Los Angeles Digital Government Summit 2025 Banner

Overview

The Digital Government Summit is an event that brings together public sector leaders and technology professionals to explore innovative solutions to solve government problems. Key themes include cybersecurity, digital transformation, AI implementation, data governance, and fostering collaboration across multiple stakeholders. Attendees will benefit from expert discussions, peer networking, and insights into the future of government technology. Join us and let’s improve the future of government together!

A message from our Keynote Speaker

I've been attending the LA Digital Government Summit for over 13 years. It is the place to be for SoCal IT professionals, government leaders, and technology vendors.”

- Ted Ross, Chief Information Officer & General Manager, Information Technology Agency, City of Los Angeles


The LA Digital Government Summit provides an important forum for public sector leaders and technology professionals to explore innovative solutions for government challenges. Key themes include cybersecurity, digital transformation, AI implementation, data management, and to connect with our peers. I look forward to seeing you there!

- Peter Loo, Chief Information Officer, County of Los Angeles

Speakers

Jessica O. Matthews

Jessica O. Matthews

CEO of Uncharted, Innovator and Social Entrepreneur, Trailblazing Energy Advocate

Innovation, entrepreneurship, and social responsibility have always been intrinsic to Jessica O. Matthews, even from a young age. At just 19, she invented SOCCKET, an energy-generating soccer ball that reflects her vision for a better world. Matthews was inspired by her experiences in Nigeria, when she noticed the reliance on dangerous diesel generators during power outages. She addressed a community need and created a safer alternative that harnesses power from an everyday activity to provide a source of light.
Her invention of SOCCKET exemplifies Matthews’ unique blend of altruism and a disruptive technological mindset that encourages her audience to embrace innovation and actively contribute to positive change. She channeled these qualities into founding Uncharted, an award-winning sustainable-infrastructure company that empowers small and under-resourced cities. As CEO, she takes her social responsibility seriously, creating solutions that enhance access to energy, water, air, and transit. Notably, Matthews has revolutionized vision AI in energy efficiency, developing technology that employs “smart photos” to visually assess homes. These photos then determine potential savings on energy bills and qualifying rebates. Matthews is committed to preserving the unique identities of the cities she serves, asserting that citizens shouldn’t have to "leave where they are from to get where they are going."
Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Jessica O. Matthews captivates audiences with her engaging presentation style. A relatable, down-to-earth speaker, she refers to herself as a “blend of Beyoncé and Bill Nye the Science Guy.” Her enthusiasm engages audiences, and she often jumps rope on stage to demonstrate her innovations in an interactive way. This personable approach allows her to connect deeply with her audience, fostering an honest dialogue about the challenges and opportunities in innovation. Matthews leaves audiences feeling inspired and motivated to create solutions that disrupt the status quo and encourages them to meet the needs of real people and communities. Her ability to tailor her message to resonate with the unique interests and experiences of each audience ensures that her insights are both relevant and impactful.
Jessica’s success in entrepreneurship led to a White House invitation from President Barack Obama to represent small companies for the signing of the America Invents Act in 2012. In 2016, she raised what was at the time the largest Series A round ever raised by a black female founder in history and was selected to ring the NASDAQ opening ceremony bell, representing all Forbes 30 Under 30 alumni. In 2021, Jessica was officially appointed by Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm to the Electricity Advisory Committee. As a member of the Smart Grid subcommittee, she plays a key role in advising the Department of Energy on the ways we can modernize our nation’s electric delivery system, specifically focusing on accelerating the deployment of electric vehicle charging stations throughout the U.S.
A dual citizen of Nigeria and the United States, Jessica has a degree in psychology and economics from Harvard University, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and is listed on over 12 patents and patents pending. Her list of accolades includes Fortune’s Most Promising Women Entrepreneurs, Forbes 30 Under 30, Inc. Magazine 30 Under 30 and Female Founders 100, Harvard University Scientist of the Year, One Young World Entrepreneur of the Year, the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award, and Black Women Tech Talk’s Tech Trailblazer Award. She has appeared on the cover of Forbes and Forbes Africa, as well as featured in Marie Claire, Wired, Inc., TechCrunch, The New York Times, and Fast Company, among others.

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Agenda

Tuesday, August 12

8:00 am Pacific

Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

9:00 am Pacific

Opening Remarks

Peter Loo, Chief Information Officer, County of Los Angeles

Ted Ross, Chief Information Officer, City of Los Angeles

9:30 am Pacific

Keynote – Find Your Fight: Innovating When the Odds Are Against You

In moments when challenges feel insurmountable, and the odds are stacked against us, how do we find the will to fight—and win? In this powerful and energizing talk, Jessica O. Matthews shares how the most groundbreaking innovations often emerge from struggle, uncertainty, and adversity. Drawing from her own journey as a pioneering entrepreneur and inventor, Jessica explores how resilience, creativity, and relentless problem-solving can transform even the toughest setbacks into opportunities for impact and growth. This session will help you reframe challenges as opportunities for breakthrough innovation, develop resilience during moments of struggle, and uncover determination to keep fighting for transformative solutions.

Jessica Mathews, Chief Executive Officer, Uncharted, Innovator and Social Entrepreneur, Trailblazing Energy Advocate

10:30 am Pacific

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

11:00 am Pacific

Concurrent Sessions

AI in Progress: What’s Working, What’s Stalling, What’s Next?

Where is your agency on the AI journey? And what’s standing in the way? In this interactive session, IT leaders will share their own AI strategies, pilots, and lessons learned, while inviting audience members to bring their examples, questions, and challenges to the table. Whether you're testing AI tools, building business cases, confronting roadblocks, or trying to define success, this session is your space to compare notes and move the conversation forward. Join your peers to explore AI readiness assessments, ROI expectations, and what it really takes to go from pilot to practice in government.

Moderator: Erica Patterson, Vice President of Events, Government Technology

Ted Ross, Chief Information Officer, City of Los Angeles

Doing More with Purpose: Smarter Tools, Stronger Teams, Better Outcomes

When budgets tighten and expectations rise, how can public sector IT leaders keep delivering without overextending their teams? This panel explores how agencies are responding to financial constraints by investing in smarter systems, refining critical processes, and empowering people by leveraging AI and automation. Panelists will share real-world strategies for building strong business cases, partnering with vendors, and modernizing workflows that support their workforce. This session offers a clear-eyed look at how to position IT as a value driver in today’s resource-challenged environment.

Delivering Large-Scale IT Projects: L.A.’s Playbook

IT leaders share lessons from recent large-scale digital initiatives; from modernizing 311 systems and launching citizen service apps to overhauling legacy platforms. The discussion explores how shifts in public expectations shape project scope and execution. The discussion will cover project management, setting realistic timelines, coordinating across departments, engaging stakeholders, and managing change. Attendees will leave with practical strategies and insights to inform future IT efforts along with a candid look at what it takes to deliver major tech projects.

Accessible by Design: Getting Digital Services Ready for Everyone

With WCAG 2.1 deadlines approaching, public sector agencies are working quickly to ensure digital services are accessible to all users. In this panel, IT leaders share how they’re tackling audits, prioritizing fixes, adapting legacy systems, and embedding accessibility into workflows. Learn how teams are overcoming resource constraints, aligning with policy, and building more inclusive services on time and at scale. Whether you're early in the process or refining your strategy, this session offers practical, tested approaches from peers in the field.

Mirian Avalos, General Manager, Department of Internal Services, County of Los Angeles

Leah Oliver, Chief Technology Officer, Ventura County Employees' Retirement

12:00 pm Pacific

Lunch

1:00 pm Pacific

Bits and Bytes

1:30 pm Pacific

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

1:45 pm Pacific

Concurrent Sessions

The Trust Crisis: Cybersecurity in the Age of AI

How do you defend public trust when threat actors are faking your voice, your image, and your authority? As generative tools become more accessible, agencies face a new wave of threats: deepfakes, synthetic media, and AI-powered misinformation campaigns designed to sow chaos and erode public trust. This session explores the growing intersection between AI and cybersecurity, examining how bad actors exploit new technologies and target vulnerable populations.

Getting Ready for AI: The Data Challenge in Government

Is your agency’s data ready for AI? As departments race to adopt AI tools, many are realizing that the real challenge isn’t technology, it’s the data behind it. Poor data quality, fragmented systems, and unclear guidelines can stall even the most promising AI initiatives. In this panel, IT leaders will discuss how they’re tackling these foundational issues to ensure their data is accurate and AI-ready. From modernizing governance to breaking down silos and aligning data strategy with mission outcomes, this session offers practical guidance for turning today’s data problems into tomorrow’s AI potential.

Moderator: Chris Pailma, Chief Data Officer, County of Los Angeles

Ideas to Impact: Building an Innovation Mindset

Innovation in government starts with mindset, not just technology. This panel features public sector IT leaders sharing how they encourage staff to identify problems to solve, test solutions, and bring new ideas to life. Learn how agencies create space for experimentation, decide when to build or buy, and turn promising ideas into lasting improvements. Whether you're starting an innovation initiative or looking to spark creativity in your team, this discussion offers practical ways to make innovation part of everyday work.

Danny Inukai, Chief Information Officer, Natural History Museum

Deepak Budwani, Assistant Department Leader/Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, Public Defender, County of Santa Barbara

2:45 pm Pacific

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

3:05 pm Pacific

General Session – GovTech Radar for 2025 - A Look at the Future of GovTech

As technology reshapes the public sector, staying ahead of the curve is more critical than ever. The CDG GovTech Radar for 2025 provides a forward-looking analysis of the key trends, innovations, and disruptors set to define the next wave of government technology. From AI-driven automation and digital identity to next-gen cybersecurity and the rise of composable government services, this session will unpack what’s on the horizon. Join us for an exclusive look at the technologies that will drive efficiency, security, and citizen engagement in the year ahead—and how agencies can prepare to lead the future of GovTech.

John Matelski, Executive Director, Center for Digital Government

3:45 pm Pacific

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

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

4:15 pm Pacific

End of Conference

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

The Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites

404 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 624-1000

Get Directions To
The Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites

Advisory Board

Government Representatives

Majida Adnan
Chief Information Officer, Assistant Auditor Controller
Department of Auditor Controller
Los Angeles County

Jonathan Behnke
Chief Information Officer
Department of Information Technology
City of San Diego

Alisa Blake
Director of Systems
Public Works, Bureau of Street Services
City of Los Angeles

Deepak Budwani
Chief Financial and Administrative Officer
Public Defender
County of Santa Barbara

Gary Carter
Director of IT
Information Technology Division
City of Carson

Tommy Chiu
Chief Information Security Officer
City of Irvine

Terence Davis
Chief Information Officer
Parks and Recreation
Los Angeles County

Lea Eriksen
Director of Technology & Innovation / CIO
Department of Technology & Innovation
City of Long Beach

Jessica Freeman-Wong
Assistant Chief Information Officer
Applications Division
City of Pasadena

Danny Inukai
Chief Information Officer
Natural History Museum

Thomas Laguna
Director of Strategy, Innovation & Architecture
Information Technology
Orange County

Phillip Leclair
Chief Information Officer
Department of Information Technology
City of Pasadena

Timothy Lee
Chief Information Security Officer
Information Technology Agency
City of Los Angeles

Peter Loo
Acting Chief Information Officer
Los Angeles County

Feroz Merchhiya
Chief Information Officer
Information Services Department
City of Santa Monica

Leah Oliver
Chief Technology Officer
Ventura County Employees' Retirement Agency

Christopher Pailma
Chief Data Officer
Los Angeles County

Pavi Randhawa
Director of IT Project Management Office (PMO)
Probation Department
Los Angeles County

Ted Ross
Chief Information Officer & General Manager
Information Technology Agency
City of Los Angeles

Michael Sylvester II
Chief Deputy of Administration
Department of Public Social Services
Los Angeles County

Sheeba Varughese
Chief Information Officer
Port of Los Angeles

Industry Representatives

Jodi Fringer
Regional Sales Director
AT&T

Sharlotte Furtado
Senior Government Account Executive
SAS Institute Inc.

Taylor Gershman
Senior Account Executive
Amazon Web Services

Robin Khatri
Founder & CEO
Warshall

Aditi Kochhar
Senior Manager
Deloitte Consulting LLP

Jerry Lucas
Director of Sales
Ciena

Adam Nashif
Cloud Platform Representative
Oracle

Bryan Pfirrmann
Field Sales Representative
Google Public Sector

Alfonso Salazar
Senior Director
Account Relations
KPMG

Chuck Skiko
Client Technology Leader
IBM

Christopher Slocum
Major Account Manager
Fortinet

Registration Information / Contact Us

Event Date: August 12, 2025

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:

Brittany Roberts
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 932-1388
E-mail: broberts@erepublic.com

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

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

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact:

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

Venue

The Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites

404 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 624-1000

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Room Block

Room Rate: $279/night, single or double.
Rate Cut-Off Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2025.

To Make a Reservation:

Phone: (800) 937-8461 and reference Los Angeles Digital Government Summit.
Online: Group Reservation Link
If you experience issues booking online, call the hotel directly for assistance.

Rooms are on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note, once the room block is full, you will need to make other arrangements for your accommodations with the hotel directly or at a nearby hotel.

Map and Directions 

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/laxbw-the-westin-bonaventure-hotel-and-suites-los-angeles/overview/

Event Parking

Parking at the Westin Bonaventure valet will be validated. You may pick up a sticker validation at the event registration table. The hotel parking is available on a first come, first serve basis.

There are additional garages surrounding the hotel, but parking in those garages will not be validated.

Parking fees subject to change without notice.