COVITS for Leaders brings together current and emerging technology leaders with the industry partners that support them. This invitation-only event provides a space for leaders to collaborate while addressing the most important policy, management and leadership issues surrounding the future of digital government. Contact us if you’d like to join the conversation!
Our COVITS for Leaders event equips our Virginia technology leaders of today and tomorrow with tools, connections and strategies across sectors, branches and organizational lines to serve Virginians well. Creating a designated space for technology leaders allows us an opportunity to collectively connect, protect and innovate as we meet the current and changing needs of our industry.
– Robert Osmond, Chief Information Officer, Commonwealth of Virginia
Thursday September 12 |
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8:00 am Eastern |
Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit AreaGrand Ballroom Lobby and Grand Ballroom A |
9:00 am Eastern |
WelcomeGrand Ballroom B/CRobert Osmond, Chief Information Officer, Virginia Information Technologies Agency, Commonwealth of Virginia |
9:10 am Eastern |
Leading Beyond Our LimitsGrand Ballroom B/CWe’re pressed to the edge of our comfort zone daily. Faced with evolving challenges, unforeseen obstacles, and constant change, it can be tempting to stick to the familiar and avoid risk. Yet, there’s opportunity on the other side of discomfort, and standing out as a leader who’s willing to embrace uncharted territories is a remarkable way to inspire innovation and drive transformation. Join Saby Waraich as he draws on his real-life experience as a trailblazing guide in leadership. Learn to step into the uncomfortable to expand your impact, conquer complex challenges, and build a legacy of resilient leadership. Saby Waraich, Chief Information Officer/Chief Information Security Officer, Clackamas Community College |
10:10 am Eastern |
Networking Break in the Exhibit AreaGrand Ballroom A |
10:40 am Eastern |
Concurrent SessionsThe IT Workforce of the FutureRoom B15-A (Level 1)Workforce challenges in the public sector are not a new issue – but one that has certainly evolved over the last few years. What skills are ACTUALLY needed to have an effective team in 2024? How can we ensure we have the right people in place to align IT initiatives with business strategies? Are there new approaches to examine as we look to retain and upskill our current staff? This session will provide answers to those questions as we strive to build a robust and dynamic workforce. Moderator: Phil Bertolini, Vice President, Government Technology Nicole Overly, Deputy Secretary for Workforce Development, Commonwealth of Virginia John Savage, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Virginia Community College System Tom Williamson, Chief Information Officer, City of Lynchburg Charting the Course: Strategic IT Road MappingRoom B15-B (Level 1)Having a strategic IT roadmap is pivotal in shaping the future of government agencies, and leadership drives the creation of these roadmaps to align organizational goals with technological advancements. But how do you get from point A to Z? In this session, you will gain insights into what strategic road mapping is and how to build it, while fostering collaboration and garnering stakeholder buy-in along the way. Moderator: Robert Branch, CISO, City of Virginia Beach Tiffany Blair, Principal, Government Digital Transformation, Salesforce Tracy Lyles, Enterprise Architect, City of Virginia Beach Richard Matthews, Chief of Customer Experience, Information Technologies Agency, Commonwealth of Virginia Ken Pfeil, Chief Data Officer, Commonwealth of Virginia Leading with Data to Achieve Performance & AccountabilityRoom B15-C (Level 1)“Garbage in, garbage out” is now a common refrain with IT professionals – but does your team understand what that actually means? How are conversations around governance and privacy affecting day-to-day work life? We are inundated with data and challenged with making the most out of it. How should we approach that dynamic and turn a challenge into an opportunity? Join our panel of data leaders as we chart the course for effective data initiatives through proper people management. Moderator: Barry Condrey, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government Jaime Lees, Chief Data Officer, Arlington County Igor Steinberg, Data, Analytics, and AI Specialist, Google Public Sector Marcus Thornton, Deputy Chief Data Officer, Commonwealth of Virginia Gerrit VanVoorhees, Director of Information Technology, City of Petersburg |
11:40 am Eastern |
LunchGrand Ballroom B/C |
12:40 pm Eastern |
Short BreakPlease proceed to the Concurrent Sessions |
12:50 pm Eastern |
Concurrent SessionsFrom Fragmentation to Fusion: Building a Unified Government IT EcosystemRoom B15-A (Level 1)In an era marked by rapid technological advancements and evolving citizen expectations, the need for seamless cooperation among different government entities has never been more crucial. But what does that actually look like? Is there a way we can better harness the combined power of federal, state and local thought leadership and funding opportunities? Do we need to reexamine our communication strategy? This session will dive into the challenge we face as public sector leaders – and further explore best practices and tactics for breaking through those silos. Moderator: Phil Bertolini, Vice President, Government Technology Carlos Aiken, Chief Technology Officer, City of Virginia Beach David Clark, Information Systems Security Technician, Department of Technology, City of Roanoke Robin Spellman, IT Quality Assurance Manager, City of Virginia Beach The Art of Cultivating LeadersRoom B15-B (Level 1)Effective leadership can often times be measured by how well one prepares others to lead. Identifying and further developing the next generation of leaders is an important function for continuous innovation and organizational success. How, then, do current leaders refine their own skills through the cultivation of a rich tapestry of skills among their teams? This panel will explore practical strategies to recognize emerging leaders while providing the necessary support and space for mutual growth. Moderator: Barry Condrey, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government Suresh Soundararajan, Chief Information Officer, Department of Health, Commonwealth of Virginia Melinda Stewart, Chief Executive of Enterprise Solutions, Information Technologies Agency, Commonwealth of Virginia Peter Wallace, Chief Information Officer, City of Virginia Beach Workforce Culture for a New EraRoom B15-C (Level 1)As emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) reshape the landscape of work, the public sector must adapt to foster a workforce culture that embraces innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. An effective company culture is consistently at the top of the list of job hunters. So how do you do it right? How can we as leaders overcome certain perceptions about the future of work? Getting everyone to row and lean into the organization’s mission is more critical than ever. This session will explore what creating an effective workplace culture means now and into the future. Moderator: Zach Thorn, Senior National Conference Director, Government Technology Matthew P. Cowley, PhD., Associate Vice Provost for Career and Professional Development, Virginia Tech Timothy Wyatt, Director of Information Technology, County of York |
1:50 pm Eastern |
Networking Break in the Exhibit AreaGrand Ballroom A |
2:10 pm Eastern |
General Session – Ensuring Workers Are Ready for Tomorrow’s JobsGrand Ballroom B/CAs technology reshapes the economy, workers, educators, and businesses alike must come to understand and make sense of what the future of work portends. How is technology revolutionizing work today? What is the potential impact on the workforce? Join us as we look to answer those questions and discuss what government, educational institutions and employers can do to help workers navigate the future. Glenn Davidson, Human Capital Transformation Executive, Deloitte |
2:40 pm Eastern |
General Session – IT Improv: Yes and……Grand Ballroom B/CEffective communication is a cornerstone of successful IT leadership, and comedy techniques could offer tools to enhance that skill. Improv is about more than just making people laugh – it’s about listening, collaborating, and working to build something that is bigger than the individual. Through interactive skits and real-world examples, this session will explore how to quickly think on your feet, deal with unique workplace situations and elevate how you interact with stakeholders. |
3:20 pm Eastern |
Networking Reception in the Exhibit AreaGrand Ballroom ANetwork with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event exhibitors. |
3:50 pm Eastern |
End of ConferenceConference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change. |
403 North 3rd Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 783-7300
Vengatesh Agaram
Chief Information Officer
Department of Taxation
Commonwealth of Virginia
Lee Andrews
Chief Information Officer
Department of the Treasury
Commonwealth of Virginia
Jessi Bailey
Acting Director of Communications
Office of Data Governance and Analytics
Commonwealth of Virginia
Vanessa Bohr
Director of Technology
City of Roanoke
Jason Brown
Chief Administrative Officer
Virginia Information Technologies Agency
David Burhop
Director
Division of Legislative Automated Systems
Commonwealth of Virginia
Roderick Burton
Director of Information Technology
Albemarle County
Daniel Constantineau
Chief Information Officer
City of Chesapeake
Paul Cormal
Chief Technology Officer
Department of Education
Commonwealth of Virginia
Ben Delp
Director of Research Development & Promotion
James Madison University
Scott Furman
Chief Information Officer
Chesterfield County
John Harrison
Cybersecurity Advisor
CISA/U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Jaime Lees
Chief Data Officer
Department of Technology Services
Arlington County
Lindsay LeGrand
Director of Communications
Virginia Information Technologies Agency
Commonwealth of Virginia
Rob Mancini
Chief Information Officer
Prince William County
Richard Matthews
Chief of Customer Experience
Virginia IT Agency
Commonwealth of Virginia
Dr. William McCormick
Director, Information Technology Services
Virginia Commonwealth University
Robert Osmond
Chief Information Officer
Virginia Information Technologies Agency
Commonwealth of Virginia
Ken Pfeil
Chief Data Officer
Office of the Secretary of Administration, Office of Data Governance and Analytics
Commonwealth of Virginia
Gregory Scott
Chief Technical Officer
Fairfax County
Lana Shelley
Chief Information Officer
Department of Motor Vehicles
Commonwealth of Virginia
Suresh Soundararajan
Chief Information Officer
Virginia Department of Health
Commonwealth of Virginia
Marcus Thornton
Deputy Chief Data Officer
Office of the Secretary of Administration, Office of Data Governance and Analytics
Commonwealth of Virginia
Suzanne Tills
Chief Information Officer
City of Fredericksburg
Peter Wallace
Chief Information Officer
City of Virginia Beach
Mike Watson
Chief Information Security Officer
Virginia Information Technologies Agency
Commonwealth of Virginia
Tom Williamson
Chief Information Officer
City of Lynchburg
Barbara Rigatti
Strategic Accounts Lead
Google Cloud
Aaron Trekle
Strategic Accounts Lead
Google cloud
2025 Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact:
Heather Earney
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 932-1339
E-mail: heather.earney@erepublic.com