Jessica Ballew is the Chief Information Officer for the Texas Department of Public Safety, leading the agency's technology strategy and operations with a focus on innovation, reliability, security, and interoperability. Throughout her career at the agency, Jessica has managed multiple programs, including IT Applications, Enterprise Project Management, Procurement & Contract Services, Administration, Infrastructure Operations, and the Innovation and Data Office.
Jessica serves on the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s (IACP) Communications & Technology Committee, Real Time Crime Center and Artificial Intelligence Sub-Committees, and the Artificial Intelligence Workgroup. She has also served multiple terms on the State of Texas Contract Advisory Team, State Agency Coordinating Committee Procurement Sub-Committee, State Agency Coordinating Committee Records and Information Management Sub-Committee, Governor’s Commission for Women State Agency Council, and co-chaired the Texas Association for Strategic Solutions and Collaboration in Computing Special Interest Group in Project Management.
Ballew holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Arizona State University and a Master of Science in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas. She is a Certified Texas Contract Manager and Certified Texas Contract Developer, a graduate of the Governor’s Executive Development Program, and a Texas Fiscal Officers’ Academy graduate.

Chris Bunton is a seasoned IT professional with over 20 years of experience and a passion for sharing knowledge.
Chris is a state IT Leader who has been sharing his real-life industry experience with IT professionals for over 20 years. He brings real-life industry and private sector experience, with an in-depth ability to apply technical concepts to reality. During the last 15 years, he has held Infrastructure Director, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), and Chief Information Officer positions for the state. He currently serves as the Chief Information Officer for the Texas Department of Agriculture. He has also served on several advisory panels and committees in Cybersecurity and Technology, including the Technical Advisory Panel for TxDOT, Security Advancement Forum for the Enterprise (SAFE) for DADS, and a member of the Texas Research Innovation Council. Additionally, he has been a part of the IT Leadership Committee, served on the Cybersecurity Counsel, and is a member of the Digital Government Advisor Board.
Chris enjoys sharing technical expertise to help people utilize technology for advancement. He has a passion for customer service and helping Texans!

Neil Cooke is the State Chief Data Officer for the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR). In this role, he leads and coordinates statewide efforts to make government data more trusted, connected, and actionable. He brings state agencies and institutions of higher education together to strengthen governance, improve data integrity, and expand secure data sharing while advancing AI readiness for Texas. Neil guides the development of policies, standards, and best practices that help public institutions manage data more consistently, use it confidently, and turn it into better decisions, stronger services, and measurable public value.
With over 25 years of experience in information technology, Neil brings expertise in strategic planning, performance management, and project portfolio management. Since joining the Texas public sector in 2007, he has held leadership roles at the Texas Department of Agriculture and the Health and Human Services System, including Director of the Project Management Office and Director of Program Performance Management.
Before his public service career, Neil worked as a Data Analyst and Business Analyst in the private sector in both the U.S. and the United Kingdom. Neil holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems, is a graduate of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs Executive Leadership for Information Technology Excellence (ELITE) program, and is a certified Project Management Professional.

As the President of Data Modernization at Rocket Software, I lead transformative initiatives that drive the future of data modernization, cloud integration, and AI-powered solutions in the enterprise technology space. With over 30 years of experience in technology strategy, I specialize in helping organizations modernize their infrastructure to unlock new capabilities and achieve greater efficiencies.

CEO, NuHarbor Security 

Justin Fimlaid is the CEO of NuHarbor Security, where he helps organizations strengthen cyber resilience and make smarter security decisions in an increasingly complex threat environment. A former CISO, Justin brings firsthand executive experience leading security strategy, operations, and risk management, along with deep expertise in the cybersecurity market and how to turn security investments into meaningful outcomes. His background also includes international security experience, giving him a broad perspective on emerging threats and the practical realities organizations face. Justin is known for connecting cybersecurity to mission, business priorities, and long-term resilience in a way that is both strategic and actionable. He is passionate about helping organizations build security programs that are effective, sustainable, and aligned to the people and missions they serve.

Daniel Gohl joined HP Inc. as head of U.S. Education Strategy in September 2022. He brings three decades of partnering for success through innovation with students and educators from pre-kindergarten through post-graduate studies. Daniel has deep knowledge and extensive experience in teaching, education management and educational policy at the local, state and national level. He is committed to helping communities, and the institutions serving them, ensure that education is contemporary, challenging and continuous. Dan was raised in the Mid-Hudson Valley region of New York and currently lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with his wife and three children.

Dr. Nadeem Malik is a Distinguished Engineer and Vice President of AI & ML Technologies at Kyndryl. With over 25 years of R&D experience, he drives the adoption of Generative AI and ML to transform operations across industries. He has filed 116 U.S. patents and authored 30+ publications. A recognized leader, Dr. Malik has held adjunct professorships at UT Austin, SUNY, and Cornell, and serves as a panelist for U.S. government research programs. His innovations span AI/ML, IT automation, security, and microarchitecture design, positioning Kyndryl as a key partner in enterprise modernization.

Jim Malmros is an information technology leader with 26 years of experience spanning state government, higher education, and the private sector. His work centers on improving software delivery through Agile methodologies, strengthening team performance, and using customer feedback to create meaningful and measurable value.
Jim currently serves as an Area Manager for Application Services at the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. In this role, he oversees the enterprise applications that support the state’s financial, revenue collection, administrative, and banking operations—ensuring that critical systems remain reliable, secure, and responsive to the needs of Texas agencies and taxpayers.
Throughout his career, Jim has focused on building high performing teams and modernizing development practices to enhance product quality, delivery speed, and user satisfaction. His background includes leadership positions across diverse technical environments, giving him a broad perspective on organizational challenges and opportunities in public sector IT.
Jim holds bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and History from Virginia Tech and a Master of Science in Information Systems from the University of Texas at Austin. He also maintains multiple Agile and project management certifications supporting his commitment to continuous improvement and collaborative delivery.

Sean McAfee is the Federal Chief Security Technology Officer at Qualys. McAfee brings more than fifteen years of experience serving in federal and state cybersecurity leadership roles focused on protecting U.S. critical infrastructure. His background includes senior positions at CISA, where he supported national-level cyber operations, international information sharing and incident response coordination, public‑private technology partnerships, and technical assessment programs spanning vulnerability management, cyber hygiene, and red team operations. He previously served as CISO for the Ohio Secretary of State and remains active in advancing cybersecurity workforce initiatives and critical infrastructure protection as a volunteer for the Ohio Cyber Reserve (OhCR).

Dale Richardson serves as the Chief Operations Officer for the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR).  Dale has operational responsibility for the Shared Technology Services (STS), Communications Technology Services (CTS), and TEX-AN Network Services (TNS).  He joined the state in 2013 as the Director of the Data Center Services (DCS) program. Dale was instrumental in leading the STS program to new heights in terms of meeting contract service level agreements and customer satisfaction for state agencies participating in the program. Serving in several leadership positions, primarily in engineering and operations, Dale brings a demonstrated ability to lead organizational teams on planning, engineering, constructing, and operating advanced networks and data center operations. Dale holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Management degree from The University of Texas at Austin. 

Joe Sepulveda serves as the Director of Geographic Infrastructure and Technology for the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). In this role, Joe supports a team of application developers, system administrators, and project managers to meet the geospatial technology needs the TWDB. He has been helping organizations maximize their technology portfolio since 2010 through various IT roles. Joe grew up in suburban Chicago and holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Geography from Northern Illinois University. He recently completed his Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is a certified Project Management Professional and Scrum Master.

Anh Selissen serves as the Chief Information Officer at the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) with a $500 plus million annual information technology portfolio. Anh has served as the Chief Information Officer for TxDOT since September 2019. In this position, Anh serves as a principal technology advisor to TxDOT’s Executive Director and the senior leadership team. She leads the department’s efforts to transform TxDOT by implementing smart technology solutions, promoting innovation, and strengthening TxDOT’s cybersecurity. She is responsible for transforming the agency’s technology services to exceed the expectations of the customers to meet the mission of the agency – Connecting you with Texas.
Anh has led information technology organizations in both the public and private sectors. She previously held positions as Chief Information Officer (CIO) at NuStats Inc., Director of Enterprise Systems at the University of Texas at Austin, and Deputy CIO at the Texas Comptroller’s Office. In each of her leadership roles, Anh has built a diverse range of experience working across the organization to deliver IT services to meet the needs of the organization and customer community. She is passionate about providing strong customer service and strives to work with her team to provide strong support and services to the organization and their customers. This has resulted in improved interactions with the end user communities and positive positioning of the organizations. Among several professional affiliations, Anh is on the AASHTO Transportation Technology Committee. She served two years as President of the Texas Association of State Systems for Computing and Communications, and IT Chair of the State Agency Coordinating Council.
Most recently in April 2023, Anh received a State Leadership of the Year award from StateScoop 50. In 2022, Anh was awarded the Trailblazer Award by the CIO Roundtable 2022. She was named one of the 2021 Boss Ladies by the non-profit, Austin Women in Technology. She received the 2021 IT Executive of the Year Award sponsored by Society of Information Management (SIM) Austin. In 2020 under Anh’s leadership, the Information Technology Division was awarded the TxDOT Grit Award for exemplary performance during the agency’s ransomware event. In 2019, she was the recipient of the Austin Women in Technology - Women in Tech Excellence Award also sponsored by SIM.

Ed has over 25 years of experience in the design, development, deployment and operations of privacy sensitive electronic service delivery solutions for both public sector and banking clients. Ed’s involvement in the domains of Identity, Credential and Access management, web content management and service transformation started with his participation in the creation of the Central Frame Database at Statistics Canada. He went on to participate in the creation of the Strategis ID and the web content management solutions at Industry Canada and has made immense contributions to the Govt of Canada's vision for citizen and business centric access to information and transactions.

Kishore Thota is a senior management consulting leader who helps organizations transform to meet the needs of an evolving workforce. He partners with executive teams to redesign operating models, modernize workforce strategies, and lead large‑scale change initiatives that support flexibility, resilience, and sustained performance. Kishore’s work focuses on aligning talent, culture, and technology with business strategy as organizations adapt to shifting employee expectations, new ways of working, and accelerated digital change. He brings deep experience guiding leaders through organizational transformation, change management, and capability building to help teams thrive in dynamic environments. Known for a practical, outcomes‑driven approach, Kishore translates complex workforce and organizational challenges into clear actions that enable engagement, productivity, and long‑term value. His client‑centric style emphasizes collaboration, measurable impact, and scalable solutions that prepare organizations for the future of work.

Karen Tuttle is a strategic executive with over 20 years of experience driving customer-centric transformations at the intersection of technology and public policy. As a Director at Verizon Business Group, she leads a consultative team helping local, state, and federal agencies reimagine constituent engagement through mission-critical digital services.

Karen specializes in deploying digital customer experience (CX) strategies and cloud-based architectures that establish trust and accessibility. With deep expertise in AI/ML and SaaS, she has been instrumental in partnering with several of the nation’s largest federal agencies and major municipalities to integrate advanced AI solutions that streamline service delivery. Throughout her career, Karen has held leadership roles in both enterprise and startup environments, fostering innovation through cross-functional collaboration. She is a recognized thought leader on the role of intelligent automation and digital transformation in the public sector.

Kevin Wise is a highly decorated Solution Architect at Rackspace Technology Kevin Wise is a highly decorated Solution Architect at Rackspace Technology with over 20 years of experience in strategic solutioning, product management, and technical engineering. He is a three-time recipient of the Enterprise Solution Architect of the Year award (2016, 2019, 2022), demonstrating a consistent track record of excellence in the Enterprise/F1000 space.
For nearly 15 cumulative years at Rackspace, Kevin has been a cornerstone of the technical Presales team. He specializes in driving IT modernization and creating cloud strategy roadmaps that translate complex technical architectures into tangible business outcomes.
His latest focus centers on AI-enablement for Enterprise customers, helping organizations leverage emerging technologies to drive operational efficiency.
Kevin is recognized for his direct honesty and a cross-functional approach to problem-solving that challenges the status quo to deliver future-proof environments.