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Critical Networks in Manufacturing
Forum

Intelligent Wireless Infrastructure to Accelerate Your Production Network

July 31st, 2025 | 11:30am - 2:30pm ET

Smart Factory Institute at the PIE Innovation Center
2215 Parker Street NE, Cleveland, TN 37311

#SmartFactoryInstitute

About the Event

If you could design your factory to be everything you wanted it to be, which technologies would you include? What would your throughput look like? And most importantly...do you have a secure and private network in place to help bring your plans to life?

Join us as we discuss how intelligent wireless infrastructure can accelerate your manufacturing operations and improve your security, reliability, scalability, and integration.

 

EVENT  WILL START IN

Get Your Tickets

INDIVIDUAL

Single Ticket
In-Person Attendance

$50

Access to all Sessions

Conference Bag

Lunch

*GROUP RATE: Use code GROUP6 for $70 off total price of 6 tickets at checkout.

VIRTUAL

Single Ticket
Online Attendance

$25

Access to all Sessions

With Keynote Presentation:
Building Resilient Manufacturing Ecosystems with Quantum Networks

Janet Rehberg

EPB 
President | Strategic Initiatives Business Unit

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Janet Rehberg leads the Strategic Initiatives Business Unit with responsibility for operationalizing longer-term strategies to position Chattanooga for the future through emerging opportunities.

 

With 20 years of leadership experience in the energy sector, her career reflects a depth of technical and operational expertise as well as a strong commitment to innovation, sustainable operations and community benefit. Before joining EPB, she served as Chief Strategy Officer and Vice President of Engineering for Tri-County Electric Cooperative in Aledo, Texas.

 

Rehberg holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tulsa and an MBA from Capital University. In

addition, she has earned numerous professional certifications including Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Demand Side Manager (CDSM) and Certified Emotional Intelligence Coach (EQI).

 

Rehberg is a long-standing member of the Women’s International Network of Utility Professionals, serving as president in 2014 and winning the organization’s Honorary Life Award in 2021. She has also served on numerous non-profit, community and professional boards and has been recognized as the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Project Mentor Match of the Year (2011) and as the Touchstone Energy Brand Champion in 2018.

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Schedule of Events

OPENING

8:00am

Registration & Networking

8:30am

Welcome

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Denise (Rice) Hall

President & CEO, Peak Performance Inc.

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KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

8:45am

Building Resilient Manufacturing Ecosystems with Quantum Networks

Join us as Janet Reherg, President of Strategic Initiatives at EPB, explores the transformative potential of quantum networks in the manufacturing sector. Drawing from EPB's pioneering work in Chattanooga, known as "Gig City," Janet will discuss how high-speed, reliable quantum networks can enhance operational efficiency, improve data security, and enable real-time decision-making in manufacturing processes. This session will provide insights into the future of interconnected manufacturing environments and how businesses can leverage these advancements to stay competitive.

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Denise (Rice) Hall

President & CEO, Peak Performance Inc.

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SESSION III

10:45am

The Role of Sls Delivering Digital Transformation

Manufacturers understand the importance of digital transformation to stay competitive and to address challenges related to talent and labor shortages, supply chain resiliency, etc. SIs (industrial system integrators) have always played an enabling role deploying automation solutions. Responding to manufacturer’s demands, they have expanded their solutions scope to support their clients in their digital transformation journeys.

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SESSION IV

11:15pm

What are Critical Networks and Why Should Manufacturers Care? 

For many of the world’s largest businesses, private networks will likely become the preferred choice, especially for industrial environments such as manufacturing plants, logistics centers, and ports. Secure private networks follow the same framework as public cellular networks, but covers a smaller, private area with fewer users. Private networks keep the data local and, on the premises, adding a layer of security and control that many enterprises desire. Private networks can offer better performance, coverage and security than Wi-Fi without the typical costs of high data transfer volume over public cellular. These networks can significantly reduce downtime, ensuring that all devices stay connected while supporting IoT and I4.0 technology.

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LUNCH & VIDEO DISCUSSION

12:00pm

CLOSING

12:45pm

Closing Remarks

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Denise (Rice) Hall

President & CEO, Peak Performance Inc.

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Why Attend?

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Stay Up

to Date

with the latest trends and technologies. Make informed decisions about your own network infrastructure and ensure you are using the most effective and secure solutions.

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Learn from Industry Experts

who have experience and knowledge in the field. Gain insights into best practices, common challenges, and emerging trends.

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Network

with Peers

and build relationships with other professionals in the industry. Stay connected and informed about new developments and opportunities.

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Connect with Potential Partners

and vendors who can help improve your network infrastructure and security.

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Gain

Insights

into how to improve your network infrastructure and security. This can help reduce the risk of cyber attacks and ensure your operations are running smoothly and efficiently.

Critical Network Concerns for Manufacturers

Cybersecurity

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One of the biggest concerns for manufacturers is cybersecurity. Critical networks are often targeted by cybercriminals who seek to steal sensitive data, disrupt operations, or cause damage to equipment. Manufacturers need to ensure that their networks are secure and protected against cyber threats.

Scalability

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As manufacturers grow and expand, their network infrastructure needs to be able to scale to meet their changing needs. Manufacturers need to ensure that their critical networks can handle increased traffic and data volumes without compromising performance or security.

Reliability

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Manufacturers rely heavily on their critical networks to keep their operations running smoothly. Any downtime or disruptions can result in lost productivity, revenue, and customer trust. Manufacturers need to ensure that their networks are reliable and can handle the demands of their operations.

Integration

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Manufacturers often use a variety of different systems and technologies in their operations. Integrating these systems and technologies into a cohesive network infrastructure can be challenging and requires careful planning and execution.

Event Sponsors

Smart Factory Institute Technology Partners 

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GALLERY OF PAST YEARS

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Travel Accommodations

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