In the end, NGN Day was all about connection—on every level. From catching up over pizza to deepening understanding of the project, it was a day full of energy, laughter, learning, and yes, lots of networking (in every sense). The team’s already looking forward to next year’s NGN Day—which, if all goes as planned, is expected to be the grand finale!
The NGN Team Reunited for the 4th Annual NGN Day!
April showers bring May flowers, or that’s what they say, at least. On a Monday in early April, 25 Science Park bloomed with the presence of more than 40 NGN team members who gathered from near and far to participate in the 4th Annual NGN Day at Yale. The day is one of learning and celebration that many look forward to; it represents a rare chance for a team that spans many states to convene in person, swap stories, and highlight wins from the past year.
NGN Program Director Shawn Clark and Assistant Vice President of IT & CISO Jeremy Rosenberg kicked off the day with a program review, giving kudos to the team for its remarkable progress and dedication, and offering words of encouragement as NGN enters its final stretch. “I look forward to NGN Day every year,” quipped Shawn Clark. “The team works so hard throughout the year, so to get everyone together in person to celebrate the success of the project is so important.”
VP for Technology & Campus Services John Barden then took the floor to deliver his own message of motivation and congratulations, taking questions from the team and encouraging meaningful dialogue between departments at Yale.
One of the day’s highlights was a conversation with a recently migrated stakeholder. After receiving many glowing reviews from across campus, the team had the chance to hear firsthand what the NGN experience is like on the user side. It seems that fast, secure, reliable connections - and a trusted migration process that puts stakeholders first –have a way of winning people over.
And because no New Haven visit is complete without pizza, the group sampled slices from three local spots. For those not from the area, it was a delicious introduction to a beloved local tradition. Between bites of pizza and salad, conversations buzzed—about the rapid pace of recent migrations, what’s on deck for the final year, and of course, non-work chit chat about travel, hobbies, and Netflix recommendations.
Although rain put a bit of damper on the Great Campus Scavenger Hunt (next year, weather permitting!), on-site team members treated a trio of remote colleagues to a behind-the-scenes look at what really goes into a building migration—cables, network closets, timelines, and all. For those who usually work from a distance, seeing the nitty-gritty up close helped “connect the dots” and gave them more context to support buildings preparing for transition.
