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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.

A message from our Keynote Speaker

Speakers

Julia Landauer

Julia Landauer

Champion Racecar Driver, Podcast Host & Entrepreneur

Julia Landauer is a 2-time champion racecar driver from New York City, having most recently raced in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. She's raced all over the world, including in the NASCAR Euro Series, where she finished 5th overall, the highest ever for an American. Away from the track, Julia graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor of science, was on CBS’ SURVIVOR, and was a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree. Julia is also a motivational keynote speaker and corporate advisor, advocate for STEM education and women’s empowerment, and host of the podcast “If I’m Honest with Julia Landauer.” Julia now works at NASCAR on their Strategy & Innovation team.
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Joey Hornsby

Joey Hornsby LinkedIn

Chief Information Officer, Florida Department of Law Enforcement

Joey Hornsby was appointed Director of Information Technology Services for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) in May 2014. As IT Director, Mr. Hornsby serves as Chief Information Officer and is responsible for all aspects of FDLE’s Information Technology and Security programs.
Mr. Hornsby’s duties include support of the Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC), providing Florida’s Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice entities access to local, state, national, and international information repositories. Duties also include supporting the country’s 3rd largest criminal history and biometric identification systems, as well as stewardship of Florida’s Criminal Justice Network, state government’s largest wide area network connecting Local, State, and Federal agencies across nearly 500 locations. These systems, in concert with many others, support Florida’s Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice communities and serve as national and international gateways for access to criminal justice data.
Mr. Hornsby holds a Bachelor of Computer Engineering degree from Auburn University and has over 34 years of public and private sector IT experience including networking, systems, infrastructure, security, and data center operations.
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Scott McPherson

Scott McPherson

Senior Fellow, Government Technology

Scott McPherson is a fifth-generation native Floridian. Born in Jacksonville in the mid-1950s, Scott was raised in Broward and Martin Counties. An international businessman at age 21, Scott was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1980 from the south Miami-Dade County area at age 25, defeating a two-term incumbent. Scott served in the early 1980s.
Scott has been a technology and communications consultant for the past thirty-six years, beginning in Miami in 1990 and moving his practice to Tallahassee in 1991. His weekly technology column for Knight/Ridder Newspapers, “The Help Screen,” ran from 1994 to 2002. It ran coast-to-coast and appeared regularly in such newspapers as the Boston Globe, the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Detroit Free Press, the Tallahassee Democrat, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Orange County (CA) Register.
In 1995, Scott became Director of Information Technology for the Republican Party of Florida and guided the party’s IT, data collection, software production and GIS efforts through two campaign cycles.
In 1999, Governor Jeb Bush asked Scott to leave that position to design and helm Team Florida 2000, Florida’s statewide Y2K preparedness effort. The largest IT project in Florida’s history, Team Florida 2000 became a national model and garnered several state and national best practice awards. TF2K’s statewide critical infrastructure survey and disaster recovery awareness programs were a precursor to Florida’s best-practice homeland security efforts following 9/11.
In early 2000, following the success of TF2K, Governor Bush asked Scott to repair the ailing state Census partnership. Scott’s redesigned and reenergized effort, Sunshine Count 2000, was a critical and media success, and helped Florida secure a second new Congressional district, which no political pundit thought possible.
Immediately following the Census project, Scott designed a plan for enterprise-wide information security. In early 2001, Scott created the Office of Information Security within Florida’s State Technology Office. Efforts were accelerated following 9/11, and Scott won a national “Best of Breed” award from the Center for Digital Government in 2002 for the Florida cybersecurity effort. A derivative of the effort, “SecureFlorida.org,” was launched jointly by Scott, the State Technology Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in 2003 for the benefit of the general public, local governments and the private sector.
It was at this point that Jeb nicknamed Scott his “Sixth Man,” a basketball expression for someone who comes off the bench to spark a team.
In March 2001, Scott was appointed Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the Florida Department of Corrections. He served in that capacity for nearly six years. Under Scott’s leadership, the Department’s Office of Information Technology won seventeen (17) Davis Productivity Awards from Florida TaxWatch for technological innovation and excellent stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
Scott is a past-president of the Corrections Technology Association, a hemispheric association of state, federal, tribal, county and municipal corrections technology professionals from the Pacific islands to Canada, the United States and Mexico. He also served on the Legislature’s Article V Technology Board and served as the Corrections representative to the state law enforcement CJJIS Council. He was the last chairman of the Florida Geographic Information Board (GIB) in 2001. Scott also was elected unanimously by his peers as Chairman of the CIO Council of State government chief information and technology officers for 2005-06.
In November 2006, Scott returned to his legislative roots and accepted the appointment as CIO for the Florida House of Representatives. “It’s good to be home,” he said.
With his unique background in government, business, emergency preparedness and disaster recovery, Scott is now recognized internationally as an expert in preparedness for pandemics. Scott has lectured extensively across the country on the topic, and is frequently consulted for quotes and comments from the national and trade press on the subject. His presentations are referenced by the National Association of County and City Health Officials, the State University System of Florida, the University of Illinois, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the National Institute of Corrections. Scott appeared on Fox News Channel as part of its ongoing 2009 swine flu coverage. 
At the personal invitation of Dr. Michael Osterholm, a well-known, deeply respected and frequently-quoted expert on public health issues, Scott lectured at the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) September, 2009 conference titled "Keeping the World Working During an Influenza Pandemic." It was the final opportunity to inform business, government and industry prior to the full onset of 2009's H1N1v pandemic.  Scott lectured the Fortune 100 on telework in a pandemic. Scott conducted several webinars at the request of CISA in 2020 as the SARS-CoV-2 “COVID” pandemic began.
As a result of his pandemic efforts and overall body of work, Government Technology Magazine recognized Scott as one of the Top 25 public technology movers and shakers in the United States for 2008, along with FEMA Director Craig Fugate and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 2017, for his overall portfolio of accomplishments, Scott received the inaugural Florida CIO Hall of Fame award from Public CIO magazine.
In 2022, Scott retired from State government and joined the Center for Digital Government as a Senior Fellow. Scott McPherson is married to the former Marta Carballo. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.  He continues to lecture and consult on pandemic preparedness and cybersecurity.
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Carlene Smith, PMP

Carlene Smith, PMP LinkedIn

Director, Enterprise Svc Engagement & Communications, Northwest Regional Data Center, Florida Virtual Campus

Carlene Smith serves as Director of Enterprise Service Engagement and Communications at the Northwest Regional Data Center (NWRDC), Florida State University, where she leads enterprise engagement, service governance, and communications supporting more than 90 public sector organizations.
With over 15 years of leadership experience across Florida state government and higher education, Carlene has held leadership roles in strategic planning, project management, enterprise operations, and technology service delivery. Her experience includes leading cross-functional teams, directing a Project Management Office, and supporting statewide technology modernization efforts.
Throughout her career, Carlene has focused on strengthening accountability, establishing clear expectations, and improving how teams work together. Her leadership approach emphasizes open communication, fairness, and giving employees the guidance and opportunity to succeed while balancing individual development with organizational needs.
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Agenda

Tuesday, December 1

8:00 am Eastern

Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

2nd Floor Atrium

9:00 am Eastern

Opening Remarks

Room 208 (Auditorium)

9:15 am Eastern

Keynote - Full Throttle Leadership: Strategies for the Modern Tech Landscape

Room 208 (Auditorium)

When 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

2nd Floor Atrium

Refuel and reconnect over premium refreshments courtesy of Recharge Break Sponsor: Red Hat LLC

10:45 am Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

Growing Managers Out of Great Technologists

Room 214

Great 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.

Moderator: Matt Stolk, Chief Technology Officer, Northwest Regional Data Center, Florida Virtual Campus

Dennis Hollingsworth, Chief Information Officer, Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Joey Hornsby, Chief Information Officer, Florida Department of Law Enforcement

Scott McPherson, Senior Fellow, Government Technology

Finding Money So You Can Spend Better

Room 205

Cloud, 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.

Moderator: Amber Tyson, Cybersecurity Community Operations Lead, Office of the State Chief Information Security Officer

J.B. Holden, Chief Technology Officer, Office of Information Technology Services, Florida Department of Children and Families

Julia E. Cunningham, MBA, Director, Administration & Financial Services, Northwest Regional Data Center

William J. Armstrong, Chief Information Security Officer, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

Practical AI Without Losing Control

Room 201

Moving 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.

Rob Cryan, Chief Technology Officer, Florida Virtual Schools

11:45 am Eastern

Lunch

Room 208 (Auditorium)

12:45 pm Eastern

General Session - Leading Beyond What Is On Fire

Room 208 (Auditorium)

Florida 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.

Moderator: Ken Johnson, Chief Infrastructure and Cloud Services Officer, Information Technology Services, Florida State University

Brian Abbondanza, Chief Information Security Officer, Office of Information Technology Services

Brian Peterson, Applications and Database Manager, Office of the State, Courts Administrator

Tim Brown, Assistant Vice-President for ITS: NWRDC and FLVC, Florida State University and Northwest Regional Data Center University

Michelle Taylor, Chief Information Officer, Leon County

1:30 pm Eastern

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

1:45 pm Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

Telling the IT Story So Leaders Listen

Room 214

Good 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.

Moderator: Stephanie Tanner, Information Security Manager, Florida Department of Transportation

Bobby Sprinkle, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Florida State University

Shyaam Sunndar Amaraneni, PhD Student - Cybersecurity Professional, Florida State University

Building High-Performing Teams That Can Push Back

Room 205

The 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.

Moderator: Jessica Byerly, Senior National Conference Director, Government Technology

Joseph Grabowski, Application Design & Support Process Manager, Office of Attorney General James Uthmeier

Scott Sutterfield, Assoc. Director, Technology Services, Northwest Regional Data Center

Chelsea York, MPA, PMP, CPM- Strategic Services Manager, Florida Department of Transportation - Central Office, Office of Information Technology

Managing Up Before Managing Out

Room 201

Leadership 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.

Moderator: Evie McDaniel, Service Center Manager, Office of Information Technologies, Florida Department of Children and Families

Carlene Smith, PMP, Director, Enterprise Svc Engagement & Communications, Northwest Regional Data Center, Florida Virtual Campus

Erik Van Horn, Director, Enterprise Transformation, Florida Department of Corrections

Deidra Jones, Project Management Engineering Specialist, FL Dept of Transportation

2:45 pm Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Refuel and reconnect over premium refreshments courtesy of Recharge Break Sponsor: Red Hat LLC

3:15 pm Eastern

General Session - Managing the Work AI Now Does

Room 208 (Auditorium)

AI 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.

Moderator: Dr. Richard Evans, IT Policy Coordinator, Executive Office of the Governor

James Campbell, Information Security Manager, Florida State Guard

Paul Richards, Chief Technology Officer, Florida Department of Corrections

4:00 pm Eastern

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

2nd Floor Atrium

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

4:30 pm Eastern

End of Conference

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

Florida State Conference Center

555 W Pensacola Street
Tallahassee, FL 32306
(850) 644-3801

Get Directions To
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

Venue

Florida State Conference Center

555 W Pensacola Street
Tallahassee, FL 32306
(850) 644-3801