Name: California Government Technology Summit 2026
Start: 2026-08-25T08:00
Location: SAFE Credit Union Convention Center

Overview

The California Government Technology 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.

A message from our Keynote Speaker

The Government Technology Summit creates a place to strengthen cross-sector and cross-departmental collaboration to help California deliver digital services that surpass the expectations of residents and state employees. I look forward to learning and sharing with government and industry leaders about the great work happening across the state.

– Chris Given, State CIO & Director, Department of Technology, State of California

Speakers

Chris Given

State Chief Information Officer & Director, Department of Technology, State of California

Chris Given was appointed California State Chief Information Officer and Director of the California Department of Technology in April 2026. Mr. Given brings more than a decade of experience empowering talented, multi-disciplinary teams to craft more accessible and effective government services.
Prior to his role as State CIO he was the Deputy Secretary for Technology and Innovation at the California Government Operations Agency. He previously led the team that designed and built IRS Direct File, making it possible to file taxes online directly with the IRS for the first time. A seasoned civil servant, he’s worked across ten federal agencies—including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Administration for Children and Families—as well as the states of Connecticut, Illinois, and the District of Columbia. Chris has taught at the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences.

Noelle Russell

Leading AI Innovator and Practitioner, Founder and Chief AI Officer at AI Leadership Institute

Noelle Russell is one of the most recognized voices on the future of artificial intelligence and responsible innovation. A multi-award-winning TEDx presenter and best-selling author, she has become a go-to resource for organizations seeking to harness AI’s power to drive growth while managing risk. Named the #1 Agentic AI Leader in 2025, she has taught more than 3.4 million learners through LinkedIn, equipping leaders and teams with practical tools to thrive in an AI-powered economy. With her blend of technical expertise and business acumen, she helps organizations unlock AI’s full potential to achieve scalable, measurable outcomes.
Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Russell’s presentations deliver both inspiration and practical takeaways. She shows audiences how to seize opportunities with AI while safeguarding against unintended risks. By sharing real-world lessons from her work with top enterprises and her experience shaping emerging AI ecosystems, she helps leaders confidently navigate an AI-first future. Her keynotes empower decision-makers to identify immediate wins, build responsible strategies, and create lasting competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Across her career, Russell has led at some of the world’s most influential organizations, including NPR, Microsoft, IBM, AWS, and Amazon Alexa. She is a five-time Microsoft AI MVP and a respected authority on data and AI literacy. As the founder of the AI Leadership Institute, Russell works with leaders to design AI roadmaps that scale responsibly and sustainably. Her influence has been widely recognized with accolades including the AI and Cyber Leadership Award from DCALive, Trailblazer of the Year by Women in AI, a Top 10 Global Thought Leader in Generative AI by Thinkers360, and the #1 Thought Leader in Agentic AI.

Phil Bertolini

Chief Delivery Officer, Government Technology

Phil Bertolini is a Chief Delivery Officer for Government Technology, the premiere event and thought leadership content provider for state and local government technology professionals. Previously, he served as deputy county executive and CIO for Oakland County, Michigan. During his 31-year tenure, Phil built a world-class IT organization in the second-largest county in Michigan, just north of Detroit. As Oakland County CIO, he oversaw more than 150 employees serving over 1.2 million residents. In 2005, he was also promoted to deputy county executive, holding dual positions until his retirement. Phil’s efforts earned the county national attention, winning numerous awards for technology innovation and excellence. He was named Governing Magazine’s Public Official of the Year and Government Technology Magazine’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers. He was also honored by the President Obama White House as a Champion of Change.

Trelynd Bradley

Deputy Director, Innovation & Emerging Technologies, Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, State of California

Trelynd "Tre" Bradley is Deputy Director for Innovation and Emerging Technologies at the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), where he leads the state's work to keep California at the leading edge of artificial intelligence, quantum, fusion, space, robotics, and other frontier sectors. He advises state leaders on technology trends and opportunities, with a focus on commercialization, tech transfer, and talent pipeline development, and counsels corporate executives and entrepreneurs on incentive navigation and site selection. His business development portfolio includes some of the largest capital expenditure and job creation projects in California across aerospace and defense, clean energy, biotech, agriculture, manufacturing and more.
Before GO-Biz, Tre was an appointed Policy Analyst and Executive Fellow at the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, where he ran several projects in the lead-up to the Global Climate Action Summit. Earlier he served two airport chief executives at the Ontario International Airport Authority and Los Angeles World Airports, owned and operated a fireworks retail business in northern Colorado, and handled veterans' affairs casework for Congressman Raul Ruiz.
Tre holds a Master of Business Administration from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, a Graduate Certificate in Applied Policy and Government from California State University, Sacramento, and Bachelor of Arts degrees in business economics and political science from the University of California, Riverside.

Michael Bradshaw

Global Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI, Kyndryl

Michael Bradshaw is the Global Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI, focused on enabling our customers to modernize their complex technology environments and implement AI. Prior to this role, Michael spent three years as Kyndryl’s Chief Information Officer and successfully led Kyndryl’s ambitious technology transformation. Michael is also an Enterprise Executive Sponsor for the Hispanic/Latino KIN.
Michael joined Kyndryl from NBC Universal, where he spent nearly five years as Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer, leading the organization's global IT operations and overseeing NBC Universal's tech infrastructure, applications and IT strategy. He previously served as Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Mission Systems and Training and Vice president of Enterprise IT Services at Lockheed Martin.
A native of Durham, NC, Michael graduated from the University of North Carolina with a BS in Business Administration and an MS in computer science. He sits on the board of governors for Temple University Hospital, serves on the Temple University Health System Audit Committee, and is also a member of the industry advisory group for the Institute for Business and Information Technology at Temple’s Fox School of Business.

Chad Bratton

Chief Information Officer, Office of Data and Innovation, State of California

Chad Bratton currently serves as the Chief Information Officer for the Office of Data & Innovation (ODI). As Chief Information Officer, he is responsible for all IT and security operations at ODI. With over 14 years of IT experience in both the public and private sectors, Chad is passionate about improving service delivery and delivering secure products to Californians. Chad was the co-founder of Survival Servers LLC, where he worked full time from 2012-2015 before joining the state.
Chad previously served as Head of Information Technology for ODI where he procured and implemented ODI's critical IT infrastructure and systems to support engineering and administrative operations for a brand-new state department. Chad led the implementation of Google Workspace and MacOS for ODI, bringing in a new and innovative approach to state IT operations. In a prior role as DevOps Engineer and Digital Services Consultant with the California Department of Technology, Chad implemented improvements for critical services and was focused primarily on establishing continuous integration and deployment pipelines, and high availability architecture for ca.gov and other state websites.
Chad is a graduate of California State University Sacramento, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Management Information Systems and is a Certified Scrum Master (CSM).

Jennifer Chan

Assistant Chief, Justice Information Services, Department of Justice, State of California

Jennifer is a senior executive with more than 20 years of private and public sector experience collaborating with executive and key stakeholders, ensuring seamless IT operations, leading key initiatives, and managing organizational change while delivering quality results and implementing transformation and continuous improvement projects. Currently, she serves as the Assistant Chief for the California Justice Information Services (CJIS) at the Department of Justice (DOJ). Since joining the state in 2010, she has served in various management and executive leadership positions while also participating on industry Advisory Boards. Her state executive experience has included directing 24/7 IT operations, managing IT budgets in excess of $250M, and overseeing a large portfolio of over $3.7B in complex IT contracts. Prior to 2010, she served as an IT consultant in the private sector providing project management, Independent Project Oversight Consulting (IPOC), Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V), and business analysis services. Jennifer possesses a Master of Business Administration from the California State University, Sacramento, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Psychology from the University of California, Davis.

Neeraj Chauhan, PhD

Chief Technology Officer, UC Davis Campus

Chaeny Emanavin

Deputy State Chief Technology Officer, Department of Technology, State of California

Chaeny Emanavin joins the California Department of Technology as the Deputy State Chief Technology Officer. He brings over 25 years of civic technology experience ranging from web application development to enterprise technology modernization efforts. He enjoys coaching teams to apply private sector methodologies adapted for public sector use including product management, human centered design, iterative/agile methodologies, and design thinking. This is Chaeny’s second stint at CDT.
Prior to rejoining CDT, Chaeny was a Senior Advisor with the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation. There he coached international teams in Bogotá, Columbia; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Reykjavík, Iceland; Mexico City, Mexico as well as San Francisco and Washington DC in using human-centered design and product management to create novel solutions for cities.
Chaeny comes from a family tradition of state service. His mother, Diana Emanavin, has almost 50 years of state service and is one of the first African American female executives for the state. In 2018, Chaeny was the first ever governor-appointed Director of Innovation in the state service at CalHHS. Before serving California, Chaeny served as a web team lead, program manager and product manager in the federal government with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the U.S. Digital Service. He earned a Master of Arts degree in communication, culture and technology from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Symbolic Systems from Stanford University.

Lauren Farese

Group Vice President, SLED, Solution Engineering, Oracle

For the past 27 years, Lauren Farese has been a dedicated member of Oracle, focusing on bringing Oracle technology to various public sector customers. She currently holds a prominent position as Vice President, Cloud Engineering for the Public Sector – SLED Sales organization, where she provides support to all State and Local governments and Higher Education institutions. Previously, she led the US Federal government and Canada public sector engineering teams. Additionally, she plays a crucial role in supporting key Systems Integrators and partners who work with SLED Government customers. Throughout her impressive career spanning 35 years, Lauren has been actively involved in planning, developing, and implementing technology solutions for a wide range of organizations, including government, utilities, pharmaceuticals, financial services, and commercial sectors.
Before joining Oracle, Lauren's experience was diverse, having served as a developer, trainer, senior consultant, and solution architect at esteemed companies such as Advanced Data Management, Digital Equipment Corporation, and Hewlett-Packard.
Lauren's passion for technology extends beyond her work at Oracle. She is an active member of the NASCIO Enterprise Architecture, AI/ML and Data Governance workgroups, contributing to the publication of several technology briefs on emerging technologies. Moreover, Lauren is a valued member of the Smart Cities Council, and she has presented and been a panelist on numerous Digital Government Technology Summits, Alliance and GovExec events on various topics, including Data Modernization, Cyber Security, SOA/Integration, Data Warehouse/Data Lakehouse, Data Management, Extending SaaS Applications, AI/ML for Government, Analytics for Education, Application and Data Center Modernization, and Cloud and Hybrid deployments.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Lauren resides in rural Hunterdon County, NJ, with her husband and rescued animals. She is deeply engaged in her church and community. Currently, Lauren volunteers at the local food bank/thrift shop and actively supports animal rescue and adoption initiatives in her region. Her dedication to both her professional and charitable endeavors reflects her commitment to making a positive impact on society.

Rachel Frey

Principal, Deloitte

Rachel is a principal in Deloitte Consulting LLP's State Government Health and Human Services practice. For the past 15 years, she has worked with state and local government agencies defining approaches and implementing business and technology solutions to enhance service delivery; prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse; streamline business operations; refine organizational structures; and evaluate policies that drive these efforts. Rachel has a master's degree in public policy and management from the Heinz School at Carnegie Mellon and currently leads Deloitte’s Human Services Analytics solution offerings.

Dr. Jamie M. Garcia

Technical Program Director, Strategic Geographies and Research Outreach, IBM Quantum

Dr. Jeannette M. Garcia is the Technical Program Director, Strategic Geographies & Research Outreach for IBM Quantum. Garcia's research interests have previously focused on the application of quantum computers to chemistry & materials simulations. Prior to that, she focused on the synthesis & characterization of new recyclable polymers and polymers & materials with unique properties.
Garcia received her BS from Seattle University, and PhD in Chemistry at Boston College under the guidance of Prof. Amir H. Hoveyda, where she studied catalyst design & synthesis. When she first joined IBM Research in 2012 as a postdoctoral researcher, she worked with Dr. Jim Hedrick on high performance and recyclable materials. She became a Research Staff Member in 2013 and from 2017-2018, served as the Technical Advisor to Dr. Sophie Vandebroek, COO of IBM Research, at the TJ Watson Lab in Yorktown Heights, NY. In 2018, she became the manager and Global Lead for Quantum Applications in Quantum Chemistry, and Science and subsequently was the Senior Research Manager for Quantum Applications and Software team at IBM Research.
Garcia is one of MIT Tech Review’s 2015 35 Innovators Under 35, one of Business Insider’s 17 IBM Research Rock Stars, and the recipient of the Individual World Technology Award in Materials. In 2016, Garcia was named as one of Foreign Policy's Top 100 Global Thinkers. In 2017, she was the first recipient of the ACS POLY Division's Young Industrial Polymer Chemist Award and also selected as a YWCA Emerging Leader. In 2019, she was selected for the Silicon Valley Business Journal’s 40 under 40 list. She was selected for the 2022 Racheff Lecture at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She has authored over 40 papers, has over 115 patents and is an IBM Master Inventor. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, CNN, Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio (NPR), and Scientific American.

Rita Gass

Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, City of Rancho Cordova

Rita Gass is the Technology & Innovation Officer for the City of Rancho Cordova, where over the past 18 months she has spearheaded the city’s digital transformation roadmap. In this role, she has led enterprise cloud migrations, strengthened cybersecurity defenses, piloted AI-driven citizen services, and launched smart-city pilots that enhance public safety, mobility, and community engagement. Prior to her current post, Rita served as Chief Information Officer in California state government—most notably at the Employment Development Department and the Secretary of State—where she led multimillion-dollar system modernizations, bolstered cybersecurity defenses, and delivered customer-centered, data-driven solutions during surges in digital service demand. A nationally recognized leader in public-sector technology, she brings deep expertise navigating complex regulatory environments and forging collaborative partnerships between government and industry. At the CA Government Innovation Summit, Rita will share best practices for driving innovative, impactful, secure digital change across today’s evolving public-sector landscape.

Fredrick Gomez

Agency Chief Information Officer/Director, Information Technology Services, Department of Food and Agriculture, State of California

Fredrick is a proud Air Force veteran who attended the Community College of the Air Force, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Arizona State University, where he completed his studies in Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering Technology before beginning his IT career. His IT experience and educational background, which support his 24-year career, include earning his Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certification, Cisco Certified Network Administrator (CCNA) certification, Networking+, Computer Associates A+, and Computer Systems/Applications certifications.
His IT career began in 2000 in the private sector, where he held various positions of increasing responsibility for several companies, including Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Army Corps of Engineers, Dunmore Homes, and Verizon, before joining the state as a consultant with the Office of Systems Integration in 2007. He was recruited as the Infrastructure Lead and Supervisor at the California Employment Development Department. Subsequently, he served as the Infrastructure Chief at Caltrans before being appointed CIO and IT Director for the California Public Utilities Commission. He later returned to Caltrans as the IT Strategy Management Office Chief.
In June 2024, he joined the California Department of Food & Agriculture and was appointed to the Agency Chief Information Officer and Director over the Information Technology Services Division (ITSD). Fredrick is a State’s IT Leadership Academy graduate and a recipient of the Outstanding Leadership award. He feels honored to have worked in both the public and private sectors. His journey has provided him with valuable experience and fostered strong working relationships. He finds fulfillment in collaborating with stakeholders, building strategic partnerships, delivering exceptional customer service, providing innovative solutions, and cultivating a one IT concept of cohesive and productive teams.

Ajay Gupta

Chief Digital Transformation Officer, Department of Motor Vehicles, State of California

Ajay Gupta was appointed Chief Digital Transformation Officer in February 2020. He leads business and technology transformation efforts to assist the DMV in becoming a modern enterprise using transformative technologies like cloud-based SaaS, intelligent automation, digital credentials, Web3, and artificial intelligence. Ajay served as a special advisor to the DMV director prior to the Governor’s appointment.
Before joining state service, Ajay worked as a managing director at one of the Big 4 global professional service firms, where he led the delivery of legacy transformation, technology innovation, and managed services for State departments nationally. Ajay brings more than 27 years of public sector experience to the DMV.
Ajay has a B.E. in Electrical Engineering from Delhi College of Engineering and an MBA in Marketing and Information Technology from UC Davis and is certified in Project Management from PMI, NIST Cyber Security, Open Group Architecture Framework and several Cloud platforms.

Andy Hanks

Executive Strategist, Tanium

Andy Hanks is a Chief Government Strategist at Tanium with more than 30 years of experience in information technology; including 17 years focused on information security, regulatory compliance, and data privacy. Prior to joining Tanium, Hanks served as Senior Director at the Center for Internet Security, Chief Information Security Officer at the State of Montana, and Global Security Program Manager at IBM. Hanks earned a Master of Science degree in information systems from Drexel University, holds multiple cybersecurity certifications, and is a graduate of the FBI CISO Academy. Andy Hanks is a cybersecurity thought leader driven by a passion for protecting citizens’ data and defending critical infrastructure.

Jeffrey Hill

SLED Business Development Executive, AMD

Tim Howell

Government Strategy and Solutions, NinjaOne

Tim Howell is a senior enterprise technology leader focused on helping large public sector organizations modernize their IT infrastructure and methodology.
As a government strategy and solutions expert for NinjaOne, Tim works directly with IT leaders across the Western US on endpoint management, cybersecurity posture, and operational efficiency at scale. His career spans 30 years in SLED, energy, and manufacturing verticals, giving him a practical lens on how organizations of all kinds align technology investments to real-world outcomes and budget realities.
Tim also serves on the board of the Rocky Mountain AI Network (RMAIN), where he works at the intersection of AI adoption, infrastructure, and enterprise commercialization — helping organizations understand not just what's emerging, but what's actually deployable today.

Don Ingle

Industry Executive Advisor, SAP

Don Ingle serves as Industry Executive Advisor for State, Local and Education at SAP, providing a government executive leader’s perspective to SAP public sector strategy and customer engagement. With over 25 years of public sector IT executive leadership experience in Washington state and Colorado, Don has been dedicated to making technology the driving force behind digital transformation, smarter decision-making through data-driven insights, and improved organizational efficiency, transparency, and resilience. Through his role as a CIO, Don and his public sector teams have earned numerous national and state awards for internal and public-facing innovations and operational excellence.

Marcie Kahbody

Deputy Secretary, Agency Information Officer, CalSTA and Chief Information Officer, Department of Transportation, State of California

Marcie Kahbody is the Deputy Secretary of Technology, Agency Information Officer (AIO) for the California State Transportation Agency as well as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Caltrans. As AIO, Marcie leads collaboration across California transportation entities to increase innovation and successful information technology (IT) project delivery. Marcie is responsible for developing policies and procedures to govern business processes, security protocols, operational programs, and IT resources across the agency. As Caltrans CIO, she also has direct responsibility for Caltrans information technology programs, projects, and people. She ensures that resources are deployed efficiently, effectively, and in accordance with statewide mandates and department priorities.
Marcie has held Information Technology positions within the State of California for over 32 years including the role of Agency Information Officer at CalSTA since 2015. Prior she was an IT Chief for the Department of Health Care Services and worked in similar positions for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the California Department of Technology. Marcie spent the bulk of her career – nearly 20 years – at the Department of General Services as an Information Technology Manager and network administrator.
Marcie earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from California State University Sacramento and was a participant in the state’s Information Technology Leadership Academy in 2012. She is a Certified Microsoft Engineer and is part of Sac State’s Leadership for the Government Executive program. In 2023, Marcie received the esteemed ‘Women Who Mean Business Award’ from the Sacramento Business Journal.

Stephenson Loveson

Chief Information Officer, California Public Employees’ Retirement System

Stephenson has been part of the CalPERS team since 2010. He’s held a number of positions beginning with the Pension System Resumption Customer Acceptance Testing technical team, as a lead technical engineer for myCalPERS architecture, and as a supervisor over the Application Engineering and Support team. In 2017, he moved from the Enterprise Solutions Development Division to become the chief of Data Center Systems Management within the Technology Infrastructure Services Division; and, two years later, promoted to Data Center chief. During that time, Stephenson was responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the most critical and highly sensitive Data Center operations and interdepartmental infrastructure projects. In 2021 he became the chief technology officer leading the Customer Technologies Support team, Data Center, and part of the Information Technology Services Branch leadership team. He also took on additional responsibility as the interim CIO before being named permanently to the position.
Prior to joining state service, for more than 10 years Stephenson worked for a multi-national consulting firm with employees around the world. He handled multiple customers, predominantly in the North American financial services industry, managing production operations and application development for many applications using the onsite offshore model. He’s played many roles, including application development and maintenance, project management, and operations support.
Stephenson graduated from the University of Madras, India, with a Bachelor of Engineering in mechanical engineering. He went on to earn a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in information technology management and finance (minor) at the National Institute of Technology, Trichy, India.
Stephenson is an active leader in many civic organizations. He’s the immediate past president of the Asian Pacific State Employees Association and also a board member of the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Greater Sacramento chapter.

Joseph Morris

Chief Innovation Officer, Center for Digital Government

Joseph Morris is the chief innovation officer for the Center for Digital Government and a national keynote speaker on issues, trends and drivers impacting state and local government and education. He has authored publications and reports on funding streams, technology investment areas and public-sector priorities, and has led roundtables, projects and initiatives focused on issues within the public sector. Joe has conducted state and local government research with e.Republic since 2007 and knows the ins and outs of government on all levels. He received his Bachelor of Arts in government and international relations from the California State University, Sacramento.

John Ohanian

State Chief Data Officer, Office of Data and Innovation, State of California

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.

Travis Ralph

Principal Solutions Engineer, Wordpress VIP

Travis Ralph is a security architect and solutions engineer with 26 years of experience delivering enterprise-level IT solutions, system integrations, and Risk Callibrated results.
Currently serving as a Principal Solutions Engineer for WordPress VIP, Travis helps the public sector modernize digital services to deliver more and better-performing content to their citizens.
As a former Amazonian and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force, Travis knows how to remove barriers to deliver business results through transformative technical solutions in both the Public and Private Sectors.

Cathilea Robinett

Chief Executive Officer, e.Republic

Cathilea is Chief Executive Officer of e.Republic, where she oversees operations for the company’s award-winning media platforms: Governing, Government Technology and Emergency Management. Cathilea also oversees e.Republic’s websites, conferences and events, and its national research and advisory groups: the Center for Digital Government, the Center for Digital Education and the Governing Institute.
In 2014 Cathilea directed the launch of the Governing Institute’s Women in Government Leadership Program, an innovative initiative that encourages future generations of women to participate in public service.
Cathilea is a frequent speaker for government and education organizations worldwide, including the United Nations, Harvard University, the State Legislative Leaders' Foundation, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Council of State Governments, and the World Congress on Information Technology. She has been quoted frequently in publications including the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Forbes and others.
Cathilea is a recipient of NASCIO’s National Technology Champion Award for her outstanding contributions to advance public sector information technology innovation. She is also the winner of an Outstanding Women Leadership Award from the Sacramento Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and is a Greater Sacramento Business Hall of Fame Laureate.

Marissa Rosemblat

Assistant Deputy Director for the Delete Act, California Privacy Protection Agency

Deepanker Saxena

Head of Document Verification, Biometrics and Age Assurance Products, Socure

Deepanker Saxena was named Okta's Identity 25 for the year 2026, one of just 25 innovators worldwide recognized for being pioneers of securing identity in the age of AI. He is currently the Head of Document Verification, Biometrics and Age Assurance Products at Socure, where he leads the vision and strategy for building scalable and secure identity verification solutions. Leveraging cutting-edge machine learning and AI technologies, Deepanker collaborates with cross-functional teams across data science, engineering, and business operations to enhance the product’s capabilities. Passionate about solving real-world challenges, he is committed to creating inclusive and impactful solutions that foster trust and security across industries.

Anirban Sen

Deputy Director, Digital Identity Program, Office of Digital Services, Department of Technology, State of California

As Deputy Director of California's Digital Identity Program, Anirban leads statewide initiatives that enable secure, trusted, and customer-centered digital government services. His brings together executive leadership, cross-agency collaboration, technology strategy, privacy, governance, and public policy to improve how residents access government services.
Prior to joining California state government, Anirban held product leadership roles at Ford Motor Company, Workday, and Recommind, where he led enterprise platform modernization initiatives serving global organizations.

Allen Sheldon

State of California Lead Partner, KPMG

Allen Sheldon is a Principal and the Lead Partner for KPMG’s State of California Account, where he serves as the executive responsible for the firm's business and client relationships with the State. With a distinguished career spanning 30 years dedicated to the public sector, he specializes in guiding California's state and local government entities through large-scale transformative change and mission-critical operations.
Mr. Sheldon has a proven track record of managing business development, project delivery, and complex operations. His leadership is evident in his current work with California’s Health and Human Services Agency, where his team is defining the requirements for the state's new child welfare system (CARES). He has also spearheaded initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, such as implementing robotic process automation for the state's financial system (FI$Cal) and delivering the first ServiceNow Human Resources solution in California state government for the Department of Social Services (CDSS), which successfully automated manual HR processes and improved the employee experience. His work with the County of San Diego on the award-winning ConnectWellSD system transformed their service delivery model from program-centric to person-centric.
Mr. Sheldon holds a Master in Business Administration from Cornell's Johnson Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Washington University in St. Louis. He is also a Salesforce Certified Administrator.

Serenity Thompson

Deputy Director, Digital Services, Department of Motor Vehicles, State of California

Appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom, Serenity Thompson leads Digital Services at the California DMV—one of the largest public service operations in the country. Having built DMV’s Digital Services Division from the ground up, she oversees the strategic direction, design, and optimization of DMV’s digital service ecosystem, including DMV.ca.gov, mobile, kiosks, the intranet, and AI-driven interactions.
Serenity brings over 20 years of experience spanning public and private sectors. At DMV, she champions data-driven service design, user experience, product thinking, and inclusive digital access to modernize how Californians interact with government. At the California Lottery, she helped deliver record-breaking revenues for public education. Serenity earned her MBA from the University of San Francisco and her BA from UC Santa Cruz. Serenity holds certifications in Policy Design and Delivery, Human-Centered Design, AI, and Project Management, and continues to mentor emerging leaders in technology and public service.

Quentin Wright

Chief Information Officer, Government Operations, California Department of Technology

With over 32 years of distinguished service in California state government — including 26 years dedicated to Information Technology — Quentin Wright currently serves as the Chief Information Officer and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the California Department of Technology. Throughout a career marked by innovation and impact, Quentin has led large-scale, high-visibility technology initiatives, shaped statewide and departmental policy, and driven strategic modernization efforts across multiple departments (Department of Motor Vehicles, Office of Traffic Safety and California Department of Technology). Known for bridging executive leadership with technical execution, Quentin plays a pivotal role in advancing digital transformation and operational excellence for the state.
Key Areas of Expertise:
Proven executive leadership in steering multi-million-dollar, enterprise-wide and statewide initiatives with cross-agency collaboration
Deep experience in implementing both departmental and statewide technology solutions that improve public service delivery and operational efficiency
Skilled in strategic planning and governance, aligning technology investments with business priorities and legislative mandates
Recognized for leading organizational transformation, modernizing legacy systems, and building high-performing, service-oriented IT teams

Brian Wong

Agency Information Officer & Deputy Secretary, California Department of Labor and Workforce

Brian Wong serves as the Deputy Secretary of Innovation and Technology / Agency Information Officer of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency. With over 18 years of state government experience, he has been both a Chief Deputy Director and Chief Information Officer providing operational leadership and strategic direction of large state organizations and a multi- billion-dollar technology project portfolio. In his current role, he is focused on leveraging technology to enable new business models and transform service delivery to innovate and enhance department programs. Brian has a bachelor’s degree in finance from California State University, Long Beach and is a member of ITLA 22.

Tuesday, August 25
8:00 am Pacific	Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area Ballroom A2
9:00 am Pacific	The Road Ahead: A Conversation with California's State CIO Ballroom A1 Join Chris Given, State Chief Information Officer and Director of the California Department of Technology, for a fireside chat on the priorities, opportunities, and challenges shaping the future of technology across California government. Moderator: Cathilea Robinett, Chief Executive Officer, e.Republic Chris Given, State Chief Information Officer, Director, Department of Technology, State of California
9:30 am Pacific	Keynote – The Future of AI and Data in the Public Sector Ballroom A1 How can public-sector leaders harness the power of artificial intelligence and data without sacrificing ethics, trust, or long-term value? In this session, Noelle Russell explores how governments and industries are evolving with generative and applied AI, and data-driven decision-making, highlighting real-world case studies that go beyond the hype. She shares a clear, actionable framework for scaling AI responsibly - mitigating bias, protecting privacy, leveraging data effectively, and fostering innovation that complements human ingenuity. Attendees will leave with practical steps to translate excitement into execution and ensure AI and data investments drive meaningful, sustainable impact. Noelle Russell, Founder and Chief AI Officer, AI Leadership Institute
10:30 am Pacific	Networking Break in the Exhibit Area Ballroom A2
11:00 am Pacific	Concurrent Sessions The Shadow AI Challenge Ballroom A7 Employees and vendors are already experimenting with AI tools, often faster than policies and governance can keep up. Panelists will discuss the risks of shadow AI, including data exposure, emerging vendor features and limited visibility into how AI tools are being used across the organization. The conversation will explore practical approaches to guidance, guardrails and responsible adoption while helping agencies balance innovation with security and oversight. Moderator: Chad Bratton, Chief Information Officer, Office of Data and Innovation, State of California Jennifer Chan, Assistant Chief, Department of Justice, State of California Rachel Frey, Principal, Deloitte Matthew Zhou, Assistant State Chief Data Officer, Office of Data and Innovation, State of California Poppy: For State, By State - A Secure AI Platform for Government Innovation Ballroom A8 As generative AI continues to shape the future of government operations, state agencies need secure, flexible, and responsible tools designed for the public sector. This session will introduce Poppy, California’s AI platform built “For State, By State” by state staff engineers and developers using vendor-agnostic principles. The discussion will highlight how Poppy supports internal state use while prioritizing data privacy, security, flexibility, and responsible adoption. Topics include platform design, governance considerations, practical use cases from outside CDT, key capabilities, pilot lessons learned, and how state agencies can explore AI in a secure and trusted environment. Governing at the Speed of Change Ballroom A9 Governance models often struggle to keep up with rapidly changing technology, yet moving too slowly can create risks of its own. Adaptive governance offers a way to balance innovation, accountability, and public trust in an environment of constant change. This conversation examines decision-making structures, risk review processes, policy refresh cycles, and cross-agency coordination that can help agencies respond more effectively to emerging technologies. Moderator: Simi Keechilot, Chief Information Officer, Public Utilities Commission, State of California Marcie Kahbody, Deputy Secretary of Technology, Agency Information Officer, CalSTA and Chief Information Officer, Caltrans, State of California John Ohanian, State Chief Data Officer, Office of Data and Innovation, State of California Eric Schwenter, Senior Manager, Solutions Architecture, Amazon Web Services Breaking Down Silos: Privacy-Preserving Data Sharing Ballroom A10 Agencies are working to break down data silos and improve service delivery through more effective information sharing. At the same time, they face growing expectations to protect privacy, limit unnecessary collection, and maintain public trust. This discussion will look at how government can make data more useful across programs and agencies while applying privacy-preserving practices, data minimization and responsible stewardship. Ajay Gupta, Chief Digital Transformation Officer, Department of Motor Vehicles, State of California Lauren Farese, Group Vice President, SLED, Solution Engineering, Oracle Don Ingle, Industry Executive Advisor, SAP Dan Lamoree, Director of Data Infrastructure, CA Cradle to Career Data System, Department of Education, State of California The Agentic Marathon: Preparing Government for the Next Phase of AI Ballroom A11 Agentic AI is moving from concept to capability. These systems can access information, use tools, coordinate work across applications, and begin to reshape how complex processes are executed. For government leaders, the challenge is not simply adopting another technology. It is preparing for a long operational shift involving governance, workforce readiness, organizational design, risk management, and measurable value. In this interactive session, Stephen Pieraldi, Distinguished Technologist at HP Inc., will explore how public-sector organizations can prepare for agentic AI with practical examples, real-world considerations, and audience discussion focused on what it takes to move responsibly from experimentation to execution. Stephen Pieraldi, Distinguished Technologist, HP Inc.
12:00 pm Pacific	Lunch Ballroom A1
1:00 pm Pacific	Bits and Bytes: California's Digital Identity Future Ballroom A1 California is advancing a range of digital identity and privacy initiatives that will shape how residents interact with government services. This overview highlights three efforts currently gaining momentum: Mobile Driver's License, the CDT Identity Gateway and the DELETE Act Request and Opt-Out Platform (DROP). Learn what these initiatives do, how they fit together and why they matter as adoption and public awareness continue to grow. Moderator: Chris Given, State Chief Information Officer, Director, Department of Technology, State of California Marissa Rosemblat, Assistant Deputy Director for the Delete Act, California Privacy Protection Agency Anirban Sen, Deputy Director, Digital Identity Program, Office of Digital Services, Department of Technology, State of California Serenity Thompson, Deputy Director, Digital Services, Department of Motor Vehicles, State of California
1:30 pm Pacific	Short Break Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.
1:45 pm Pacific	Concurrent Sessions Identity in the Age of Agents Ballroom A7 As AI agents begin acting on behalf of people, agencies will need new approaches to identity, authentication, and trust. Identity management must evolve as agentic AI changes the way users, systems, and government services interact. Topics include delegated authority, digital credentials, accountability, fraud prevention, human-centered design, and the policies required to ensure secure and trusted interactions between people, agencies and AI-powered agents. Moderator: Phil Bertolini, Chief Delivery Officer, e.Republic Neeraj Chauhan, Chief Technology Officer, UC Davis Campus Ajay Gupta, Chief Digital Transformation Officer, Department of Motor Vehicles, State of California Deepanker Saxena, Head of Document Verification, Biometrics and Age Assurance Products, Socure What's Next? Policy, Budget and Technology Trends Ballroom A8 Government technology leaders are navigating a rapidly changing environment shaped by evolving policies, budget realities, and emerging technologies. Looking ahead, agencies must prepare for legislative and regulatory changes, technology investments, infrastructure planning, and emerging supply chain and cost challenges. Attendees will hear practical perspectives on how organizations are adapting strategies and preparing for the next 12 to 18 months. Tim Howell, Government Strategy and Solutions, NinjaOne Marcie Kahbody, Deputy Secretary of Technology, Agency Information Officer, CalSTA and Chief Information Officer, Caltrans, State of California Travis Ralph, Principal Solutions Engineer, Wordpress VIP AI in Action: A Peer Exchange Ballroom A11 Government organizations are exploring AI in different ways and at different stages of maturity. In this interactive session, attendees will help select the topics they most want to discuss, then join facilitated roundtable conversations focused on real-world use cases, lessons learned and implementation experiences. The session is designed to encourage peer-to-peer learning, surface practical insights, and create new connections across the government technology community. Moderator: Chaeny Emanavin, Deputy State Chief Technology Officer, Department of Technology, State of California Emerging Technology Readiness: Frontier AI Models, Quantum and Beyond Ballroom A9 Some emerging technologies will reshape government operations, while others may take years to mature or never achieve widespread adoption. From Mythos and blockchain to quantum computing and post-quantum cryptography, government leaders are being asked to evaluate technologies whose long-term impacts remain uncertain. The conversation will focus on readiness, risk, opportunity, and how agencies can make informed decisions about where to experiment, invest, or proceed cautiously. Moderator: Brian Wong, Deputy Secretary, Innovation & Technology, Labor and Workforce Development Agency, State of California Trelynd Bradley, Deputy Director, Innovation & Emerging Technologies, Governor's Office of Business & Economic Development, State of California Dr. Jamie M. Garcia, Technical Program Director, Strategic Geographies and Research Outreach, IBM Quantum Jeffrey Hill, SLED Business Development Executive, AMD Stephenson Loveson, Chief Information Officer, CalPERS Workforce Changes in the AI Era: New Roles, Skills, Expectations Ballroom A10 AI is changing how work gets done across government, reshaping job responsibilities and creating demand for new skills. As new roles emerge, responsibilities evolve and traditional job functions change, agencies are re-examining workforce needs, professional development and the future of public-sector IT careers. What skills will matter most, and how should leaders prepare for a workforce in transition? Moderator: Rita Gass, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, City of Rancho Cordova Michael Bradshaw, Global Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI, Kyndryl Fredrick Gomez, Agency Chief Information Officer/Director, Information Technology Services, Department of Food and Agriculture, State of California Allen Sheldon, Principal, Lead Partner, KPMG Quentin Wright, Departmental Chief Information Officer, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, California Department of Technology Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners Meeting Room 3/4 Hosted by:
2:45 pm Pacific	Networking Break in the Exhibit Area Ballroom A2
3:15 pm Pacific	Closing Session – 25 Years of Digital Government 'The Eras Tour': How Technology, Policy and Public Service Evolved - and What Comes Next Ballroom A1 In 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. Joe Morris, Chief Innovation Officer, e.Republic Cathilea Robinett, Chief Executive Officer, e.Republic
4:00 pm Pacific	Best of California Awards Ceremony Ballroom A1
4:30 pm Pacific	Closing Reception Ballroom A1
5:15 pm Pacific	End of Conference

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Advisory Board

Government Representatives

Jagmeet Bhinder
Chief Technology Officer
CalPERS
State of California

Chad Bratton
Chief Information Officer
Office of Data and Innovation
State of California

Brenda Bridges Cruz
Director, Justice Data & Investigative Services Bureau
Department of Justice
State of California

Chad Crowe
Chief Information Officer
Department of Social Services
State of California

Adam Dondro
Agency Information Officer
Health and Human Services Agency, Office of Systems Integration
State of California

Rita Gass
Chief Technology and Innovation Officer
City of Rancho Cordova

Fred Gomez
Agency Information Officer
Department of Food and Agriculture
State of California

Scott Gregory
Deputy Director, Technology
CalFIRE
State of California

Ajay Gupta
Chief Digital Transformation Officer
Department of Motor Vehicles
State of California

Monica Hernandez
Deputy Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations
Department of Technology
State of California

Marcie Kahbody
Deputy Secretary, Agency Chief Information Officer
California State Transportation Agency
State of California

Simi Keechilot
Chief Information Officer
Public Utilities Commission
State of California

Mike Marshall
Chief Information Security Officer
Environmental Protection Agency
State of California

John Ohanian
State Chief Data Officer
Office of Data and Innovation
State of California

Enrique Parker
Chief Information Officer
Department of Finance
State of California

Kate Ricker
Deputy Director of State Tech Policy and Strategic Management
Department of Technology
State of California

Amy Rodriquez
Chief, Stakeholder Relations
California Department of Technology
State of California

Crystal Taylor
Chief Information Officer
Department of Health Care Services
State of California

Serenity Thompson
Deputy Director of the Digital Services
Department of Motor Vehicles
State of California

Rob Trojan
IT Consulting Unit Chief
Department of Finance
State of California

Brian Wong
Deputy Secretary, Innovation & Technology
Labor and Workforce Development Agency
State of California

Quentin Wright
Chief Information Officer
Department of Technology
State of California

Industry Representatives

Jason Fedota
Client Relationship Executive
Deloitte

Cheryl Gardner
Account Executive
Dell Technologies

Kimberly Garrett
Account Executive
WordPress VIP

Joel Grein
Director of Sales
Tanium

Tim Howell
Government Strategy & Solutions
NinjaOne

Miriam Ingenito
Account Relations Director
KPMG

Mike Rockenstein
Business Development Executive
IBM Corporation

Mark Spitzer
Senior Manager
Amazon Web Services

Chul Yim
Sales Director, SLED West
SLED West
Socure

Made Possible by Our Corporate Sponsors

Registration Information / Contact Us

Event Date: August 25, 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:

Tabbie Pegoda
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 932-1411
E-mail: tpegoda@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

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California Government Technology Summit 2026