Jeffrey W. Brown is a recognized information security and IT risk expert with a strong track record of more than two decades implementing cost-effective controls for global Fortune 500 financial institutions including Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, GE Capital, BNY Mellon and AIG. He currently serves as the first CISO for the State of Connecticut.
Active in the information security industry, he is a frequent speaker at various events and conferences. He is the author of The Security Leader’s Communication Playbook and many other articles and publications. He is the co-Chair of Evanta’s New York CISO Executive Summit events. He is currently a board advisor for iQ4 on their Virtual Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Challenge, which aims to prepare 10,000 students for the workforce and help address the security skills shortage. In addition, he is a board advisor for the cyber programs at Ithaca College and the Connecticut Institute of Technology: University of New Haven.
He holds a B.A. and an M.S. from Pace University, a professional certificate in Cybersecurity from Ithaca College and multiple industry certifications including CISSP-ISSMP, CISM, CRISC and PMP.

John Capello plays an instrumental role directing Nasuni’s product strategy, and can often be found working with customers and technology partners to understand their requirements and identify new use cases for Nasuni’s global file system.
Before joining Nasuni, John was Vice President of Product at fast growing startups Abuzz (acquired by The New York Times) and Tabblo (acquired by Hewlett-Packard). He also served as a general manager for The New York Times Digital and as a consultant for McKinsey and Company.
Earlier in his career, John worked as an independent consultant for a leading pharmaceutical company, an innovative CAD developer, and a green energy monitoring startup, helping them make greater use of analytics in their respective businesses.
John earned his MBA degree from the MIT Sloan School of Management, where he was the recipient of the McKinsey Award. He also graduated from Harvard University with a BA degree in Social Studies and Music.

As Executive Director for the CT State Commission for Educational Technology (CET), Doug designs and manages strategic plans that ensure the successful integration of technology in Connecticut's schools, libraries, universities, and towns. The CET oversees statewide programs such as its flagship research and education broadband network, the CEN. He also serves on numerous national leadership boards, including the State Educational Technology Directors Association and the Schools, Healthcare, and Libraries Coalition.
Doug’s prior experience includes managing technology and security for a network of magnet schools that are helping to close the achievement gap between urban and suburban learners. He began his career as a middle school English teacher and brings a diversity of experience to every challenge — from managing online publications for the Smithsonian Institution to systems engineering for the U.S. House of Representatives and national security agencies. He holds a BA from the College of William & Mary, MA from Georgetown University, and MS from George Washington University. Outside of work, Doug enjoys time with family, mission work, and triathlon.

Eyal works with clients across the public sector globally to help them take advantage of the digital innovations that are transforming the delivery of customer experiences. He leads teams of dedicated strategy, consulting, technology and digital professionals to design, implement and deliver conversational AI solutions that can enable public sector organizations to transform the customer experience they offer, simplifying and accelerating how citizens are able to access government services.
Eyal combines passion and pragmatism to shape innovative solutions that have a positive impact for his clients’ customers. In his work as Global Public Service Conversational AI - Lead, he has helped many organizations to harness digital technologies and reinvent their customer experience.
A graduate of the University of Maryland, Eyal lives in Colorado with his wife, daughter and dog.

As the Minneapolis CIO for seven-plus years, Otto Doll was responsible for all city IT services. He also served as South Dakota’s CIO for 15 years with responsibility for all state government computing, telecommunications, radio and public broadcasting. While with IT research firms, Otto has advised Fortune 1000, federal, state and local government CIOs on information technology assessment and alignment to business needs. He has served as a director with the United States General Services Administration, developing information technology strategic plans and oversight policy.
Otto received his computer science degree from Virginia Tech and is a senior executive fellow of the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He is a past president of NASCIO – a national organization of state CIOs. He also is a past president of the Metropolitan Information Exchange (MIX) – a national organization of city and county CIOs. Otto was named to Government Technology's 2004 Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers.

John Elsesser has served as Town Manager for the Town of Coventry, CT for 33 years. He started his career in the Manager’s offices in Wethersfield and then Avon. He holds a BA from Bates College and an MPA from the University of Hartford. He is a Credentialed Manager through ICMA. John has severed as the President of the Council of Small Towns, the First Vice President of the Ct Conference of Municipalities and continues to serve on both Board of Directors. He also serves on several State Commissions including the MORE Commission, CT Tax panel, CT Educational Technology Commission, E911 Commission and Public Safety Data Commission (Chair of both). He has served as President of the Tolland Chamber of Commerce, PRIMA, and CTCMA as well as Chairman of CIRMA (an insurance risk pool) , Windham Council of Governments and Vice Chairman of the Eastern Highlands Health District and is active in the Capitol Region Council of Governments.
He served at the BTOP screening committee for a major infusion on federal funds to expand CEN and the MORE commission to use state funds to extend CEN to more schools and libraries. Has advocated for one touch regulations to increase speed on pole attachments and championed municipal rights to use the municipal gain. He has authored articles on 5 goals for 5 g and pushed for expanded access.
Covid pushed Towns to think and work differently and he work to pivot to remote and hybrid work settings with new technologies.

Max Gigle is a government innovator with experience leveraging effective and targeted management, communication, and engagement strategies in the Public Sector. Driven by positive change, Max serves as the Program Manager of Connecticut’s Digital Service (DAS-BEST). The CT Digital Service works to improve the user’s experience with all government digital properties and services. In addition to his career, Max has volunteered on the boards of several non-profits, is passionate about public transportation, and is an avid travel / street photographer. Go Huskies!

Mr. Montgomery is a Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Dell Technologies. Chris helps public sector organizations align their business objectives with a supporting IT Strategy that enables digital transformation.
Chris is a well-respected advisor, having held CIO, CTO and CISO positions within NYC and NJ government. As former CTO, Chris has developed cloud migration strategies and implemented multiple cloud solutions using in public, private, and hybrid architectures. Chris holds multiple security and risk management certifications, and as a former CISO, he built information security and risk management programs from the ground up in highly regulated environments. During his tenure in NYC Government, Chris led multiple smart city and digital transformation projects modernizing legacy technology, having a positive impact with the way that citizens and businesses interact with City government.
He is recognized in the industry as a thought leader for organizational change management associated with technology modernization.

Paul Noren is the General Manager of NIC Connecticut, a division of Tyler Technologies. Paul leads a team based in Hartford, CT who are responsible for developing and maintaining the state’s official website, as well as other online services for the State of Connecticut. Paul brings more than 20 years of technology experience in both the public and private sector.

Nicole focuses on workforce strategy & Future of Work within Deloitte’s Government & Public Services practice, supporting Deloitte’s clients to achieve their mission and vision through transformational change and unlocking the potential of exponential technologies, new workforce models, and ways of working within organizations.
Nicole managed the development of Deloitte’s Workforce Transformation methodology within Human Capital and embedded with Deloitte’s global Innovation group to analyze how disruptive technologies can empower organizations to rethink their work. Nicole has worked with a broad range of Deloitte’s clients across industries in both the public and private sectors, including the nation’s largest integrated health care system, leading-edge state and local agencies and nonprofits, and multinational corporations in the hospitality & retail sectors. Today, in addition to leading some of GPS’s most greenfield client projects related to Future of Work, Nicole leads the GPS Future of Work Community of Practice, an internal practitioner group that builds frameworks, eminence, and educational materials to enable the Future of Work.
Nicole is also a certified Business Chemistry® facilitator and has designed and delivered interactive leadership offsites, workshops, and trainings both within and beyond Deloitte.

Zach Patton is the Chief Editor of the Content Studio at e.Republic and Government Technology. He has been covering the public sector for nearly 20 years. Until 2019, he was the Executive Editor of Governing magazine, where he also had served as a staff writer for more than a decade.

CIO Mark Raymond has been a member of the State of Connecticut leadership team since 2011. As CIO, Mr. Raymond oversees the Department of Administrative Services’ Bureau of Enterprise Systems and Technology as well as the operational responsibilities for the state’s technology infrastructure. During his tenure, Connecticut has reduced spending on technology, focused on sharing of technology solutions across government and improved the security and availability of state systems. Mr. Raymond is currently focused on transformation improvements in Digital Government and Optimization of Technology across agencies.
A native of Connecticut, Mr. Raymond graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Degree in Computer Science and Engineering.
Beyond his work with the state, Mr. Raymond serves as the past president for the Executive Committee of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers, previously holding rolls as Secretary/Treasurer, Vice-President and President.

Deborah is an accomplished C-level influencer, with a broad range of experience in government, policy, cybersecurity, privacy and information technology. She is an experienced and highly respected thought leader who has held executive roles for over two decades. She recently retired from her position as New York state’s chief information security officer (CISO) after over 35 years of public service.
In that role, as part of New York state’s information technology transformation and consolidation initiative, she helped redesign how the state protects its data. As state CISO, she directed the state’s comprehensive cybersecurity governance, risk management and compliance program, providing strategic leadership and vision and assuring business-aligned, risk-based investments that maximized business opportunity and minimized cybersecurity risk. She also directed the NYS Cyber Command Center, hotline, procedures for reporting and response to cyberthreats and digital forensics.
She holds multiple industry certifications, including Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP); Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC); SANS Strategic Planning, Policy and Leadership (GSTRT) Global Information Assurance Certification; and Project Management Institute certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Maria has over 20 years of experience in information technology and cybersecurity. She served 20 years in the United States Marine Corps and retired as the cybersecurity chief. Maria recently departed the North Carolina Department of Information Technology where she held the position as the state’s first Chief Risk and Security Officer.

As Executive Editor at e.Republic, Steve is responsible for the coordination of editorial strategies and standards across all the firm’s media platforms. He directs the editorial teams that produce Government Technology, Emergency Management and Digital Communities and their respective Websites, in addition to developing and maintaining corporate policies and standards for editorial. Steve has over 20 years of writing and editing experience including more than 17 years covering technology in the state and local government market.
Steve joined e.Republic in 1996. During his tenure, e.Republic’s print and electronic media have received many awards for editorial excellence, including “Magazine of the Year” from ASBPE for Emergency Management in 2013, “Best New Web Site” from ASBPE for emergencymgmt.com in 2009, ”Best Overall Publication” at the Maggie awards for Government Technology in 2008 and “Magazine of the Year” from ASBPE for Public CIO in 2007.