Amina Al Sherif is a technical engineering lead in machine learning and generative AI at Google. She immigrated to the United States in 2010 as a first generation Arab-American. She has spent twelve years in the Department of Defense serving as an Army officer in the Reserves and North Carolina National Guard as a tactical cyber operator and cyber targeter.
Amina has previously worked as an early stage startup executive focused on artificial intelligence innovation and product. Prior to her startup experience, Amina worked at Google as a Cloud Engineer bringing the innovation and power of Google’s capabilities to the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community. She focused on big data and machine learning, gaming and simulation, and data privacy and security in cloud computing and analytics.
Amina has worked with the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) as an Arabic, Farsi, and French language enabled Open Source Exploitation Analyst at Fort Belvoir, VA and Fort Bragg. She deployed under Operation Inherent Resolve to Baghdad, Iraq in 2015/2016. In 2016-2017 she deployed to Afghanistan supporting the Special Operations Community. Most recently Amina deployed to Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Israel for a Special Missions Unit out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina supporting cyber-HUMINT operations.
Amina holds a BA in Linguistics and Arabic from the University of Mississippi and a Masters in Professional Studies in Cybersecurity and Information Sciences from Penn State University. She is currently attending the University of Texas in San Antonio to pursue a career in astrophysics at the PhD level. She regularly blogs on Medium documenting her self-taught technical career. In January 2020, she published her first book An Approach to Machine Learning in Cyber Defense for the Department of Defense. She is also working on a three-part young adult fiction novel series and is currently contracted with Black Rose Writing for publication. She also blogs regularly on her website, https://www.aminaalsherif.camp

Herman Brown serves the City and County of San Francisco as the CIO for the SF District Attorney’s Office. His private-sector mentality and track record of success has provided valuable contributions to the City & County for the last 12 years; with the last 8 years in his current role.
With over 25 years of experience in IT, Herman’s managed several enterprise initiatives that consolidated services, streamlined processes, and lowered overall city operating costs. His experience spans various industries, navy veteran, manufacturing, healthcare, software development, advertising, and now local government.
Herman aims to bring efficiency, transparency, and productivity to government by leveraging technology. As CIO for the DA’s Office, Herman leads the effort to transform a government law firm laden with paper to a digital one that rivals any private sector organization.

As National Conference Director for Government Technology magazine, Corey produces, manages, and emcees government IT conferences throughout the country.
With over a decade of experience in event planning and operations, Corey has a strong track record of success in producing transformational events, conferences, experiential marketing activations, and trade shows. He believes in an audience-first approach that considers how people will experience their events. He has a passion for creating transformational experiences that go beyond the typical.

Savita Chaudhary joined the City of Fairfield on October 11, 2021. She is currently Assistant City Manager, CIO and Interim Public Works Director with City of Fairfield, CA.
She has over 18 years of experience in the public sector and recently served as Director of 311 Call Center / IT for City of Berkeley and Chief Information Officer for Vacaville. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Master of Science in Statistics, Delhi University Delhi, India, and a Master of Public Administration, Golden Gate University. Savita belongs to many notable professional organizations such as the International City/County Management Association, Municipal Management Association of Northern California, Municipal Information Systems Association of California, and Metropolitan Information Exchange.

Mike has over 20 years of strategic planning, portfolio and project management, process
improvement, and change management expertise. His extensive background encompasses
logistics, supply chain management, and operations management. He has led cross-
functional teams and delivered complex projects across diverse industries such as the U.S.
military, biotechnology, and higher education. His career journey showcases his adeptness in spearheading a wide range of initiatives,
underscoring his commitment to driving project success through effective communication, stakeholder engagement, and an emphasis on interpersonal skills to navigate challenges.

Nina D’Amato is chief information officer for the County of Santa Clara and head of the Technology Services and Solutions (TSS) Department. Prior to accepting this role, she was associate chief information officer, Shared Business Services, where she oversaw the TSS strategy, human resources, finance, vendor management, IT project portfolio management, IT service management office, decision support team, governance, and organizational performance while synchronizing pieces of the organization to deliver initiatives. Formerly, she was director of the Office of the CIO.
Prior to joining the County of Santa Clara in November 2020, Nina was at the City and County of San Francisco where she served as the CIO’s Chief of Staff. Previously, she served in the Marine Corps, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Nina’s assignments included Deputy of Programs at the Naval Postgraduate School, a Congressional Fellowship in the Office of Senator Robert P. Casey Jr., Director of the Marine Corps Education and Gender Portfolio in Afghanistan and as an Intelligence Program Officer. Prior to her military service, Nina served as a Teach for America Mathematics teacher in East Palo Alto.
Nina earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington and a Master of Arts from Berkeley. She is a graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff General College and holds a certificate in legislative studies from Georgetown as well as a certificate in design thinking from Stanford. She also completed coursework at Singularity University. She holds a project management certificate from Berkeley and is a certified Scrum Master.

Mike is a Technical Services Director for Alameda County.  A veteran developer/designer of over 20 years, he manages the County's Web Team, which is responsible for over 70 County websites of all sizes spanning nearly all Departments/Agencies, as well managing and maintaining the primary social media channels for the County.  Mike is also the central IT account manager for the Alameda County Fire Department and the Alameda County Child Support Services Agency.

Maisha Dottery, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the California Department of Community Services and Development, assumed her role in July 2021, spearheading transformative growth in information technology. Under her strategic leadership, she established a sustainable model for IT services, capital planning, and talent acquisition, advancing the Department's mission-critical work.
A visionary Executive CIO, Maisha champions a collaborative ethos encapsulated by her motto: "We Over Me." This principle underscores her commitment to teamwork, both within the organization and with external partners. Her leadership style fosters a culture valuing diverse perspectives, encouraging innovation, and driving operational excellence.
Beyond her executive role, Maisha, an adjunct professor, is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of IT professionals. Active in the broader IT community, she serves on the executive council for the Public Sector Network and contributes to California's Public Sector CIO Academy Conference.
Under Maisha's guidance, CSD gained acclaim for its cutting-edge rapid project delivery, exemplified by the $1.5-billion 2023 California Arrearages Payment Program (CAPP). CAPP, a testament to lean systems agile principles, and collaborative innovation, effectively delivers services to citizens in need.
Maisha's extensive experience in large-scale automation projects reflects a strategic vision and a commitment to innovation. Her leadership, marked by the tagline "We Over Me," inspires positive change, leaving an indelible mark on both her organization and the broader IT community.

Jon has been the Chief Information Officer for Napa County since 2007, leading the county's information technology initiatives for over 17 years. Prior to that he was the IT Manager responsible the county’s ERP systems. Jon has over 22 years of experience in the public sector and prior to that accumulated extensive experience in the private sector, including his early career at a billion-dollar computer manufacturing company in the Silicon Valley. Jon holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a master’s degree in business administration. One of the larger initiatives at the county is data. This includes the recent development of the Napa County’s data strategy and data governance, and the implementation of an enterprise-wide data management system. Jon’s blend of public and private sector experience has significantly contributed to the technological advancement at Napa County.

Sybil is the Assistant CIO for Alameda County.  She is responsible for the Account Management of approximately 20 Departments/Agencies as well as the development and support of enterprise apps including .ERP, Criminal Justice and Property Systems.  She also leads Digital Services and Strategy focused on Citizen Engagement as well as leading the County's Cybersecurity Program.

Donald Hester is a cybersecurity advocate who has worked to make the world cybersafe in his roles as a cybersecurity auditor, educator, and cybersecurity manager for the past 25 years. Donald joined the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in 2023. He currently serves as a cybersecurity advisor in San Francisco and covers Northern California. Prior to CISA, Donald was the cybersecurity manager at City of Livermore, managing governance, risk, and compliance to ensure Livermore was cyber safe. Prior to Livermore, Donald gained more than 20 years of experience as an IT auditor and cybersecurity director at Maze & Associates. He has taught IT and cybersecurity courses for a number of universities and colleges. Donald has a master’s degree from Biola University and a bachelor’s degree in Security Management from American Military University. Donald’s professional certifications include; CISSP, CISA, CGRC, CRISC, Security+, CTT+, and MOFF. Donald is a Marine Veteran and started his career as a field radio operator.

Persis leads the content team for Digital and Data Services, City and County of San Francisco. She’s built a team who manage both content and translations, including bilingual content designers for Chinese and Spanish. She launched the City’s new(ish) website, SF.gov, and worked for clear information and instructions for San Franciscans during Covid.
Before moving to San Francisco, Persis worked for the Government Digital Services in the UK. While there she built a community of practice for editors across federal government and worked on the launch of GOV.UK.

Menaka Indrani is an Engineering Executive Leader with over 25 years of management, system development, and modernization experience, specializing in strategic planning, program evaluation, cost analysis, vendor management, and board governance. With a dynamic career marked by leading successful multi-million-dollar IT projects, Menaka has spent the last 15 years at Alameda County, spearheading the development and procurement of systems and providing essential support to county agencies. Her expertise is rooted in successful implementations, well-managed IT operations, and best practices drawn from diverse industries and environments.
Menaka has demonstrated exceptional leadership, problem-solving, planning, team-building, and project management skills throughout her career. She excels in recruiting, developing, motivating, and retaining a diverse staff, and structuring teams that consistently deliver results. She has a notable track record of providing strategic direction and consulting to senior management on technology, successfully balancing strategic initiatives with tactical operations. Over the years, in-house systems developed by Menaka’s team to support Alameda County residents, businesses, and county agencies have garnered numerous prestigious awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo), Public Technology Institute (PTI), Red Tape to Red Carpet, Digital Government Achievement Awards (DGAA), California State Association of Counties (CSAC), 3CMA – SAVVY, Government Experience (GovX), Center for Digital Government, and the Best of California Awards, recognizing their outstanding achievements.
Menaka’s specialties include IT strategy and execution, technology architecture and integration, enterprise systems implementations, and new product and technology launches. Her expertise extends to innovation and Artificial Intelligence, leveraging low-code technology to drive advancements in automation and intelligent systems. Her core competencies encompass extensive knowledge of technological business applications, project management tools, software engineering practices, budgeting methods, and technology integration.

Keith LaFaver, Security Program Manager for Alameda County, brings over 20 years of experience in the security field. He began his career in the private sector, working in high-stakes environments such as stock and option trading and large banking institutions, where he gained extensive expertise in security management. In his current role, Keith is responsible for overseeing all aspects of cybersecurity and account provisioning for the county. His responsibilities include developing and implementing security strategies, identifying risk, and ensuring security framework compliance. Keith’s extensive background in both private and public sectors highlights his commitment to maintaining robust security measures and protecting county operations through strategic cybersecurity initiatives.

Michael Makstman is San Francisco’s Chief information Officer leading the Department of Technology (DT). DT serves City departments, staff, and San Francisco residents by providing secure, reliable, and innovative technology services. Michael has previously served as the City Chief Information Security Officer and the first Head of the San Francisco Office of Cybersecurity. He has recently been selected as one of the top 25 technology doers, dreamers, and drivers in the nation by the Government Technology Magazine.
Prior to joining the City and County of San Francisco, Michael served in executive roles at complex, regulated organizations in Healthcare, Finance and Technology industries for over 15 years. Michael is a founder and Co-Chair of Coalition of City CISOs (cityciso.org), an organization dedicated to promoting cybersecurity for local governments. He is a Fellow of the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA), the largest international organization of information security professionals, and holds Bachelor’s degree in Finance and IT from DePaul University and Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

In 2018, Liza became the Chief Information Officer for Marin County, CA. Prior to that, she served as a technology executive in several state and local government agencies, including San Francisco and the City of LA. Liza also founded and was CEO for a government consulting firm, led a tech non-profit, taught at two universities, and was an award-winning columnist. She has served on numerous Boards of Directors and government task forces and is a frequent speaker at conferences and contributor to numerous publications. Liza has received several awards throughout her career including being recognized as a Top 25 Doer, Dreamer & Driver of Public Sector Innovation.
Fun fact – Liza accepted two Daytime Emmy Awards on behalf of the government television channel she managed for the City of LA.

Mr. Ed Miranda is Newark's first Chief Information Officer / Information Technology Director. His career in local government began with the City of Anaheim as the Information Services Supervisor in the Public Utilities Department. After several consulting roles with Andersen Consulting, he joined PeopleSoft as the Western Region Information Technology Manager, responsible for IT Field Operations, 24/7 infrastructure operations, and software development support. After assisting with the transition of PeopleSoft to Oracle in 2005, he transitioned to the Boeing Company where he served in a variety of IT roles. At Boeing Capital Corporation (formerly McDonnell Douglas Finance Corporation), he was a senior member of the Information Technology Architecture and Infrastructure team. As part of Boeing's Global IT team, Mr. Miranda managed the technical IT Competency Center that included a team of subject matter experts in the Global Integrated Development Environment Service Center.
In 2014, Mr. Miranda relocated to the Bay Area to join the City of Fremont as the Information Technology Manager directly assisting the CIO and leading the Customer Service Division providing citywide IT support. During his tenure at Fremont, he attained the Certified Government Chief Information Officer (CGCIO) certification through Rutgers University Center for Government Services.
In 2022, Mr. Miranda became the City of Newark's first Chief Information Officer/Information Technology Director. As the immediate Past President of the Municipal Information Systems Association of California (MISAC), Mr. Miranda promotes the goals of leadership, education and access to resources for local agency technology professionals enhancing local government services and effectiveness.
Mr. Miranda graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a Master of Science in Software Management and earned a MBA Technology Management from University of Phoenix, and a BS Industrial Technology/Quality Assurance from California State University Long Beach.
Mr. Miranda was born in Guam and lived in Adak, Alaska for a brief time while his father served in the US Navy. As a Fremont resident, Mr. Miranda is married and enjoys spending time with his wife and family.

Stephen Pieraldi is a security expert who works comfortably in both hardware and software. Stephen has designed advanced Machine Learning-based detection systems and highly secure mobile to cloud-based protection systems. An internet search will highlight many of Stephen's accomplishments.  His unique capabilities are now being used at HP, as a Distinguished Technologist, while continuing to teach at U.C. Berkeley.

Nathan Sinclair, Interim Chief Information Security Officer for the City & County of San Francisco, Office of Cybersecurity plays a key role in protecting the City and its 30,000 employees. The Office of cybersecurity plays a key role in providing cyber defense services, risk and resiliency and identity governance. With these key areas this helps to improve the posture for the entire organization.
Before joining the Office of cybersecurity & Department of Technology, Nathan worked for the Oakland Unified School District. Starting as an intern in high school Nathan has been a public servant his entire career. This has given him valuable experience and knowledge of what it means to be a steward of public funds ensuring that no dollar is wasted, and every dollar is spent in places needed most. “As a public servant you learn how to do a lot with a little”.

Khaled directs a diverse civic technology portfolio and the San José 311 Contact Center for the nation’s twelfth largest municipality. The City organization consists of 7,000 employees and carries over $5 billion total budget, serving 1 million residents and 80,000 businesses in the heart of Silicon Valley. The City’s quest is to be as innovative as the community we serve. San José is recognized for its leading role in innovation, artificial intelligence, digital privacy, driving equity through data, and digital empowerment.
Over two decades, Khaled has held senior leadership roles in the government and private sectors, including Los Angeles County and City of Irvine, earning his teams’ national awards for operational excellence through technology and innovative solutions.

Rebecca Vanegas is the IT Manager with the City of Richmond, managing GIS, the Open Data Platform, Website, and the City AI Implementation program. She is actively navigating a number of city-based projects seeking to optimize data accessibility, transparency, and integration within existing City workflows.

Devon Winthrop has been with AT&T for 24 years and is currently a Principal Architect 2 with the Government, Education and Medical organization in AT&T’s Global Public Sector. Devon support spans all of AT&T services & technologies globally.
As a Principal Architect 2, he is involved with innovation strategy and technical architecture for AT&T. Devon collaborates with Enterprise Architecture and IT leadership teams to drive strategic roadmaps that align with your technology and business objectives. He works within the innovation spaces at AT&T to forward emerging and evolving technologies. He recommends technology standards, principles and best practices, while integrating market trends and industry insights to drive forward-looking solutions.
Devon began his career as an Outside Plant Engineer, designing T-1 networks and developing AT&T’s original fiber switched Ethernet WAN services. He has over 20 years experience as an industry consultant; developing complex solutions involving traditional and emerging services in the areas of networking, voice transformation, security, mobility, IoT and Smart Cities, and network integration.
Devon also volunteers in his community as a board member on with the Live Performing Arts Academy supporting the music arts in his home city of Folsom California.