Bay Area Digital Government Summit 2024 Banner

Overview

The Digital Government Summit brings together technology focused public-sector professionals with leading industry partners to connect on innovative approaches, get inspired and discover new technologies. Join us and let’s improve the future of government together!

A message from our Keynote Speaker

From the beginning, the Bay Area Digital Government Summit has been an important event for Bay Area IT leaders in the public sector, to collaborate, network and align on industry trends

- Ed Miranda,Chief Information Officer and IT Director, City of Newark

The 2024 Bay Area Digital Government Summit is where public sector tech professionals will gain valuable insights and forge relationships that benefit them long after the event.

- Liza Massey, Chief Information Officer, County of Marin

The Bay Area Digital Government Summit has been a valuable resource for collaboration between bay area IT leaders for many years and I’m looking forward to this year’s conference in Berkeley. It’s a great place to catch up with colleagues and hear from industry partners/vendors, to stay up to date on new products and services.

- Jon Gjestvang, Chief Information Officer, County of Napa

Speakers

Sharon Gai

Sharon Gai

Keynote Speaker and Author

Sharon Gai is an international female keynote speaker for corporations, associations and the public sector. Using her unique background from the east and west, she works with leaders worldwide to understand how to adopt AI into their workflows to increase productivity and efficiency. In her tenure at Alibaba, she advised brands and heads of state in crafting their digital strategy with programmatic marketing and AI. She has been the keynote speaker at TEDx, Singularity University, UBS, Deloitte, LVMH, Nestle, Ecomworld, and Etail. She is in the AAE list of Top Keynote Speakers in 2023. She is also one of 2024’s RETHINK Retail’s Top Retail Expert and a LinkedIn Top Voice in Public Speaking 2023. She has appeared on Bloomberg, ABC, CBC, CCTV, Techcrunch, Retail Asia, Wired, and The Next Web. She is the author of the book, Ecommerce Reimagined. Sharon has an Honors Bachelor’s degree in International Development from McGill and a Masters in Information and Knowledge Strategy from Columbia University.

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Mike Driessen

Mike Driessen

Vice President, Government Technology

Mike Driessen is a Vice President for Government Technology and the Publisher for Industry Insider.  He is responsible for managing the strategy and operations for all recurring revenue services including GovTech Industry Navigator, a market and sales intelligence tool for private-sector SLED teams, and GovTech Industry Insider which provides daily news and insights into gov tech markets.   
Mike brings over 30 years of experience in IT consulting and systems integration with firms like Accenture, Grant Thornton and Hitachi Consulting.  His experience covers sales and marketing leadership, advising on digital strategies, and managing enterprise application alliances and implementations.  He has managed both large global teams and led start-ups. Mike lives in Los Angeles, although he grew up in the Midwest, and graduated from Marquette University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Business Administration.

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Amina Al Sherif

Amina Al Sherif

Generative AI & ML Practice Lead, Google Cloud

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

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Herman Brown Jr.

Herman Brown Jr.

Chief Information Officer, District Attorney’s Office, City and County of San Francisco

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.

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Corey Bruins

Corey Bruins

National Conference Director, Government Technology

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.

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Savita Chaudhary

Savita Chaudhary

Assistant City Manager, City of Fairfield

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.

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Mike Cook

Mike Cook

Director, Business Process Management Office, University of California, Berkeley

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.

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Nina D’Amato

Nina D’Amato

Chief Information Officer, County of Santa Clara

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.

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Mike Dobbins

Mike Dobbins LinkedIn

Technical Services Director, Alameda County

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.

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Maisha Dottery

Maisha Dottery

Chief Information Officer, State of California

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.

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Jon Gjestvang

Jon Gjestvang

Chief Information Officer, Napa County

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.

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Sybil Gurney

Sybil Gurney LinkedIn

Assistant Chief Information Officer, Department of Information Technology, Alameda 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.

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Donald Hester

Donald Hester LinkedIn

CISA Cybersecurity Advisor, San Francisco Bay Area

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.

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Persis Howe

Persis Howe

Content Lead in SF Digital Services, City and County of San Francisco

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.

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Menaka Indrani

Menaka Indrani

Technical Services Director, Alameda County Information Technology Department

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.

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Keith LaFaver

Keith LaFaver

Security Program Manager, County of Alameda

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.

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Michael Makstman

Michael Makstman

City Chief Information Officer and Executive Director, Department of Technology, City and County of San Francisco

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.

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Liza Massey

Liza Massey

Chief Information Officer, Marin County

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.

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Ed Miranda

Ed Miranda

CIO and Information Technology Director, City of Newark

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.

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Stephen Pieraldi

Stephen Pieraldi

Distinguished Technologist, HP Inc.

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.

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Nathan Sinclair

Nathan Sinclair

Interim Chief Information Security Officer, City and County of San Francisco

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”.

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Khaled Tawfik

Khaled Tawfik

Chief Information Officer, City of San José, California

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.

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Rebecca Vanegas

Rebecca Vanegas

IT Manager, City of Richmond

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.

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Devon Winthrop

Devon Winthrop

Principal Architect II, AT&T

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.

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Agenda

Wednesday, August 28

8:00 am Pacific

Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Pre-Function Room

9:00 am Pacific

Opening Remarks

Berkeley Ballroom

Nina D’Amato, Chief Information Officer, County of Santa Clara

Michael Makstman, Chief Information Officer and Executive Director, Department of Technology, City and County of San Francisco

9:20 am Pacific

Keynote – Leading the AI Revolution: IT's New Role in Global Public Sector Innovation

Berkeley Ballroom

AI is reshaping everything and IT leaders in government and public sector organizations stand at a pivotal juncture. Traditionally viewed as reactive and slower to innovate than the private sector, the public sector is now uniquely positioned to take a hands-on stance in AI implementation. To do that, we need to understand how IT departments can anticipate, and address business needs proactively. In this whirlwind session, digital transformation and AI expert, Sharon Gai, will take us on a journey around the world. Starting from the bustling streets of Hangzhou to the high-tech healthcare facilities of Tokyo, and finally to the classrooms of New York. Through this session, government leaders will understand the myriad ways AI is redefining society and be equipped with actionable insights, aiding them in harnessing the full potential of AI for the betterment of their communities.

Sharon Gai, Keynote Speaker & Author

10:20 am Pacific

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Pre-Function Room

10:50 am Pacific

Concurrent Sessions

Exploring Disruptive Technology for Public Sector Innovation

Berkeley Ballroom

Innovation in the public sector can be transformative. How does your team break out of the status quo and remain open to innovative technologies? We will examine how crowdsourcing can harness collective wisdom and how smart communities are set to become the norm. Our panel will share success stories about innovative solutions and how to foster an “out of the box” mindset in your teams.

Moderator: Corey Bruins, National Conference Director, Government Technology

Maisha Dottery, Chief Information Officer, State of California

Khaled Tawfik, Chief Information Officer, City of San Jose

Amina Al Sherif, Head of Generative AI & ML, Google Cloud

Safeguarding Data Privacy

San Pablo Room

Big data is a big issue, we’ll cover the essentials of data privacy policies including retention, access, compliance, and transparency. How do you navigate the intricacies of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Public Records Requests while maintaining confidentiality? What is your disaster recovery plan? In this session we’ll discuss best practices around data retention and protection, the importance of audits and protocols for mitigating breaches.

Moderator: Mike Driessen, VP of Subscription Services, Government Technology

Jon Gjestvang, Chief Information Officer, Napa County

Rebecca Vanegas, IT Manager, City of Richmond

Mario Vallejo, Chief Information Officer, City of Union City

Fortifying the Frontline: Cybersecurity Hiring Trends and Collaborative Defense

Ashby Room

Let’s look at cybersecurity hiring trends and discuss how dedicated cyber teams can transform workflows and even reduce insurance fees. How can you optimize your team’s roles to prevent overlap or gaps in responsibilities? Can cities and counties work together to strengthen security for everyone? In this session our panel will discuss strategies for clarifying roles and nurturing new talent in the cybersecurity space. In addition, we’ll explore how cities and counties can bolster their defenses through resource sharing and collaborative response strategies.

Moderator: Savita Chaudhary, Assistant City Manager, City of Fairfield

Donald Hester, CISA Cybersecurity Advisor, San Francisco Bay Area

Adam Kostrzak, Chief Information Officer, City of Hayward

Keith LaFaver, Security Program Manager, County of Alameda

Stephen Pieraldi, Distinguished Technologist, HP Inc.

11:50 am Pacific

Lunch

Berkeley Terrace and Ballroom

12:50 pm Pacific

Bits and Bytes – Safeguarding the Ballot

Berkeley Ballroom

With the increasing sophistication of cyber threats, protecting the integrity of elections has never been more important. This Bits and Bytes session will cover strategies and technologies being employed to safeguard voter data and maintain public confidence in elections.

Moderator: Liza Massey, Chief Information Officer, County of Marin

Nathan Sinclair, Interim Chief Information Security Officer, City and County of San Francisco

1:20 pm Pacific

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

1:30 pm Pacific

Concurrent Sessions

Guiding Infrastructure Modernization Strategies

San Pablo Room

Critical decisions around infrastructure are pivotal to your organization’s success. How do you decide between cloud vs on prem solutions with exponential cost increases? How has your organization successfully migrated away from ageing systems? In this session we’ll explore key considerations when negotiating contracts and developing your strategy. We’ll look at use cases of successful migrations without service interruptions. Our panel will discuss how to align infrastructure decisions with organizational goals and establish governance frameworks to ensure accountability.

Moderator: Corey Bruins, National Conference Director, Government Technology

Ed Miranda, Chief Information Officer and Information Technology Director, City of Newark

Menaka Indrani, Technical Services Director, Alameda County Information Technology Department

Devon Winthrop, Principal Architect II, AT&T

Accessibility for All

Ashby Room

Join our dynamic session to discuss California’s accessibility initiatives. What are your organization’s accessibility priorities? How will you achieve maximum accessibility to support your constituents and avoid fines? With compliance deadlines looming, we’ll spotlight successful city and county website transformations with inclusive design that offers multiple languages and optimizes for deaf and blind users. We’ll touch on challenges faced by members of Digital Accessibility Work Groups (DAG) and explore successful use cases.

Moderator: Sybil Gurney, Assistant Chief Information Officer, Department of Information Technology, Alameda County

Liza Massey, Chief Information Officer, County of Marin

Mike Dobbins, Technical Services Director, Alameda County

Persis Howe, Content Lead in SF Digital Services, City and County of San Francisco

Mike Cook, Director, Business Process Management Office, University of California, Berkeley

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Berkeley Ballroom

Moderator: Monique Scott, National Conference Director, Government Technology

Michael Makstman, Chief Information Officer, City and County of San Francisco

Khaled Tawfik, Chief Information Officer, City of San Jose

2:30 pm Pacific

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Pre-Function Room

3:00 pm Pacific

General Session – The State of AI in GovTech: Exploring the Future

Berkeley Ballroom

Presented by the Center for Public Sector AI, this keynote presentation delves into the present status of Artificial Intelligence in the GovTech sector, offering a detailed examination of AI's applications within state and local governments. We will explore AI's potential future paths in GovTech, highlighting emerging trends and discussing how technology and policy leaders can prepare for AI's impact on service delivery. We will address starting points for AI implementation, stressing the importance of collaboration, ethical considerations, and equitable technology access. This forward-looking talk will equip attendees with a thorough understanding of AI's trajectory in GovTech, providing practical insights to effectively leverage AI for public sector innovation and advancement.

Mike Driessen, VP of Subscription Services, Government Technology

3:50 pm Pacific

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

Pre-Function Room

Network with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event exhibitors.

4:20 pm Pacific

End of Conference

Conference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change.

Marriott Residence Inn, Berkeley

2121 Center Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 982-2100

Get Directions To
Marriott Residence Inn, Berkeley

Registration Information / Contact Us

Contact Information

2025 Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact:

Heather Earney
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 932-1339
E-mail: heather.earney@erepublic.com

Venue

Marriott Residence Inn, Berkeley

2121 Center Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 982-2100