Alabama Digital Government Summit 2026
Overview
The Alabama Digital Government Summit is where innovation meets impact!
Bringing together the brightest minds in state and local government, this summit empowers public-sector leaders to explore cutting-edge technologies, modernize operations, and solve pressing challenges. From cybersecurity and AI to data governance and digital service delivery, sessions are designed to spark insight, foster collaboration, and accelerate real-world results. Whether you're shaping strategy or implementing solutions, the Summit delivers valuable peer connections and actionable guidance to help move your mission forward.
Technology continues to reshape the way government serves its citizens, and the pace of change demands that we work together with clarity, purpose, and shared commitment. Across Alabama’s public sector, IT leaders are confronting complex challenges – from cybersecurity and data governance to artificial intelligence, modernization, and digital service delivery. None of these priorities can be addressed effectively in isolation. They require collaboration, trusted partnerships, practical insight, and a willingness to learn from one another. That is what makes the Alabama Digital Government Summit such a valuable annual gathering. The Alabama Office of Information Technology is proud to continue its partnership with Government Technology to bring together public-sector technology professionals from across our state for meaningful discussion and actionable ideas. I hope you will make plans to join us for the 2026 Alabama Digital Government Summit in Montgomery on Thursday, November 5.
– Daniel Urquhart, Secretary of Information Technology, Chief Information Officer, State of Alabama
Speakers
Craig Harris
Technical Director, Microsoft
I bring over 20 years in the U.S. Government space, including several years of active-duty service as a U.S. Marine. Since the Corps, my IT career has spanned senior business capture and project management to software development and delivery leadership in agile organizations serving the Federal government through some of the industry's largest and most successful IT partners.
Today I'm a solution architect and Technical Director for Microsoft's US State and Local Government organization across the Eastern United States, helping government unlock the potential of every member of their teams.
Bob McGough
Business Relations Unit Supervisor, Department of Corrections, State of Alabama
Tanner Stemle
Director of Operations, Tyler Technologies – Alabama
Tanner works closely with agency leaders, technology teams, and Tyler’s product and delivery teams to identify opportunities, solve operational challenges, and move projects from concept to implementation. She is especially passionate about helping government teams find realistic ways to modernize without losing sight of the people and processes behind the technology.
Tanner is based in Montgomery, Alabama.
Reginald Tompkins
Territory Sales Managers, IBM Corporation
For the past two years, Reginald has led a Technology Sales and Technical team. Before that, he led Security sales and services teams for 11 years. In both roles, his focus has been helping clients achieve their desired outcomes through IT investments while delivering value to their organizations, clients, constituents, and stakeholders.
Tracy Williams
Cybersecurity SME, PeopleTec
While employed at SAIC, he held numerous management and technical positions. His last position was Cyber Security Subject Matter Expert (SME) for a corporation of more than 17,000 employees. He developed numerous offensive and defensive programs within various corporate market sub-segments, reporting directly to SAIC Cyber Vice President BG (Ret.) Paul Welch.
He served as the lead cyber security engineer for numerous contracts. As a technical lead, he supervised a 30-person team located at various sites worldwide, performing Risk Management Framework (RMF) compliance, system support, and vulnerability assessments. His responsibilities included the timely validation and submission of documentation to NETCOM for final Authorization to Operate (ATO).
Aaron Wright
Chief AI Officer, Office of Information Technology, State of Alabama
Aaron brings more than 25 years of technology leadership experience across healthcare and state government. He joined the State of Alabama in 2010 and has held leadership roles supporting enterprise applications, data strategy, and cross-agency technology initiatives. He previously co-led the Data Management and Ownership working group for Governor Kay Ivey’s Task Force on Generative Artificial Intelligence and currently leads the Alabama AI Community of Practice.
Aaron holds a master’s degree in information technology from the University of West Florida.
Agenda
Thursday, November 5 |
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8:00 am Central |
Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area |
9:00 am Central |
Opening RemarksDaniel Urquhart, Secretary of Information Technology, Chief Information Officer, State of Alabama |
9:15 am Central |
IT State of the StateHear from Alabama government leaders on the priorities, innovations, and strategic initiatives shaping technology across the state. This high-level session highlights the progress underway to modernize services, strengthen security and connectivity, accelerate innovation, and advance Alabama’s digital future.
Daniel Urquhart, Secretary of Information Technology, Chief Information Officer, State of Alabama |
9:45 am Central |
Keynote – Debrief to Win: Building Teams that Succeed in DisruptionIn times of turbulence and disruption, even the best teams can struggle to stay focused, aligned, and accountable. Overcoming these challenges requires a shift in mindset and the right leadership tools to create resilient, high-performing teams. Learn from a former U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School ("Top Gun") instructor how elite military teams succeed by centering on a shared mission, driving purpose, and embracing accountability as a path to growth, not blame. Walk away with actionable strategies and inspiring insights to help your teams thrive under pressure and achieve lasting success.
Robert “Cujo” Teschner, Founder & CEO, Vmax Group |
10:45 am Central |
Networking Break in the Exhibit AreaRefuel and reconnect over premium refreshments courtesy of Recharge Break Sponsors: Alabama Fiber Network |
11:15 am Central |
Concurrent SessionsFrom Possibility to Practice – Leveraging Emerging Technologies for Better OutcomesEmerging technologies are transforming how government delivers services, engages constituents, and improves operational efficiency. This session explores practical ways that the public-sector can leverage modern tools, including AI, automation, and low-code technologies, to solve business challenges and accelerate digital transformation. Attendees will gain real-world examples, lessons learned, and actionable strategies for identifying opportunities, increasing productivity, and delivering better outcomes through technology.
Moderator: Aaron Wright, Chief AI Officer, Office of Information Technology, State of Alabama Srinivas (Java) Javangula, Director – Data and Research, Alabama Department of Education Scott Brandhuber, DevOps Manager, Department of Transportation, State of Alabama Craig Harris, Technical Director, Microsoft Tanner Stemle, Director of Operations, Tyler Technologies - Alabama Unlocking Value Through Data: Management, Governance, and SharingData delivers its greatest value when it is well managed, trusted, and shared responsibly across organizational boundaries. This session will explore how agencies can strengthen data structure, quality, ownership, classification, privacy, and data-sharing agreements to support effective collaboration. Attendees will learn how these foundations enable better decision-making, API and cloud interoperability, more effective e-discovery, reduced shadow IT risk, and improved services for constituents.
Moderator: Dave Pope, Chief Information Officer, Department of Education, State of Alabama Bob McGough, Business Relations Unit Supervisor, Department of Corrections, State of Alabama Reginald Tompkins, Territory Sales Managers, IBM Corporation Continuity in Action: Strengthening Cyber ResiliencyCyber resilience is about more than prevention. It is about maintaining operations and recovering quickly when an incident occurs. This session explores the strategies, planning, and partnerships needed to strengthen organizational resilience, including incident response coordination, business continuity planning, vendor engagement, and recovery lessons learned from real-world events. Attendees will also gain insights into conducting effective tabletop exercises and preparing teams to respond confidently when a cyber disruption impacts critical services.
Tracy Williams, Cybersecurity SME, PeopleTec Workforce Readiness for Today and TomorrowAI and emerging technologies are reshaping government work, changing both how services are delivered and the skills employees need to succeed. This session will offer practical strategies for assessing workforce readiness, closing critical skill gaps, and developing reskilling and upskilling programs that strengthen employee capabilities and organizational performance. Attendees will also explore how modern tools and thoughtfully redesigned roles can improve public service outcomes while making government technology careers more compelling to the next generation of talent.
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12:15 pm Central |
Lunch |
1:15 pm Central |
Short BreakPlease proceed to the concurrent sessions.
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1:30 pm Central |
Concurrent SessionsResponsible AI: Frameworks for Public TrustAs governments increasingly adopt AI, ensuring transparency, accountability, and public trust is critical. This session explores practical frameworks for responsible AI governance, including ethical decision-making, risk management, oversight, and policy development. Attendees will learn how to establish guardrails that support innovation while promoting fairness, security, transparency, and responsible use of AI in the public sector.
Conrad Bell, Chief Information Security Officer, C Spire From Idea to Investment: Selecting and Funding the Right TechnologyWith technology changing rapidly, agencies need strategic approaches to determine what deserves attention and investment. This session will cover prioritization, build-versus-buy decisions, cost-benefit analysis, vendor selection, and the development of effective specifications and business cases, with particular attention to how new solutions will integrate with existing systems, data, APIs, and cloud environments. Attendees will leave with a practical approach for turning promising ideas into fundable, sustainable, and interoperable technology investments.
John Demas, Chief Information Officer, Department of Corrections, State of Alabama AI in Action: Practical Applications for GovernmentAfter two years of rapid AI adoption, public-sector leaders are separating promise from reality. Designed for both technical and non-technical attendees, this interactive session explores where AI is delivering measurable value, where expectations have outpaced capabilities, and how agencies are identifying the right use cases for AI. Through hands-on demonstrations and practical prompting techniques, attendees will gain practical skills and strategies to safely and effectively leverage AI within their organizations.
Exclusive Briefing for Industry PartnersHosted by the State of Alabama |
2:30 pm Central |
Networking Break in the Exhibit AreaRefuel and reconnect over premium refreshments courtesy of Recharge Break Sponsors: Alabama Fiber Network |
3:00 pm Central |
Strengthening Cybersecurity Across Alabama: SLCGP and ACIC in ActionAlabama’s State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) is helping public entities strengthen their cybersecurity capabilities through access to resources, services, and support designed around the needs of local government. This session will provide an update on Alabama’s SLCGP program, highlight opportunities available to eligible entities, and explain how local governments can get involved. It will also spotlight the Alabama Cybersecurity Intelligence Center (ACIC), a key program initiative that is helping public entities stay informed about cyber threats and vulnerabilities affecting Alabama.
Moderator: Chad Smith, Chief Information Security Officer, Office of Information Technology, State of Alabama |
3:45 pm Central |
General Session – 25 Years of Digital Government: How Technology, Policy and Public Service Evolved – and What Comes NextIn 2001, "digital government" meant moving paper forms to static PDF downloads. Today, it means real-time, AI-driven resident services, "whole-of-state" cybersecurity, and cloud-native infrastructure that never sleeps. As the Center for Digital Government (CDG) celebrates its 25th anniversary, we invite you to a high-energy retrospective and a forward-looking strategy session that tracks the evolution of the public sector’s digital DNA. We will walk through the "waves" of transformation we’ve navigated together and will provide a roadmap for the next quarter-century of innovation.
Phil Bertolini, Chief Delivery Officer, Government Technology |
4:15 pm Central |
Networking Reception in the Exhibit AreaNetwork with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event exhibitors.
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4:45 pm Central |
End of ConferenceConference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change.
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Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa at the Convention Center
201 Tallapoosa Street
Montgomery, AL 36104
(334) 481-5000
Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa at the Convention Center
Advisory Board
Government Representatives
Michael Armistead
General Counsel
Member and External Services
Association of County Commissions of Alabama
Bennett Benton
IT Division Director
Department of Workforce
State of Alabama
William Brantley
Forestry Commission
State of Alabama
Terence Burke
Chief Information Officer, Computer Services Bureau
Department of Transportation
State of Alabama
Bryon Campbell, PhD
Chief Information Officer/Chief Information Security Officer
Madison County Commission
Madison County
Laura Howell Crowder
General Counsel
Office of Information Technology
State of Alabama
John Demas
Chief Information Officer
Department of Corrections
State of Alabama
Mark Dokas
Director of Information Technology
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
State of Alabama
Matt Dyar
Information Technology Division Director
Department of Revenue
State of Alabama
Emily Elam
Chief Information Officer
Huntsville City Schools
Sara Fenn
Director of Technology
Jefferson County School District
Willie Fields
Deputy Secretary
Office of Information Technology
State of Alabama
Richard Fiore
Director of Special Projects
Department of Insurance
State of Alabama
Beverly Floyd
Chief Information Officer
Rehabilitation Services
State of Alabama
John Gallacher
Chief Information Officer
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
State of Alabama
Jeb Hargrove
Director of Administrative Operations / Chief Information Officer
Emergency Management Agency
State of Alabama
Srinivas (Java) Javangula
Director of Data and Research
Department of Education
State of Alabama
Patrick Johnson
IT Director
City of Alabaster
Ram Kandula
Chief Information Officer
Department of Mental Health
State of Alabama
Scott Kearney
Chief Technology Officer
Information Technology
City of Mobile
Nikki Kerns
IT Director
Information Technology
City of Dothan
Valisha Kirkland
State Business Systems Director
Department of Finance
State of Alabama
Taylor Nichols
General Counsel
Department of Finance
State of Alabama
Dave Pope
Chief Information Officer
Department of Education
State of Alabama
Tony Porterfield
Chief Technology Officer
City of Montgomery
Michael Powell
Chief Technology Officer
Montgomery Public Schools
Greg Price
Vice-Chancellor Information Technology
Office of Information Technology
Troy University
William Roberson
Assistant Bureau Chief, Computer Services Bureau
Department of Transportation
State of Alabama
Ira Shaw
Director of IT
Bureau of Pardons and Paroles
State of Alabama
Mark Skelton
Director, Technical Support
Department of Public Health
State of Alabama
Chad Smith
Chief Information Security Officer
Office of Information Technology
State of Alabama
Chuck Stephenson
Director of IT
Information Technology
Alabama League of Municipalities
Mason Tanaka
Deputy Commissioner and Chief Information Officer
Medicaid Agency
State of Alabama
Keisha Thomas
Information Technology Director
Alabama Administrative Office of Courts
State of Alabama
Lisa Townsend
Chief Information Officer
Department of Human Resources
State of Alabama
Aaron Tripi
Chief Information Officer
Law Enforcement Agency
State of Alabama
Daniel Urquhart
Secretary of Information Technology, Chief Information Officer
Office of Information Technology
State of Alabama
Mike Vanhook
Information Technology Chief
Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA)
State of Alabama
Jeremy Ward
Director of Communications
Office of Information Technology
State of Alabama
Aaron Wright
Chief AI Officer
Office of Information Technology
State of Alabama
Rodney Zeigler
IT Director
Department of Insurance
State of Alabama
Industry Representatives
Robert Hines
General Manager
Alabama State Enterprise
Tyler Technologies
Brian McCoun
Technology Leader
IBM
Stephen Morris
Director of Government Development
C Spire
Bryan Quick
Sr. AI Business Process Solution Specialist
Microsoft
Philip Robertson
Major Account Manager - Public Sector
Fortinet
Registration Information / Contact Us
Event Date: November 5, 2026
Open to Public Sector only.
Registration - Free
If you represent a Private Sector organization and are interested in Sponsorship Opportunities, please contact Heather Earney.
This event is open to all individuals who meet the eligibility criteria, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, age, disability, or any other protected class. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all participants.
Contact Information
Need help registering, or have general event questions? Contact:
Sherri Tidwell
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 932-1382
E-mail: stidwell@erepublic.com
Already a sponsor, but need a hand? Reach out to:
Mireya Gaton
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone:(916) 296-2617
E-Mail: mgaton@erepublic.com
Want to sponsor and stand out? Reach out to explore opportunities!
Heather Earney
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 365-2308
E-mail: heather.earney@erepublic.com