Volunteers can contact committee members to offer their assistance during the inaugural summit in Kansas City, MO.
A new regional gathering aimed at strengthening collaboration across the communications infrastructure ecosystem is preparing for its debut this summer, as organizers advance plans for the inaugural Midwest Wireless Summit, scheduled for August 17 through 19, 2026, in Kansas City. MO. Registration, sponsorships, accommodations, and panel discussions are available here.
The Midwest Wireless Summit leadership team will welcome educational conference attendees at the Hotel Kansas City. Pictured, left to right, are: Scott Buell, President; Taylor Weltmeyer-Sierra, Vice President; Lauren Goff, Vice President; Chelle Eischens, Treasurer; Tom Skidmore, Secretary; and Deb Battaglia, Board Member.
The event is being developed by members of the Midwest wireless community who say the summit is intended to create a dedicated forum for contractors, service providers, suppliers, and industry stakeholders to share technical insight, discuss workforce challenges, and expand regional partnerships.
Kevin Zernel, President of the Wisconsin Wireless Association, said a core group of volunteers has already begun coordinating logistics, programming, and sponsorship outreach for the first-year conference.
In a call to industry professionals across the region, Zernel is inviting interested participants to support the effort through committee involvement and planning contributions, emphasizing that the summit’s success will depend on broad engagement from across the wireless infrastructure sector.
Regional Collaboration at the Center
Organizers describe the Midwest Wireless Summit as a platform designed to elevate regional voices within a rapidly evolving national wireless landscape.
While major national conferences remain central to policy, technology, and carrier strategy discussions, regional forums can provide more targeted dialogue around:
- workforce development and training pipelines
- contractor economics and project delivery realities
- safety practices and compliance expectations
- supply-chain coordination and deployment timelines
By focusing on Midwest-specific market conditions and operational challenges, planners hope the summit will foster stronger peer connections and practical knowledge exchange among companies that often collaborate in the field but rarely convene in a dedicated regional setting.
The opening keynote will be presented by WIA President and CEO Patrick Halley.
Volunteer Committees and Industry Participation
To support the inaugural launch, organizers are assembling volunteer committees covering programming, sponsorships, logistics, and outreach.
Industry professionals attending or supporting the summit are encouraged to contribute expertise in areas aligned with their operational experience.
Early engagement, organizers say, is critical not only to shaping the first-year agenda but also to establishing the summit as a sustainable annual event that can grow alongside regional deployment activity.
Registration and Sponsorship Opportunities Open
Conference registration and sponsorship information are now available through the summit’s official website, with planners targeting participation from contractors, engineering firms, utilities, tower service companies, and technology vendors throughout the Midwest.
As wireless infrastructure investment continues to shift alongside fiber expansion, spectrum deployment, and next-generation network planning, organizers believe the timing is right for a regional event focused on practical execution and collaboration.
With its anticipated success, the Midwest Wireless Summit should become a recurring convening point for one of the country’s most active—yet often under-represented—wireless construction regions.
The summit is a united effort by the Illinois State Wireless Association (ILSWA), Missouri-Kansas Wireless Association (MoKan), Minnesota State Wireless Association (MNSWA), Wisconsin Wireless Association (WIWA), Nebraska-Iowa Wireless Association (NEIA), and the Ohio Wireless and Broadband Association (OWABA).
