Registration and Morning Refreshments

Grand Ballroom A and Foyer

Welcome & Event Opening Ceremonies

Grand Ballroom BC

Jackie White, National Conference Director, GovTech

Opening Remarks

Grand Ballroom BC

Nick Lucius, Commissioner and Chief Information Officer, City of Chicago

Tom Lynch, Chief Information Officer, Cook County

Keynote - Think Like a Futurist: Turning Trends into Opportunities

Grand Ballroom BC

Leaders must embrace futures thinking to see the signals and trends shaping our world, and to anticipate how we can transform and uncover new opportunities. This session helps you develop foresight to address the most common challenges facing the public sector: evolving constituent expectations, emerging tech, sustainability, misinformation, privacy, security, global megatrends, and domestic shifts in economies, workforces, and societal movements. Nikolas Badminton will guide you through futurist tools and techniques, teaching you to identify signals and trends, harness strategic foresight, and unlock resiliency by shifting your perspective from what is to WHAT IF…

Nik Badminton, Chief Futurist and Hope Engineer

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Grand Ballroom A and Foyer

Concurrent Sessions

Enterprise Architecture as a Catalyst for Innovation

State

As public sector organizations continue to expand their technology ecosystems; enterprise architects face the challenge of cleaning up and integrating the very systems they’ve spent years building (or inheriting). Legacy infrastructure, sprawling data environments, and fragmented technology stacks can lead to inefficiencies, security risks, and operational silos. This session will explore strategies for streamlining enterprise architecture, addressing technical debt, and ensuring that technology and processes are seamlessly woven into a cohesive, scalable system.

Deborah Anderson, Enterprise Architecture Lead, City of Chicago

Anthony Ardolino, IT Director, Village of Tinley Park

Hema Sundaram, Chief Technology Officer, Cook County

Mark Taghap, Chief Information Security Officer, City of Aurora

Managing Insider Threats: Detecting and Mitigating Risks from Within Your Organization

Ogden

Insider threats are one of the most complex risks organizations face today. This panel discussion will explore various potential insider threats, from supply chain vulnerabilities introduced by foreign entities offering discounted tech, to HR risks posed by disgruntled employees seeking to harm cloud-based assets. Do your current policies effectively safeguard against these unique threats? Hear from your peers that have experienced both intentional and accidental insider threats, and can offer practical strategies for detecting risks, strengthening controls, and minimizing potential damage.

Bruce Coffing, Chief Information Security Officer, City of Chicago

Charles C. Ruehling, Chief Information Security Officer, Information Security Office, Bureau of Technology, Cook County

Doing More with Less: Maximizing IT Partnerships for Government Efficiency

Van Buren

With funding cuts impacting IT operations for many throughout the region, this session will address key challenges such as sustaining services while managing limited resources, reducing cloud costs, and handling license management without compromising service delivery. Attendees will gain insights into effectively managing outsourcing agreements, fostering enhanced vendor collaboration, and navigating the complexities of funding discussions with elected officials and decision-makers. By examining best practices and strategic partnerships, this session aims to provide actionable solutions for maximizing government efficiency through optimal IT partnerships.

Jason Donisch, Chief Information Officer, Information, Communications and Technology Director, Will County

Lewis Waldia Powell, Deputy Budget Director, Data Analytics Division, City of Chicago

Mark Shipman, Deputy Chief Information Security Officer, Information Security Office, Bureau of Technology, Cook County

Achieving Digital Accessibility

Monroe

Are you prepared for the upcoming federal mandate on digital accessibility? By April 2026, all state and local government websites and mobile applications must meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA to provide equal access for individuals with disabilities. How can public agencies not only comply but also enhance user experiences for all citizens? In this session, discover practical strategies to bring your digital platforms into compliance. Hear firsthand from public sector leaders who are successfully navigated this mandate, as they share their experiences in assessing digital content, identifying accessibility gaps, and implementing best practices. By the end of the session, you’ll have more resources and knowledge to comply with the mandate and ways to integrate accessibility into your digital development workflows.

Richard Burnson, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Information Technology Department, DuPage County

Joel Inwood, Deputy Director of Communications, Cook County Bureau of Technology

Christian Taylor, Director of Digital Equity, Office of the Mayor, City of Chicago

Make your way to the Ballroom for Lunch

Lunch

Grand Ballroom BC

General Session – The Glass Ceiling: We All Play a Role in Breaking IT

Grand Ballroom BC

Despite significant progress, women in technology continue to face barriers to advancement, and the glass ceiling remains a challenging hurdle in many organizations – public, and private. This session will dive deep into why this barrier persists and how we can work together to dismantle it. Panelists will explore ways to create an inclusive environment where skills, not biases, take center stage. We’ll also discuss what resources are needed to support women in overcoming these barriers—whether it's mentorship, training, or a shift in organizational culture. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the challenges women face in tech, ways to be an ally in action, and actionable steps to foster an environment where women can thrive and reach their full potential.

Hema Sundaram, Chief Technology Officer, Cook County

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

Concurrent Sessions

Beyond the Hype: GenAI for Real-World Impact

State

As AI technologies continue to become a staple in our IT toolkits, we’re still discovering the best ways to apply them for meaningful, real-world outcomes—while ensuring compliance with policies and NIST standards. From predictive analytics in public safety to automating routine tasks, enhancing citizen engagement, and streamlining document generation, AI is already driving impactful change in the public sector. In this session, hear from public sector leaders who have navigated data privacy concerns, tackled ethical challenges, and successfully integrated GenAI into their existing systems.

Ngbede Otowo, Manager of Governance, Risk, and Compliance, Bureau of Technology, Cook County

Bala Vaithyalingam, WW Leader for Data & AI Solutions, IBM

Law Enforcement + Public Safety and IT

Ogden

The integration of cutting-edge IT solutions is revolutionizing how law enforcement and emergency services address crime, disasters, and emergencies. From real-time data collection through license plate readers to AI-driven surveillance and predictive analytics, technology is shaping a safer, more efficient future for communities and law enforcement personnel. However, these advancements also raise critical challenges related to data privacy, security, and ethics. This session will delve into the latest IT innovations transforming public safety, analyze the complexities involved in their adoption, and present best practices for navigating the associated challenges in this rapidly evolving field.

Anthony McPhearson, Chief Information Officer, Information Technology Department, DuPage County

Tech Talent Recruitment and Retention

Van Buren

As the workforce landscape evolves, attracting and retaining top talent has become a critical challenge for organizations, especially the public sector. How do we help ensure that the people in our region have access to training so they are qualified for these high-demand, well-paying jobs in the IT sector? Where can individuals go to hone their skills if they’re looking to advance in their tech-career? This session will explore strategies for equipping individuals with the skills they need to thrive in the expanding tech workforce, highlighting key programs and initiatives that foster growth and bridge the skills gap.

Matt Morton, Assistant Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer, University of Chicago

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Monroe

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Grand Ballroom A and Foyer

General Session – Think Like a Local: What’s Next in Chicagoland Tech

Grand Ballroom BC

Chicago-area public sector IT leaders are committed to a constituent-first approach in all we do. As we begin leading the nation in quantum technology, what will this mean for the people of our region? How do each of us look at the responsibility we have in facing the future of evolving constituent expectations, emerging tech, sustainability, misinformation, privacy, security, global megatrends, and domestic shifts in economies, workforces, and societal movements right here at home? Join our panelists for a discussion on how we confront these challenges from a local perspective in an interconnected world.

Bruce Coffing, Chief Information Security Officer, City of Chicago

Nick Lucius, Commissioner and Chief Information Officer, City of Chicago

Tom Lynch, Chief Information Officer, Cook County

Chuck Ruehling, Chief Information Security Officer, Cook County

Closing Remarks

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

Grand Ballroom A and Foyer

Network with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event exhibitors.

End of Conference

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