Ms. Adnan has over 23 years of robust experience in Information Technology, out of which 17 years with the County of Los Angeles.
Ms. Adnan is responsible for overseeing development and maintenance of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems that include countywide Financials, Budget, Payroll, Personnel, Human Resources and Property tax systems of the largest County in the United States with over 110 thousand employees and over $45 Billion budget.
As a Technology Leader, she partners with county departments to provide modern technology solutions to accelerate transformation, automation, and information sharing. She championed the implementation of a Center of Excellence for the Robotics Process Automation in the County and the implementation of modern cloud data platforms. She is an Advisory member of Women in Leadership program by University of California Riverside and an active member of LA County’s Women in Tech (WIT) program.

In February 2023, Mirian S. Avalos became the first Latina to be appointed General Manager of Information Technology with the Los Angeles County Internal Services Department. Ms. Avalos is responsible for directing application development, network activities, and data center operations for one of the largest local government agencies in the nation, with 110,000 employees and over 10 million citizens. Managing a technology workforce of more than 1,000 employees and a budget of $330 million, Ms. Avalos oversees collaboration between a centralized Information Technology (IT) Service and over 40 Los Angeles County departments to develop and implement technologies for a vast range of public services, including animal care, parks, law enforcement, and social services. 
Ms. Avalos is an accomplished IT executive with over two decades in the industry, successfully utilizing technology to innovate government – her mission is to create a government that is transparent and efficient. She most recently served as the Chief Information Officer of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH). Previously, she was the Chief Technology Officer at the District Attorney's Office in San Bernardino, where she led the office to become a shining example of government innovation and transparency in Southern California. Beyond this, she provided valuable insights on using Body Worn Cameras and Evidence.com while being part of the Customer Advisory Board for Taser International. Her expertise proved instrumental in creating an interface for processing evidence in the District Attorney's offices. She also Co-Chaired the Southern California District Attorney IT Directors. Beforehand, Ms. Avalos held technology positions with the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Southern California Association of Governments.  
Ms. Avalos boasts an impressive educational background, having studied Clinical Informatics at the University of Chicago. She earned a dual degree in Chicano Studies and Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley. She is a Woodrow Wilson Fellow in Public Policy and International Affairs recipient and a Carnegie Mellon University CIO Institute graduate. Ms. Avalos also holds a Master's in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  
Ms. Avalos is originally from National City, California. In the Fall, you will find her watching her daughters play field hockey games on the pitch. 

Jonathan Behnke is the Chief Information Officer for the City of San Diego and is responsible for the technology strategy and operations for America's eighth largest City in support of IT services for almost 13,000 users and 1.4 million residents. 
He has over 20 years of IT experience managing and implementing technology for a broad range of industries including public sector, contract services, energy, construction, automotive, distribution, consulting, and manufacturing. 
Jonathan serves on the Board of Directors for SanGIS, a joint powers authority between the City and County of San Diego responsible for maintaining a regional GIS land base and data warehouse. In support of regional digital equity, he is also a member of the San Diego Association of Governments Digital Equity Task Force. 
Jonathan is co-chair of the Policy Committee and serves on the board for the Gov AI Coalition of State and Local Government organizations collaborating on AI policies, use cases, governance, procurement, and incident response. 
Jonathan is also a member of the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, The Municipal Information Systems Association of California, San Diego Infragard, and Metropolitan Information Exchange representing a group of CIO’s from the largest cities and counties in the USA. 

His invaluable leadership has been pivotal in developing and implementing the Office’s budding technological infrastructure. Managing a $24 million budget and a staff of 140 employees, Deepak’s strategic planning has helped bring modern technological practices into a traditional space. With his 18 years of experience in criminal defense and technology operations, his efforts have successfully driven the digitization of business processes and implemented technology-based solutions to enhance office operations.
Before joining Santa Barbara County in 2017, Deepak was instrumental in developing the Canyon County Public Defender’s Office in Idaho. There, he was able to design and implement a paperless case management system and manage all aspects of technology, administration, finance, and legal support functions, streamlining workflows and improving efficiency.
His progressive thinking and hands-on experience bridge the gap between technology and people, ensuring that offices stay ahead of current and future trends while fostering a trusting environment where IT professionals can thrive and be a part of a traditionally Attorney-centered space.
Deepak firmly believes in data-driven decision-making, especially in governmental spheres, where things can be easily criticized but difficult to change. Because of this, he continuously seeks ways to optimize processes, improve efficiency, and secure funding, all while enhancing the quality of public defender services for clients and his team.

Jose Calderon is the Information Technology Director for the City of El Segundo. With over 20 years of experience across both the public and private sectors, his unique background includes experience in consulting, aerospace, and local government. Before taking on his current role, he held positions as a Senior Manager at Raytheon Technologies, IT Director for Evanston, IL, and Implementation Consultant with Accela.  He has an MBA from Saint Xavier University and Bachelor of Science from the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

With more than 30 years of experience in information technology (IT) and cybersecurity, Kathy is a five-time Chief Information Officer (CIO) with a background across all IT and business domains. As a Mandiant Consulting Practice Leader Ms. Cruz helps clients assess, design and build effective security programs focusing on threat intelligence, defensive posture, proactive cyber management, security validation, incident response and incident preparedness.
Ms. Cruz is the recipient of the Silicon Valley YWCA Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN) Award, is a past Board member of the Gentle Barn Foundation headquartered in Santa Clarita, CA, a past Board Member of the Career Action Center in San Jose, CA, and a former member of Golden Gate University School of Technology and Industry Executive Advisory Board. She previously served as an Ensign in the California State Guard, Cyber Operations Detachment.

Alina has been working at the City of Los Angeles for 29 years, and has been part of ITA, LAWA and DWP IT teams. Alina’s main area of focus is project management, she has established the IT PMO at the LADWP and is currently the program manager over the ERP project at LADWP, set to go live on June 16, 2025. This will introduce major functional and technical changes for HR/Payroll and Financial processes at the department. Alina has been working with the Organizational Change Management team to get the department ready for this change.

Terence has been CIO of LA County Parks and Recreation since June 2022 with previous background in the LA County Office of the CIO as Chief Enterprise Architect, the inaugural holder of this position, as well as multiple Chief Architect roles in industry.  Terence is a technology leader with over 30 years in governance, architecture, security, design and delivery.  He has extensive experience in delivery of enterprise projects for domestic and international Fortune 50 customers using modern technologies in on-site/offshore models.  He employs a very strong process in a highly collaborative environment to drive successful deliveries and long-term relationships.

Lea Eriksen is the Director of Technology & Innovation and CIO for the City of Long Beach, where she leads efforts to leverage emerging technology and data to address civic challenges. Under her leadership, Long Beach has been consistently recognized as a Top 10 Digital City by the Center for Digital Government. With over 25 years of experience working in local government, Lea’s background includes positions related to economic development, budget and finance, and technology. Lea was nationally recognized as a Top 25 Doer, Dreamer, and Driver in Government Technology in 2022 and was named the 2024 SoCalCIO ORBIE winner in the Large Enterprise category.

Jessica Freeman-Wong is a strategic IT leader with a strong track record in driving innovation, optimizing enterprise systems, and fostering high-performing teams. As Assistant CIO for the Applications Division in the City of Pasadena, she oversees technology initiatives that enhance city services and operational efficiency. With experience in both public and private sectors, Jessica specializes in leading digital transformation, streamlining processes, and creating environments where teams feel confident making decisions and driving solutions.

He helps government organizations harness data, AI, and modern collaboration tools to drive innovation and efficiency. Prior to Atlassian, he served as the Chief Data and AI Officer at the U.S. Department of State, leading enterprise AI strategy and governance for global diplomatic operations. With a career spanning federal agencies and national security, Matthew has been at the forefront of AI adoption, data-driven decision-making, and large-scale technology modernization. He holds a PhD in Systems Engineering and has been recognized as a top leader in AI and public sector innovation.

Joey Hernandez has over 25 years of experience in Organization Change Management & Transformation and Human Resources industry roles.  He currently serves as an Associate Partner within IBM’s Business Transformation Services consulting organization and leads the organization change practice for the public market. Joey has advised, led, and managed a variety of change management programs for well-recognized clients across a variety of industries, enabling the success of enterprise and functional transformation programs. He also helps clients establish their own Change Management Center of Excellence teams.
Mr. Hernandez holds an executive education certificate from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; an MBA in Human Resources and MM in Corporate Finance from the University of Dallas; a BBA in Human Resources, Strategic Management, Organization Behavior, and Entrepreneurship from the University of North Texas; and has served in the United States Marine Corps.

He contributes as an active researcher with interests in APT tracking, malware analysis, cyber threat intelligence, and machine learning. His current efforts are centered on identifying and monitoring APT activities, along with publishing insightful blogs on their operations. In addition to these projects, Jazi is focused on developing proactive techniques to monitor cyber threat actors' actions and collaborating with various partners to enhance cyber threat research capabilities. He holds a master’s degree in computer science and has over 15 years of experience specializing in cybersecurity and APT analysis.

Phillip is an award winning CIO leading the City of Pasadena’s technology strategy, IT operations and customer service.  His initiatives include improving service delivery through embracing effective use of technology; creating business models for delivering new services; promoting online development opportunities to increase self-service capabilities; and leading strategic initiatives to transform and innovate.  

With over 35 years of public sector IT experience, he serves as the principal adviser to the CEO and provides strategy, leadership and guidance on enterprise IT initiatives, IT Governance and the delivery of information technology capabilities to support the County mission and Board priorities.   
Prior to joining the Los Angeles County, Mr. Loo was Director of Consulting Services at a large multi-national firm, where he was responsible for the successful delivery of multiple public-sector ERP and public health projects at State and local governments. 

Eduardo Magos serves as Assistant General Manager for the City of Los Angeles' Information Technology Agency (ITA), where he champions the use of technology to enhance citizen engagement and city operations. He leads the teams responsible for developing innovative solutions, including the MyLA311 platform, critical public safety applications for the LAPD and LAFD, and essential back-office systems such as HR, payroll, and case management tools for the City Attorney, City Council, and Mayor's Office.

With over 25 years of invaluable experience in information technology, Leah Oliver currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at the Ventura County Employees’ Retirement Association (VCERA). Throughout her career, she has consistently demonstrated leadership expertise in cultivating high-performing teams and implementing technology based solutions that drive innovation and efficiency.  She holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems, which has laid the foundation for her technical acumen, and a Master of Public Policy and Administration, which provides a unique blend of technical proficiency and strategic insight.  Leah is an advocate for promoting equal opportunity and bridging the gender gap in the tech industry. 
Leah was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia and moved to Simi Valley, CA with her family in 2006.  She is an avid car enthusiast so when she isn’t behind a computer, you will find her either off-roading in her Jeep or at the racetrack in her Subaru. 

Ted Ross is CIO for the City of Los Angeles and General Manager of the Information Technology Agency (ITA). His department of 450 employees delivers enterprise IT services to 48,000 employees across 41 City departments and digital services to over 4 million residents. Appointed by Mayor Eric Garcetti in 2015, Ted has over 21 years of private and public sector technology experience, earning various awards along the way, including #1 Digital City, Top 25 Doer & Dreamer, and CIO of the Year according to LA Business Journal. Ted has been featured in Fortune Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and The Economist, as well as, a presenter at many conferences, such as the Andreessen-Horowitz Tech Summit, Milken Institute, and India’s NASSCOM. 

Ray San Diego is Division Chief with the Department of Auditor-Controller’s Systems Operations Division. He is responsible for managing the ERP for financial and payroll and human resource management, and property tax systems, that service the County of Los Angeles. Ray holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration, Management Information Systems, and a Master of Business Administration, Management from California State University, Fullerton. Ray is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and Project Management Professional (PMP).

Sarjoo is a business and information technology (IT) leader with over 30 years of experience in Public and Private sector leadership and executive roles. His expertise in building and leading teams with focus on innovation and customer service are proven from his role(s) as the HHS CIO for the State of Oklahoma, Deloitte, SAIC and NTTDATA. Sarjoo specializes in understanding the complex problems that face State and Local entities and providing innovative and transformational solutions to meet and exceed the expectations of business users.   
Sarjoo held various other positions, State CTO, PMO Director and Treasurer within the executive committee of the American Public Human Services Association IT Solutions Management (APHSA-ISM) for several years.
Sarjoo currently holds the position of Industry Executive Director, State and Local Government focusing on developing strategy for Health and Human Services (HHS) transformation using Oracle Cloud.

Brock Solano is Managing Director in the KPMG U.S. Human Capital Advisory practice. He has over 15 years of Management Consulting experience, having led engagements in the areas of workforce design, talent assessment and organizational culture transformation. Brock leads KPMG’s Workforce Transformation services for the firm’s Healthcare Government clients.

James Thurmond is a seasoned cybersecurity leader with over 25 years of diverse experience. He currently serves as the Interim Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for Los Angeles County where he oversees cybersecurity strategy and governance. Previously, as Director of IT Security for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), James established a comprehensive strategic vision and plan, while managing day-to-day security operations, governance, and cyber risk management. Under his leadership, LAUSD’s security posture advanced significantly, laying a roadmap for ISO 27001 certification.
James’s expertise goes beyond cybersecurity, to include full IT operation management, law enforcement, physical security, application development, fire/life safety, and building automation systems. During his tenure with the City of Chicago, he served as Deputy Commissioner of IT for the Department of Buildings and as an IT Program Manager with the Chicago Police Department. He also served as Director of Solutions Development, managing international DevOps teams in the U.S., Mexico, Australia, the U.K., Canada, and China. As a former police officer and a US Army servicemember, he brings a mission-driven approach to every role. His combined experience positions him as a dynamic leader who delivers strategic and technical excellence.
James holds a Master’s in Information Systems Management and a Bachelor’s in Psychology, complementing his technical and leadership skills with a strong understanding of people and organizational dynamics. He also holds certifications including CISSP and CGEIT.

Sheeba Varughese is the Chief Information Officer for the Port of Los Angeles. Appointed to this position in 2023, she oversees the Port’s Information Technology Division, and is responsible for information technology-driven strategy, modernization, development, and infrastructure at the nation’s busiest container port.
With an extensive career in Southern California public sector technology, Varughese has held various positions with the City of Los Angeles Information Technology Agency, Los Angeles World Airports, and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Throughout her career, she has held positions with increasing levels of responsibility, including Communications Engineer, IT Project Manager, Project Portfolio Manager and Director of IT Project Management Office.
Varughese is widely recognized in transportation and public sector associations for leading complex information technology programs. She is known to be highly collaborative with a successful leadership approach in unifying stakeholders with day-to-day endeavors, significant projects and strategic perspectives.