(WA)NUG - FALL EVENT 2026
September 24th, 2026
5 - 8PM
Fremont Brewing
1050 N 34th St
Seattle, WA 98103
*SPONSORS*
*AGENDA*
5:00pm - 5:30pm
Check In / Open Mingle
5:30pm - 6:15pm
Keynote Presentation
"Lessons from verifying the
Microsoft Azure network for a decade"
by Karthick Jayaraman
6:15pm - 6:30pm
Break
6:30pm - 7:15pm
Panel Discussion
Emerging Networking Ideas & Trends
7:15pm - 8:00pm
Open Mingle
** We're rolling out a brand-new QR code check-in system!**
Once you register, save your confirmation email for check-in at the event.
RSVP Today!
Participants
Event Host:
Eric Chou
Group Leader
Eric Chou is a seasoned technologist with over 20 years of experience. Eric is the host of ‘Network Automation Nerds Podcast’ by Packet Pushers and is passionate about network automation, Python, DevOps, and helping companies build better security postures. Eric is the author of the top-selling 'Mastering Python Networking', other books and creator of highly-rated online classes on LinkedIn Learning
Keynote Speaker:
Karthick Jayaraman
Microsoft
Karthick Jayaraman is a Principal Development Manager at Microsoft, where he leads the Azure Network Verification team. In this role, he oversees the development of services and tools that help ensure the reliability, availability, and safety of Azure’s global network. Dr. Jayaraman has extensive experience designing, developing, and deploying formal verification systems for cloud networks, including security policy compliance, control plane verification, and data plane verification. His work focuses on preventing regressions from network changes while enabling the rapid evolution of large-scale cloud infrastructure. His research has been published in leading peer-reviewed venues, including ACM CCS, SIGCOMM, and NSDI, and in journals such as ACM Transactions on Information and System Security (TISSEC). Prior to joining Microsoft, Dr. Jayaraman earned a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from Syracuse University.
Panelist:
Taylor Dawson
Network to Code
I’m Taylor Dawson, a network automation specialist who loves tackling complex technical puzzles and bringing the right people together. I help organizations streamline their network workflows, bridge the gap between cloud and on-prem architectures, and make automation work in the real world. Outside of work, I’m always up for traveling and connecting with fellow network engineers.
Panelist:
Mike Lossmann
Forward
Mike is an experienced IT professional with more than 15 years of expertise in Wide Area Networking and SD-WAN. Mike has seen it all in the industry, from working for a “big four” consulting company as a technology consulting manager, an SD-WAN Solutions Architect, and a Network Architect for several Fortune 150 companies. Currently, he holds the position of Technical Product Marketing Manager at Forward Networks.
Panelist:
Brent Landon
Cato Networks
Brent Landon is a Sales Engineer at Cato Networks, where he helps mid-market, SLED, and enterprise organizations across the Pacific Northwest adopt converged SASE, SSE, SD-WAN, and AI security solutions. His 15+ year career spans network security engineering, technical support leadership, consulting, and public sector IT, including director-level roles at FireMon and team leadership WatchGuard Technologies. His hands-on experience covers firewall architecture, VPN and SD-WAN deployments, multi-cloud security, and compliance frameworks. He holds an AAS in Networking & Cybersecurity from Tacoma Community College.
Panelist:
Lexie Cooper
Lexie Cooper is a Network Integration Engineer working in aerospace, specializing in launch vehicle networking, hardware integration, network testing, and physical layer troubleshooting. Outside of her day job, she creates networking content as tracketpacer, combining technical education with humor, hands-on experiments, and an unreasonable enthusiasm for Ethernet. She’s passionate about making networking approachable and encouraging curiosity in technical careers.