MacAdmins Conference 2025

Welcome to the MacAdmins Conference at Penn State! Once you are settled, come visit us at the registration desk to get your name badge and conference information.

Breakfast for all conference participants.

Welcome to Day One! Get oriented to our day with some morning updates from a member of the conference steering committee.

How do we enrich our Mac Admins community? By giving back! But how? That’s the focus of this workshop. We will discuss why Mac Admins share knowledge (and the related benefits), the common ways we contribute, and practical techniques and considerations regarding methods. We will cover giving presentations, blogging, mentoring, contributing to open source, and other modes of community interaction and sharing. Hands-on examples will include contributing to a repo on GitHub and how to setup a blog.

Any prerequisites: Yes – but optional
Attendees who want to participate in the hands-on portion should bring a laptop computer. A tablet computer, such as an iPad, would also be suitable for most tasks.

Remember: You've already selected your workshop during registration. Adding this workshop to your sched agenda does not count.

Coping with unemployment or planning to leave your job? You need tools for the long haul. In this workshop we’ll talk about how to plan for and survive this wacky job market. In the morning we’ll define strategies for: creating your “Customer Market Fit”, writing resumes (including AI prompts), linkedin zhuzhing, and networking. In the afternoon, the group will dig in and write, critique, and edit your resume or LinkedIn. Come prepared to share one or both.

Any prerequisites: None needed.

Remember: You've already selected your workshop during registration. Adding this workshop to your sched agenda does not count.

This full-day workshop combines two half-day workshops.

In the morning:
Apple Device Administration Essentials: A Beginner’s Guide
New to Apple device management? This hands-on workshop covers the essentials—setting up Apple Business Manager (ABM), working with resellers, choosing an MDM, onboarding devices, and establishing a minimum security baseline. Learn how to integrate IDPs, deploy apps, and align with Apple’s ecosystem for smooth management. Whether you’re starting fresh or refining your setup, this session provides practical, MDM-agnostic guidance to build a scalable, secure Apple device environment.


In the afternoon:
Best Practices Deploying & Managing Apple
Best Practices Deploying & Managing Apple in the enterprise or education

Remember: You've already selected your workshop during registration. Adding this workshop to your sched agenda does not count.

This full-day workshop combines two half-day workshops.

In the morning:
Ready, Set, Go: From Hello to Mac Deploy - Flow
Fundamental - Hands-on
Join us in exploring Golang on macOS. Albert and Carlos from Yelp will take you on a journey starting @ HelloWorld and finishing with a signed package.

Any prerequisites: Yes – but optional
– Access to macOS
– Homebrew
– Developer Account (optional, but recommended)
– Github account in case of API limits

In the afternoon:
Auto Deploy: Automate Your Jamf Pro Deployments
All Levels - Hands-on
Join us for a live workshop of Auto Deploy, a powerful tool that automates Jamf Pro deployment of your favorite tools and workflows. Learn how to streamline your workflow and reduce manual errors, saving valuable time. We'll walk through real-world examples, highlight customization, and show you how to manage deployment with ease. Whether you're new to Jamf Pro or a seasoned pro, discover best practices that will revolutionize your deployment process.

Any prerequisites: Yes – its required
Access to a Jamf Pro Server

GUIs, menus, and buttons make computers do our bidding. But they’re not as powerful as a well-crafted script. Scripting is a fundamental skill for anyone managing a fleet of Macs.
With a hands-on approach and short exercises building on each other, we’ll:
– Unravel mysteries of the Terminal
– Decode strange symbols that hold enormous power
– Speak languages older than most of us
– Make ancient and powerful technology do our bidding
If you’ve ever wanting to start scripting, now is the time.

Any prerequisites: None needed.

Remember: You've already selected your workshop during registration. Adding this workshop to your sched agenda does not count.

Let’s build a command-line application with Swift. You’ll need the latest version of macOS and Xcode.

Any prerequisites: Yes – its required
You must have a computer with the latest version of macOS, with the latest version of Xcode installed.

Remember: You've already selected your workshop during registration. Adding this workshop to your sched agenda does not count.

Lunch for all conference participants.

MacAdmins? Speakers ONLY
Meeting for MacAdmins' Speakers to meet the conference staff, get room orientation, and Q/A.

Kick off the conference with dinner and a great opportunity to network with colleagues, speakers, sponsors, and the conference staff.

Join us in Presidents Hall for dinner and opening remarks and special presentations. Later, enjoy dessert, games, and great conversation in the Penn Stater Courtyard. An on-site bar will be available and accepts both cash and card.