Central Florida Digital Government Summit 2025 Banner

Overview

The Digital Government Summit is an event that brings together public sector leaders and technology professionals to explore innovative solutions to solve government problems. Key themes include cybersecurity, digital transformation, AI implementation, data governance, and fostering collaboration across multiple stakeholders. Attendees will benefit from expert discussions, peer networking, and insights into the future of government technology. Join us and let’s improve the future of government together!

A message from our Keynote Speaker

It is with distinct pleasure that the City of Orlando welcomes you to the 2025 Central Florida Digital Government Summit. We are honored to have you join us as we discuss the future of government technology and its critical role in serving our communities. Through innovation and collaboration, we can strengthen the foundation for a more engaged, secure, and transparent government.
We look forward to the conversations we will have and the ideas that will emerge to drive us forward.

- Roberto Lopez, Chief Information Officer, City of Orlando

Agenda

Thursday, May 1

8:00 am Eastern

Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

9:00 am Eastern

Opening Remarks

9:15 am Eastern

Keynote - Charting Your Course: A Global Perspective on Team Development and Leadership

In today’s dynamic landscape, leaders must remain attuned to emerging trends and stay ahead of new developments to effectively guide their teams through times of transformation. What valuable insights can we glean from how governments and organizations worldwide approach challenges? And how does this impact our work in the public sector? This session explores pressing topics such as change management, the role of Artificial Intelligence in our daily lives, and strategies for upskilling your teams. In her timely keynote address, Dr. Mary Kelly offers actionable takeaways, helping you assess your current position on the ever-evolving tech roadmap and how to empower your team with necessary tools for progress.

Mary Kelly, PhD, Former Commander, US Navy

10:15 am Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

10:45 am Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

Practical Steps for AI Implementation and Adoption

As AI technologies rapidly evolve, how can organizations ensure they’re implementing and optimizing AI in ways that truly align with their business goals? To set the foundation for success, what critical factors should be considered from the outset, such as planning, data preparation, and tool selection? This session will dive into adoption best practices, explore potential pitfalls, and rethink how to effectively manage organizational change in the face of AI adoption.

Real-World Modernization One Step at a Time

Modernization in the public sector encompasses various strategies, from adopting cloud services, AI, automation, and containers to making subtle process improvements for long-term gains. The goal is to transform operations and enhance public services while keeping everything accessible! This session will delve into practical approaches to modernization, showcasing how continuous improvement can drive both efficiency and innovation within government operations.

Workforce for a New Era

As emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) transform the workplace, governments must cultivate a workforce adept at leveraging these tools and committed to innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. Public sectors struggle against the rest of the world to attract new talent and retain existing staff. Where can the public sector find new talent to fill critical roles? How can we effectively train and upskill our current teams to thrive in a rapidly evolving tech environment? How do we assess where to start and what to expect? This session will share creative tactics and strategies for building, retaining, and fostering a future-ready workforce.

11:45 am Eastern

Lunch and Exhibits

12:45 pm Eastern

Bits and Bytes

1:05 pm Eastern

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

1:15 pm Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

Strengthening Digital Defenses

As digital threats grow more sophisticated, the need for resilient cybersecurity has never been more urgent. This session explores the delicate balance between rapid technological innovation and maintaining strong cybersecurity defenses. How can public sector agencies enhance their security posture without slowing down innovation? What are the key components in building and sustaining a cybersecurity focused culture? Join experts in a deep dive into the strategic initiatives, best practices, and crisis management techniques that are critical for cultivating a culture of cybersecurity and ensuring preparedness in the face of ever- evolving digital threats.

Forecast to Recovery - Analytics for Disaster Response

When a powerful storm strikes, every second counts. Advances in predictive analytics, real-time data modeling, and AI-driven forecasting are transforming how emergency responders and government agencies prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. This session will explore the technology behind storm prediction, resource allocation, and post-disaster recovery efforts. Learn how data-driven decision-making can save lives, minimize damage, and improve resilience in the face of extreme weather events.

Mastering Cloud Tactics

As governments increasingly migrate to the cloud, mastering the right tactics is essential for optimizing performance, controlling costs, and driving innovation. What are the most effective tactics for managing cloud costs? How can the public sector ensure they are getting the maximum value from their cloud investments as usage scales? This session will delve into key cloud strategies that enable government agencies to maximize benefits of cloud infrastructure while navigating the challenges of cloud adoption.

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Hosted by: Roberto Lopez, Chief Information Officer, City of Orlando

2:15 pm Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

2:35 pm Eastern

General Session - AI 2025 – From Administrative Assistance to Agentic AI

As artificial intelligence rapidly evolves, organizations are moving beyond AI as a simple administrative assistant to leveraging more autonomous, decision-making "agentic AI." This session will explore the transition from task-based automation to AI systems capable of reasoning, adapting, and executing complex workflows with minimal human intervention. Attendees will gain insights into how governments can harness these advancements while ensuring transparency, control, and alignment with human goals. Whether you're an executive, technologist, or policymaker, this session will equip you with the knowledge to navigate the AI landscape of 2025 and beyond.

John Matelski, Executive Director, Center for Digital Government

3:45 pm Eastern

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

4:30 pm Eastern

End of Conference

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

Marriott Orlando Downtown

400 West Livingston Street
Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 868-8686

Get Directions To
Marriott Orlando Downtown

Advisory Board

Government Representatives

Joneshia Bethea
Deputy Chief Information Officer
City of Orlando

Kevin Burns
Chief Information Officer/Director of Information Technology
City of Melbourne

Jaison Busby
Vice President - Digital & Technology
Orlando Utilities Commission

Yenni Hernandez
Chief Information Officer
Reedy Creek Improvement District

Ramin Kouzehkanani
Chief Information & Innovation Officer
Hillsborough County

Roberto Lopez
Chief Information Officer
City of Orlando

Rafael Mena
Chief Information Officer
Orange County

Mike Murtagh
Chief Transformation & Technology Officer
Orlando Utilities Commission

John Pearl
IT Director
Town of Lady Lake

Parsram Rajaram
City Director
City of Winter Park

Hossam Reziqa
Chief Information Officer
City of Daytona Beach

Brian Ross
Chief Information Officer
Technology Management Department
City of Haines City

Registration Information / Contact Us

Event Date: May 1, 2025

Open to Public Sector only.

Registration - Free

If you represent a Private Sector organization and are interested in Sponsorship Opportunities, please contact Heather Earney.

Contact Information

For registration and general assistance contact:

Abigail Suiter
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 932-1405
E-mail: asuiter@erepublic.com

For assistance or questions concerning Sponsor Logos or Logistics please contact:

Mireya Gaton
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 296-2617
E-Mail: mgaton@erepublic.com

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact:

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

Venue

Marriott Orlando Downtown

400 West Livingston Street
Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 868-8686

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Room Block

Room Rate: $195/night, single or double.
Rate Cut-Off Date: Monday, March 31, 2025.
To Make a Reservation:
Phone: (800) 228-9290 and reference E Republic Central Florida
Online: Group Reservation Link
If you experience issues booking online, call the hotel directly for assistance.

Rooms are on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note, once the room block is full, you will need to make other arrangements for your accommodations with the hotel directly or at a nearby hotel.

Map and Directions

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/mcodo-marriott-orlando-downtown/overview/


Event Parking

Valet parking: $24/night or $16/day use
Instructions: Upon approaching the valet station, make sure to mention you are with the Central Florida DGS event to receive the discounted rate.

Parking fees subject to change without notice.