Welcome Dinner

Registration and Breakfast

Welcome and Introductions

An introduction to the day’s themes: how governments can maximize public funds by improving operations, reducing costs, and strengthening service delivery through practical efficiency reforms. This session will set the tone for the day by underscoring the need for collaboration and creativity in tackling efficiency challenges, while also highlighting the importance of measurable outcomes. Leaders will be encouraged to think about quick wins as well as longer-term reforms.

Jed Herrmann, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Teri Takai, Chief Programs Officer, Center for Digital Government

Smarter Budgeting in Action

More efficient government delivery begins with better budgeting. By focusing on outcomes and using evidence-based models, governments can make more effective use of their funds. This approach promotes accountability, transparency, and efficient use of limited funds.

With insights from government leaders, the discussion will cover how to link every dollar in the budget to measurable outcomes that matter to residents, ensuring public resources are allocated toward delivering results.

Moderator: Jed Herrmann, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Break

Where Shared Services and Technology Modernization Matters

Many back-office functions and systems are repeated across agencies, creating duplication and inefficiency. Shared services and updated technology systems can simplify processes, lower costs, and free up resources for frontline services. The session will discuss how consolidating functions and modernizing IT can support more responsive government.

The discussion will highlight the importance of aligning technology improvements with organizational change management, ensuring that modernization delivers long-term efficiency gains.

Moderator: Teri Takai, Chief Programs Officer, Center for Digital Government

Break

Customer Service Improvements for Effective Operations

Confusing customer experiences, especially government licensing and permitting processes, are frequent sources of frustration for residents and create barriers to economic growth and affordability. This session will explore how using risk-based permitting systems, digitizing forms, publishing clear timelines, automating simple approvals, and redesigning customer interactions can make services faster, clearer, and more user-friendly.

The discussion will highlight how better customer service design not only reduces red tape but also improves compliance and trust in government. Participants will hear about practical moves like setting permit service level targets, publishing queue dashboards, and using pre-approved sample plans to improve first submission quality.

Moderator: Jed Herrmann, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Lunch

Artificial Intelligence in Practice

Artificial intelligence offers new ways to support government operations, from triaging requests to summarizing case files. This session will cover how AI can be used in practical, low-risk applications that improve staff productivity, reduce backlogs, and enhance resident service.

The conversation will cover barriers that currently limit adoption—such as data quality and governance—and outline steps for responsible and effective deployment. The goal is to demystify AI and focus on how it can lead to better measurable results in service delivery (not flashy pilots that don’t deliver real outcomes or help governments meet their mission critical goals).

Moderator: Teri Takai, Chief Programs Officer, Center for Digital Government

Break

Preventing Fraud and Protecting Program Integrity

A high priority for the state and local government, fraud and improper payments strain budgets and delay legitimate services. This session will highlight how governments can prevent errors before they occur, strengthen eligibility and payment checks, and strike the right balance between protecting integrity and ensuring timely service delivery. It will also examine how improved fraud detection supports fairness and strengthens public confidence in government programs. Concrete steps like automating pre-award checks, standardizing identity proofing, and centralizing reviews will be explored.

Moderator: Jed Herrmann, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Break

Is Your Organization Ready for Change?

With changes coming in 2026 at the federal level, the current fiscal landscape will shift more responsibility to state and local governments. Unlike short term budget challenges in the past, major changes in federal funding signal the need to make fundamental changes to how state and local governments spend money. While leaders can drive change, it is often the ability to change culture, shift thinking, and move everyone away from of the ‘this is the way we have always done it’ mindset. This open discussion will brainstorm the challenges state and local government leaders are facing and highlight the practical steps they are taking to help their organizations move into the future.

Jed Herrmann, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Teri Takai, Chief Programs Officer, Center for Digital Government

Closing Forum: What Did We Miss?

Participants will identify additional priorities and challenges not covered earlier in the day. This open dialogue is designed to surface emerging issues and creative solutions that could inform future work

Closing Discussion and Next Steps

Wrap-up of the day’s discussions with a focus on key takeaways and practical steps governments can implement right away. Participants will also be invited to commit to one or two pilots to carry forward after the summit.

Adjourn

Conference times, agenda and speakers are subject to change.