Cloud Connections 2026: Your Complete Event Guide for Cloud Communications Leaders

The cloud communications industry is at an inflection point—and Cloud Connections 2026 brings together 250+ decision-makers navigating AI disruption, channel transformation, and shifting business models. Here's how to make the most of three days in Delray Beach.

Published: January 8, 2026

Marcus Law

Cloud Connections 2026 gathers 250 industry leaders in Delray Beach for three days of strategic sessions, technology showcases, and high-value networking. If you’re attending, you’re investing significant time and budget—and the return depends on how well you prepare.

This isn’t a conference where you passively absorb content and collect business cards. The attendee list includes CEOs who’ve built and exited companies, Channel Chiefs managing major partnerships, CTOs architecting next-generation platforms, and investors evaluating the market. The conversations you have here can shape partnerships, inform strategic pivots, and surface opportunities you won’t find anywhere else.

This guide helps you navigate the full agenda, understand the strategic themes driving this year’s event, identify which sessions matter for your role, and maximize your ROI. We’ve analyzed the schedule, mapped the key topics, and highlighted where the most valuable conversations will happen.

In This Guide

What is Cloud Connections 2026 and who should attend?
Why should cloud communications leaders attend Cloud Connections 2026?
Cloud Connections 2026 by the Numbers
Key Strategic Themes
Key Keynote Speakers and Sessions
Day-by-Day Agenda Breakdown
Attendance Tips for Maximum ROI

What is Cloud Connections 2026 and who should attend?

Cloud Connections 2026 is the flagship annual conference of the Cloud Communications Alliance (CCA), bringing together 250+ leaders in UCaaS, CCaaS, CPaaS, and AI-driven cloud infrastructure. This is an intimate, high-stakes gathering designed for decision-makers—CEOs, Founders, Channel Chiefs, CTOs, and Private Equity investors—who are actively shaping the future of cloud communications.

The event takes place January 21-23, 2026 in Delray Beach, Florida and is primarily structured across two days: Day 2 (Thursday) focuses on strategic transformation and emerging technology, while Day 3 (Friday) shifts to tactical execution, channel economics, and route-to-market strategies.

“Cloud Connections 2026 isn’t just another industry event, it’s a strategic checkpoint for cloud communications leaders. This is where the real conversations happen about AI disruption, business model reinvention, and who’s actually positioned to win over the next 12–18 months. If you want signal over noise, context over hype, and access to the people shaping the market rather than reacting to it, this is the room to be in.”
— Rob Scott, Publisher, UC Today

Why should cloud communications leaders attend Cloud Connections 2026?

Cloud Connections 2026 attracts over 250 attendees from 37 companies representing the full cloud communications ecosystem, with a significant concentration of C-suite executives, channel leaders, and financial decision-makers. The event provides direct access to emerging business models 12-18 months before mainstream adoption, enabling leaders to evaluate strategic pivots, meet potential acquisition targets or buyers, see live technology demonstrations, and build roadmaps for navigating AI disruption.

The conference offers keynote insights from industry veterans including Clark Peterson (CCA Chairman) on the state of the industry, Mike Tessler (True North Advisory) on building lean AI-driven UC businesses, Janet Schijns (JS Group) on the new economics of partnering, and a closing analyst panel featuring Irwin Lazar (Metrigy), Catharine Trebnick (Rosenblatt Securities), and Joshua Reilly (Needham & Company).

Cloud Connections 2026 by the Numbers

250+ attendees from the global cloud communications ecosystem
37 speakers including CEOs, CTOs, Channel Chiefs, and Analysts
20+ sessions across two content-packed days
2 networking events designed for relationship-building and deal-making

Key Strategic Themes

What is AI orchestration and why does it matter more than AI features?

AI orchestration platforms sit above existing UCaaS/CCaaS stacks to actively facilitate business outcomes rather than just enable communication. Unlike traditional AI features embedded in collaboration tools (meeting transcription, noise cancellation, sentiment analysis), orchestration platforms use AI to understand context across multiple systems, automate workflows, route information intelligently, and convert unstructured conversations into structured business actions without human intervention.

Key session: From Fog to Focus: Building a Lean, AI-Driven UC Business (Thursday 9:00 AM) with Mike Tessler explores how providers can shift from feature accumulation to orchestration platforms that deliver measurable ROI.

Evaluation criteria: When assessing your orchestration strategy, ask: Does our AI actively drive customer workflows or passively assist? Can we demonstrate ROI beyond “nice to have”? Are we building proprietary orchestration or relying on Microsoft/Zoom to own that layer?

How is Agents as a Service killing the SaaS model?

The traditional SaaS model—selling software licenses per user per month—is under existential threat from Agents as a Service (AaaS), where AI agents perform work autonomously and customers pay for outcomes rather than seats. This shift fundamentally disrupts pricing models, capacity planning, and go-to-market strategies that have defined cloud communications for the past 15 years.

Key session: SaaS Down, AaaS Up: How LLMs and Agents as a Service Are Killing the SaaS Model (Thursday 1:00 PM) with Jake Leidy (Spectrum VoIP) provides a provocative look at how AI agents are replacing traditional SaaS economics.

Evaluation criteria: Test your business model: What percentage of our revenue comes from seats that could be replaced by AI agents? How quickly can we pivot pricing models? Do we have the data infrastructure to price based on outcomes rather than usage?

What is vCon and why should you care?

vCon (virtual Conversation) is an emerging standard for capturing, storing, and analyzing communication data across voice, video, and messaging in a structured, portable format. Unlike proprietary recording systems locked into specific platforms, vCon creates a universal conversation data layer that enables AI analysis, compliance automation, and workflow integration across any communication channel.

Key session: vCon Changes Everything (Thursday 1:50 PM) featuring industry legend Jeff Pulver alongside Kevin Nethercott (Creo Solutions) and Dag Peak (Alianza) explores how vCon fundamentally changes the value of communication data.

Evaluation criteria: Assess your conversation data strategy: Are we capturing structured conversation data or just raw recordings? Can our data be analyzed across platforms? Do we have a roadmap for monetizing conversation intelligence?

How are channel economics changing in the AI era?

The traditional channel model is breaking down as AI reduces seat counts, customers demand outcome-based pricing, and vendors seek direct relationships. The new economics of partnering requires channels to deliver strategic value (implementation, change management, AI optimization) rather than transactional sales.

Key sessions:

Economics of Partnering (Friday 9:10 AM) with Janet Schijns (JS Group) breaks down the financial models of modern partnering.
What Agents Really Want: The Truth About Routes to Market (Friday 9:25 AM) features a “truth serum” panel with top channel voices including Chris Dennis (AVANT), Roger Blohm (Infinite Solutions Group), and Lou DiMuzio (ACE Technology Advisors).

Evaluation criteria: Ask your channel team: What percentage of partners are profitable under current commission structures? How are partners reacting to AI-driven seat reduction? What value do partners deliver beyond order-taking?

What does M&A activity signal about market maturity?

M&A activity in cloud communications is accelerating as private equity seeks exits, strategic buyers consolidate market share, and smaller providers face increasing pressure to scale or sell.

Key sessions:

Deals, Disruption & the Next Wave: M&A in Cloud Communications (Thursday 4:00 PM) with Ari Rabban covers the current M&A landscape.
State of the Cloud: Analyst Perspectives on What’s Now and What’s Next (Thursday 4:20 PM) featuring Irwin Lazar (Metrigy), Joshua Reilly (Needham & Company), Matt Townend (Cavell), and Catharine Trebnick (Rosenblatt Securities) provides investment-grade market analysis.

Evaluation criteria: Assess your position: Are we a buyer, seller, or independent operator? What is our realistic valuation in current market conditions? What strategic gaps could we fill through acquisition?

Key Speakers at Cloud Connections 2026

Clark Peterson (CCA Chairman)

State of the Industry (Thursday 8:40 AM) sets the strategic baseline for 2026, covering market consolidation, AI disruption, and regulatory challenges.

Mike Tessler (True North Advisory)

From Fog to Focus: Building a Lean, AI-Driven UC Business (Thursday 9:00 AM) provides a strategic framework for moving from AI hype to practical, profitable AI implementation.

Brian Kornmann (Q Advisors)

Building the AI-Powered Provider: Strategy, Scale & the Road to 2030 (Thursday 9:35 AM) offers a long-term strategic roadmap for providers navigating AI transformation.

Paul Spencer (T-Mobile)

T-Mobile Keynote (Friday 8:40 AM) brings the major carrier perspective to channel strategy, network infrastructure, and enterprise partnerships.

Janet Schijns (JS Group)

Economics of Partnering (Friday 9:10 AM) and moderating What Agents Really Want (Friday 9:25 AM) makes Janet the definitive voice on channel transformation at the event.

Analyst Panel: Irwin Lazar, Joshua Reilly, Matt Townend, Catharine Trebnick, Clark Peterson

State of the Cloud: Analyst Perspectives (Thursday 4:20 PM) delivers investment-grade market analysis, valuation perspectives, and strategic recommendations for providers and investors.

Cloud Connections 2026 Agenda Breakdown

Day 1: Wednesday, January 21 (Arrival & Networking)

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Rock the Rooftop: 80s Flashback

Goal: Pure networking. Break the ice before content starts. This is where you meet people informally before the business conversations begin Thursday.
Strategy: Arrive early, introduce yourself to strangers, and focus on building 3-5 genuine connections rather than collecting 50 business cards.

Day 2: Thursday, January 22 (Strategy & Innovation Day)

Morning Block (8:30 AM – 10:05 AM)

8:30 AM: Welcome (Joe Marion, Amy Bailey)
8:40 AM: State of the Industry (Clark Peterson)
9:00 AM: From Fog to Focus (Mike Tessler)
9:35 AM: Building the AI-Powered Provider (Brian Kornmann)
10:05 AM: Zoom Diamond Sponsor Spotlight

What this block delivers: Strategic context for the entire event. These sessions set the baseline for market conditions, AI strategy, and long-term planning.

Mid-Morning Block (10:45 AM – 12:00 PM)

10:45 AM: World Communications News Today (Doug Green, Rob Scott, Carolyn April)
11:15 AM: Data is the New Oil, AI is the Energy (Kevin Nethercott, Mark Vange, Dag Peak, Chip Pickering)

What this block delivers: Media and analyst perspectives on industry trends, plus a deep dive into the foundational role of data in AI strategies.

Afternoon Block 1 (1:00 PM – 1:40 PM) Two concurrent tracks:

Track A: Beyond the Call: Rethinking UX in Cloud Collaboration (Nicholas Clapper, Sanjay Srinivasan, Sachin Vengurlekar, Joshua Lesavoy, Jason Shawgo)
Track B: SaaS Down, AaaS Up (Jake Leidy)

Strategy: Choose Track B if you’re focused on business model disruption; choose Track A if you’re focused on product differentiation.

Afternoon Block 2 (1:50 PM – 2:30 PM) Two concurrent tracks:

Track A: vCon Changes Everything (Jeff Pulver, Kevin Nethercott, Dag Peak)
Track B: The Next Frontier of Voice & Messaging: AI, Accountability, and Monetizing Compliance (Tom Sheahan, Michael Tindall, Bill Placke, Jeff Potter)

Strategy: Choose Track A if you’re building platform strategy; choose Track B if you’re focused on revenue optimization and compliance.

Afternoon Block 3 (3:00 PM – 3:40 PM) Two concurrent tracks:

Track A: Monetizing the Stack: Voice-Enabled Teams, Zoom & Webex with CallTower (William Rubio)
Track B: AI Gets Real: How GenAI and RAG Are Reshaping Cloud Communications (Gerry Christensen, Mark Lindsey, Jeffrey Korn, Yusuf Mirza)

Strategy: Choose Track A for tactical revenue strategies; choose Track B for technical AI implementation.

Closing Block (4:00 PM – 5:00 PM)

3:50 PM: CallCorp Diamond Sponsor Spotlight
4:00 PM: Deals, Disruption & the Next Wave: M&A in Cloud Communications (Ari Rabban)
4:20 PM: State of the Cloud: Analyst Perspectives (Irwin Lazar, Joshua Reilly, Matt Townend, Catharine Trebnick, Clark Peterson)

What this block delivers: Hard market data, valuation perspectives, and M&A insights.

Evening: Neon Glow at Throw Social (6:00 PM – 10:00 PM)

Goal: The main networking event after formal sessions close.
Strategy: Schedule 1:1 meetings with key contacts during this event.

Day 3: Friday, January 23 (Execution & Channel Day)

Morning Block (8:30 AM – 10:10 AM)

8:30 AM: Welcome to Day 3 (Amy Bailey, Clark Peterson)
8:40 AM: T-Mobile Keynote (Paul Spencer)
9:10 AM: Economics of Partnering (Janet Schijns)
9:25 AM: What Agents Really Want (Janet Schijns, Roger Blohm, Lou DiMuzio, Anita Patel, Chris Dennis)

What this block delivers: The definitive word on channel transformation. If you work with or through channels, this is your priority block.

Late Morning Block (10:20 AM – 11:55 AM)

10:20 AM: Partner Enablement That Actually Enables (Katie Merrill, Amy Bailey, Stephanie Benzik, Randall Meeks)
10:50 AM: 2nd Annual Solutions Showcase

What this block delivers: Practical tools and frameworks for partner success.

Closing (12:00 PM – 12:05 PM)

Joe Marion, Clark Peterson, Amy Bailey wrap the event.

Strategy: Friday’s lighter schedule creates opportunities for 1:1 meetings. Book breakfast and lunch meetings with key contacts.

Attendance Tips for Maximum ROI

Before the Event

Schedule meetings in advance: Email priority contacts 2-3 weeks before the event to schedule specific meeting times. Don’t rely on “finding each other” at the event.
Research speakers and exhibitors: Review LinkedIn profiles, recent company announcements, and strategic positioning to prepare intelligent questions.
Define your objectives: Are you looking for partnerships, customers, acquisition targets, competitive intelligence, or strategic insights? Clear objectives drive better outcomes.

During the Event

Arrive at popular sessions 10-15 minutes early: Analyst panels, keynotes, and channel sessions can fill quickly.
Take strategic notes: Focus on capturing actionable insights, not transcribing presentations. Note specific follow-up items and contact information.
Use concurrent sessions strategically: When two sessions run simultaneously, choose based on your role and objectives. You can’t attend everything—prioritize ruthlessly.
Be present: Put your phone away during conversations. Genuine engagement builds relationships; distracted networking wastes everyone’s time.

After the Event

Follow up within 48 hours: Send personalized follow-up emails to key contacts immediately after the event while conversations remain fresh. Include specific discussion points to stand out from generic follow-ups.
Share insights with your team: Debrief with colleagues who didn’t attend, sharing strategic insights, competitive intelligence, and partnership opportunities.
Execute on commitments: If you promised to send information, make introductions, or schedule follow-up calls, do it immediately. Your follow-through defines your reputation.
Track ROI: Document partnerships formed, deals initiated, competitive insights gained, and strategic pivots informed by the event to justify future attendance.