45Drives, a leader in open-source data storage and compute, has unveiled the complete agenda for its fourth annual Creator Summit, scheduled for October 20-22 in Wilmington, North Carolina. The event will bring together independent technology creators, enterprise infrastructure leaders, open-source experts, AI researchers, academics, media figures, and film and VFX professionals to explore the trajectory of artificial intelligence, data ownership, and modern computing infrastructure.
The 2026 summit is structured around two dedicated tracks: Enterprise and Creative. The Enterprise track will focus on private and on-premises AI, high-performance data systems, data sovereignty, cybersecurity, and the challenges organizations face as AI workloads scale. The Creative track will examine how AI is transforming production, editing, design, storytelling, and other creative workflows. This dual focus underscores the growing intersection between enterprise IT and creative industries, both of which increasingly rely on robust, open-source infrastructure.
The speaker lineup features prominent figures such as Tom Lawrence of Lawrence Systems, Wendell Wilson of Level1Techs, and Jeff Geerling on the creator side; Ed Rawlings of Unraid; Brett Kelly, Technical Director at 45Drives and a Ceph Foundation board member; Bob Henderson of Cass County; Ryan Walker of JR Automation; Dane Adams of Arista Networks; Allan Jude of Klara; Nicholas Wiczynski of NGW Post; Severine Erickson and Fenner Rockliffe of Niche VFX; Tyler Zibaie of Lighthouse Films; and Christos Makridis of Arizona State University. A remote session from Musora Media is also planned. Additionally, Harvard educator and United Nations Senior Expert Alexander Puutio and PhillComm Global Founder and CEO Jon Lindsay Phillips will join for a cross-disciplinary discussion on enterprise AI adoption, measurement, and communication.
“This is the strongest program we’ve assembled because it reflects how technology is actually moving,” said Dr. Doug Milburn, President of 45Drives. “Enterprise teams are bringing AI closer to their data, creators are building more of their workflows on infrastructure they control, and open-source communities are influencing both. Creator Summit puts those groups in the same room to work through the same questions and gives people something they can take back and use.”
The event kicks off on Tuesday, October 20, at The Skyline Center with an introduction to both tracks, followed by parallel sessions led by Brett Kelly and Ed Rawlings. Afternoon sessions include Tom Lawrence, a remote Musora Media presentation, Wendell Wilson, and Jeff Geerling. An invite-only Unraid event at Jengo’s Playhouse will feature a livestream, food and drink, and demonstrations of the 45HomeLab x Unraid Signature Series. Wednesday’s programming includes Bob Henderson and Nicholas Wiczynski, followed by Allan Jude and Severine Erickson. The afternoon features Ryan Walker, Dane Adams, Tyler Zibaie, and Christos Makridis, who will connect AI research with creative production and education. The tracks converge for a live 45Flow Stunt. Thursday, at Union Station Auditorium, begins with the AI High Speed Stunt and continues with Enterprise AI Pulse, a cross-disciplinary session with Makridis, Puutio, and Phillips examining private and on-prem AI, data sovereignty, open source, workforce impact, and the evolving relationship between traditional tech media and independent creators. A panelist livestream and closing remarks precede the official afterparty.
Sponsors and partners include Seagate, Unraid, Michael Best, and Cintas, with Seagate maintaining a presence throughout. The event will also spotlight customers and ecosystem partners such as Cass County and JR Automation, alongside creators whose audiences have become increasingly influential in enterprise technology.
Now in its fourth year, Creator Summit serves as a vital meeting point for communities that increasingly shape one another: enterprise IT teams deploying AI, open-source engineers building infrastructure, creators and filmmakers pushing digital workflows, academics studying implications, and technology media interpreting changes. The summit can be attended in person or virtually, with key talks livestreamed. In-person seating is limited, and registration is available on the 45Drives Creator Summit page. For more information, visit 45Drives or view the original release on www.newmediawire.com.
