Executive Technical Debt Workshop: Houston, TX

August 25, 2026 | Houston, TX

CODE’s Executive Technical Debt Workshop is an invitation-only working session designed for CIOs, CTOs, IT Directors, Enterprise Architects, and Engineering Leaders. Rather than a traditional presentation, this interactive workshop gives attendees an inside look at how AI-assisted analysis, knowledge management, and modernization planning can be applied to real-world enterprise systems. Participants leave with practical and actionable ideas they can apply within their own organizations immediately. Hosted at CODE Office in Houston. Invite-only (free), complimentary catered breakfast and lunch.

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Most organizations rely on business-critical applications that were built years, and often decades, ago. These systems continue to power the business, but they also carry technical debt, aging architectures, undocumented processes, hidden dependencies, and institutional knowledge held by only a handful of employees.

While many organizations recognize the need to modernize, determining where to begin can be overwhelming. For mission-critical systems that support daily operations, every modernization decision carries potential business risk, making it difficult to identify the right priorities, sequence initiatives, and move forward with confidence.

The Executive Technical Debt Workshop was created to solve that problem.

Using AI-assisted application inventory, structured discovery, and executive intelligence, you'll see how organizations are transforming complex enterprise applications into well-understood strategic assets. Instead of relying on assumptions or fragmented documentation, you'll learn how leading organizations are using evidence-based insights to reduce modernization risk, preserve institutional knowledge, and build practical roadmaps for long-term transformation.

Why Attend?

Throughout the day, you'll learn how leading organizations are using AI-assisted discovery to better understand their application portfolios, reduce modernization risk, and confidently prioritize technology investments through live demonstrations, executive discussions, customer success stories, and interactive workshops.

You'll learn how to:

  • Identify technical debt and modernization priorities based on business impact.
  • Uncover hidden dependencies, documentation gaps, and knowledge risk.
  • Assess application portfolios for modernization and AI readiness.
  • Build executive scorecards that measure engineering health and modernization progress.
  • Develop practical modernization roadmaps backed by technical and business evidence.

Event Format

The Executive Technical Debt Workshop is a highly interactive, invitation-only workshop designed for executive technology leaders. Rather than sitting through a full day of presentations, attendees participate in a mix of executive briefings, live demonstrations, collaborative working sessions, peer discussions, and customer case studies.

Throughout the day, you'll have opportunities to engage directly with CODE experts and fellow technology leaders, compare modernization challenges, and discuss practical strategies that can be applied within your own organization.

Breakfast, lunch, and refreshments are provided.

Space Is Limited

This in-person event is not recorded.

Limited capacity, invitation-only – reserve your seat early.

AGENDA

Tuesday, August 25, 2026
8:30AMSign-In, Breakfast & Networking
9:00AMOpening & Speaker IntroductionLaurabeth Barker
9:15AMThe State of Modernization: Navigating Technical Debt, AI, and Organizational ChangeKEYNOTEOtto Dobretsberger
9:45AMExecutive Modernization Benchmark: How Your Organization Compares to Industry PeersKEYNOTEOtto Dobretsberger
10:15AMRefreshment Break & Networking
10:30AMModernization MRI™ Live AssessmentBREAKOUTMike Yeager
11:15AMExecutive Tech Debt WorkshopWORKSHOPMike YeagerOtto Dobretsberger
12:00PMCatered Lunch & Networking
1:00PMTechnical Debt Success StoriesBREAKOUTMike Yeager
1:45PMRefreshment Break & Networking
2:00PMWhat Every Executive Should MeasureBREAKOUTOtto Dobretsberger
2:30PMBuilding a Sustainable Modernization PracticeBREAKOUTMike Yeager
3:00PMRefreshment Break & Networking
3:15PMExecutive Panel & Open DiscussionPANELLaurabeth BarkerMike YeagerOtto Dobretsberger
3:45PMClosing Remarks & Next StepsBREAKOUTLaurabeth Barker
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
8:30AM
Sign-In, Breakfast & Networking
9:00AM
Opening & Speaker Introduction
Laurabeth Barker
9:15AMKEYNOTE
The State of Modernization: Navigating Technical Debt, AI, and Organizational Change
Otto Dobretsberger
9:45AMKEYNOTE
Executive Modernization Benchmark: How Your Organization Compares to Industry Peers
Otto Dobretsberger
10:15AM
Refreshment Break & Networking
10:30AMBREAKOUT
Modernization MRI™ Live Assessment
Mike Yeager
11:15AMWORKSHOP
Executive Tech Debt Workshop
Mike YeagerOtto Dobretsberger
12:00PM
Catered Lunch & Networking
1:00PMBREAKOUT
Technical Debt Success Stories
Mike Yeager
1:45PM
Refreshment Break & Networking
2:00PMBREAKOUT
What Every Executive Should Measure
Otto Dobretsberger
2:30PMBREAKOUT
Building a Sustainable Modernization Practice
Mike Yeager
3:00PM
Refreshment Break & Networking
3:15PMPANEL
Executive Panel & Open Discussion
Laurabeth BarkerMike YeagerOtto Dobretsberger
3:45PMBREAKOUT
Closing Remarks & Next Steps
Laurabeth Barker

SESSION DETAILS

9:00 AM – 9:15 AM

Opening & Speaker Introduction

Opening remarks. Comments about how the day will run. Introduce today's speakers.

9:15 AM – 9:45 AM KEYNOTE

The State of Modernization: Navigating Technical Debt, AI, and Organizational Change

Review current industry trends surrounding legacy systems, technical debt, institutional knowledge loss, AI adoption, and engineering sustainability. Learn why leading organizations are changing the way they evaluate and prioritize modernization initiatives.

9:45 AM – 10:15 AM KEYNOTE

Executive Modernization Benchmark: How Your Organization Compares to Industry Peers

Explore findings gathered from attendee questionnaires and participate in a facilitated discussion around shared modernization challenges, organizational priorities, and common obstacles facing enterprise technology leaders.

10:30 AM – 11:15 AM BREAKOUT

Modernization MRI™ Live Assessment

Experience a live demonstration of CODE's Modernization MRI™ using Lore to inventory applications, analyze architecture, recover institutional knowledge, identify technical debt, and generate executive modernization insights.

11:15 AM – 12:00 PM WORKSHOP

Executive Tech Debt Workshop

Participate in small-group discussions using realistic modernization scenarios to prioritize technical debt, evaluate business impact, and practice executive decision-making using structured modernization frameworks.

1:00 PM – 1:45 PM BREAKOUT

Technical Debt Success Stories

Hear real customer modernization stories highlighting practical approaches, measurable outcomes, lessons learned, and strategies that delivered long-term value.

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM BREAKOUT

What Every Executive Should Measure

Learn how executive scorecards help leadership teams monitor modernization initiatives, prioritize investments, reduce organizational risk, and communicate progress across the business.

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM BREAKOUT

Building a Sustainable Modernization Practice

Walk through CODE's Discover → Blueprint → Blueprint + Modernization Enablement → Partner framework and see how Lore supports organizations throughout every stage of the modernization journey.

3:15 PM – 3:45 PM PANEL

Executive Panel & Open Discussion

Join an interactive panel discussion covering real-world modernization experiences followed by an open Q&A where attendees can ask questions and share perspectives.

VENUE

CODE Headquarters

6605 Cypresswood Dr. Suite 425 Houston, TX, 77379