Name: Envision: A State and Local Government IT Summit 2026
Start: 2026-12-02T08:00
Location: Grand Hyatt Indian Wells

Overview

Envision

The mission of the Center for Digital Government is to help make government better. Our annual Envision Summit does just that – we convene the brightest minds in state and local government to imagine what’s next.

Envision is an invitation-only national Summit to bring together government executives from cities, counties and states across the country – alongside our trusted industry partners. With the theme “The answer is in the room,” the Summit creates space for meaningful peer-to-peer learning, network building and open sharing of the innovative work happening in government.

As we wrap up 2026, we are excited to host Envision – an opportunity to celebrate this year’s wins and chart a course for 2027 and beyond.

A message from our Keynote Speaker

Speakers

Claire Bailey

Chief Security Advisor, Tanium

Claire Bailey is the Public Sector Chief Security Advisor at Tanium, supporting the company’s North America Government business with more than 41 years of experience in driving modernization, security, and transformation initiatives for federal, state and local governments, in both private and public sector leadership roles.

Laura Barry

Director of Finance and Administration, Information Technology Services Division, State of Missouri

As the Director of IT Finance and Administration for the State of Missouri’s Information Technology Services Division in the Office of Administration, Laura Barry oversees the vital intersection where technology meets state budgeting. She has over 13 years of state financial experience, a foundational background in the banking sector and an MBA concentrated in Finance. Laura is dedicated to driving financial efficiency and innovation within government operations.

Phil Bertolini

Chief Delivery Officer, e.Republic

Phil Bertolini is a Chief Delivery Officer for e.Republic, the premiere event and thought leadership content provider for state and local government technology professionals. Previously, he served as deputy county executive and CIO for Oakland County, Michigan. During his 31-year tenure, Phil built a world-class IT organization in the second-largest county in Michigan, just north of Detroit. As Oakland County CIO, he oversaw more than 150 employees serving over 1.2 million residents. In 2005, he was also promoted to deputy county executive, holding dual positions until his retirement. Phil’s efforts earned the county national attention, winning numerous awards for technology innovation and excellence. He was named Governing Magazine’s Public Official of the Year and Government Technology Magazine’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers. He was also honored by the President Obama White House as a Champion of Change.

Jordan Burris

Head of Public Sector, Socure

Jordan is a trailblazer in government innovation and digital trust, leveraging more than 15 years of experience to transform public sector technology. He leads Socure’s public sector business serving more than 150 federal, state, and local public sector organizations.
Before joining Socure, Jordan served as Chief of Staff in the White House Office of the Federal Chief Information Officer, where he helped shape government-wide policy spanning identity management, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and digital service delivery. That experience gave him firsthand insight into how policy translates into operational reality.
Jordan has spent years advancing identity as foundational infrastructure for government, advocating for approaches that are accurate, scalable, and practical. He also serves as Board Chair of the Identity Theft Resource Center, extending his commitment to consumer protection, responsible innovation, and building a safer, more trusted digital future for people and government institutions alike.

Nikhil Deshpande

Chief Digital & AI Officer, Office of Digital Services & Solutions, Georgia Technology Authority, State of Georgia

Nikhil is a leader in digital transformation, advocating for user-centric, accessible technology. Overseeing Georgia's AI program, he focuses on responsible applications that enhance workforce capabilities and public service. Recognized as a top innovator, he is a sought-after speaker and recipient of multiple awards, including Atlanta Business Chronicle's "40 Under 40." Nikhil holds master’s degrees in Human-Computer Interaction and Visual Communication.

Alan Fuller

Chief Information Officer, State of Utah

Alan Fuller was appointed Chief Information Officer for the state of Utah in March 2021. As CIO, he oversees all IT functions for executive branch agencies in Utah with the goal to improve innovation and improve government services through the use of technology. A resident of Lehi, Utah, Alan has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Brigham Young University and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Chief Technology Officer, Deputy State Chief Information Officer, State of Texas

John Hoffman serves as the Chief Technology Officer for DIR and the Deputy Chief Information Officer for the State of Texas. John joined the DIR team in 2010 and has held various roles within the agency in network and security. He is responsible for comprehensive strategic planning for the state's technology efforts. John and the CTO team also ensure strategic development of contracts and services which DIR offers including application management, innovation, and emerging technology implementation.  As CTO John leads DIR’s Technology Guidance and Innovation functions to guide state agencies’ policies and practices for the effective, efficient use and management of state IT resources. John brings over 30 years of experience in the technology sector.  John holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri and a Master of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University.

Amy Edwards Holmes

Director, Arizona Capacity & Efficiency (ACE) Initiative, State of Arizona

Amy Edwards Holmes is a nationally recognized expert on public sector innovation, dedicated to modernizing government through data, AI, and digital transformation. As Director of the Arizona Capacity and Efficiency (ACE) Initiative, she spearheads Governor Katie Hobb's statewide strategy to streamline operations and enhance service delivery. Under her leadership, the initiative is projected to save taxpayers over $100 million by optimizing procurement, adopting modern technology, and fostering workforce-centered innovation.
Before her work in Arizona, Amy served as Executive Director of the Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence at Johns Hopkins University. Her federal tenure includes serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where she led the implementation of the nation’s first open data law (the DATA Act), and leading the Task Force on Government Performance for the U.S. Senate Budget Committee. A Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, Amy leverages over 20 years of experience to bridge the gap between complex policy and real-world impact.

Rob Lloyd

Executive Director, Center for Digital Government and Center for Public Sector AI

Prior to joining e.Republic and the Center for Digital Government, Rob served as Chief Technology Officer for the City of Seattle, where he led a 600-person organization with a $310 million technology budget serving 816,000 residents and a 14,000-person workforce. The department's mission: "We put powerful information and tools in the hands of people to unleash brilliance in service to our community."
Rob brings 20 years of C-suite experience across government, utilities, and technology in Washington, California, Arizona, Oregon, and Colorado. He previously served as Deputy City Manager for Transportation, Aviation, and Technology for San José, the nation's 12th largest city and the center of Silicon Valley. His work has advanced AI adoption, public-private partnerships, procurement modernization, and pioneered omnichannel 311. Teams under his leadership have earned more than 50 national honors. He has been recognized as an Governing Magazine Public Official of the Year, GovTech Doers Dreamers & Drivers (twice), ORBIE CIO of the Year (twice), and LocalSmart City Executive of the Year (four times).

Michael Makstman

Chief Information Officer and Executive Director, Department of Technology, City and County of San Francisco, California

Michael is San Francisco’s Chief information Officer leading the Department of Technology (DT). DT servers City departments, staff, and San Francisco residents by providing secure, reliable, and innovative technology services. Michael has previously served as the City Chief Information Security Officer and founded the San Francisco Office of Cybersecurity. He has recently been selected as one of the top 25 technology doers, dreamers, and drivers in the nation by the Government Technology Magazine. 
Prior to joining the City and County of San Francisco, Michael served in executive roles at complex, regulated organizations in Healthcare, Finance and Technology industries for over 15 years. Michael is a founder and Co-Chair of Coalition of City CISOs (cityciso.org), an organization dedicated to promoting cybersecurity for local governments. He is a Fellow of the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA), the largest international organization of information security professionals, and holds Bachelor’s degree in Finance and IT from DePaul University and master’s degree in computer science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Jason Snyder

Secretary, Executive Office of Technology Services and Security, and Chief Information Officer, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Jason Snyder is the Secretary and Commonwealth CIO of the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security. He was previously the Chief Technology Officer at Harvard University. He has more than 30 years of information technology experience in government, higher education and the private sector.
He has worked at Harvard for almost ten years, as a Program Director for Identity & Access Management, as Managing Director of Architecture and Engineering, and as Chief Technology Officer since 2015. He served as Chief Technology Officer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the duration of Governor Patrick’s tenure, and prior to that spent 13 years in the private sector at CSC Consulting Group. He's a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and lives in Reading.

Teri Takai

Chief Programs Officer, Center for Digital Government

Teri Takai is the Chief Programs Officer for the Center for Digital Government, a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. Teri worked for Ford Motor Company for 30 years in global application development and information technology strategic planning. From Ford, she moved to EDS in support of General Motors. A long-time interest in public service led her to the government sector, first as CIO of the State of Michigan, then as CIO of the State of California and, subsequently, the CIO of the U.S. Department of Defense, the first woman appointed to this role. She then served as the CIO for Meridian Health Plan. .
Teri is a member of several industry advisory boards. She has won numerous awards including Governing magazine’s Public Official of the Year, CIO Magazine’s CIO Hall of Fame, Government Technology magazine’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers, the Women in Defense Excellence in Leadership Award and the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.

Shawnzia A. Thomas

Chief Information Officer, State of Georgia and Executive Director, Georgia Technology Authority

Shawnzia A. Thomas has dedicated over 15 years to integrating technology across various sectors of state government to enhance services for Georgians. She serves as the Chief Information Officer of the State of Georgia and as the Executive Director of the Georgia Technology Authority.
Shawnzia’s previous roles include Assistant Deputy Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Human Services, Executive Director of the Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity and Director of the Georgia Secretary of State Corporations Division.
A native of Macon, GA, Shawnzia holds a bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University and a Master's in Public Administration from the University of West Georgia. She is actively involved in leadership governance roles at the state and national levels, serving on the Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity Advisory Board and as a member of the Executive Committee for the National Association of State CIOs (NASCIO).
Shawnzia was recognized on the Atlanta Business League's list of Top 100 Women of Influence in 2021 and received the 2022 and 2024 GoldenGov: State Executive of the Year award from StateScoop, the 2025 Outstanding Achievement Award from Becoming Everything You Are (BEYA), and was recently named Government Technology's Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers of 2025.

Michelle Vaughn

Assistant Secretary for Strategy & Planning, Executive Office of Technology Services and Security, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Michelle Vaughn serves as Assistant Secretary for Strategy & Planning at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS), where she leads efforts to align strategy, investment, and delivery across state government. She oversees enterprise strategy, portfolio and capital planning, and the Program Management Office, driving enterprise-wide alignment, strengthening governance, and advancing innovation across the Commonwealth.
With nearly two decades of public service, Michelle brings a broad and practical perspective on delivering complex, large-scale initiatives. She began her career in the Massachusetts State Senate and has since held leadership roles at the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Her experience spans legislative affairs, operations, technology strategy, and program delivery, shaping her ability to consistently bridge vision and execution across diverse government environments.
Michelle is known for building high-performing, cross-functional teams and fostering a culture grounded in strategic clarity, accountability, and continuous improvement. She believes effective government delivery requires strong alignment between priorities, resources, and execution—and has focused her work on strengthening strategic and capital planning, modernizing portfolio management, and advancing more informed, outcomes-focused decision-making to improve results for agencies and residents.
Michelle holds a Master of Science in Public Affairs from the University of Massachusetts Boston’s McCormack Graduate School and a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Science from Salve Regina University, along with an Innovative Technology Leader certificate from Stanford University.

Jared Vichengrad

Senior Vice President & General Manager, Axonius Federal Systems

Agenda

Wednesday, December 2
8:00 am Pacific	Registration & Breakfast
9:00 am Pacific	Welcome and Group Introductions Phil Bertolini, Chief Delivery Officer, e.Republic Teri Takai, Chief Programs Officer, Center for Digital Government
9:15 am Pacific	Facing the Fiscal Realities: Getting Control of Technology Sprawl Shrinking budgets and federal funding uncertainty are putting renewed emphasis on ”doing more with less”. As government technology environments expand, CIOs face a growing management challenge: understanding what they have, who is using it, what it costs and whether it is delivering value. The acceleration of AI adoption makes that challenge even more urgent as agencies experiment with new tools faster than traditional governance and inventory processes can keep pace with. CIOs face the challenge of putting AI in the hands the entire organization to drive innovation and efficiency vs controlling the cost and use of the tools. Will AI help? Can government afford it? Will AI-assisted ("vibe") coding accelerate legacy modernization? Who should have what tools? What are the risks? What is making a difference? Moderator: Teri Takai, Chief Programs Officer, Center for Digital Government Laura Barry, Director of IT Finance & Administration, Information Technology Services Division, State of Missouri Amy Edwards Holmes, Director, Arizona Capacity and Efficiency Initiative, State of Arizona Jared Vichengrad, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Public Sector, Axonius Federal Systems
10:00 am Pacific	Break
10:15 am Pacific	The Next-Generation Workforce: Reinventing Technology Operations Governments face a workforce challenge that technology alone cannot solve: rising service expectations, talent shortages, constrained budgets and growing demand. AI and automation can expand the capacity of both IT teams and the agencies they support. The leadership challenge is where to deploy AI and how government work itself will change. This session will explore where tasks can be automated, where human judgment remains essential, which jobs are more likely to change and what new skills employees and managers will need. Cybersecurity and the ‘need for speed’ is one example of the changing role of staff vs. automation. Where is automation best used? How are technology partners adding new capabilities? How will roles change? How can government prepare employees and managers for the future? Moderator: Phil Bertolini, Chief Delivery Officer, e.Republic Claire Bailey, Chief Security Advisor, Tanium
11:00 am Pacific	Break
11:15 am Pacific	Fail Fast, Learn Faster: What Early AI Projects are Teaching Us Government conferences understandably celebrate successful innovation. But some of the most valuable lessons come from projects that failed to meet expectations, produced unexpected results or were deliberately stopped. As governments move from AI experimentation toward larger investments, learning quickly from those experiences will become essential. What are early AI projects teaching state and local governments about data readiness, technology performance, integration, workforce adoption, unrealistic expectations and poorly defined business problems? What are the right metrics? How do pilots scale successfully? What is the ‘right’ business problem? How are ‘unsuccessful’ pilots funded? How do the pilots help develop the right skill sets? This session will dive into lessons learned to provide insights into the pace of change that works. Moderator: Teri Takai, Chief Programs Officer, Center for Digital Government Jason Snyder, Secretary Executive Office of Technology Services & Security and Chief Information Officer, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
12:00 pm Pacific	Lunch
1:00 pm Pacific	The Digital Gap: How Do We Build Constituent Trust? Digital government services have improved measurably, but studies show that usage and trust haven't caught up. Constituents still default to preferred channels like calls, in-person visits, or giving up. This trend impacts government’s ability to become more efficient through the use of AI and technology innovations to reach constituents faster where they are. Digital Services efforts are based on human-centered design to better connect with constituents but is it enough? Will trust be a barrier to technology and AI adoption? Is this generational? How can state and local government engage with the constituents to build trust? Moderator: Rob Lloyd, Executive Director, Center for Digital Government and Center for Public Sector AI (CPSAI) Jordan Burris, Head of Public Sector, Socure Alan Fuller, Chief Information Officer, Department of Technology Services, State of Utah Michelle Vaughn, Assistant Secretary for Strategy & Planning, Executive Office of Technology Services and Security, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
1:45 pm Pacific	Break
2:00 pm Pacific	AI at the Edge: When Everything is Connected… and Intelligent The boundaries of government IT have expanded. Transportation systems, buildings, utilities, cameras, vehicles, sensors, public safety equipment and other physical infrastructure are connected - and increasingly intelligent. What challenges will enterprise IT face as AI moves to the edge. Where do the data reside? What is the impact on networks? How will governments take advantage of intelligent infrastructure without creating unmanageable complexity or risk? With the convergence of IT, operational technology, IoT and AI, how is responsibility shared across CIOs, agencies and operational departments? Moderator: Phil Bertolini, Chief Delivery Officer, e.Republic
2:45 pm Pacific	Break
3:00 pm Pacific	The AI Bill is Coming: Can Government Afford It? AI pilots can be inexpensive and impressive. Scaling AI across an enterprise includes cloud and compute consumption, connectivity, data infrastructure, storage, integration, licensing, workforce and ongoing management. Usage-based pricing is putting the cost of AI front and center for IT leaders. What is needed to budget for AI usage? How can IT estimate the cost of AI before implementation? Where is AI genuinely reducing government costs or increasing capacity and where is it simply adding another technology layer? Does the cost go beyond AI to data preparation and integration? As agencies push for greater AI adoption, this session would look at how leaders are planning to better understand and manage AI cost. Moderator: Rob Lloyd, Executive Director, Center for Digital Government and Center for Public Sector AI (CPSAI) John Hoffman, Chief Technology Officer, Deputy Chief Information Officer, State of Texas Tim Lake, Vice President, SLED, AT&T
3:45 pm Pacific	Day One Wrap Up
4:00 pm Pacific	Break until Dinner
6:00 pm Pacific	Dinner

Thursday, December 3
8:00 am Pacific	Breakfast
8:45 am Pacific	Who’s in Control: Governing in the Age of AI Agents State and local governments spent 2024–2025 experimenting with generative AI chatbots, drafting tools, developing policies and procedures. In 2026, they made the move to agentic AI -- systems that don't just answer questions but take actions inside defined workflows. In effect, government has a digital workforce operating alongside their human workforce. That creates opportunities for productivity - and fundamentally new questions about governance. What happens when government must supervise a combination of people and AI agents. Do they have the right tools? What policies and processes are needed? How should performance and behaviour be monitored? This session will dive into the evolving challenges of the next generation of AI governance that operationalizes the procedures and guardrails that government has built. Moderator: Rob Lloyd, Executive Director, Center for Digital Government and Center for Public Sector AI (CPSAI) Michael Makstman, Chief Information Officer and Executive Director, Department of Technology, City and County of San Francisco, California Trent Shoultz, Senior Director, Solutions Consulting, Palo Alto Networks Shawnzia A. Thomas, Chief Information Officer, State of Georgia & Executive Director, Georgia Technology Authority, State of Georgia
9:30 am Pacific	Break
9:45 am Pacific	Preparing for the Future: Are We Ready to Lead What’s Next? Technology is changing faster than the structures government uses to make policy, manage risk, build a workforce and earn public trust. AI, autonomous systems and connected infrastructure are shaping how government operates. The leaders who govern through this transition do not need to become technologists, but they do need enough fluency to make hard decisions under uncertainty. How will CIOs build a culture of continuous change in their organizations? How will leaders make policy when technology evolves faster than legislation? What role will the CIO have in educating and guiding elected officials? What is the impact on union employees? This conversation will explore what governors, mayors, agency executives and CIOs face to govern effectively in the next decade. Moderator: Teri Takai, Chief Programs Officer, Center for Digital Government
10:30 am Pacific	Moving into 2027, What Tech Trends Did We Miss and What is to Come? As state and local government leaders move into 2027, it is a good time to step back and reflect on what is yet to come. This session will open the conversation to push the boundaries of the technologies that they support. Will AI technology leaders really self-govern? Will the pace of cybersecurity threats increase faster than the ability to remediate? Will critical infrastructure be at greater risk? Is quantum going to change the day-to-day operations anytime soon? Is the role of the CIO changing as technology is in the hands of everyone? What do the technology partners in the room have in the works that will be introduced in 2027? Now is the time to think big and send the room on their way with enthusiasm and great expectations for the New Year!
11:15 am Pacific	Closing Remarks Phil Bertolini, Chief Delivery Officer, e.Republic Rob Lloyd, Executive Director, Center for Digital Government and Center for Public Sector AI (CPSAI) Teri Takai, Chief Programs Officer, Center for Digital Government
11:30 am Pacific	Adjourn Conference times, agenda and speakers are subject to change.

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Registration Information / Contact Us

Event Date: December 2 and 3, 2026

This is an invitation-only event, open to Public Sector only. For more information or to request an invitation, please contact Isabel McKee.

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:

Isabel McKee
Center for Digital Government
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 932-0722
E-mail: imckee@erepublic.com

Already a sponsor, but need a hand? Reach out to:

Mireya Gaton
Center for Digital Government
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
Center for Digital Government
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 365-2308
E-mail: heather.earney@erepublic.com

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Envision: A State and Local Government IT Summit 2026

Overview

A message from our Keynote Speaker

Speakers

Claire Bailey

Chief Security Advisor, Tanium

Laura Barry

Director of Finance and Administration, Information Technology Services Division, State of Missouri

Phil Bertolini

Chief Delivery Officer, e.Republic

Jordan Burris

Head of Public Sector, Socure

Nikhil Deshpande

Chief Digital & AI Officer, Office of Digital Services & Solutions, Georgia Technology Authority, State of Georgia

Alan Fuller

Chief Information Officer, State of Utah

John Hoffman

Chief Technology Officer, Deputy State Chief Information Officer, State of Texas

Amy Edwards Holmes

Director, Arizona Capacity & Efficiency (ACE) Initiative, State of Arizona

Rob Lloyd

Executive Director, Center for Digital Government and Center for Public Sector AI

Michael Makstman

Chief Information Officer and Executive Director, Department of Technology, City and County of San Francisco, California

Jason Snyder

Secretary, Executive Office of Technology Services and Security, and Chief Information Officer, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Teri Takai

Chief Programs Officer, Center for Digital Government

Shawnzia A. Thomas

Chief Information Officer, State of Georgia and Executive Director, Georgia Technology Authority

Michelle Vaughn

Assistant Secretary for Strategy & Planning, Executive Office of Technology Services and Security, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Jared Vichengrad

Senior Vice President & General Manager, Axonius Federal Systems

Agenda

Wednesday, December 2

8:00 am Pacific

Registration & Breakfast

9:00 am Pacific

Welcome and Group Introductions

9:15 am Pacific

Facing the Fiscal Realities: Getting Control of Technology Sprawl

10:00 am Pacific

Break

10:15 am Pacific

The Next-Generation Workforce: Reinventing Technology Operations

11:00 am Pacific

Break

11:15 am Pacific

Fail Fast, Learn Faster: What Early AI Projects are Teaching Us

12:00 pm Pacific

Lunch

1:00 pm Pacific

The Digital Gap: How Do We Build Constituent Trust?

1:45 pm Pacific

Break

2:00 pm Pacific

AI at the Edge: When Everything is Connected… and Intelligent

2:45 pm Pacific

Break

3:00 pm Pacific

The AI Bill is Coming: Can Government Afford It?

3:45 pm Pacific

Day One Wrap Up

4:00 pm Pacific

Break until Dinner

6:00 pm Pacific

Dinner

Thursday, December 3

8:00 am Pacific

Breakfast

8:45 am Pacific

Who’s in Control: Governing in the Age of AI Agents

9:30 am Pacific

Break

9:45 am Pacific

Preparing for the Future: Are We Ready to Lead What’s Next?

10:30 am Pacific

Moving into 2027, What Tech Trends Did We Miss and What is to Come?

11:15 am Pacific