Colorado Digital Government Summit 2026 Banner

Overview

The Colorado Digital Government 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

Coloradans deserve digital services that work. Achieving that requires building strong, outcome-driven partnerships across every level of state and local government. No single team can solve these complex technology challenges alone, which is why open collaboration is so vital. I invite technology professionals from across the state to join us this September for the Digital Government Summit. Let’s use this time to share what’s working, talk honestly about the challenges facing our agencies, and build simpler, more secure digital tools that truly serve Coloradans.

– Sarah Tuneberg, Executive Director & CIO, Governor's Office of Information Technology

Speakers

Phil Hansen

Phil Hansen

Artist, Speaker, Author and Innovator

Referred to by his fans as “the Artist for the People”, Phil Hansen is an internationally recognized multimedia artist, speaker, author, and innovator -- at the forefront of bringing art to a wider audience. Crashing irreverently through conventional boundaries, Phil works at the intersection of traditional art, electronic media, offbeat materials, and interactive experiences. His meta-art, with its process-focused videos (sometimes including destruction), powerfully demonstrates to millions that art is action, not just result. Hansen's work also extends deeply into traditional media with features on the Discovery Channel, Good Morning America, the Rachael Ray Show, Last Call with Carson Daly, Glamour and many more. Many influential clients, including the Grammy Awards, Disney, Skype, Mazda, and the Rockefeller Foundation, seek out his work.
For the tens of millions who have seen Phil’s art on TV and online, it’s hard to imagine his artistic journey. His journey nearly came to an end when a tremor developed in his drawing hand. In exploring new ways to create art, Phil discovered that by embracing his shake. Limitations could become the passageway to creativity. His inspirational story was first shared on the TED stage to a standing ovation. It reached a global audience, with PBS, BBC, and CBC among its broadcasters. Now, Phil’s ability to draw parallels to the business setting has won him followers among industry and business leaders. This has led to invitations to speak at the TED conference, Adobe MAX Creativity Conference, World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, and the Million Dollar Round Table. Phil’s message of self-reinvention and the power of transforming adversity into opportunity translates well across audiences. This is regardless of the industry. His message inspires, motivates and re-energizes the creative spirit in us all.” - Ford Motor Company
“We need to first be limited in order to become limitless.” - Phil Hansen
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Agenda

Tuesday, September 1

8:00 am Mountain

Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

9:00 am Mountain

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Sarah Tuneberg, Chief Information Officer, State of Colorado

9:30 am Mountain

Keynote - EMBRACE THE SHAKE: Transforming Limitations into Opportunities

Success, especially in today’s fast-changing business environment, depends on our ability to make creativity and innovation a continuous process. Leaders want to know how their teams can rise above any challenge and succeed no matter what comes their way. Whether the goal is to embrace change, overcome obstacles, sustain growth, or take your success to the next level, leaders and teams want to learn how to “Embrace the Shake.” The term “Embrace the Shake” is coined from artist Phil Hansen’s personal story of transformation.

Phil Hansen, Professional Artist, and Inspirational Public Speaker

10:30 am Mountain

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

11:00 am Mountain

Concurrent Sessions

AI Roadmap: Finding Your Path Forward

AI adoption is no longer optional; it’s a strategic necessity shaping how organizations deliver value and serve their constituents. So where do you start, and how do you decide between building, buying, and experimenting with AI tools? This session explores how to define your AI roadmap through practical use cases including automation opportunities, while maintaining trust context, and delivery models. Attendees will leave with a clearer framework for prioritizing use cases, evaluating build vs. buy decisions, and confidently moving from exploration to execution.

Beyond the Dinosaur: Modernizing with Purpose and Agility

Modernization in the public sector is no longer a one-time initiative, but a continuous evolution driven by modular, cloud-enabled architectures delivering enhanced citizen engagement. How can agencies align long-term strategies and policy drivers like House Bill 1429 without building systems that become obsolete too soon? This panel will explore practical approaches to iterative modernization, emphasizing flexibility, scalability, and policy alignment. Attendees will leave with actionable insights on designing adaptable systems that avoid “dinosaur” investments while meeting public service requirements.

From Risk to Readiness: Modern Data Governance

Effective data governance starts with a strong, intentional foundation where sharing data internally or externally surfaces critical quality and risk issues. How can agencies adopt a “data first” mindset while addressing risks to enable secure sharing and cross agency buy-in? This panel frameworks and tactical approaches to piloting data-sharing initiatives, strengthening governance frameworks, and exposing hidden data challenges early. Attendees will gain insight into key themes of trust, transparency, risk management, and collaboration to drive sustainable data strategies.

Digital Government Evolution: Improving the Constituent Experience

Digital government is rapidly evolving, redefining how public services are delivered through inclusive, user-centered experiences and emerging smart city innovations. How can agencies elevate citizen experience for individuals across all levels of tech savvy while leveraging smart technologies and real-world use cases to drive impact? This panel will highlight strategies that make digital government more accessible, efficient, and responsive. Attendees will leave with actionable insights on advancing citizen experience to meet the needs of today’s communities.

12:00 pm Mountain

Lunch

1:00 pm Mountain

25 Years of Digital Government: How Technology, Policy and Public Service Evolved, And What Comes Next

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 Inc.

1:30 pm Mountain

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

1:45 pm Mountain

Concurrent Sessions

The Evolving Cyber Threat Landscape: AI, Fraud, and Identity

Cybersecurity in the age of AI is rapidly reshaping how agencies assess risk, defend systems, and protect digital identities. How can organizations balance the benefits of AI-driven security with emerging risks like fraud, misuse, and vulnerabilities tied to identity management? This panel of experts will explore the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and identity, highlighting both opportunities and evolving threat landscapes. Key themes include risk versus reward, fraud prevention, and identity-centric security.

Innovation on a Budget: Delivering More with Less

Innovation on a budget is not only possible; it’s essential to meet rising demands for speed and efficiency in the public sector. How can agencies stretch limited resources, leverage cross-agency collaboration, and accelerate time to completion through rapid prototyping, without introducing unnecessary risk or shadow IT? This session will explore practical strategies for safe experimentation, faster delivery, and smarter resource sharing. End goals include enabling agile innovation, reducing time to value, strengthening collaboration, and maintaining governance and security.

From Proposal to Approval: Securing Buy-In for Government IT

Effective collaboration with the legislature and business leaders is critical to turning IT priorities into funded, high-impact initiatives. How can agencies clearly communicate ROI, align with economic development goals, and build the relationships needed to secure approval for essential technology investments? This panel will dive into strategies for educating policymakers, strengthening partnerships with business and legislative leaders, and positioning IT as a driver of value.

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Hosted by: Sarah Tuneberg, Chief Information Officer, State of Colorado

2:45 pm Mountain

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

3:15 pm Mountain

General Session

The State of the State: Reimagining IT Service Delivery in Colorado

Colorado’s evolving IT landscape is redefining how services are delivered through a shift from project-based work to a product-driven model. How will recent reorganization and restructuring impact agency partnerships, service delivery, and the way private sector vendors engage with state IT leaders? This panel will bring together Colorado IT leaders to share insights on new processes, operating models, and collaboration approaches. End goals include clarifying the path forward, improving service alignment, strengthening partnerships, and accelerating value delivery across the state.

4:00 pm Mountain

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

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

4:30 pm Mountain

End of Conference

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

Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center

650 15th St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 436-1234

Get Directions To
Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center

Advisory Board

Government Representatives

Josh Allen
Director, Enterprise Data and Architecture
Department of Technology Services
Denver Public Schools

Sabina Andersson
Chief Product Officer
Department of Early Childhood
State of Colorado

Vince Bocchino
Director
Technology Infrastructure
Denver Public Schools

Marcia Bohannon
Chief Information Officer
Department of Education
State of Colorado

Dr. Richard Charles
Chief Information Officer
Denver Public Schools

William Chumley
Chief Information Officer
City of Centennial

Loni Clark
Director
Business Technology and Innovation
History Colorado

Dave Cutler
Chief Information Officer
Colorado Army National Guard

Anthony Fisher
Data Governance Manager
Department of Revenue
State of Colorado

Lauren Francis
Communications Manager
Governor's Office of Information Technology
State of Colorado

Katherine Hochevar
Senior Manager of Data Strategy & Programs
Governor's Office of Information Technology
State of Colorado

Jiles McCoy
Chief Information Officer
City of Golden

Joe Milliken
Information Technology
City of Westminster

Suma Nallapati
Chief Information Officer
Technology Services
City and County of Denver

Craig Poley
Chief Information Officer
City of Arvada

Flo Raitano
Director of Partnership Development and Innovation
Denver Regional Council of Governments

Brandy Reitter
Executive Director, Broadband Office
Governor's Office of Information Technology
State of Colorado

Jimmy Rogers
Director of Information Technology
Department of Higher Education
State of Colorado

Jerrod Roth
Interim Chief Information Officer, Information Technology Unit
Department of Law
State of Colorado

Jenny Schiavone
Chief Digital Officer
Technology Services
City and County of Denver

Richard Todd
Chief Data Officer
City of Boulder

Alina Walters
Chief Information Officer
Department of Information Technology
City of Lakewood

Mary Weeks
Chief Information Officer
City of Colorado Springs

Brandi Wildfang
Chief Communications Officer and Public Information Officer
Governor's Office of Information Technology
State of Colorado

Kevin Wilkins
Chief Information Officer
City of Fort Collins

Al Wirtes
Director of Advanced Technologies and Enterprise Architecture
University of Colorado System Office

Industry Representatives

Brad Crowe
Regional Vice President, SLED
Tanium

Daniel Jaramillo
Director, SLED
Trace3 Government

Melissa Marks
Chief Growth Officer
Nelnet

Brad Osborne
Director
Lumen Technologies

Alyssa Prothro
Marketing Specialist - Event Planner
Insight

David Spector
Managing Director
KPMG

Nogol Tardugno
Director of Client Success
Tyler Tech

Jerry Wager
Technology Sales Leader
IBM

Registration Information / Contact Us

Event Date: September 1, 2026

Open to Public Sector only.

Registration Fee per person: $25

Registration by credit card only; no billing.

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:

Lauren Schoenberger
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 932-1408
E-mail: lschoenberger@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

Venue

Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center

650 15th St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 436-1234

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Room Block 

Room Rate: $219-$327 per night, single or double.
Rate Cut-Off Date: Monday, August 3, 2026
To Make a Reservation:
   Phone: (303) 486-4510 and reference Group Code G-ER08.
   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 

Denver Convention Center Hotel Maps | Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center

Event Parking 

Self-parking: 
$17.00 first 60 minutes 
$23.00 1-2 hours 
$29.00 2-3 hours 
$35.00 3-4 hours 
$41.00 4-5 hours
$55.00 5+/ overnight  

Valet parking: 
$25.00 0-2 hours 
$35.00 2-4 hours 
$45.00 4-6 hours 
$67.00 6+ hours/overnight. 
Oversized $77 

Parking fees subject to change without notice.