Hawaii Digital Government Summit 2024 Banner

Overview

The Digital Government Summit brings together technology focused public-sector professionals with leading industry partners to connect on innovative approaches, get inspired and discover new technologies. Join us and let’s improve the future of government together!

A message from our Keynote Speaker

Aloha! The 2024 Hawai’i Digital Government Summit is a great opportunity for state and county IT leaders and business leaders of IT to discuss how we may improve services for the people of Hawai’i through technology. At this event we will share ideas, best practices and trends that will support our IT modernization initiatives. As the state’s recently named CIO, I look forward to meeting and working with you all to define the best possible IT future for our state.

- Christine Maii Sakuda, Chief Information Officer, State of Hawai’i

Speakers

Anton Gunn

Anton Gunn

Keynote speaker, Best-selling author, Former senior advisor to President Barack Obama

Recognized for his extensive work as a former senior advisor to President Barack Obama; a prominent healthcare executive; and a leading expert on Socially Conscious Leadership, Anton Gunn has a passion for making positive changes that impact others.
He was the first African American in history elected to the South Carolina Legislature from his district early in his career, breaking through barriers and teaching others to create influence and impact in their own lives.
Anton is a graduate of the University of South Carolina (USC) where he played SEC football for the Gamecocks. He also earned a master's degree in Social Work from USC and was a Resident Fellow at Harvard.
He is the bestselling author of Just Lead, The Audacity of Leadership, and The Presidential Principles, and has been featured in TIME Magazine, the Wall St Journal, INC Magazine, BBC, NPR, and on Good Morning America. Anton was also named one of the Ten Most Influential Minority Executives in Healthcare by Fierce Healthcare.
An international keynote speaker, management consultant, and the CEO of 937 Strategy Group, Anton has worked with renowned organizations like Mercedes-Benz Vans, KPMG, Rock Ventures, Sodexo, WellPath, Verizon Wireless, Aetna, T-Mobile, American Organization of Nurse Leaders, Emory Healthcare, Blue Shield of California, and The Boeing Company.
Anton is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), a designation earned by the top echelon of professional speakers and held by fewer than 10% of the members belonging to the International Federation for Professional Speakers.
Anton has spent his life helping leaders build diverse, high-performing teams and world-class workplace cultures. He currently serves on multiple boards. )

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Rebecca Cai

Rebecca Cai

Chief Data Officer, Office of Enterprise Technology Services, State of Hawai’i

Rebecca most recently served as the Chief Data Officer for New York State’s Office of Information Technology Services and has 24 years of digital, data, analytics, and decision intelligence experience in the private sector. She holds an MBA from the University of South Carolina.

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Jon Ford

Jon Ford

Head of Mandiant Cyber Security Solutions, State, Local and Education, Mandiant / Google Public Sector

Mr. Ford is 30-year veteran in cybersecurity, crisis response, and intelligence-led cyber operations in both government and commercial sectors. Prior to joining Mandiant, Mr. Ford served in executive leadership roles for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Mr. Ford served as the responsible executive to the U.S.
Cryptologic Centers for strategic and tactical oversight of global cyber operations and key asset protection. In these roles. Mr. Ford developed the framework used by the U.S. Government to manage risk of cyber threats supporting government and critical infrastructure capabilities receiving recognition by the White House National Security Council and the United States Congress.
Currently, Mr. Ford serves as the Head of Mandiant cyber security solutions to State, Local and Education markets as well as professional service solutions. Mr. Ford leads operations, strategy and solution for our global partners, and globally leads Mandiant’s Insider Threat risk offerings. Mr. Ford coaches boards and executives on how to measure and manage enterprise risk, regularly speaks at industry conferences. Mr. Ford is a member of the Geneva Dialogue on Responsible Behaviour in Cyberspace and the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise. Mr. Ford is the founder of Mandiant's Elevate program to advance women in IT security into senior leadership and Board positions.
Mr. Ford serves as an adjunct professor teaching advanced curricula on cybersecurity and risk frameworks at St. Mary’s University. Mr. Ford is a graduate of Harvard, John F. Kennedy School on Cybersecurity Policy; and a graduate of Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Business in Strategic.

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Joel Golub

Joel Golub

Industry Executive Director, City & County Government, Oracle

Joel Golub is the Industry Executive Director for Local and County Strategy for Oracle North America. Joel has 30 years of experience as a CIO in California County Government, NYC Government and NJ State Public Transit.
He most recenty served as CIO in Orange County, CA, the nation’s 6th largest county supporting 3.2 milion constituents. During his 5 years at Orange County, Joel also served on two Orange County Boards responsible for the oversight of Law and Justice Technology and Land Based Radio Communications. Joel served on the Board for California County Information Servcies Directors and worked as their President promoting technology sharing and collaboration among CA county IT organizations.
Under the Bloomberg administration in NYC, Joel served as the Deputy Fire Commissioner and Chief Information Officer for the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY). As FDNY’s first CIO, Joel was responsible for key technology projects and transformations for the business.
Joel was also the CIO in San Bernardino County, CA which is the largest county in area in the United States providing services over a 20 thousand square mile area to 3 million residents.
Joel spent most of his career at NJ TRANSIT and remains one of the longest tenured CIOs in the public transit industry in the United States.
Joel studied at Montclair State University earning a BA in Mathematics and later earned his MBA from Rutgers University. Joel and his wife, Deborah reside in New Jersey and recently became grandparents.
Joel was a part time firefighter for over 40 years and recently retired from firefighting but remains extremely committed to improving technologies that support first responders and protecting the public. He is passionate about improving government services for their citizens and introducing innovation and new technology to make government more efficient and responsive to the public.

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Vincent Hoang

Vincent Hoang

Chief Information Security Officer, Office of Enterprise Technology Services, State of Hawaii

The Office of Enterprise Technology Services’ Cyber Security Program is led by State CISO, Vincent Hoang, who is responsible for securing state government information resources and infrastructure. He brings 25 years’ experience in developing and implementing effective information technology strategies, including the application of cybersecurity, network management and systems design to improve business outcomes. Vincent most recently served as the enterprise architect for Hawaiian Telcom, where he secured infrastructure for customers and conducted network architecture, performance, security risk and systems infrastructure assessments. He also worked as a senior systems consultant for Bank of Hawaii and a security engineer for Munger, Tolles and Olson in Los Angeles, CA.

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Bruce Mirante

Cybersecurity State Coordinator, Region 9, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

Bruce Mirante, Cybersecurity State Coordinator CISA Region 9, joined the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in January 2024. Bruce is part of CISA’s Region 9 and serves as the Cybersecurity State Coordinator to the State of Hawaii.  In this role, Bruce builds strategic public and private sector relationships with state, local, tribal and private sector critical infrastructure entities, and serves as a principle point of contact to non-Federal organizations interested in engaging with the Federal government to prepare, manage and respond to cybersecurity incidents. Prior to joining CISA, Bruce was with Matson Navigation Company serving with their network and information security group. Bruce has been in Hawaii for the past forty years, working for the Federal government both as a contractor and a civilian employee. Bruce has also worked as an adjunct professor with the University of Hawaii system and other private colleges on Oahu. Bruce holds several computer industry certifications with Cisco Systems, Comptia, Juniper and Microsoft.

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Darren Cantrill

Darren Cantrill

Information Technology Manager, Department of Transportation, State of Hawaii

Darren Cantrill has been HDOT’s IT Manager since 2020, responsible for the planning, developing, implementing, and maintaining the back-office systems at the Department of Transportation. Darren and his teams are responsible for desktop support, data center operations, application development, and network infrastructure for all HDOT locations. Darren functions as the chief information officer of the Department and works closely with the other IT coordinators in each transportation division (Airports, Highways, and Harbors).
Darren has more than 25 years’ experience in developing and implementing effective information technology strategies through data-driven decisions. Darren has served in a management role for data center operations, production control, test operations, configuration management, development operations, and helpdesk.

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Dean Hazama

Dean Hazama

Deputy Director, Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs, State of Hawaii

Dean Hazama serves as Deputy Director for the State of Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA). Appointed in January 2023, he is responsible for the management of the department and its mission to protect Hawaii’s consumers and ensure effective and timely oversight of the regulatory environment for businesses and consumers.
Mr. Hazama has extensive institutional experience in fiscal, budget, and legislative management and brings a strong passion to serve the people of Hawaii.  He previously served in various federal positions at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard including as Technical Director of the Pacific Fleet Technical Support Center, Logistics Officer for the Pacific Defense Information Systems Agency, and Business and Material Officer for the Defense Logistics Agency Maritime Pearl Harbor. Following his federal service, he joined the State of Hawaii as Business Management Officer at DCCA and at the Hawaii Department of Transportation.
He is Chair of the Mililani Mauka/Launani Valley Neighborhood Board and former chair of the Honolulu Planning Commission and State Apprenticeship Council and is a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in Accounting from the Shidler College of Business.

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Tom Ku

Tom Ku

Informational Technology Service Operations Officer, Office of Enterprise Technology Services, State of Hawaii

Tom Ku has over 30 years of experience in IT and has worked in a wide range of industries including Higher Education, Financial, Systems Integration, and others.  He now currently enjoys working for the State as part of the ETS Ohana. 

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Robert Muellner

Robert Muellner LinkedIn

Manager, Salesforce

Bob manages the relationship & partnership with Hawaii and Los Angeles County for Salesforce Global Public Sector, based in Los Angeles.
He joined Salesforce in January 2014 after a 20+year public sector career in Technology Sales. From 1994 to 1998, he served as District Sales Manager for Panasonic’s Personal Computer Division, focused on Public Safety mobile use cases for Law Enforcement. Bob worked with the San Diego Police Department in transforming their mobile digital strategy for in-vehicle reporting and video. Joining GTSI in 1998 as their Western Region Manager, Bob was responsible for managing both field sales and inside sales teams for the 13-state western region, expanding GTSI’s State & Local Government footprint. In 2005, Bob became a member of the Unisys Global Outsourcing and Infrastructure Services (GOIS) team, working closely with Los Angeles County, and specifically the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), in modernizing the County’s eligibility system, LEADER.
Bob began his concentration in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) with his move to Verint (Lagan) in 2008, continuing his work with DPSS, as Vice President of Western Sales, and broadening Verint’s account base in the western US. In 2011, he joined the Oracle team in Southern California and further expanded his portfolio in CRM to include the implementation of the City of Los Angeles’ 311 system, MyLA311, in 2013, along with other CRM projects in Arizona, California, Colorado and Utah.
An alumnus of the University of Notre Dame and Loyola University Chicago, Bob, and his wife, Kajon, have raised three daughters in Southern California, who are all on their own life’s adventures. Bob and his wife split their time between their 40’ Sea Ranger in Marina del Rey and their ranch in the San Jacinto Mountains in SoCal.

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Filifotu Vaai

Filifotu Vaai LinkedIn

Vice President, Hawaiian Telcom

Filifotu is a telecommunications management executive with over 15 years experience in leadership roles within Internet, wireless, fixed line & ICT service providers in the Pacific region & US. Successful in driving operational efficiencies, strategy and product development, campaign planning and execution, delivering against aggressive financial & operational KPIs. Experienced in delivering Corporate rebrands across regional markets, Commercial due diligence assessment and team integration in mergers and acquisitions. Brings strong leadership skills and ability to motivate and mobilize teams to deliver shared goals.

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Agenda

Wednesday, December 4

8:00 am Hawaii

Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Lily Pond Deck and Hawaii Ballroom Foyer

9:00 am Hawaii

Welcome

Maui/Molokai Ballroom

9:05 am Hawaii

Opening Remarks

Maui/Molokai Ballroom

Christine Maii Sakuda, Chief Information Officer, Office of Enterprise Technology Services, State of Hawaii

9:10 am Hawaii

Keynote – Leading with Vision

Maui/Molokai Ballroom

Being in charge isn’t easy, but in an era of rapid change and disruption brought on by incredible innovation, “the right” leadership is paramount to driving government and education forward. Leaders must achieve results, but that can be difficult if you are not also garnering respect and admiration. In this compelling keynote address, Anton Gunn delves into the strategies you can use to cultivate and hone essential leadership qualities, inspire your teams, and foster positive change within your organization.

Anton Gunn, Keynote Speaker, Best-selling Author, Former Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama

10:10 am Hawaii

Technology-Enhanced Business Capability Awards Program

Maui/Molokai Ballroom

10:30 am Hawaii

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Hawaii Ballroom Foyer

11:00 am Hawaii

Concurrent Sessions

Balancing Innovation and Trust Through AI Governance

Lanai Room

AI has huge transformative potential for digital government, but acknowledging and addressing the associated risks is imperative. Governments must establish robust safeguards, address ethical and regulatory challenges, and enhance transparency and accountability. And don’t forget, data is a crucial piece of the puzzle! In this session we will explore practical strategies and use cases to ensure AI initiatives are effective and reliable while keeping public trust at the forefront.

Moderator: Rebecca Cai, Chief Data Officer, Office of Enterprise Technology Services, State of Hawai’i

Kira Chuchom, Chief Data Officer, City and County of Honolulu

Joel Golub, Industry Executive Director, City & County Government, Oracle

Tom Kelly, General Manager, Public Sector SLED, HP Inc.

Essential Cybersecurity Resources

Honolulu Room

This session will offer an overview of how state, local, and educational organizations in Hawaii can gain a “home field advantage” against today’s cyber threats. Our expert panelists will spotlight high-impact services and share insights on cybersecurity funding to help you enhance your cyber posture and resilience. Join us to learn about strategies and resources to fortify your organization's defenses and stay ahead in the evolving cybersecurity landscape!

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

Jon Ford, Head of Mandiant Cyber Security Solutions, Google Cloud

Vincent Hoang, Chief Information Security Officer, Office of Enterprise Technology Services, State of Hawaii

Bruce Mirante, Cybersecurity State Coordinator, Region 9, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

The IT Workforce Evolution

Kahuku Room

Workforce challenges in the public sector are nothing new, but for IT they have evolved and multiplied at lightspeed these past few years. How can we ensure the right people are in place to align IT initiatives and business needs? Are skills-based hiring, apprenticeships, qualification adjustments, and team culture playing a role in improving recruitment and retention? Is AI being used to increase automation and free team members up for higher value work? Join us in this session to discover new strategies and ideas for assembling your dream team!

Moderator: Bill Kumagai, Executive Director, Transform Hawaii Government

Ivan Beraha, Solutions Architect, CGI

12:00 pm Hawaii

Lunch

Maui/Molokai Ballroom

12:45 pm Hawaii

Bits and Bytes

Maui/Molokai Ballroom

1:05 pm Hawaii

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

1:20 pm Hawaii

Concurrent Sessions

Powered by Purpose: Hawaii’s Digital Front Door

Lanai Room

Today’s public is tech-savvy, and their expectations are high when accessing government services via digital platforms. How can digital services be elevated from good to great, empowering both employees and residents? In this session, learn about the latest advancements and strategies for utilizing data and AI to innovate and automate processes. Propel the next wave of digital transformation in Hawaii, ensuring accessible and effective services for all!

Moderator: Tom Ku, Informational Technology Service Operations Officer, Office of Enterprise Technology Services, State of Hawaii

Rebecca Cai, Chief Data Officer, Office of Enterprise Technology Services, State of Hawai’i

Stephen Courtney, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Department of Information Technology, City and County of Honolulu

Dean Hazama, Deputy Director, Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs, State of Hawaii

Robert Muellner, Manager, Salesforce

Those Who Collaborate, Win!

Honolulu Room

In an increasingly connected world facing exponential challenges, collaboration among state and local government organizations is vital to delivering constituent services and ensuring public safety. Join us to explore how government agencies are working together on key issues like emergency response, homelessness, climate, and more. In this session you will also hear about the latest statewide efforts around data and GIS to improve collaboration for tackling the most critical issues facing Hawaii.

Moderator: Darren Cantrill, Information Technology Manager, Department of Transportation, State of Hawaii

Arthur Buto, Statewide GIS Manager, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, State of Hawaii

Filifotu Vaai, Vice President, Hawaiian Telcom

Roadmap to the Cloud

Kahuku Room

In the face of significant economic and social challenges, government organizations are looking for ways to improve their scalability, agility, accessibility, and cost efficiency. The cloud is increasingly becoming a key part of strategic planning, and it is crucial to stay up to date with the latest models to make the most of it. This session will define and explore cloud trends and technologies so organizations can make a better-informed decision about their cloud strategies in the months and years ahead.

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Kauai Room

Hosted by: Christine Maii Sakuda, Chief Information Officer, Office of Enterprise Technology Services, State of Hawaii

2:20 pm Hawaii

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Hawaii Ballroom Foyer

2:40 pm Hawaii

Closing General Session

Maui/Molokai Ballroom

3:45 pm Hawaii

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

Hawaii Ballroom Foyer

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

4:15 pm Hawaii

End of Conference

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

Sheraton Waikiki

2255 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 922-4422

Get Directions To
Sheraton Waikiki

Advisory Board

Government Representatives

Evahn Beresiwsky
Senior Project Manager
Office of Enterprise Technology Services
State of Hawaii

Arthur Buto
Statewide GIS Manager
Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, Planning and Sustainable Devt
State of Hawaii

Rebecca Cai
Chief Data Officer
Office of Enterprise Technology Services
State of Hawaii

Darren Cantrill
Information Systems Manager
Department of Transportation
State of Hawaii

Kira Chuchom
Chief Data Officer
Office of the Mayor
City & County of Honolulu

Jimmie Collins
Chief, Planning and Operations
Office of Homeland Security
State of Hawaii

Stephen Courtney
Deputy Chief Information Officer
Department of Information Technology
City & County of Honolulu

Brian Frey
Enterprise Program Manager
Office of Enterprise Technology Services
State of Hawaii

James Gonser
Senior Communications Manager
Office of Enterprise Technology Services
State of Hawaii

Dean Hazama
Deputy Director
Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs
State of Hawaii

Vince Hoang
Chief Information Security Officer
Office of Enterprise Technology Services
State of Hawaii

Arnold Kishi
Senior Advisor
Office of Enterprise Technology Services
State of Hawaii

Tom Ku
Informational Technology Service Operations Officer
Office of Enterprise Technology Services
State of Hawaii

Lila Loos
Information Technology Manager
Dept of Land and Natural Resources
State of Hawaii

Christine Maii Sakuda
Chief Information Officer
State of Hawaii
Office of Enterprise Technology Services

Todd Omura
Information Technology Governance Manager
Office of Enterprise Technology Services
State of Hawaii

Antonio Querubin
Chief Information Officer
Department of Defense
State of Hawaii

Steve Sakamoto
Chief, Health Information Systems Office
Department of Health
State of Hawaii

Ryan Shimamura
Chief Information Officer
Department of Human Services
State of Hawaii

Jussi Sipola
Senior IT Enterprise Architect
Office of Enterprise Technology Services
State of Hawaii

Judy Yamada
Information Technology Manager
Department of Public Safety
State of Hawaii

Garret Yoshimi
VP for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
University of Hawaii, Information Technology Services

Industry Representatives

Kristen Chaney
Field Account Manager
HP Inc.

Bill Kumagai
Interim Executive Director
Transform Hawaii Government

Jen Stanley
Public Sector & Education, Hawaii & Southern California
Google Cloud

Filifotu Vaai
Vice President of Business Sales
Business Sales
Hawaiian TelCom

Registration Information / Contact Us

Event Date: Decembebr 4, 2024

Open to Public Sector only.

Registration - Free

If you represent a Private Sector organization and are interested in Sponsorship Opportunities, please contact Heather Earney.

Contact Information

For registration and general assistance contact:

Timiko Watkins
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 932-1314
E-mail: twatkins@erepublic.com

For assistance or questions concerning Sponsor Logos or Logistics please contact:

Mireya Gaton
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 296-2617
E-Mail: mgaton@govtech.com

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact:

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

Venue

Sheraton Waikiki

2255 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 922-4422