Florida IT Leadership Forum 2026
Overview
The Florida IT Leadership Forum is where tomorrow’s government leaders grow today.
This invitation-only gathering brings together state and local IT executives, emerging leaders, and visionary thinkers for candid conversations on the future of public-sector technology. Focused on leadership development, innovation, and strategy, the Forum goes beyond the tech to address the people, policies, and practices shaping digital government. Through peer exchange and practical sessions, participants gain the insights, relationships, and skills needed to lead their organizations and communities into the future.
Agenda
Tuesday, December 1 |
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8:00 am Eastern |
Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area |
9:00 am Eastern |
Opening Remarks |
9:15 am Eastern |
Keynote - Full Throttle Leadership: Strategies for the Modern Tech LandscapeWhen you're moving fast and the stakes are high, there's no room for guesswork and no time to second-guess yourself. Public sector tech leaders face mounting pressure to deliver complex projects, lead through change, and keep teams motivated amid constant constraints. It’s not just about managing technology; it’s about leading people to success through uncertainty! This session draws on Julia’s experience as a NASCAR driver and innovation strategist to deliver sharp, story-driven lessons on ownership, preparation, resilience, and communication, while equipping leaders with straightforward tools to lead effectively and accelerate toward their goals.
Julia Landauer, Champion Racecar Driver, Motivational Keynote Speaker |
10:15 am Eastern |
Networking Break in the Exhibit Area |
10:45 am Eastern |
Concurrent SessionsGrowing Managers Out of Great TechnologistsGreat technical work does not always prepare someone to manage people, budgets, vendors, and priorities. In this session, attendees will talk through what new managers need to understand as they move from doing the work to leading it. The conversation will cover delegation, decision-making, budget awareness, team accountability, and helping strong technical staff step into leadership without losing what made them valuable.
Finding Money So You Can Spend BetterCloud, licensing, AI tools, security, and modernization all compete for the same limited dollars. This session will focus on FinOps, cloud spend, AI token costs, and total cost of ownership in plain language. Attendees will hear how teams are finding savings, right-sizing services, and using better budget planning to create room for new priorities instead of just cutting for the sake of cutting.
Practical AI Without Losing ControlMoving past chat tools takes more than enthusiasm. Here attendees will hear what practical AI looks like when an organization moves beyond chat tools and starts building real workflows. The discussion will cover agent registries, validation layers, approved use cases, data guardrails, and how to keep sensitive information out of the wrong places. Attendees should leave with a clearer sense of what leaders need to decide before they let AI loose inside their teams.
PALM After Go Live and What Comes NextBy December, PALM will be less about preparation and more about what agencies are learning in real time. Leaders will be dealing with execution, adoption, change management, and lessons learned. This session will focus on what agencies are seeing after go-live, how teams are managing disruption, and what technology leaders need to communicate to staff, finance teams, and executive leadership. The goal is to make the conversation useful and practical, not just a recap of pain points.
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11:45 am Eastern |
Lunch |
12:45 pm Eastern |
General Session - Leading Beyond What Is On FireFlorida IT leaders are being asked to manage today’s needs while preparing for what's next. This conversation will focus on how leaders build vision, help tactical teams think farther ahead, and make decisions today that still make sense three years from now. Attendees will hear how other leaders are moving teams from daily problem-solving into stronger planning, clearer priorities, and better long-term thinking.
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1:30 pm Eastern |
Short BreakPlease proceed to the concurrent sessions.
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1:45 pm Eastern |
Concurrent SessionsTelling the IT Story So Leaders ListenGood technology work can still be overlooked when the story is unclear. IT teams do important work, but they are not always good at explaining its value to executives, finance teams, legislators, or a new administration. In this session, attendees will work through how to tell a clearer story about cost, risk, service, savings, and wins. The conversation will focus on how leaders can show value quickly and help their agencies understand why technology investments matter.
Building High-Performing Teams That Can Push BackThe strongest teams are not the quietest teams. They need enough trust to challenge ideas, bring solutions, and take ownership. This session will focus on how leaders build teams that are willing to think, speak up, and solve problems instead of waiting for direction on every decision. Attendees will hear practical approaches to empowering managers, creating accountability, and helping people deliver a full solution rather than just a problem.
Managing Up Before Managing OutLeadership is not always the fun part. Sometimes it means handling difficult employees, performance issues, toxic team dynamics, and long improvement processes. This session will focus on how managers can coach people first, document clearly, protect the rest of the team, and know when a role needs to change. Attendees will hear practical advice for having hard conversations without treating the outcome as already decided.
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2:45 pm Eastern |
Networking Break in the Exhibit Area |
3:15 pm Eastern |
General Session - Managing the Work AI Now DoesAI is changing the way teams work, but leaders still have to set the guardrails, calm fears, and ensure the work is useful. This session will focus on what it means to lead as AI tools, agents, and automation become part of the team. Attendees will hear practical examples of how agencies can guide staff, protect sensitive data, avoid misuse, and use AI to take routine work off people’s plates without making employees feel replaced.
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4:00 pm Eastern |
Networking Reception in the Exhibit AreaNetwork with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event exhibitors.
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4:30 pm Eastern |
End of ConferenceConference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change.
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Florida State Conference Center
555 W Pensacola Street
Tallahassee, FL 32306
(850) 644-3801
Florida State Conference Center
Advisory Board
Government Representatives
Pura Ahler
Deputy Chief Information Officer
State of Florida
Andrew Bucior
Associate Director, Data & Analytics
Florida State University
Frances Cox
Data & Analytics Lead
Florida Department of Health
Rob Cryan
Chief Technology Officer
Florida Virtual School
Jeremy Daniell
Chief Information Officer
Florida Department of Elder Affairs
Richard Habgood
Chief Information Security Officer
Information Technology
FL Dept of Commerce
JB Holden
IT Cloud Services Manager
Florida Department of Children and Families
Dennis Hollingsworth
Chief Information Officer
Department of Environmental Protection
Kassandra Jefford
Cybersecurity Governance Risk & Compliance Lead
Florida Department of Children and Families
FL Department of Children and Families
Danny Nunez
Manager, AI Center of Excellence
AHCA
Kevin Seymour
Chief Information Security Officer
OIT
FL Dept of Corrections
Sam Smigiel
Chief of IT Infrastructure
DBPR
Matt Stolk
Chief Technology Officer
NWRDC / FSU
Michelle Taylor
Chief Information Officer
Leon County
Mike Turner
Chief Information Officer
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
State of Florida
Industry Representatives
Dawn Miller
Client Director
State & Local Government
Microsoft
Registration Information / Contact Us
Event Date: December 1, 2026
This is an invitation-only event, open to Public Sector only. For more information or to request an invitation, please contact Lauren Schoenberger.
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