Jodi Endo Chai is the State of Hawaii Public Utilities Commission's Executive Officer, responsible for overseeing the PUC’s operations, administrative and organizational management, and strategic planning.
Chai previously spent more than 22 years at the Hawaii Government Employees Association, the state’s largest labor union. She began her HGEA career in communications, then advanced to Senior Advisor, and spent her final years as Deputy Executive Director.
In 2012, she was a member of the inaugural cohort of the Omidyar Fellows.
Chai has proudly served on various community boards, including PBS Hawaii, Lanakila Pacific Foundation, Hawaii Employees Lifeline Program (H.E.L.P.), Leilehua Alumni & Community Association, University of Hawaii Alumni Association, Hawaii State AFL-CIO and Aloha United Way.
Born and raised in Wahiawā on Oʻahu, Chai is a graduate of Leilehua High School, and received a bachelor’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
Chai is the co-author with Donovan Dela Cruz of three local best-selling guide books, which were published in the 2000s: The Okazu Guide: Oh, ‘Cause You Hungry!, The Puka Guide and The Omiyage Guide.

Jimmie L. Collins has served as the Planning and Operations branch chief under the Hawaii State Office of Homeland Security since February 2020. In this position, she develops and implements statewide planning for a range of homeland security issues, including terrorism and domestic violent extremism, elections and cybersecurity. She leads the office activities related to operations such as in-state cybersecurity incidents and the recently emerging geopolitical tension’s impact to state safety and security. She also oversees programmatic responsibility for three statewide programs: Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience, Cybersecurity and Emerging Threats. Her role also includes overseeing homeland security-related training events and developing and fielding homeland security-related exercises. Prior this position, Jimmie served in the Federal Civil Service for nearly 35 years across the Departments of Defense, Treasury, State and Energy, including overseas tours in Japan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Iraq; and travels throughout Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Greg Dalin is an experienced Certified PMP Program Manager who excels at bridging the gap between technology and business. His educational foundation was laid at Saint Louis School and built upon at Chaminade University of Honolulu, where he earned a degree in Computer Science. To diversify his skill set, Greg also pursued an MBA, further solidifying his expertise in business management. His credentials are enhanced by additional certifications in Prosci's change management methodologies, as well as Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) and SAFe Agilist qualifications.
Currently, Greg leads the Hawaii Modernization Team at the Office of Enterprise Technology Services for the State of Hawaii. His role is pivotal in overhauling and integrating the State's Enterprise technology systems. He employs a broad range of skills, including Business Analysis, Change Management, and Agile practices, to steer his team towards success.
Throughout his career, Greg has contributed to several high-impact projects. Notably, he was instrumental in implementing technology innovations at HEMIC, a local insurance carrier. Before joining the State, he served at Volta Charging, where his roles spanned IT Operations, Cyber Security, and Data Systems.
Beyond his day-to-day responsibilities, Greg is deeply involved in the broader project management and business communities. He currently serves as the Vice President of Communications for the PMI Hawaii Chapter, underlining his commitment to the ongoing development of both himself and his peers in the project management field. Adding another layer to his community involvement, Greg also mentors young talent through the Chamber of Commerce Young Professional's High School mentor program. These extracurricular roles reflect Greg's dedication to nurturing individual and collective professional growth, and his belief in giving back to the community.

Matt Freeman manages Hawaiian Telcom’s Managed Services team. He has over 16 years of experience developing and implementing IT solutions for businesses in Hawaii. He is focused on delivering superior service through managed IT, managed network, and managed security services.

Brian Frey is a seasoned project management professional with over two decades of experience, honed through diverse roles with organizations such as IBM, Sun Microsystems, NASA (in a consulting capacity), Time Warner Cable/Charter Communications, Hawaii State Department of Education, and most recently, the Hawaii State Office of Enterprise Technology Services (ETS). His career is characterized by a relentless pursuit of excellence in project management.
Brian holds multiple certifications that underscore his commitment to project management excellence. He is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)®, demonstrating his proficiency in leading and delivering projects with precision. Additionally, he holds the titles of Certified Agile Leader (CAL), Certified Scrum Professional (CSP) and Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), showcasing his agility and adaptability in managing projects in an ever-evolving landscape.
Academically, Brian's foundation is firmly rooted with a BS in Environmental Resources Engineering from Humboldt State University, providing a unique perspective that combines environmental stewardship with the intricacies of project management. Furthermore, he has expanded his knowledge base with a master's degree in Computer Information Systems from Regis University, equipping him with the technical acumen necessary for modern project management challenges.
With his wealth of experience, impressive certifications, and academic prowess, Brian Frey is a trailblazer in the world of project management. His commitment to excellence, adaptability, and technical expertise make him a sought-after expert in the field, and his insights promise to enrich the discussions and insights at the upcoming conference.

Nadia Hansen is aligned as a Global Industry and Go-To-Market (GTM) Executive within the Digital Transformation Team. She serves as a SME for Salesforce in the State, Local and Federal & Civilian domain markets advising customers on a range of topics across Information Technology and government performance. Her primary SME focus is in the AMER State and Local Government (SLG) and License, Permit, and Inspection (LPI) markets. Nadia is a former CIO, board member, and recognized government leader who brings two decades of enterprise technology experience building a wide range of products, teams, and operations around the world across both public and private entities.

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.

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.

Mike Hussey is an industry executive director for state and local strategy for Oracle Government and Education. Mike has 25 years of senior leadership experience with the State of Utah where he most recently served as CIO for the State of Utah and the executive director for the Department of Technology Services. While serving in this cabinet-level position, Mike was known as a collaborative and transformative leader who enjoys applying technological advances available in the market. Among some of his accomplishments while the state CIO, Mike led the state’s cloud journey and digital transformation efforts, created the state’s first cyber center, and formed the state’s first innovation fund.
Mike has been recognized as a “Top 25 Doer, Dreamer and Driver” in the public sector.

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.

Daniel Liu is an Enterprise Architect at Google helping state and local governments develop and implement compelling technical and functional strategies. Daniel is a trusted advisor for the state of Hawaii developed both Hawaii Safe Travel Application and Climate Resilient project. A published author, a recognized database expert and a frequent speaker at various global IT conferences, and many state and local government sponsored technology events including Hawaii HACC, Hawaii TRUE, Hawaii Public Radio, and LA County Women in Technologies. Daniel has received the SELECT Editorial Award for Best Article in 2001, he has been named Architect of the Week by the OTN in 2004, and has received Ken Jacobs Award in 2017. Prior to Joining Google, Daniel served as a Principal Architect at Oracle Corporation for 12 years, and a senior manager at First American built one of the largest and most complex database environments in North American.

Michael Miranda is an assistant professor of Information Security at the University of Hawaii – West Oahu, which has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He is also the principal consultant at SPARTIX, a cybersecurity and technology consulting company, and serves as attorney of counsel for ES&A, A Law Corporation. Previously, Michael held various leadership and technical cybersecurity positions in commercial and government sectors. Raised in Mililani, Hawaii, he earned a BA degree in English from the University of Central Florida, a law degree from Gonzaga University and a BA degree in Information and Computer Sciences from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. He holds current Global Information Assurance Certifications (GIAC) as a Systems and Network Auditor (GSNA), Intrusion Analyst (GCIA), Forensic Analyst (GCFA) and in Reverse Engineering Malware (GREM).

Douglas Murata is the Organizational Change Manager for the Office of Enterprise Technology Services (ETS), State of Hawaii. He joined the ETS in 2022 to provide change management support for the State of Hawaii Executive Branch Enterprise Financial Systems modernization project.
Mr. Murata has extensive experience in the field of change management, strategy development, organizational effectiveness, and human capital management across government and private sector environments and multiple industry groups. He has specialized in assisting troubled projects and organizations with turnaround strategy development and execution, including change management.
He previously served as Chief Strategic Development Officer for the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Assistant Superintendent for the Hawaii Department of Education, and his private sector experience includes C-Suite Executive Officer positions at Amfac Hawaii, The Queen’s Health Systems, Pacific Guardian Life, American Benefit Plan Administrators, as well as a Principal for The Rubicon Group, a management consulting firm specializing in organizational change and transition management.
Mr. Murata is a graduate of the University of Hawaii and holds a bachelor’s degree in Education and a master’s degree in Business Administration. He has served on the Boards of Directors for the Better Business Bureau, the Hawaii Business Health Council, Inter-Island Federal Credit Union, Royal State Corporation, and the Hawaii Chapter of the Association of Change Management Professionals.

Sal has been working at the State of Hawaii Executive branch for the past 7 years. Best known for establishing Hawaii as one of the few state governments across the United States with enterprise MFA requirement to access State systems, and also spearheading Microsoft Teams and Zoom deployment during the COVID-19 pandemic enabling remote work across Executive Branch departments. Currently heading up the newly created Enterprise Identity Section focused on citizen identity consolidation along with enterprise and external identity management. Prior to working in State government, Sal was an US Army Infantry Officer and also worked supporting higher education at Pennsylvania State University. When not in the office, he participates in competitive outrigger canoe paddling with Lokahi Canoe Club.

Mark Ritchie joined the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) eight years ago as the Branch Chief for Business Support services. Mark works on a number of economic development programs including: Community-based Economic Development (CBED), which provides grants and loans for small businesses; Enterprise Zones, which gives businesses tax benefits in exchange for job creation; HiSTEP (Hawaii State Trade Expansion Program), which assists Hawaii companies with exporting products and services to larger markets outside the state. Prior to DBEDT Mark has held positions in a Hawaii Life Science start-up, a major Silicon Valley tech company in addition to economic development positions in several global trade and inward investment organizations. Mark holds a BA in political economy from UC Berkeley and a master’s degree in international business from the Fletcher School, Tufts/Harvard Universities.

Cathilea is Chief Executive Officer of e.Republic, where she oversees operations for the company’s award-winning media platforms: Governing, Government Technology and Emergency Management. Cathilea also oversees e.Republic’s websites, conferences and events, and its national research and advisory groups: the Center for Digital Government, the Center for Digital Education and the Governing Institute.
In 2014 Cathilea directed the launch of the Governing Institute’s Women in Government Leadership Program, an innovative initiative that encourages future generations of women to participate in public service.
Cathilea is a frequent speaker for government and education organizations worldwide, including the United Nations, Harvard University, the State Legislative Leaders' Foundation, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Council of State Governments, and the World Congress on Information Technology. She has been quoted frequently in publications including the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Forbes and others.
Cathilea is a recipient of NASCIO’s National Technology Champion Award for her outstanding contributions to advance public sector information technology innovation. She is also the winner of an Outstanding Women Leadership Award from the Sacramento Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and is a Greater Sacramento Business Hall of Fame Laureate.

I have been working in various IT capacities since 1978 and most recently with the State of Hawaii for the last 23 years. I am currently the Project Manager for the Disability Compensation Division eCMS (Electronic Case Management System) Modernization Project.

Steve Towns is director of content strategy for the Center for Digital Government. He is the former editor of Government Technology and has spent more than 25 years covering technology in the state and local government market.
Steve joined e.Republic in 1996. During his tenure, e.Republic’s print and electronic media have received many awards for editorial excellence, including “Magazine of the Year” from ASBPE for Emergency Management in 2013, “Best New Web Site” from ASBPE for emergencymgmt.com in 2009, ”Best Overall Publication” at the Maggie awards for Government Technology in 2008 and “Magazine of the Year” from ASBPE for Public CIO in 2007.

Derek is the chief data officer and data modernization director for the Department of Health (DOH). Leading the DOH data team, he is focused on delivering the right information, to the right people, at the right time, for public health services and programs. These DOH goals are to accelerate program coordination via shared data, bridging data silos, modernizing legacy systems, promoting interoperability, and building data governance foundations. He has previously coordinated project teams in DOH for data warehouse and business intelligence development, case management system planning and implementation, and public health disease response. On prior systems implementation projects, he has worked for the State CIO office, DHS Med-QUEST, and Governor's Office. Inside DOH he assists program leaders and policymakers in translating operational needs into implemented systems and data truth.

As the University of Hawaii’s vice president for information technology and CIO, Garret Yoshimi is responsible for UH systemwide IT systems and services. Garret provides executive leadership in collaboratively setting forth the overall vision, goals, strategies and plans for the effective and appropriate use of information technologies to advance the UH System. Garret joined UH in January 2015. Prior to serving as UH VPIT/CIO, he was vice president and chief operating officer for eWorld Enterprise Solutions. He brings to the university more than 35 years of experience in IT in both the public and private sectors in Hawaii. He has served as the first CIO for the Hawaii Judiciary, senior technology executive for the East-West Center and CIO for DTRIC Insurance.