Amanda Crawford is the executive director of the Texas Department of Information Resources and the CIO for the State of Texas. In this role, she is responsible for the leadership, direction and daily operations of DIR, an agency with an annual fiscal profile of more than $6 billion per year. DIR's responsibilities include protecting the state's data and critical technology infrastructure, managing a multi-billion-dollar cooperative contracts program and providing strategic technology leadership, solutions and innovation to all levels of Texas government.
Prior to leading the team at DIR, Mandy served at the Office of the Attorney General of Texas for more than 17 years. She held various positions at the OAG, including ultimately serving for as the deputy attorney general for Administration and General Counsel.
Mandy is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and earned her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

Stephanie Dedmon was named CIO for the State of Tennessee in October 2018. In this role she is responsible for all operational areas of the state’s central IT organization, Strategic Technology Solutions. This includes managing the team’s IT service delivery, technical infrastructure development and support and customer service management and a workforce of almost 1200 IT professionals.
As Deputy CIO, Dedmon was previously responsible for the Enterprise IT Transformation (EIT) initiative that furthered the State’s enterprise IT organization by transitioning over 800 Executive Branch Department IT employees to STS. Prior to being named Deputy CIO in November of 2015, Dedmon served as the Director of Business Solutions Delivery (BSD), also within the Department of Finance & Administration. BSD was created in late 2011 to build a team of experienced senior project directors, project managers and business analysts to help lead the state’s most complex IT/business solution implementations and improve project delivery success rates.
Prior to joining the State in 2005, Dedmon was an Associate Partner with Accenture in Nashville and served as project director on many public sector software implementations. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Tennessee Technological University (TTU) in Cookeville, Tennessee, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, also from TTU. She achieved her Project Management Professional certification in August of 2012.
Dedmon is a member of the National Association of State CIOs (NASCIO), where she serves as Secretary/Treasurer with the Executive Committee and as Co-Chair of the Innovation Committee. She is a member of the Greater Nashville Technology Council, where she serves as the Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair and is a Board Member. She is also an active member of Women in Technology in Tennessee and the Nashville Project Management Institute (PMI) chapter. In March 2018, she was named one of Government Technology’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers for her work on the State’s IT transformation. She also was the recipient of the George H. Bass award for Leadership in Tennessee State Government in October 2019. Most recently, Dedmon was awarded CIO of the Year at the Greater Nashville Technology Council’s 12th Annual NTC Awards in April 2021.

Dr. Brian Gardner is the interim CIO for the City of Dallas. He joined the city in 2017 to develop IT Risk Management and Regulatory Compliance programs. Since taking on the role, he has implemented a risk-based framework for cybersecurity strategy to assess and mature the city’s security capabilities, assure regulatory compliance and mitigate enterprise-wide technology and business risk. In addition, implementing the city’s first Cyber Fusion Center and Security Operation Center.
Dr. Brian’s cybersecurity industry experience extends from global financial services, national healthcare services and Big Four consulting before entering public service. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Forensic Accounting, a master’s in Information Security Management and a PhD in Information Technology, Security and Assurance. As well as research and publication on disaster recovery, he holds certifications in Cloud Security and Privacy. He is a founding member of the Coalition of City CISOs. The group is dedicated to bringing municipal leaders and cybersecurity professionals together to advance municipal cybersecurity.
Dr. Brian and his family reside in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with their six children. He and his wife actively foster children from the region in hopes to provide them a better start. Over the past seven years, they have fostered over 20 kids of all ages, from infant to teenagers. In addition, he helps with the Dallas ISD P-TECH program and actively assists with guidance for students around the IT security field.

Denis Goulet was appointed commissioner of the Department of Information Technology for the state of New Hampshire in February 2015 by Governor Maggie Hassan. He was re-appointed in 2019 and 2023 for additional four-year terms by Governor Chris Sununu. Denis has also served as a director, vice president, and president of the National Association of State CIOs. He currently serves as a director on the NASCIO Executive Committee.
Most recently the director of development for the software development firm Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Denis has nearly 30 years of private-sector IT experience in industries such as healthcare, high technology and manufacturing. He was previously the vice president of information technology from 2004 to 2010 at Progress Software Corporation, were he also previously worked as the director of information systems, the director of e-business and the director of IT operations.

Michael Gregg has more than 20 years of experience in information security and risk management. He is the CISO for the state of North Dakota. Previously, he has worked in private industry and as an expat CISO for global organizations. In addition to his experience as a security practitioner, Michael has authored or coauthored more than 20 books, including Hack the Stack, Build Your Own Security Lab and Security Administrator Street Smarts.
In 2024, Michael was awarded one of the Top 20 Doers, Drivers and Dreamers for State Government and presented with the CISO Visionary Leadership Award. In 2023, he was voted one of the top 100 CISOs for North America. Michael has been invited to the White House to discuss cyber security and has testified at the state level and before U.S. Congress. His articles have been published on IT websites and he has been sourced as an industry expert for CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, Fox News and the New York Times. Michael believes he can give something back to the community that has given him so much and serves on cyber advisory board for several colleges and works with several non-profit organizations.

Rafael Mena was appointed as CIO by the Orange County Mayor in 2002. For almost two decades since, he has led a talented team of IT professionals who maintain the technology needs for more than 8,000 Orange County employees, operating within the $6 billion Orange County budget. His primary goal is to support the Mayor’s vision to make Orange County the “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow” by creating a community culture of innovation, collaboration, and inclusiveness.
The role of CIO is a multifaceted one, requiring strong leadership skills and the ability to direct, plan and organize information technology solutions for all Orange County Government entities. This includes all constitutional offices such as the Clerk of Courts, Court Administration, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Supervisor of Elections and the Board of County Commissioners. The CIO also manages the Information Systems & Services Division, 911 Administration, 311 Citizen Call Center, Convention Center and Radio Services.
Rafael’s notable accomplishments during his tenure include:
Invited to present to President Barack Obama in 2013 regarding Orange County's innovations in emergency response. Rafael presented overviews of the OCFL Alert and OCFL 311 mobile apps that assist residents before, during, and after extreme weather events.
Honored by the Dominican Republic Ministry of the Presidency for his assistance in implementing the country's new emergency 911 system, video surveillance system and radio system.
Named among the Top 25 Influential Hispanics in Central Florida in January 2014 by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando (HCCMO).
Awarded "Top 100" Most Influential Hispanics in Information Technology in 2013, 2016 and 2017 by the Hispanic IT Executive Council.
Identified as lead local CIO – February 2013, Government Technology Editorial Roundtable
Selected as one of the "Top 25 Dreamers, Doers and Drivers" in Digital Government and government technology professionals in the nation – February 2007 Government Technology magazine.
Oversaw multiple departments that were invaluable in ensuring Orange County residents were able to access vital information about the COVID-19 pandemic, the County’s response, and how best to keep their families safe during an unprecedented global event.
Recognized as a 2006 Computerworld Honors Program Laureate in the category of Government & Non-Profit Organizations – “Bringing IT Together: One Network and Three Storms.”
Rafael is active in the community, particularly in the area of developing future IT leaders. He enjoys partnering with local educational institutions, and volunteering his time to speak to high school and college students interested in pursuing a career in technology.

Tony O’Neill is CISO and chief risk officer for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As the state’s lead IT agency, the executive team is responsible for planning, development, communications and implementation of the Commonwealth’s digital transformation, including enhancing data security, safeguarding privacy and improving service delivery to the end user. On an ongoing basis, he provides operational risk management for value creation and protection and serves as an advisor for organizational governance and leadership.

Craig P. Orgeron has extensive information technology experience in the private, federal and state levels of the public sector. Currently, he serves as the executive director of the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services and CIO for the State of Mississippi, a role he held previously for nearly a decade. Craig began his career as a communications-computer systems officer in the United States Air Force. He has served as an executive government advisor with Amazon Web Services, president of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers and on the Executive Committee of the Multi-State Information Sharing & Analysis Center (MS-ISAC). He holds a bachelor’s degree in MIS, a master’s degree and a doctorate in public policy and administration from Mississippi State University and is a graduate of the Harvard University Business Analytics Program (HBAP).

Robert “Bob” Osmond was appointed as CIO of the Commonwealth by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin in April 2022. As CIO, he leads the Virginia Information Technologies Agency. He brings vast experience in public and private sector technology to the role, having most recently led information technology, process improvement and strategic innovation as the chief of Technology and Business Strategy at the Virginia Department of Transportation. Prior to his role as chief, he served as the division administrator of VDOT’s information technology division.
Before joining VDOT, Bob was an executive partner with IBM where he led national practices responsible for application development, organizational change management and human capital management. He has supported strategic planning, business transformation and global process improvement for several Fortune 500 organizations and federal cabinet-level agencies.
Bob earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from Virginia Tech and is a member of the Academy of Distinguished Alumni in the Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. He is a graduate of the Virginia Executive Institute and has taught at the George Washington School of Business. In 2023, he was recognized by StateScoop as a State Executive of the Year.

Bert Quarfordt is an accomplished information technology and IT services professional of over 30 years. He is currently the deputy CIO – Infrastructure at the City of Houston, Texas. Bert is responsible for leading the Enterprise Infrastructure Services Division in the Houston IT Services Department. The EIS division provides mission critical infrastructure services 24/7/365 to the City of Houston’s diverse group of 23 departments encompassing public safety, utilities, transportation, community services and central service operations.
Prior to joining the City of Houston in 2019, Bert worked in the private sector for many years focusing on information technology at numerous companies, including Conoco, Compaq, HP and Hewlett Packard Enterprise.
Bert has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a Minor in Mathematics from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX.

Archie Satchell is the CIO for Palm Beach County, Florida, where he is dedicated to enhancing customer service and driving continuous organizational improvement.
With a distinguished career spanning 40 years, Archie has held key executive leadership positions, including CIO, deputy CIO and director of application development. He consistently fosters collaborative partnerships across local government, non-profit entities and educational institutions to establish a resilient and secure infrastructure optimally utilizing public resources.
Archie holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northwood University. He is an active member of professional associations such as the Florida Local Government Information Systems Association (FLGISA), the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) and the National Association of Counties Telecommunications & Technology Committee and County Technology Advisory Council, demonstrating his commitment to professional development and industry best practices.

Chris Seidt is the executive director of Metro Technology Services for the city of Louisville, Kentucky where he has served under four different myoral administrations over the past 22 years, serving in a variety of roles for the merged city-county government, including Public Safety, Smart Cities and IT Operations. Chris has led a digital transformation of the city over the last six and a half years, including the rollout of their expanded city fiber network, which connects over 100 city campuses and facilities, a new cloud ERP, HCM, CAD, Police RMS and Jail Management, amongst dozens of other improvements that make the city operate more efficiently and effectively. Chris holds a B.S. in Organizational Leadership from the University of Louisville and numerous industry-recognized technical certifications.

Juan A. Torres is the CIO for the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, the largest county in the State of Ohio. As CIO, he provides leadership, budgeting and technology strategy to 14 county agencies supporting 1,400 employees. He is also a trusted advisor on technology initiatives and solutions for Franklin County’s elected officials.
He is an integrated partner of the Office of Management & Budget that oversees the county’s annual $2.2 billion budgeting process for 35 agencies to ensure Franklin County remains one of the finest, best-governed counties in the nation. He has focused experience in strategic planning, public budgeting and finance, contract negotiation, enterprise implementations and cybersecurity.
Juan holds a BS in computer information management and an MBA from Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from Leadership Columbus Class of 2019 and serves on the Junior Achievement of Central Ohio Board and the National Association of Counties IT Steering Committee. He is also an adjunct professor at The Ohio State University.