Rosa Akhtarkhavari is Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Chief Information Officer, a member of the City of Orlando executive management team overseeing technology, finance, and internal business services for the City.
Rosa is a visionary and result-oriented IT leader with over 30 years of experience in municipal government. She is experienced in organizational transformation, strategic planning and alignment, user experience, Information Security, Enterprise Architecture, GIS, development, contract negotiation, and implementation of leading-edge technology solutions that align technology plans with business requirements.

Joe Arena is a broadband thought leader that has assisted Towns and Counties across the Southeast build municipal networks to improve broadband access to where communities need it most. Joe has worked for Ciena, a BABA compliant network technology vendor that is heavily invested in promoting digital equity for all.

Mr. Bayley provides leadership for the continued development of an innovative, robust, and secure information technology environment for the County.
The primary responsibilities of his office encompass a wide variety of strategic technology issues:
Governance and policy
Resource allocation
Information technology protocols
Strategic digital technologies and performance tracking
Pasco County Information Technology provides support for fifty-seven different lines of business for the delivery of IT infrastructure and services, information security systems and compliance, administrative systems, and client support services. In addition, the department is responsible for network and telephony needs for the 6th Judicial Court Administration, State Attorney, Public Defender, Guardian Ad Litem, and Misdemeanor Probation, as well as five constitutional offices: (1) Pasco Sheriff’s Office (Telephony only), (2) Pasco Tax Collector, (3) Supervisor of Elections, (4) Property Appraiser, (5) Clerk of the Court and Comptroller.
Mr. Bayley has been in the Information Technology field for 42 years; he holds three master’s degrees from Florida State University (MPA) and Liberty University (MBA, MAML). Bayley is a Certified Public Manager (CPM), a Certified Government Chief Information Officer (CGCIO), and a U.S. Coast Guard Veteran.

Robert "Rob" Beach has over 30 years as a technology leader, known for blending innovation with professionalism and teamwork. Presently, as the Chief Technology Officer for the City of Cocoa, Rob has revamped its IT infrastructure, solidifying its position as a dependable partner for City departments and residents.
Before this role, Rob served as the Director of IT for Seminole County Government and as the IT Director at the City of Oviedo. He’s also imparted his deep experience as a professor at institutions like Valencia College, Seminole State College, and Daytona State College. In recognition of his contributions, he was named a Computerworld Premier 100 IT Leader in 2010.
Rob graduated from the University of Central Florida with a BS/BA and pursued further studies at the Florida Institute of Technology, earning an MS/IT and an MBA. A distinguished alumnus of the John Scott Dailey Institute of Government's CGCIO program, he's also been an active member of FLGISA, holding roles from District Director to Vice President and currently serves as its 2nd Vice President. Currently, he is the City representative on the Executive Committee of the MS-ISAC and serves as a Leadership Mentor for the organization as well.
Outside of his professional commitments, Rob is a devoted family man, cherishing 18 years of marriage with his wife Shyla and their blended family, including daughters Emily and Baylee, and son Gavin. He's also an avid sports enthusiast, passionately supporting Orlando City SC, UF, and UCF teams. This blend of family ties and sports fervor provides Rob with a deep sense of community and balance in Central Florida.

Jeremey Benedict serves as a Senior Solutions Engineer, focusing his efforts on security and identity. Jeremey's expertise extends across a spectrum of enterprises with a particular emphasis on public sector organizations. He has helped some of the largest organizations to protect against security threats and data breaches. Jeremey also guides organizations in embracing identity as the new security perimeter.

Chief Information Officer/Director of Information Technology, City of Melbourne, Florida. July 2019 to present.
Chief Information Officer/Director of Information Technology, City of Miami, Florida.
June 2014 to July 2019
Deputy Chief Information Officer, City of Miami, Florida.
November 2013 to June 2014
Information Systems Manager Fire Rescue, City of Miami, Florida.
October 2008 to November 2013
Information Systems Manager Information Technology Department, City of Miami, Florida.
October 2002 to October 2008
Sergeant First Class, United States Army.
September 1976 to October 1996

As an IT security analyst Justin takes pride in helping organizations protect their assets and ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their systems. With a strong technical background and expertise in tools like cloud configuration and web application security tools, he can identify and mitigate potential threats to networks and systems. Justin is also an excellent communicator, able to clearly explain technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences. In his role, he is highly analytical and detail-oriented, always looking for patterns and trends that can inform their security strategy. Overall, Justin is passionate about cybersecurity and committed to keeping his clients' systems safe.

Katya is a staff writer for Industry Insider—Florida, a premier membership publication that offers exclusive, in-depth reporting, research, and special events on the people, deals, legislation, and trends driving Florida public-sector IT. Previously, she served as a staff writer for Government Technology, a sister publication of Industry Insider — Florida, for two years, covering national topics related to politics and broadband. Katya has been a professional journalist since 2015 and has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in global strategic communications from Florida International University. She currently resides in Orlando and grew up in Miami, Florida, making her a proud Florida native.

Amy Kessel serves as IT Fiscal Manager for the City of Orlando, overseeing vendor relations, contract management, budgeting, and financial planning within the Information Technology department. She is pivotal in allocating resources efficiently to support the city's technological infrastructure.
With a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Central Florida, Amy brings a wealth of financial and public sector knowledge to her position. She works closely with departmental leaders to develop and implement fiscal strategies that align with organizational goals and priorities. Her forecasting, analysis, and resource optimization expertise allows her to effectively manage budgets, identify cost-saving opportunities, and mitigate financial risks. Through her diligent efforts, she helps ensure that the city's IT initiatives are innovative, forward-thinking, fiscally responsible, and sustainable.
Amy exemplifies a strong sense of stewardship and accountability, striving to maximize the value of taxpayer dollars while delivering high-quality services to the residents and businesses of Orlando.
A Florida native, she resides in Orlando with her husband and two daughters.

Rafael Mena was appointed as Chief Information Officer 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 Chief Information Officer 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 Chief Information Officer also manages the Information Systems & Services Division, 911 Administration, 311 Citizen Call Center, Convention Center, and Radio Services.
Mr. Mena’s notable accomplishments during his tenure include:
Invited to present to President Barack Obama in 2013 regarding Orange County's innovations in emergency response. Mr. Mena 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”
Mr. Mena 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.

“With a career spanning over three decades in Information Technology, David has been at the forefront of fostering creativity, innovation, and collaboration. As the IT Director for Polk County, Florida, his leadership has been pivotal in steering the county’s technology initiatives towards a future where digital equity and accessibility are not just ideals, but realities.
As Chairman of the PolkVision Smart Communities team his commitment to smart growth and sustainable development. By bridging the gap between technology and community needs, he has helped to shape a vision of a connected and responsive digital ecosystem. As the Polk County Liaison to the State of Florida Department of Commerce Office of Broadband, he has championed the cause of statewide connectivity. His efforts ensure that every Floridian, regardless of their location, has access to the digital tools necessary for success in the 21st century.
David is an alumnus of Indiana State University and holds a Certified Government CIO certificate from Florida State University.  What drives him is his passion for family, team, and an unwavering dedication to his community.  They are the cornerstones upon which he wants to leave a legacy of service, to ensure that Polk County, and indeed all of Florida, thrives in the digital age.”

With 15 years in the Cybersecurity space, Josh Pearl has spent the last 4 years working to secure Public Sector organizations in Florida. As the Public Sector Systems Engineering Director for the state of Florida at Fortinet, he has had the opportunity to work with many FL-based Government organizations to understand their goals, the technical hurdles they face, and how to put them in the best position possible to mitigate cyber-attacks in a world where they are becoming increasingly ubiquitous.

A technology enthusiast and team builder, Hossam Reziqa is a seasoned technology professional with a diverse background in systems engineering and management. Beginning his professional career as a Network Administrator at Bethune Cookman University and then a Systems Engineer at NASCAR, Hossam quickly established himself as a capable leader with a keen understanding of complex technological systems. His expertise led him to join the City of Daytona Beach IT department, where he led the Infrastructure team as the Senior Application System Analyst. Recognizing his leadership abilities and strategic vision, Hossam was promoted to IT Manager and eventually became Chief Information Officer (CIO). In his current role, he spearheads innovative technological initiatives to drive efficiency and modernization across the organization. Hossam has revamped the IT department to be a business partner with other departments while striving for excellence in service. Leading with the mindset of making technology work for staff and the public, Hossam has achieved great success by modernizing processes with departmental buy-in. With a wealth of experience in both the public and private sectors, Hossam brings a unique perspective to the intersection of technology and business.

Oscar serves as the Chief Information Officer for the City of Lakeland where he has worked for over 17 years. He has a bachelor’s degree from USF in Information Technology and a master’s degree from Webster University in Information Technology Management. His professional certifications include, Certified Public Manager (CPM), Certified Government Chief Information Officer (CGCIO), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), GIA Security Leadership Certification (GSLC) and Smart Cities Practitioner Certificate.
He also serves in the National Guard, Lieutenant Colonel Oscar Torres currently serves in the Florida Army National Guard as the Battalion Commander of the 146TH Expeditionary Signal Battalion responsible for providing voice and data services via fixed, terrestrial, line of sight and beyond line-of-sight tactical signal communications in support of military operations. Lieutenant Colonel Oscar Torres has more than 24 years of military service with two deployments, Iraq in 2008 - 2009 and the other to the National Capital Region from 2013-2014. He has received several military awards and decorations, most notably awarded the Bronze Star for his achievements in Iraq and awarded the General John J. Pershing Award as the distinguished honor graduate for the Army Command and General Staff College.
Oscar is married to Brooke and has two wonderful boys Tyler age 23 and Ian age 7.