Appalachia Advance 2026
September 16th, 2026
Hershey Lodge, Hershey, PA

What is Appalachia Advance?
Appalachia Technologies is excited to present Appalachia Advance 2026, a full-day CyberTech Conference focused on Governance, Risk, Compliance (GRC), AI Security, and Cybersecurity.
Our 5th annual in-person event brings together nationally-recognized experts and Appalachia's highly-certified staff to deliver cutting-edge insights on the most pressing challenges facing organizations today.
This year's program features:
- Keynote address from a leading cybersecurity authority
- General sessions covering strategic GRC, AI governance, and cybersecurity topics for all attendees
- Technical breakout sessions for IT practitioners, security professionals, and technical leaders
- Leadership/Executive breakout sessions for business owners, C-suite executives, and compliance leaders
- Interactive workshops and real-world case studies
- Networking opportunities throughout the day
The event runs from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, PA, and includes breakfast, lunch, and a networking happy hour.
Full agenda coming soon!
Who Should Attend?
Executives & Business Leaders: C-suite, business owners, board members, and department heads seeking strategic guidance on cyber risk, AI governance, and building resilient security programs.
Compliance & GRC Professionals: Compliance officers, risk managers, auditors, and GRC leaders navigating frameworks like CMMC, SOC 2, and state regulations.
IT & Security Professionals: CISOs, IT directors, security architects, and technical practitioners implementing modern security controls and defenses.
Multi-Disciplinary Teams: Cross-functional leaders from Finance, HR, Legal, and Operations who play a critical role in cybersecurity and GRC programs.
Why Attend Appalachia Advance 2026?
✅ Stay Ahead of Emerging Threats – Understand the evolving threat landscape and learn practical strategies to protect your organization.
✅ Master GRC Essentials – Discover what Governance, Risk, and Compliance really mean and how to build programs that work for organizations of all sizes.
✅ Navigate AI Securely – Learn how to govern AI adoption, measure its business value, and implement it securely across your organization.
✅ Simplify Compliance – Get practical guidance on meeting regulatory requirements and managing multiple frameworks efficiently.
✅ Build Cross-Functional Security – Understand how every department plays a role in cybersecurity and how to get leadership buy-in for security initiatives.
✅ Network with Peers – Connect with fellow business leaders, security professionals, and industry experts facing similar challenges.
✅ Learn from the Best – Gain insights from nationally-recognized speakers, Appalachia's experienced team, and partners who bring deep expertise in compliance and risk management.
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What People Are Saying About Appalachia Advance
I've been to events all around the United States...this was by far the best.
Typically, when I attend these types of events it's filled with product placement and sales pitches. I didn't encounter any of that.
All of the talks fit the vendor agnostic business model and were full of great information.
I can honestly say that your company's event stood out to me as one of the best cyber events.
I learned a lot and the engagement with staff and other colleagues was very valuable.
So many of them were so very good. I will say that what made the most difference and had the most effect on me were those that spoke with a no-nonsense, to-the-point, straight-talk without worrying about being formal or super-sensitive. It was just a REAL, relaxed and informative talk. Those were the best.
I liked the 2-3 PM Panel presentation "Audit-Ready All the Time: How to Simplify GRC" - this was very well done, informative, and relevant to orgs working towards compliance with any framework. It had varying perspectives from the panel speakers and insights that are helpful to us living it day-to-day.
The realistic AI related content was useful. The moderate presentation was useful.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

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