Name: Iowa Digital Government Summit 2024
Start: 2024-09-26T08:00
Location: Des Moines Marriott Downtown

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

Iowa’s 2024 Digital Government Summit is bringing together technology-focused public-sector professionals and leading partners to connect on the fast-paced changes in the industry, cybersecurity, digital equity, public-sector AI, and more. This year’s event on September 26 includes a keynote by Scott Klososky, networking opportunities, lunch, and various breakout sessions. Join us for a day of innovation and discovery!

- Tess Brandt, Legislative Liaison & Public Information Officer, Department of Management, State of Iowa

Speakers

Scott Klososky

Technologist, Futurist, Humanist, Author and Consultant

As a founding partner of digital strategy firm, Future Point of View (FPOV), Scott lives on the leading edge of technology and innovative thinking. Scott speaks to large audiences worldwide about the intersection of humanity and the Digital Transformation. Through FPOV, Scott provides advisory work for clients including Fortune100, SMB’s and government entities. This work has driven him to develop unique concepts such as the HUMALOGY® Scale for measuring the amount of human or machine involved in a system or process, and the Rivers of Information® process for building learning eco-systems. He also pioneered a framework for looking accurately into the future of an industry sector in order to set organizational strategy: The High Beam process.
Scott co-founded Alkami Technology (ALKT), the developer of a second-generation online banking platform with innovative features non-existent in current systems. The company went public in 2021 at a $3billion valuation and is today headquartered in Dallas with over 350 employees.
Scott is recognized globally for his unique ability to accurately predict future digital trends and explain the logic behind why these will alter the current status quo of the economy and society. While business application of his insights is extremely valuable to leaders and companies, he is also motivated help improve the impact post Covid environments are having on people and their daily lives. Technology has been increasingly driving change and stress and recent events are amplifying this problem. He has a unique perspective on how to manage the personal toll technology is causing people, teams and organizations.
Even as a young child, Scott was destined to see the world through a Humalogy® lens. His father was a programmer for Boeing and his mother was a counselor who mixed many philosophies into her practice of helping people in life. To this day, he is a hybrid of a technologist and humanist who strives to find a hopeful future in blending the two.
Scott has the ability to entertain, inspire, and enlighten audiences, while helping them gain new perspectives about how technology is impacting us. Scott never does a canned presentation with the exact content across events. He sets himself apart from other speakers by architecting his content with the latest examples, current events and trends relevant for the keynote he is delivering.
He is equally adept at giving large stage keynotes, speaking to small boards of directors, facilitating half and full day workshops, and doing break-out sessions. As an added bonus of his presentations, attendees come away learning how to be a better facilitator, speaker or presenter by seeing Scott use different applications and technologies to engage audiences either in a virtual, hybrid or in person setting. The best measure of his ability to inspire and inform audiences is the high percentage of speaking clients who bring him back for follow up work with their audiences.
He produces a podcast titled “The Digital Optimist” in which he delivers ideas about the transformation of humanity through the impact of technology with a positive and hopeful lens. He also writes a blog titled Digital Awakening – both can be found at his website at www.klososky.com

John Matelski

Executive Director, Center for Digital Government. 

Prior to joining the Center, Matelski served for 25 years as an Information Technology & Security executive for municipal (City of Orlando, FL) and county government (Gwinnett County, GA), most recently retiring from DeKalb County, GA after 12 years of service.  John’s duties included executive management of all information technology and security resources and systems that support operations and drive innovation throughout the County enterprise. As DeKalb County CIO, he oversaw more than 100 employees serving ~800 million residents.
Matelski graduated from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Computer Science and an M.B.A. with an emphasis in Computer Information Systems and has been a Certified Government CIO since 2011.  Matelski has a proven track record of leadership in the public and private sectors, utilizing innovation and resourcefulness with a proven ability to build a compelling vision and move an organization toward it. Matelski rebuilt DeKalb County, GA’s technology capabilities from the ground up, helping lead to 8 straight years of recognition as a top 10 winner of the Center for Digital Government annual Digital Counties Survey.  
John has won numerous awards including Government Technology’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers, State of Georgia CIO ORBIE Award Finalist, and the Computerworld/Smithsonian Laureate Award for Information Technology.  During his tenure with DeKalb County, Matelski was also very active in technology leadership roles with the National Association of Counties (NACo), having served as Chair of the IT Standing Committee, Vice Chair of the Telecommunication & Technology Committee, and Vice Chair of the County Technology Advisory Council.

Tyler Bell

Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Iowa 

Dr. Tyler Bell is an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Iowa. His research interests include 3D telepresence, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), human computer interaction (HCI), and artificial intelligence (AI). His relevant research includes integrating AI with VR for simulating open-ended scenarios like classroom teaching and developing DINA, an AI-powered chatbot for student advising. Prof. Bell created and teaches the graduate-level course, “Generative AI Tools,” providing hands-on exploration of cutting-edge AI technologies.

Jeff Berckes

Digital Equity Coordinator, Department of Management, State of Iowa 

Jeff Berckes started working for the State of Iowa in 2008, most recently serving as the Digital Equity Coordinator. He oversaw the digital equity planning initiative that included conducting townhall meetings, hosting facilitated sessions with representative of Covered Populations, and composing the State of Iowa Digital Equity Plan. He holds a Master of Science degree from Oregon State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Iowa.  Jeff lives in Des Moines with his wife, Leslie, and is closing in on his goal of running a half marathon in every state. 

Eyal Darmon

Managing Director, North America Public Service AI and Generative AI Lead, Accenture  

Eyal works with clients across the public sector to help them take advantage of the Generative AI and AI innovations that are transforming the delivery of customer experiences, the organization’s workforce, and the enterprise. He leads teams of dedicated strategy, consulting, technology, and operation professionals to design, implement, and deliver Generative AI solutions that can enable public sector organizations to transform their operations and the customer experiences they offer, simplifying and accelerating how citizens can access government services. Eyal combines passion and pragmatism to shape innovative solutions that positively impact his clients’ customers. 

Curtis Dean

Co-Founder, Executive Director, The Broadband Action 

Curtis Dean is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Community Broadband Action Network (CBAN), a membership organization and 501(c)4 non-profit that advocates for community-based broadband providers and promotes digital inclusion work. CBAN currently has 194  members in 27 states and two Canadian provinces.
Curtis is also president of SmartSource Consulting, which provides support for community-focused broadband providers from planning through implementation. Curtis has been involved in community broadband since the late 1990s.

Jennifer Holmes

Global Cities, Transportation and Infrastructure Lead, Accenture 

Jennifer is a Managing Director with Accenture's Public Service Consulting Practice. She serves as Accenture’s Global Industry lead for Cities, Transportation, and Infrastructure, where she sets the strategy and offerings to help transportation and infrastructure clients solve key business challenges. She works closely with departments of transportation across strategy, technology, and program level engagements.  Jennifer has spent the last 20 years working with Public Service clients developing strategic roadmaps, executing implementation plans, and leading and executing change management strategies for large-scale, transformational projects.
Jennifer holds a bachelor's degree from James Madison University and a master’s in business administration from The George Washington University. She participates in various professional organizations, serving on the Austin Community College Regional Advisory Committee and is a member of ITS America.

Doug Jacobson

Director, Information Assurance Center, Iowa State University

Doug is the Director of the Iowa State University Center for Cybersecurity Innovation and Outreach and a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Doug works with state and local governments on cybersecurity issues and tabletop exercises. Doug also created the Iowa Cyber Hub, which is dedicated to increasing the cyber workforce in Iowa. He has worked for years on ways to include cybersecurity in courses and the general population. Doug has given over 300 presentations in the area of computer security. He also created the cybersecurity ambassador program targeted at the general public, K-12 students, post-secondary students, and employees.

Awna Kotchian

IT Contracting Program Manager, Department of Management, Division of IT 

Awna Kotchian has worked for the State of Iowa since Dec 2019. She started as a contract manager with the OCIO. She also spent 2 years helping to administer the OCIO’s Broadband Grant program. Within the past 2 years, she worked as the IT Contract Program Manager. Most recently she moved into an attorney role with Department of Management, Division of IT. 
Ms. Kotchian is originally from California, but also grew up in Fargo, North Dakota. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities campus. She moved to Des Moines in 2015 to go to law school at Drake Law School. After graduating, she worked briefly in private practice in probate, wills, and trusts before going to work for the state. 

John Matelski

Executive Director, Center for Digital Government. 

Prior to joining the Center, Matelski served for 25 years as an Information Technology & Security executive for municipal (City of Orlando, FL) and county government (Gwinnett County, GA), most recently retiring from DeKalb County, GA after 12 years of service.  John’s duties included executive management of all information technology and security resources and systems that support operations and drive innovation throughout the County enterprise. As DeKalb County CIO, he oversaw more than 100 employees serving ~800 million residents.
Matelski graduated from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Computer Science and an M.B.A. with an emphasis in Computer Information Systems and has been a Certified Government CIO since 2011.  Matelski has a proven track record of leadership in the public and private sectors, utilizing innovation and resourcefulness with a proven ability to build a compelling vision and move an organization toward it. Matelski rebuilt DeKalb County, GA’s technology capabilities from the ground up, helping lead to 8 straight years of recognition as a top 10 winner of the Center for Digital Government annual Digital Counties Survey.  
John has won numerous awards including Government Technology’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers, State of Georgia CIO ORBIE Award Finalist, and the Computerworld/Smithsonian Laureate Award for Information Technology.  During his tenure with DeKalb County, Matelski was also very active in technology leadership roles with the National Association of Counties (NACo), having served as Chair of the IT Standing Committee, Vice Chair of the Telecommunication & Technology Committee, and Vice Chair of the County Technology Advisory Council.

Joel Rohne

Technology Service Bureau Program Manager, Iowa State Association of Counties

Joel Rohne is the Program Manager for the Iowa State Association of Counties Technology Service Bureau (TSB) and is tasked with providing technology resources for the counties in the State of Iowa. Prior to that position he served as the IT/ GIS Director for Worth County IA for 17 years. He has been a member of the Iowa Counties Information Technology Affiliate(ICIT) since 2006 and has held the positions of District Rep, Vice President, President, Technology Advocate, Chair of the Info Sec committee, and served as an ISAC Board Representative for 8 years.  He also is a founder of the ICIT “Paying IT Forward” program that provides technology assessments for local governments since 2011 and has been a team member for 47 of those on-site assessments. He has been a digital forensics investigator since 2008 providing services for local law enforcement in the North Iowa and Southern MN region.

Heather D. Schafer

GIS Manager, City of Des Moines  

Heather D. Schafer is a certified GIS professional with over 11 years of experience in local government, currently serving as the GIS Manager for the City of Des Moines. She holds a Master’s in Natural Resources and a Certificate in Geographic Information Science from the University of Missouri.
Heather excels in developing and managing enterprise-wide GIS platforms, coordinating regional partnerships, and integrating GIS solutions into broader applications. Her technical skills include ArcGIS, SQL, and Python.  Heather is dedicated to advancing geospatial technology and data-driven decision-making in public service.

Adam Shell

GIS Program Manager, Transportation Development Division, Iowa Department of Transportation  

Adam Shell has over 20 years’ experience at the Iowa DOT and serves as the GIS Program Manager in the Transportation Development Division. In this role, Adam leads the GIS program at the Iowa DOT. Adam has experience in the areas of GIS, strategic and transportation planning, intelligent transportation systems, traffic operations, and connected & automated vehicles.

Rich Tener

Chief Information Security Officer, Iowa State University 

Rich Tener has served as the Chief Information Security Officer at Iowa State University since 2019. He leads the IT security team responsible for safeguarding university data. Previously, he spent a decade on the west coast helping tech startups establish security teams. He also worked as a security consultant, helping clients test their security systems against real-world attacks. Tener is an Iowa State alumnus, earning a B.S. in computer engineering in 1999.

Patrick Wilke-Brown

GISP Geospatial Coordinator, Division of Information Technology, Department of Management, State of Iowa 

As the Geospatial Coordinator at the Department of Management, he brings over 20 years of experience delivering geospatial solutions across the State of Iowa. He is a certified GIS Professional (GISP) with expertise that spans geospatial technologies and data management, with a focus on supporting and maturing the use of geospatial data and technologies within the State of Iowa Executive Branch. His mission is to help organizations unlock the power of their data through spatial analysis, leveraging cutting-edge geospatial technologies. Throughout his career, including roles with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa State University, he has consistently provided value by helping clients leverage the spatial potential of their data to solve business problems. Currently, his work includes maintaining the Iowa Geospatial Data Clearinghouse, providing support to the State’s Broadband Program. 

View Speakers

Agenda

Thursday, September 26
8:00 am Central	Registration and Morning Refreshments Iowa Ballroom Foyer and Salon E
9:00 am Central	Opening Remarks Iowa Ballroom Salons ABCD Dr. Matt Behrens, Chief Information Officer, State of Iowa
9:15 am Central	Keynote – The Age of Digital Disruption: Moving Forward, Faster Iowa Ballroom Salons ABCD Technology advancements continue to disrupt at a swifter pace than ever before. 2023 witnessed the impact of AI in all sectors, and this year the public sector is required to adapt and adopt at a speed unheard of in the past. For the rest of our careers, intelligence will be built into all devices, applications, and processes. This changes how we must think about the use of data and the integration of humans and machines. What are the crucial strategies for adapting to and maximizing the benefits of these advancements? This session will have you ready to move forward at high speed as it paints a vibrant picture showing how synthetic intelligence can amplify current systems and our workforce. Scott Klososky, Technologist, Futurist, Humanist, Author, and Consultant
10:15 am Central	Networking Break in the Exhibit Area Iowa Ballroom Salon E
10:45 am Central	Concurrent Sessions Cybersecurity: Navigating the Next Chapter of Digital Defense Iowa Ballroom Salon F Public sector organizations are constantly confronted with evolving cyber threats that demand proactive strategies. Is your incident response plan up to the task? What future risks should you be anticipating? In this session, our panelists will outline practical steps to prepare your team, update your incident response plans, and encourage resource sharing across agencies. Join us to learn how collaboration and strategic planning can strengthen your organization against cyber adversaries. Moderator: Joel Rohne, Technology Service Bureau Program Manager, Iowa State Association of Counties Jon Bosche, Staff Engineer, Fortinet Doug Jacobson, Director, Center for Cybersecurity Innovation and Outreach, Iowa State University Rich Tener, Chief Information Security Officer, Iowa State University Smart City Startup Challenge Iowa Ballroom Salon G Join us to explore the key components of Smart City initiatives, including smart infrastructure, data analytics, IoT integration, and citizen engagement. Learn from experts and case studies how to secure funding, build partnerships, and navigate the challenges of implementation. Whether you're a city official, planner, or community advocate, this session will equip you with the knowledge and tools to kickstart your Smart City journey and create a more connected, efficient, and livable future for your community. Moderator: Jessica Byerly, National Conference Director, Government Technology Jennifer Holmes, Global Cities, Transportation and Infrastructure Lead, Accenture Shawn Smith, IT Director, City of Cedar Rapids Closing the Gap: Advancing Digital Equity for Everyone Iowa Ballroom Salon H Digital equity and inclusion go beyond just providing connectivity. While access to broadband is crucial, it’s only one part of the equation. Ensuring equitable use of technology is essential. What steps will governments take to create comprehensive engagement opportunities for everyone? How can emerging technologies like AI support this goal? How do we make these technologies accessible to all? This session offers foundational knowledge on advancing digital equity, educating communities in digital literacy and fluency, and highlights the impactful work being done in Iowa to enhance the equitable use of technology. Moderator: Jeff Berckes, Digital Equity Coordinator, Department of Management, State of Iowa Curtis Dean, Co-Founder, Executive Director, The Broadband Action Michael Scott, State Librarian, State of Iowa
11:45 am Central	Lunch Iowa Ballroom Salons ABCD
12:45 pm Central	Bits & Bytes: Revamping IT Procurement: The Iowa Blueprint Iowa Ballroom Salons ABCD Navigating procurement can be challenging, and you might miss opportunities if your organization's procurement resources, tools, and support systems are unclear. Smaller agencies can benefit from the buying power and savings of larger entities. There are numerous free to affordable resources available—if you know where to look. In this session, we'll explore how local governments and state agencies can optimize procurement processes and leverage collaborative efforts for efficiency, cost savings, and enhanced service delivery. Awna Kotchian, IT Contracting Program Manager, Department of Management, Division of IT
1:05 pm Central	Short Break Please proceed to the Concurrent Sessions
1:15 pm Central	Concurrent Sessions Unlocking AI Potential: Inspiring Use Cases for Your Journey Iowa Ballroom Salon F Artificial Intelligence is a hot topic in both government and the private sector. Technologies like machine learning, chatbots, predictive analytics, and generative AI are quickly becoming integral to organizations worldwide. With any emerging technology, questions abound. This session aims to clarify AI concepts and terminology while showcasing real-world use cases that can be implemented today. Moderator: John Matelski, Executive Director, Center for Digital Government Tyler Bell, Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Iowa Eyal Darmon, North America Public Service Data and AI Lead, Accenture Colin Gerst, IT Director, Des Moines County Empowering Iowa Through Digital Innovation: A Roadmap to GIS Iowa Ballroom Salon G The State of Iowa is at the forefront of leveraging digital technologies to enhance government services and improve citizen engagement. This session will delve into cutting-edge initiatives, from smart city projects and digital equity programs to advanced data analytics and AI applications in government. Hear from experts and leaders who are driving Iowa's digital transformation. Learn about the strategic plans, success stories, and practical steps being taken to foster a more connected, efficient, and responsive government. Moderator: Patrick Wilke-Brown, GISP Geospatial Coordinator, Division of Information Technology, Department of Management, State of Iowa Thomas T. Lampe, Senior Public Safety Advisor, First Responder Network Authority, U.S. Department of Commerce Heather D. Schafer, GIS Manager, City of Des Moines Adam Shell, GIS Program Manager, Transportation Development Division, Iowa Department of Transportation Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners Iowa Ballroom Salon H Hosted by: Michelle O’Hollearn, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Department of Management’s Office of the Chief Information Officer, State of Iowa
2:15 pm Central	Networking Break in the Exhibit Area Iowa Ballroom Salon E
2:45 pm Central	The State of AI in GovTech: Exploring the Future and Charting the Course Iowa Ballroom Salons ABCD Presented by the Center for Public Sector AI, this keynote presentation delves into the present status of Artificial Intelligence in the GovTech sector, offering a detailed examination of AI's applications within state and local governments. We will explore AI's potential future paths in GovTech, highlighting emerging trends and discussing how technology and policy leaders can prepare for AI's impact on service delivery. We will address starting points for AI implementation, stressing the importance of collaboration, ethical considerations, and equitable technology access. This forward-looking talk will equip attendees with a thorough understanding of AI's trajectory in GovTech, providing practical insights to effectively leverage AI for public sector innovation and advancement. John Matelski, Executive Director, Center for Digital Government
3:45 pm Central	Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area Iowa Ballroom Salon E Network with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event exhibitors.
4:15 pm Central	End of Conference Conference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change.