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Overview

The Digital States Annual Summit is an inspirational, content-packed two-day virtual event with special keynotes and opportunities to connect and learn from your CIO peers around the country. The challenges of supporting state government operations through the pandemic, to vaccine distribution and the return to a hybrid work environment are unique shared experiences. As the rest of 2021 unfolds, this event was an opportunity to share your experiences and prepare for what comes next.

Teri Takai
Vice President, Center for Digital Government

A message from our Keynote Speaker

Speakers

Renee Wynn

Renee Wynn

Former Chief Information Officer, NASA

Renee Wynn is an accomplished leader in information technology and cybersecurity with extensive experience guiding government agencies through complex transformations. Organizations are reaching out to Renee to share her expertise in space and cybersecurity, leadership, women in STEM A+D, global IT management and supply chain risk. She has presented to audiences at CyberSat, BoxWorks, NASA Space Apps Challenge, Microsoft Meetup for Government and SolarStorm.
With 30 years of federal service, Renee was one of the longest-serving CIOs at NASA. She joined the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in July 2015 as deputy CIO and was promoted to CIO two months later. Renee managed a $2 billion information technology portfolio serving 65,000 employees and contractors and established NASA’s first-ever IT strategic plan that aligned its space and aeronautic program goals. She co-led NASA’s first transformation to a more centralized services model that improved overall quality, saved $50 million per year in software costs and established a cybersecurity program that reduced risks across 150 metrics.
As CIO, Renee served on NASA-level governing boards that provided oversight in planning and evaluating missions, including satellite launches, Mars 2020, James Webb Space Telescope and Moon-to-Mars exploration programs. She testified before Congress on IT matters and supply risk-chain management and was praised for taking the right course of action to improve NASA’s cybersecurity posture and IT management.
Renee was recognized by Federal Computer Week with its President’s Award in 2020 and its Fed 100 Award in 2019. She was named to WashingtonExec’s “2019 Top 25 Execs to Watch” list. FedScoop lauded her leadership in 2018 for implementing new technologies, strategies and IT programs to lower the cost of government while making it more innovative, agile and effective.
Before joining NASA, Renee spent 25 years with the Environmental Protection Agency in several roles, including CIO, deputy CIO, the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response and the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. She wrote environmental cleanup and land reuse policies, plus she worked on all five Base Closure and Realignment Act efforts. She also led the EPA in negotiating the cleanup principles associated with unexploded ordinances.
Renee currently serves on corporate advisory boards for Interos Solutions, Inc. and Palo Alto Networks, Inc. She is a past board president for the American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council, a non-profit public-private partnership dedicated to improving government. A strong advocate for social responsibility, Renee serves on the Board of The Women’s Center, a Virginia and Washington, DC-based non-profit organization dedicated to improving the community’s mental health and well-being through counseling, education, support and advocacy.
Renee earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from DePauw University.

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Dustin Haisler

Dustin Haisler

Chief Innovation Officer, Center for Digital Government

Dustin Haisler is chief innovation officer for the Center for Digital Government. As the finance director and later CIO for Manor, TX, a small city outside Austin, Dustin quickly built a track record and reputation as an early innovator in civic tech. A member of Code for America’s original steering committee, Dustin pioneered government use of commercial technologies not before used in the public sector – including Quick-Response (QR) barcodes, crowdsourcing and gamification. In 2010, he launched Manor Labs, a website that let residents submit their own ideas and vote other peoples’ ideas up or down. The most popular suggestions went to city officials for review and possible implementation. Dustin looked to the private sector to help broaden the adoption of these and other civic innovations, joining California-based Spigit as director of government innovation. While at Spigit, a company that makes crowd-sourcing and innovation management software, he helped design and deploy innovation programs for New York City; Bogota, Columbia; and even part of the space program (through NASA’s Langley Research Center).
Notably, Dustin helped design and launch one of the first government open innovation programs in the United States in 2010, which received global recognition as a new model of citizen engagement and innovation. Among other first-in-nation innovations, he architected a Crowdsourcing Master Land Use Plan (Harford County, MD) and patented a crowd-based business process (Crowd-as-a-Service). Named a Government Technology Top 25 Doer, Dreamer and Driver in 2009, his work has been featured in Wired, Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, Inc. and the Today Show on NBC. An in-demand speaker, he has given two TEDx speeches – one on Disrupting Government (TEDxAustin) and the other on Disrupting Education (TEDxLivermore).
As chief innovation officer, Dustin has a strategic role to help shape the company’s products, services and future direction. Primarily, he leads e.Republic Labs, a market connector created as an ecosystem to educate, accelerate and, ultimately, scale technology innovation within the public sector.

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Joe Morris

Joe Morris

Deputy Chief Innovation Officer, Center for Digital Government

Joseph Morris is deputy chief innovation officer for the Center for Digital Government and a national keynote speaker on issues, trends and drivers impacting state and local government and education. He has authored publications and reports on funding streams, technology investment areas and public-sector priorities, and has led roundtables, projects and initiatives focused on issues within the public sector. Joe has conducted state and local government research with e.Republic since 2007 and knows the ins and outs of government on all levels. He received his Bachelor of Arts in government and international relations from the California State University, Sacramento.

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Agenda

Thursday, August 12

1:00 pm Eastern

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Phil Bertolini, Vice President, Center for Digital Government

Teri Takai, Vice President, Center for Digital Government

1:10 pm Eastern

Keynote Session: Lessons in Leadership from Out of This World!

The NASA Space Program has and continues to be what people of all ages can dream about while imagining themselves floating in space as an astronaut. What began in the 50s as a dream has become reality over and over again. Strong leadership is necessary to make big dreams become a reality. This session will focus on what it takes to be a leader in NASA. Renee Wynn, the former CIO of NASA, will share her experiences in getting things done in a very large federal entity. She will share stories and sage advice on what it takes to get it done. The second half of the session will be a moderated Q&A that will dive deeper into her main messages.

Renee Wynn, Former Chief Information Officer, NASA

2:10 pm Eastern

Break

2:15 pm Eastern

Breakout Sessions

Managing C-Suite Leadership Priorities for the Future

Leadership priorities are shifting at a rapid pace as technology has gained visibility with governors and legislators. How does the CIO and the technology leadership need to change their approach and priorities? What new skills does the organization need to be successful?

Moderator: Teri Takai, Vice President, Center for Digital Government

Modernization of Infrastructure and Applications

Technologies age over time and technical debt rises for governments of all sizes. How will you move forward to modernize your technology portfolio? Have leadership priorities forced modernization of key technologies?

Moderator: Phil Bertolini, Vice President, Center for Digital Government

The New Digital Government Experience and the Team

Times are changing fast, and citizens are demanding more from their governments via digital services. What impact will this rapid change have on your team? Do you have the right skillsets for the future?

Moderator (group 1): Alan Cox, Executive Vice President / Publisher, Government Technology

Moderator (group 2): Steve Towns, Deputy Chief Content Officer, Content Studio, Government Technology

3:00 pm Eastern

CIO Roundtable

The morning keynote session focused on leadership in a large federal agency, NASA. This roundtable will provide government technology leaders with a forum to discuss their views on how leadership has changed and what they should focus on for the future. This discussion will also be an opportunity for public and private sector attendees to help understand leadership and its effect on future technology initiatives.

3:20 pm Eastern

Day 1 Wrap-Up and Closing Comments

Phil Bertolini, Vice President, Center for Digital Government

Teri Takai, Vice President, Center for Digital Government

3:30 pm Eastern

Adjourn Day 1

Friday, August 13

1:00 pm Eastern

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Phil Bertolini, Vice President, Center for Digital Government

Teri Takai, Vice President, Center for Digital Government

1:10 pm Eastern

Keynote Session: Planning Your Future with the Right Stuff!

It is never easy to look into the future and plan your efforts accordingly. Your priorities have shifted dramatically at the same time there is massive competition for resources. What will you do? Do you have the right information to move forward? This session will focus on what you need to know to effectively plan. The session will look at emerging technologies and their effect on the future while exploring the funding resources that will make plans a reality.

Dustin Haisler, Chief Innovation Officer, Center for Digital Government

Joe Morris, Deputy Chief Innovation Officer, Center for Digital Government

2:10 pm Eastern

Break

2:15 pm Eastern

Breakout Sessions

Cybersecurity Challenges in the Next Normal

Cybersecurity threats are increasing and governments of all sizes are struggling to keep up. What do CIOs need to plan for in the next normal? How will budget challenges impact their ongoing efforts?

Moderator: Teri Takai, Vice President, Center for Digital Government

Collaboration in the Future Remote Workplace

The ability to collaborate amongst internal and external will be more important than ever. How will CIOs manage collaboration in the new hybrid remote workplace? Will your leadership and team be ready?

Moderator: Phil Bertolini, Vice President, Center for Digital Government

How Emerging Technologies Impact the Future

The rapid introduction of emerging technologies has set the pace for the future. How will technology organizations work with the business of government to navigate this ever-changing impact of technology? Are your teams ready to keep pace?

Moderator (group 1): Dustin Haisler, Chief Innovation Officer, Center for Digital Government

Moderator (group 2): Joe Morris, Deputy Chief Innovation Officer, Center for Digital Government

3:00 pm Eastern

CIO Roundtable

The morning keynote session focused on how governments will use technology to move their new leadership priorities forward. This roundtable will focus on what government technology leaders need in order to be successful implementing their new priorities. What are your main priorities and how can you plan to get them done? This discussion will also be an opportunity for public and private sector attendees to help understand leadership and its effect on future technology initiatives.

3:20 pm Eastern

Day 2 Wrap-Up and Closing Comments

Phil Bertolini, Vice President, Center for Digital Government

Teri Takai, Vice President, Center for Digital Government

3:30 pm Eastern

Adjourn

Registration Information / Contact Us

Contact Information

2022 Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact:

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