Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Keynote – The Power of TALK in an AI World

In a world where ChatGPT enables everyone to write like a Harvard graduate, the true power to stand out now lies in verbal communication. Unfortunately, many studies show that the fear of public speaking ranks higher than the fear of death, and those who struggle to talk in front of others will quickly find themselves and their organizations falling behind. Join Anthony Huey for a lively, thought-provoking keynote exploring the power of verbal communication. Anthony helps his audiences understand the importance of perception and how first impressions are primarily formed when we speak, whether in person, virtually, or on the phone.

Anthony Huey, President, Reputation Management, LLC

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Concurrent Sessions

Cyber Defense Operations for Public Sector Security Teams

Security teams face escalating alert volumes, staffing shortages, and increasingly sophisticated adversaries targeting public infrastructure. This session focuses on tactics that strengthen detection and response capabilities while reducing operational noise through automation and better prioritization. What practical improvements could your organization implement to ensure security teams spend their time addressing real threats rather than chasing endless false alarms? We will share methods for integrating threat intelligence, streamlining investigations, and improving collaboration between agencies and partners.

From Data Swamp to Insight Engine Analytics and AI for Government

Government organizations collect vast amounts of data yet often struggle to turn it into reliable decision support. Practitioners will share lessons learned from how agencies establish governance, quality controls, and secure analytics platforms that support AI initiatives while meeting compliance obligations. Real use cases will highlight improvements in citizen services, workforce planning, and fraud detection when data strategies mature. Vendors will also share tools enabling agencies to manage lineage and privacy concerns responsibly.

Mission-Critical Modernization: Turning Legacy Systems into Strategic Assets

Public agencies must modernize aging systems while keeping essential services online and secure. Discover how organizations are addressing modernization paths that reduce risk, improve interoperability, and extend system value without forcing disruptive rip-and-replace efforts. Attendees will hear lessons learned from phased migrations, API enablement, and funding strategies that move projects forward despite budget and procurement constraints. Real examples will show how agencies protected operations while transforming infrastructure.

Quantum Computing, Economic Development, and Security Implications

Quantum computing is moving from research to real-world impact, influencing encryption standards, secure communications, and regional technology competitiveness. How should your organization begin preparing policies, workforce skills, and security strategies to address the coming quantum era before disruption arrives unexpectedly? Public-sector leaders and academic partners will discuss how quantum advances affect cybersecurity planning and economic development strategies for technology hubs such as Chicago. Agencies will hear how preparation today reduces future risk while supporting innovation ecosystems. Attendees will gain clarity on timelines, risks, and opportunities shaping government decision-making.

Lunch

General Session - The Future of Digital Government: A Five-Year Roadmap for Public Services

Technology and policy leaders will outline the trends shaping government service delivery, workforce expectations, and cybersecurity priorities over the coming years. What strategic investments must your organization begin now to ensure it remains responsive, secure, and relevant as digital government rapidly evolves? The discussion will include AI adoption, modernization funding, evolving citizen expectations, and the need for resilient infrastructure to support hybrid service models. Agencies will hear examples of early adopters successfully balancing innovation with accountability and compliance requirements. Participants will gain perspective on preparing teams and systems for the coming changes.

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

Concurrent Sessions

Cloud Governance for Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Environments

Many agencies now operate across multiple cloud and on-prem platforms, often without consistent governance or cost controls. Technology leaders and solution partners will discuss practical operating models that bring visibility, security, and budget discipline to distributed environments. Attendees will see how landing zones, automation, and governance frameworks help agencies standardize deployments while supporting innovation. Real implementations will show how organizations avoided runaway costs and complexity. How can your agency maintain flexibility while ensuring security, compliance, and financial control across an increasingly hybrid infrastructure landscape?

Always On Government Resilience and Disaster Recovery Strategies

Disruptions from cyber incidents, weather events, and infrastructure failures increasingly threaten public service delivery. Is your agency truly prepared to maintain critical digital services when unexpected events test both technology infrastructure and organizational response capabilities? We will explore resilient architectures, backup strategies, and recovery planning approaches that keep operations running during crisis conditions, using case studies to illustrate lessons learned from agencies that successfully restored services under pressure while minimizing downtime and data loss. Participants will gain practical ideas for strengthening cross-department continuity programs.

Human Centered IT for Government Services

Technology projects succeed when solutions align with how staff and residents actually work and interact with services. Government leaders and vendors will discuss service design approaches that improve accessibility, usability, and adoption while reducing frustration for both employees and citizens. Examples will show how journey mapping, multilingual access, and user feedback loops reshape digital interactions and improve outcomes. Attendees will hear how agencies measured improvements and built internal support for change.

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

General Session - From Ideas to Implementation: Building a 90-Day Government Action Plan

The closing conversation helps attendees convert insights from the summit into realistic next steps within their organizations. Facilitators will guide participants through identifying priorities, engaging stakeholders, and establishing measurable goals aligned with leadership expectations. Templates and planning examples will help agencies communicate initiatives and track progress after returning home. Participants will leave with a structured approach for moving projects forward rather than letting ideas stall. What concrete actions will your team commit to in the next ninety days to translate today’s discussions into visible improvements for your agency and community?

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

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

End of Conference

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