2025 Conference hosted by Auburn University

Stronger Together: Building Smarter, Safer Campuses Through Collaboration

The 2025 conference will be held at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, June 1-4, 2025. Auburn looks forward to hosting the HELUG Conference for the first time as we learn from industry experts and our peers. After all, at HELUG, we believe we are all stronger together. Come join us for some collaboration as we look to build smarter, safer campuses using OnGuard from LenelS2 and tools from other partners.

 

If you plan to join us (and we sure hope you do), go ahead and register below.

Register Here »

Presentation Request »


Travel Information

Most people traveling to Auburn fly into Atlanta, however Birmingham or Montgomery are other options.

There are shuttles to take you from the Atlanta airport to Auburn on a regular basis. For more information on this and to book your shuttle, check out Groome Transportation here.


Hotel Information

  • The Collegiate Hotel
    • HELUG Conference Rate of $179.67 / night (tax included)
    • A Historic 40 Room Boutique Hotel
    • Free Parking
    • Short walk to conference on campus
    The Collegiate is a historic hotel that began its life as a Wittel Hall, a women’s dorm built in 1940 to serve the burgeoning number of women enrolling at Auburn University. Step back in time in our historic lobby and unwind on our wrap-around porch featuring a magnificent mural while sipping on a craft cocktail from The Bar at Wittel. Browse our locally sourced artwork then head up to the Rooftop Bar for eagle-eye views of Auburn’s iconic skyline before retiring to your comfy and stylish room.

    Book Collegiate Hotel »

  • The Hotel at Auburn University
    • HELUG Conference Rate - $190.97 / night (tax included)
    • Auburn's AAA Four Diamond Hotel
    • $25/night valet or $20/night self parking
    • Short walk to conference on campus
    Upon arrival you are met with a majestic Japanese Maple in our circle (Coach Pat Dye's favorite), a bronze War Eagle in our lobby (rub the nose for good luck), and the Auburn Creed on our elevator doors (get pumped up while you wait to go up). Once you arrive inside your guest room, a vintage map of Auburn adorns your wall based upon the decade your floor number represents. Join us for dinner in Ariccia Cucina Italiana, named after the picturesque town of Ariccia located just 17 miles southeast of Rome and the home of the Joseph S. Bruno Auburn Abroad in Italy program.

    Book The Hotel at Auburn University »

  • Graduate by Hilton
    • HELUG Conference Rate - $213.57 / night (tax included)
    • Auburn's Newest Downtown Hotel by Hilton
    • $25/night valet parking
    • Short walk to conference on campus
    An undeniably local stay, Graduate by Hilton Auburn, AL combines hometown history and Tiger traditions with creative interiors and college nostalgia. Located downtown, steps from Auburn University, we’re your perfect base for exploring. Enjoy inspired guest rooms, our War Eagle Supper club rooftop bar, Bo Jackson’s Beans in the lobby, and signature Graduate touches throughout.

    Book Graduate by Hilton »


Parking Information

If you plan to drive to HELUG, you can park on the top floor of a parking deck near the conference center at no charge. These spots are limited and additional parking is available a little further away. Parking for the Welcome Reception and Banquet Dinner is available at a lot at no charge and plenty of spots should be available.

If you have mobility issues and need a spot close to the building, please contact Rob Stanford to make arrangements.


Conference Agenda (Tentative)

(all times are Central Daylight Time)

Sunday, June 1, 2025

6:00pm - 9:00pm
Welcome Reception
Horton-Hardgrave Hall


Monday, June 2, 2025

All of Monday's events will be held in the Academic Classroom & Laboratory Complex (ACLC).

 
Location: Academic Classroom & Laboratory Complex (ACLC)
Address: 347 Duncan Drive, Auburn, AL 36849

8:00am - 9:00am
Breakfast

9:00am - 9:15am
Welcome & Opening Remarks

9:15am - 10:00am
Shaping Tomorrow: Key Themes at LenelS2
Ewa Pigna, Chief Technology Officer at LenelS2

10:00am - 10:30am
Modernizing and Making Campuses Safer Through Innovation and Partnership
Paul Russell, Director of North American OEM Accounts at HID Global
Troy Johnson, Director of Strategic Alliances for Americas at HID Global

10:30am - 11:00am
Break / Spend Time with Sponsors

11:00am - 11:45am
Securing Campus A Year Later: The New Normal
HELUG Members

11:45am - 12:15pm
Together We Manage Access, Together We Build Trust
Brian Davidson, Southeast Regional Sales Manager, Traka ASSA ABLOY

12:15pm - 12:30pm
Special Presentation
TBA

12:30pm - 2:00pm
Lunch & Birds of a Feather

2:00pm - 2:30pm
Reports in Action: Demonstration insights within LenelS2
Jeff Wetzel, Field Sales Engineer at LenelS2

2:30pm - 3:00pm
The Power of Visualization: Turning OnGuard Data into a Specialized Tool
Justin Smith, Access & Security Specialist at UC Davis

3:00pm - 3:30pm
Transact + CBORD Presentation
Matthew Butts, Senior Director of Global Security Sales at Transact + CBORD

3:30pm - 3:50pm
Break / Spend Time with Sponsors

3:50pm - 4:30pm
Breakout Session 1

Option A
Reporting "How To" and Resolution Workshop
Megan Savoie, Access Control System Specialist at University of Nebraska Medical Center

Option B
All About Hardware: Securing Your Campus With More Than Readers
HELUG Members

4:35pm - 5:15pm
Breakout Session 2

Option A
Sharing SQL Secrets: A True Collaborative Effort
HELUG Members

Option B
How Your OneCard Solution Impacts OnGuard
Matthew Butts, Senior Director of Global Security Sales at Transact + CBORD

5:15 - 6:15pm
Bonus Tour: Woltosz Football Performance Center

Evening
Dinner on your own


Tuesday, June 3, 2025

All of Tuesday's events will be held in the Academic Classroom & Laboratory Complex (ACLC).

 
Location: Academic Classroom & Laboratory Complex (ACLC)
Address: 347 Duncan Drive, Auburn, AL 36849

8:00am - 9:00am
Breakfast

9:00pm - 9:45pm
Auburn Keynote
Jim Carroll, Vice President of Facilities Managmenet at Auburn University

9:45am - 10:30am
OnGuard 8.4: What’s New & What’s Next
Brian Tripp, OnGuard Product Manager at LenelS2

10:30am - 12:00pm
Auburn University Athletics Tour

12:00pm - 1:30pm
Lunch & Birds of a Feather

1:30pm - 2:15pm
Smart Security: AI & Innovation at LenelS2
Steve Russo, Vice President of Products at LenelS2

2:15pm - 2:45pm
Securing Your Campus Through Integrations with Detrios
Amanda Imperial, Integrations Team Lead at Detrios

2:45pm - 3:15pm
Gold Sponsor Presentation
Princeton Identity

3:15pm - 3:35pm
Break / Spend Time with Sponsors

3:35pm - 4:15pm
Breakout Session 3

Option A
Insecure: Group Therapy Session for Campuses With Older Hardware
HELUG Members

Option B
Beyond the Lens: Building Safer Campuses with AI and Camera Intelligence
HELUG Members

4:20pm - 5:00pm
Breakout Session 4

Option A
Upgrading Together: Sharing OnGuard Upgrade Challenges and Solutions
HELUG Members

Option B
From Dorms to Doors: Tackling Housing and Access Control Together
HELUG Members

Evening
Dinner on your own


Wednesday, June 4, 2025

All of Wednesday's events will be held in the Academic Classroom & Laboratory Complex (ACLC) with the exception of dinner which will be held at Neville Arena.

 
Location: Academic Classroom & Laboratory Complex (ACLC)
Address: 347 Duncan Drive, Auburn, AL 36849

8:00am - 9:00am
Breakfast

9:00am - 10:00am
Ask LenelS2 Anything!
LenelS2 Panel

10:00am - 10:30am
Latest Technologies, Trends and The Impacts to Campuses
Patrick Bailey, Higher Education Business Development Manager at Allegion

10:30am - 12:00pm
Auburn University Campus Tour

12:00pm - 1:30pm
Lunch & Birds of a Feather

1:30pm - 2:30pm
Securing Access, Shaping Policy: A Collaborative Conversation
HELUG Members

2:30pm - 3:00pm
Drone Threats and Their Impact on Collegiate Activities
Michael Kelley, Director of Security Technologies at University of Alabama

3:00pm - 3:20pm
Break / Spend Time with Sponsors

3:20pm - 4:05pm
Smart ID Matching with OnGuard & Open Source AI
Chris Dowden, Senior Director of Identity & Access Management at Columbia University
Stephen Cramer, Senior Business Process Analyst at Columbia University

4:05pm - 4:35pm
Unlocking Potential: Turning Your VAR into a Strategic Security Partner
Doug Coppola, Senior Director of Sales at LenelS2

4:35pm - 5:00pm
Closing Remarks

6:00pm - 9:00pm
Banquet Dinner
Neville Arena


Conference Sponsors

Thanks to the support of our sponsors, we are able to provide a quality conference at no cost to attendees. Be sure to thank these sponsors for their loyalty to HELUG.

 

Our Platinum Sponsor:

 

Our Gold Sponsors:

Our Silver Sponsors: