPB is advancing real-world quantum capabilities. EPB is an energy and fiber optics provider and a national leader in advanced infrastructure.
The session will also cover EPB’s work on the nation’s first commercially available quantum network, as well as the EPB Quantum Center℠. The center provides access to both quantum computing and high-performance classical computing, creating a unique environment for accelerating practical, real-world applications.
9:30 a.m. (15 mins)
Hear from Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp, representing city, state, and regional leadership as he outlines why Tennessee’s moment is now. This session will explore the state’s push to compete in advanced technologies, the importance of industry-led adoption, and the critical role of workforce development in building a strong quantum ecosystem and driving long-term economic opportunity.
9:45 a.m. (30 mins)
Presented by Colin Soutar, Managing Director at Deloitte, the world's largest professional services organization, advising nearly 90% of the Fortune Global 500 across more than 150 countries. Quantum has reached the point where leaders don't need to understand the science behind it, but they do need to understand how it could reshape their markets and cybersecurity landscape. Drawing on Deloitte's global quantum research and its work guiding executives through what the next five years may hold, this session cuts past the technical complexity to focus on the business case: why quantum represents a genuine economic opportunity, how it is expected to transform cybersecurity and data protection, which industries stand to gain the most, and why the advantage is likely to favor early movers rather than those who wait.
10:15 a.m. (15 mins)
10:30 a.m. (30 mins)
A practical, no nonsense look at what quantum is and where it is helping leaders cut through hype to understand where it fits today. Presented by Dr. Shaun Gleason, Director of Partnerships at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a leading U.S. Department of Energy lab at the forefront of advanced computing and quantum research. This session will help you identify the right use cases, avoid common mistakes, and evaluate when quantum offers an advantage over classical and AI approaches.
11:00 a.m. (30 mins)
Presented by Tim Liston, US Civic Strategist & Engagement Leader at EY, a global advisory firm helping the world's largest organizations prepare for quantum. Two things are true at once: quantum is opening real opportunities 🡪 optimizing portfolios, supply chains, logistics, and even energy grid reliability, while also creating an urgent security risk, as today's encryption is expected to be vulnerable by 2030. Yet EY's latest research shows nearly 9 in 10 leaders expect quantum to disrupt their industry, and only 4% have a funded plan in motion. This session gives leaders a clear, business-level view of where quantum pays off, and what first steps --- on data, talent, and partners --- can close the gap between interest and readiness.
11:30 a.m. (30 min)
12:00 p.m. (1 hr)
12:00 p.m. (30 mins)
The discussion will focus on how quantum technology has emerged as a federal priority and what it means for U.S. economic competitiveness, national security and innovation leadership. Participants will discuss how public-private partnerships, research institutions and industry leaders are working together to advance real-world applications and position Tennessee as a national hub for quantum commercialization and adoption.
12:30 p.m. (30 mins)
A look at why business engagement with quantum is no longer a question of if, but how and when, featuring Niccolo de Masi, Chairman & CEO of IonQ, a leading quantum computing company advancing commercially available systems and applications. Gain insight into what early adopters are doing today, the types of problems being explored, and what leaders are learning as they begin putting quantum into practice.
1:00 p.m. (15 min)
1:15 p.m. (45 min)
This panel brings together leaders from Vanderbilt University, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), and Tennessee Tech to explore how quantum innovation transitions from academic research into real business application.
Led by Charlie Brock, CEO of the Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative (CQC), with participation from Rick Mukherjee, PhD, Director of the Quantum Center at UTC and Associate Professor of Physics, Krishnendu (Krish) Roy, PhD, Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Dean of Engineering and University Distinguished Professor at Vanderbilt University, Muhammad Ismail, PhD, Director CEROC and Associate Professor of Computer Science at Tennessee Tech University, and and Hanna Terletska, PhD, Professor of Physics, Middle Tennessee State University. The discussion will focus on how universities partner with industry to provide access to research, technical expertise, and emerging talent. Learn how these collaborations help companies engage earlier, apply quantum in practical ways, and build the workforce needed to support long-term innovation.
2:00 p.m. (45 mins)
Led by IonQ, this session brings together business leaders to share real-world use case examples that move beyond theory and into application. Presented in clear, accessible terms, you’ll hear how organizations identified problems suited for quantum, partnered to explore solutions, and what outcomes they’ve achieved so far.
Focused on the business, not the technical details, this discussion will highlight why these problems were chosen, what challenges emerged, the value gained (even in early stages), and the practical insights that are already shaping executive decision-making and future roadmaps.
2:45 p.m. (30 mins)
Quantum computing has the potential to solve problems that are beyond the reach of today’s most powerful computers. Achieving that potential, however, will require significant advances in AI and supercomputing.
Led by Monica Van Dieren, Senior Manager of Technical Product Marketing for Quantum at NVIDIA, this session will explore how these technologies are converging to accelerate quantum innovation. Participants will hear about NVIDIA’s latest developments and learn how collaboration among research institutions, government organizations, and industry leaders is helping speed the path toward practical, real-world quantum solutions.
3:15 p.m. (30 mins)
Quantum can feel like something to watch from a distance, especially when organizations aren’t sure how to begin. Moderated by Robert Long, EPB President of Strategic Initiatives, this session looks at some of the practical pieces that help move quantum from interest to action: finding funding and resources to support early exploration; determining where quantum should live within an organization and who needs to own it; building internal knowledge and capability; and understanding what investors are looking for as emerging quantum companies move toward commercialization. Hear from Daniel Crawley, Manager of Strategic Research at EPB on navigating the funding landscape, John Licata, Futures Director and Quantum Lead with ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW), on organizational integration, Matt Cimaglia, Founding & Managing Partner at Quantum Coast Capital on the investment perspective, and Ganesh Sivakumar, SVP, Chief Data, Applied AI & Technology Innovation Officer Digital Transformation Organization, on building literacy from within.
3:45 p.m. (10 mins)
Closing the day, Janet Rehberg, CEO of EPB, outlines three practical decisions leaders should act on now to prepare their organizations for a quantum-enabled future. This session will focus on why security readiness is unavoidable, the importance of understanding your organization’s data, ownership, and timelines, and how to identify a single, high-value problem worth learning from, not necessarily the biggest, but the most instructive. Leaders will leave with a clearer view of how to engage resources and take meaningful next steps with confidence.
