FROM THE
CONFERENCE DIRECTOR
LEAVING AN INDELIBLE IMPRESSION ON THE INDUSTRY BY CHRIS NOYES
Chris Noyes Conference Director STF Events
W
ow! What an experience we had in New Orleans. We had all heard that the buzz for SubOptic2019 was high and everyone proved it. With record breaking attendance, SubOptic2019 was a huge success. The conference kicked off on Monday with the majority of everyone in attendance. This made the Master Classes well attended and set the atmosphere for the conference for the week. Monday evening, we had the Opening Reception which was kicked off with the Kinfolk Brass band They opened the reception with procession of attendees through the exhibit hall. We had a Grand Marshall, Yves Ruggeri, to help kick off the evening, as well opening the exhibit floor. Accompanying the band and Grand Marshall, SubOptic2019 had their very own King and Queen to help with the Opening Reception. The evening wouldn’t have been an opening in New Orleans without the fresh shrimp and oysters. The opening reception had food, drinks, fresh seafood and the excitement that everyone had to be at SubOptic2019. Tuesday saw the beginning of the first full day of the conference with the
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Opening Ceremony by the SubOptic Association. Stuart Barns, Chairman of Xtera, and SubOptic2019 Program Chair opened the conference and expressed his surprise at attendance on Monday’s opening events. Next Yves Ruggeri, President of the SubOptic Association, welcomed the new Association Executive Committee members and all the attendees. Yves spoke of the significance holding the conference in the United States and as well as encouraged attendees to not only enjoy the conference’s official content, but to go out and explore the music, food, architecture and other culture of this historical city, celebrating its tricentennial this year. Stuart next introduced Kimberly LaGrue, Chief Information Officer of New Orleans, who was representing the mayor’s office. Kimberly sated that city was thankful that SubOptic2019 was being held in New Orleans. She joked that New Orleans was a city below sea level and a port city itself. It truly understands the importance of living with water. Ian Clarke, Vice President of Global Submarine Solutions of Ciena, host
of SubOptic 2019, was introduced by Stuart and spoke briefly about Ciena and then introduced the key note speaker, Gary Smith, President and CEO of Ciena. Gray Smith’s key note focused on the “Digital Revolution” and how advancements can be disruptive, and we should embrace the disruption and face the continual change. The day continued with seven oral presentations and the Business of Submarine Cable Infrastructure panels session. The day was capped off with the poster session and reception. During the poster session and reception, you might have noticed a painter on the stage a the far end of the room where the posters were located. The painter was Alex Harvey was there to capture the evening on canvas. Wednesday started with Amber Case, Cyborg Anthropologist and author of the book “Calm Technology.” She started with asking everyone in the room to hold up their phones, and then said, “I want to tell you, you are all cyborgs.” Amber stated that according to the proper definition a cyborg is any living thing that uses