Penguicon 2017: Full Schedule

The schedule is now finalized! Clicking "attend" does not guarantee a spot in events with limited attendance. Sign-up sheets are only available at Operations during the event, not online. Note that you can view the schedule in different formats by clicking on the word "schedule" directly underneath this message. We can’t wait to see you at Penguicon 2017!

16:00 EDT

Recharge in the Reset Room

Need a break from the hustle and bustle of Penguicon? The Reset Room is a quiet space available all weekend for anyone to use to relax and recharge. Come chill for a while!

Friday April 28, 2017 16:00 - Sunday April 30, 2017 15:50 EDT
Reset Room [Room 321]

Penguicon

17:00 EDT

So this is Your First Penguicon?

So, this is your first Penguicon! Come find out what to expect and meet some people who are involved in the making of this awesome convention that so many of us call home.

Speakers

Nuri Gocay

Guest of Honor, Penguicon 2022

Nuri Gocay (he/him) installed his first copy of Slackware Linux on his family Packard Bell, 75mhz, and has been tying up phone lines ever since. A Pengui-peep since 2009, when his best friend James Gamble said - “hey look at this, it’s really cool”, Nuri dove head in. First... Read More →

Cassy Sinke

I'm the Conchair for 2018. I love Penguicon. I like Anime and Programming. I also tend to wear panda hats, so look out for that :P

Friday April 28, 2017 17:00 - 17:50 EDT
Algonquin D

Penguicon

18:00 EDT

Opening Ceremonies

Join our Con Chair, Cylithria Dubois, the Con Committee, and our Guests of Honor as we open Penguicon for its 15th year!

Speakers

Allison Anderson

Registration

Ben Churchill

Guest of Honor

Ben Churchill is the producer and director of The Tommy Edison Experience and Blind Film Critic series and a documentary filmmaker focusing on pop culture and unique lifestyles.

Cory Doctorow

Guest of Honor

Cory Doctorow is a science fiction author, activist and journalist — the co-editor of Boing Boing (boingboing.net) and the author of many books, most recently WALKAWAY, a novel for adults, IN REAL LIFE, a graphic novel; INFORMATION DOESN’T WANT TO BE FREE, a book about earning... Read More →

Lithie Dubois

Program Ops

Just me; no more, no less.Penguicon 2024 Program Ops and Hotel Liaison

Daniel Dugan

Bioinformatician, Genomenon

I got into Penguicon in 2015 through e-nable. I work for a startup. I do weird things in and around Michigan. I have an awesome daughter. I make stuff.

Dan Eckerd

Penguicon 2012

Hungry? Thirsty? Brand new to Penguicon? In need of a respite? Then why are you standing around reading this blurb instead of heading directly to the Penguicon ConSuite located on the Fourth Floor -North Suites; Rooms 401 & 402 of the Hyatt Hotel? Seriously, you’re not here yet... Read More →

Tommy Edison

Guest of Honor

Tommy Edison, who has been blind since birth, is the Blind Film Critic reviewing movies from his point of view, the host of The Tommy Edison Experience on YouTube and Amazon where he uses humor to answer the most popular questions about living without sight, and worked in radio for... Read More →

Nuri Gocay

Guest of Honor, Penguicon 2022

Janet Gocay

Chelle Green

ConChair 2024

Sumana Harihareswara

Guest of Honor

Sumana is a programmer, technology executive and open source expert who practices and teaches technical and people skills. She is also a comedian, author, and holds a master's in technology from Columbia University

Peter Jansen

Hack of Honor

Peter Jansen, PhD is the developer of The Tricorder Project, which aims to develop handheld devices that can sense a diverse array of phenomena that we can’t normally see, and intuitively visualize them so we might see temperature or magnetism or pressure as naturally as we see... Read More →

Geralyn Lance

Maker Market Lead

ConCom, Penguicon

The Penguicon Maker Market Lead is a staff position appointed by the ConChair.Our Maker Market Leads acts as a one-stop-shop for our Maker Market Artists relationship. They arrange for our Makers Profiles on Sched during Virtual Penguicon, and make sure they have a great Virtual Penguicon... Read More →

Kevin MacLeod

Guest of Honor

Kevin MacLeod is an international award-eligible composer and copyright activist, known for his Creative Commons licensed royalty-free music available on incompetech.com. He is an avid Twitch Streamer, showcasing his music production skills and scintillating* personality. Kevin's... Read More →

Jeff Marraccini

Registration Staff, Confusion

I am looking forward to welcoming our community and you to our convention! People have trouble with my last name so you may see me around with creative misspellings :-) Thank you to Allison, Amanda, James, our Registration Team, and the Con Com for all their help as well!My Fediverse... Read More →

Hannah Eberle and Odie

ada palmer

Guest of Honor

Historian. Author. Composer. Teacher. Blogger. Ada Palmer does considerable research on everything media, from historical texts to anime and manga. She writes both science fiction and fantasy novels, and composes music in the same genres. Ada teaches in the History Department of... Read More →

Amanda Robinson

Cassy Sinke

I'm the Conchair for 2018. I love Penguicon. I like Anime and Programming. I also tend to wear panda hats, so look out for that :P

Treasurer

ConCom, Penguicon

The Treasurer is appointed by the ConChair.Our Treasurer works with every department to help maintain and track our annual budget, as well as handling expenses and refunds.The 2021 Treasurer is: Amanda Long-Adams - She/HerTo contactthe Treasurer email: treasurer@penguicon.org

Volunteers

ConCom, Penguicon

The Head of Volunteers is appointed by the ConChair.The Head of Volunteers gathers and manages on-site volunteers, working with the rest of the staff to find areas which need more helping hands and then placing willing volunteers into those roles in order to keep the convention running... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2017 18:00 - 18:50 EDT
Algonquin B

Penguicon

10:00 EDT

Author Meet and Read, Vol. 1

Come meet your favorite authors all in one place! Authors will be doing book signings, as well as having short reading sessions. Bring your own book to get signed, or pick one up right here!

Speakers

Clarence

Attendee, Obsidian Sky Books

Clif Flynt

President, Noumena Corp

I'm a techie nerd. Unix/Linux user since the early '80s and programmer since the early '70s. I also write filks, humorous fiction (Well, I think it's humorous), and play guitar. My renewed interest in writing fiction led me to studying how to write well which led to Editomat (www.editomat.com... Read More →

Mary Lynne Gibbs

I'm an author of (mostly) fantasy for YA - Adult audiences. I love crafts, my violin, & my pets (dogs, chickens, & bearded dragons). I have an obsession with Supernatural, Once Upon a Time, and The Flash. I'm a pretty darn good cake decorator, too!

Jen Haeger

Still a pupal writer, but hoping to butterfly soon. [Author the Moonlight Medicine trilogy, WHISPs series, Miles from Manistique, and The Christmas Plague], master beekeeper, board game enthusiast, ex-veterinarian with a Masters in Forensic Science.

Christian Klaver

This author of Science Fiction and Fantasy lives in the suburbs just outside the sprawling decay of Detroit, Michigan. There he resides with his wife (Kimberly) his daughter (Kathryn) and a group of animals he refers to as 'The Menagerie'. He has been selling short stories since... Read More →

Jim Leach

I write darkly speculative stories, poetry and drama, most recently "Til Death: Marriage Poems" (Raw Dog Screaming Press: 2017) which I co-authored with my Dearly Beloved Janice Leach. I also am Chief Fear-Monger at the website and Youtube channel DailyNightmare.com. I love making... Read More →

Michael W. Lucas

Author

I pay the mortgage writing novels and nonfiction books. Best known for BSD tech books, the Immortal Clay series, and (heaven help me) satirical Linux erotica. Talk to me about BSD operating systems, pet rats, martial arts, writing and publishing, and gelato.Latest tech books: SSH... Read More →

David Erik Nelson

Award-winning science-fiction author and essayist. His stories and novellas regularly appear in ASIMOV’S, THE MAGAZINE OF FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION, anthos like BEST HORROR OF THE YEAR, and elsewhere. Author of DIY books like SNIP, BURN, SOLDER, SHRED: SERIOUSLY GEEKY STUFF TO MAKE... Read More →

John Scalzi

Author,

I enjoy pie.

Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 11:50 EDT
Algonquin B

Literature Penguicon

Duration 1 hour, 50 minutes

11:00 EDT

Retro Gaming!

Join us for Retro Gaming! Including systems from Atari to Gamecube and (almost) everything in between, join us and relive your childhood!

Speakers

Les Orchard

Staff Engineer, Mozilla

{web,mad,computer} scientist; {tech,scifi} writer; home{brew,roast}er; mozillian

Angie Rush

Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 15:00 EDT
Lobby

Penguicon

Duration 4 hours

13:00 EDT

Penguicon Board of Directors Meeting

You've done the convention, you've met the staff, and you've even socialized with the ConCom. But what about those *other* Penguicon people? Those shadowy figures that create the multi-year rules, have their fingers on the money, and cause a ConChair to mysteriously appear every year in a puff of penguin-scented smoke? Ever wonder what the Penguicon Board of Directors does in their secret sanctum, and where they are taking Penguicon? Come to the Board of Directors meeting and see!

Speakers

Matt Arnold

Over the past 20 years, Matt has served in almost every position and every level of leadership in Penguicon. He has served as a Board Director and Officer at i3Detroit hacker space, currently as President. Professionally, Matt designs and publishes board games, develops websites... Read More →

Randal Bradakis

President, Penguicon Board of Directors

Steve Gutterman

James Hice

Vice President, Penguicon Board of Directors

Gini Judd

Jer Lance

Board of Directors, Penguicon

I've served Penguicon as a staffer, member of the concom, and/or board of directors for more than a decade. In real life, I'm a software engineer, leader, and coach. I'm the lesser half of the Leading Questions Podcast duo (http://questionscast.com).@jer_ on Twitter and Wandering.shop... Read More →

Cassy Sinke

I'm the Conchair for 2018. I love Penguicon. I like Anime and Programming. I also tend to wear panda hats, so look out for that :P

Treasurer

ConCom, Penguicon

Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 13:50 EDT
Hamlin

Penguicon

16:00 EDT

Cosplay Contest Muster & Judging

Did you bring your cosplay A-game this weekend? Come join us to sign-up and be judged before the Cosplay Contest at 5:00!

Speakers

Lithie Dubois

Program Ops

Just me; no more, no less.Penguicon 2024 Program Ops and Hotel Liaison

Karmada

A manga-styled artist who has been drawing illustrations and artwork for over 25 years!

ada palmer

Guest of Honor

Volunteers

Alex Page

Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 16:50 EDT
Algonquin B

Cosplay Penguicon

17:00 EDT

Cosplay Contest

Come check out the awesome cosplays in our annual Cosplay Contest! Cheer for your favorites and enjoy the show!

Speakers

Lithie Dubois

Program Ops

Just me; no more, no less.Penguicon 2024 Program Ops and Hotel Liaison

Karmada

A manga-styled artist who has been drawing illustrations and artwork for over 25 years!

ada palmer

Guest of Honor

Volunteers

Alex Page

Saturday April 29, 2017 17:00 - 17:50 EDT
Algonquin B

Cosplay Penguicon

17:00 EDT

Tom Smith Concert

The Nifty Guest In Perpetuity, Tom Smith, is back with the usual assortment of catchy tunes and lousy puns. Come hear the next iteration of the March of the Penguicon.

Speakers

Tom Smith

Music

Saturday April 29, 2017 17:00 - 17:50 EDT
Portage Auditorium

Media Penguicon

20:00 EDT

Geek Prom

I would like to invite everyone to this year's Geek Prom as we celebrate Penguicon's 15th Anniversary. Join in the fun as we dance the night away with DJ Grotesque.

Speakers

DJ Grotesque

Mayhem Track

Track Head, Penguicon Programming

The Mayhem Track is a programming track within the depth and breath of the complete Penguicon Programming. It is overseen by a track head, appointed to their position by the Head of Programming.The Mayhem Track Head is Bex Timmons - they/them mayhem@penguicon.org

Saturday April 29, 2017 20:00 - Sunday April 30, 2017 01:50 EDT
Algonquin A

Penguicon

Duration 5 hours, 50 minutes

09:00 EDT

Running Conventions is a Full-Time Job

Current and past convention runners discuss what it's like to be on the organizational side of conventions and how to get involved in it.

Speakers

anna Carey

Head of Operations

You may have met her many moons ago as an energetic teen who was brought to her first con by Bahb, Son of Bob. You may have been there when she got engaged to her now husband, Ryan, during an elven toast. Maybe you attended one of many epic room parties she hosted or listened in as... Read More →

Lithie Dubois

Program Ops

Just me; no more, no less.Penguicon 2024 Program Ops and Hotel Liaison

Dave Klecha

Amy Sexsmith

Volunteers

ConCom, Penguicon

Sunday April 30, 2017 09:00 - 09:50 EDT
EMC III

Action Adventure Penguicon

10:00 EDT

Author Meet and Read, Vol. 2

Penguicon's authors are back for the 2nd installment of the Meet and Read! Come meet your favorite authors all in one place! Authors will be doing book signings, as well as having short reading sessions. Bring your own book to get signed, or pick one up right here

Speakers

Michael Cieslak

Editor in Chief, Dragon's Roost Press

Michael Cieslak is a lifetime reader and writer of horror, mystery, and speculative fiction. A native of Detroit, he still lives with his wife and their dog Tesla (named for the inventor, natch) in a house is covered in Halloween decorations in October and dragons the rest of the... Read More →

Rosemary Van Deuren

Merrie Haskell.

Author

Merrie Haskell’s novels are The Princess Curse, Handbook for Dragon Slayers and The Castle Behind Thorns. She won the Schneider Family Book Award (Middle Grades) and the DetCon1 Middle Grade Speculative Fiction award, and she was twice a finalist for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award... Read More →

Tal M. Klein

Author of the upcoming Geek & Sundry hard sci-fi novel entitled The Punch Escrow

Janice Leach

I write poetry, grants, and blogs. I'm co-author "Til Death: Marriage Poems" (Raw Dog Screaming Press, 2017) with Jim Leach. I also bake pies with local ingredients and volunteer at a long term garden project in youth detention. At home, I tend a rollicking kitchen garden filled... Read More →

Ferrett Steinmetz

Ferrett Steinmetz is a noted polyamory writer and author of the books FLEX, THE FLUX, and the finale to the series, FIX. He is everywhere on FetLife as @theferrett, and can be found on Twitter at @ferretthimself.

Clifford VanMeter

Author | Illustrator | Publisher, Arctos Media

Even while still in college I began my career as an illustrator working primarily in the role-playing game field. My early work included the Star Trek and Dr. Who games for FASA, and on titles like Battle-Tech, the DC Universe RPG, Chill, Traveller and much more. I created, wrote... Read More →

Sunday April 30, 2017 10:00 - 11:50 EDT
Algonquin B

Literature Penguicon

Duration 1 hour, 50 minutes

13:00 EDT

Penguicon 2018 Planning Meeting

Making a successful Penguicon requires at least a year of organizing, planning, and partying. Do not skip the partying! Join us for the first planning meeting with the 2018 ConChair and her selected Con Committee. Come bring your ideas straight to the Concom!

Speakers

Alison C.

Head of Logistics, Penguicon

My favourite colour is blue. My pronouns are they/them or she/her. I like pescetarian food, logistics, and urban farming.

Miranda Falcon

Bagel Garrison

Penguicon ConChair 2024, Hole in the Ground Creations

Bagel makes a lot of things and watches a lot of TV. She also occasionally tries to help run Penguicon.

Nuri Gocay

Guest of Honor, Penguicon 2022

Janet Gocay

Chelle Green

ConChair 2024

Scott Kennedy

Secretary, Penguicon Board of Directors

Board of Directors for Penguicon. Head of Communications in 2019, 2015, 2014 | Asst Chair, 2018, 2015 | Chair, 2016Into RetroPie, Steven Universe, A:TLA, nerdy tattoos, stickers, photography, video editing, color correction, graphic design, social media moderation, community management... Read More →