Majida Adnan is the Assistant Auditor-Controller and Chief Information Officer for the Department of Auditor Controller, County of Los Angeles. Ms. Adnan has over 21 years of robust experience in Information Technology, out of which 15 years 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 a $43 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.

As Chief Information Security Officer of Los Angeles County, Jeffrey is responsible for all aspects of information security, including information security governance, strategic direction, executive advisory, program maturity, and adherence to federal information security policy. Other responsibilities include participating in information technology advisory bodies, and other committees or agencies involving County policies, plans, methodologies, and programs related to information security.
Jeffrey is also responsible for working with the County Chief Information Officer and providing information security leadership and advisory across the 38 disparate County departments which includes but not limited to Healthcare, Justice, Elections, Tax collection and County operations.
With over 25 years of experience, Jeffrey has served as a consultant to several Fortune 500 organizations providing an array of services ranging from advisory roles to executive leadership to recommendations of technical solutions; he has experience in the automotive, healthcare, financial, technology, government and consulting industries.
Jeffrey holds industry certifications CISM, CRISC, CDPSE and earned his MBA from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School. He is an Adjunct Professor for Pepperdine Graziado Business school and an active member of several industry advisory boards including FBI Cyberwatch, Infragard, LA City CyberLabs, Secure the Village, Pepperdine CyRP program, a 2019 Government Technology award winner for Service, Support & Leadership and 2023 Government Technology award winner for High Impact Leadership .  

Mohammed Al Rawi is the Public Defender’s first appointed Chief Information Officer (CIO). Mr. Al Rawi oversees the strategic planning and modernization initiatives of information technology, information security and data management for the Office. Mr. Al Rawi also provides vision and leadership in the development and implementation of technology applications and infrastructure supporting the department’s more than 1,100‐employee workforce including the development and implementation of the Client Case Management System (CCMS) — the largest digital transformation project in the history of the Office of the Public Defender.
Prior to joining the Public Defender, Mr. Al Rawi served as the CIO for Parks and Recreation, and prior to that he served at the Board of Supervisors, Second District, as Supervisor Mark Ridley‐Thomas’s Deputy for Technology and Innovation. Before joining the County of Los Angeles, he was the Technical Director for the Los Angeles Times' news bureau in Baghdad covering Iraq’s war and its aftermath. Mr. Al Rawi brought many innovative solutions to the County of Los Angeles digitizing and automating business processes and solving complex, life‐saving, business challenges. Initiatives include the use of advanced video analytics to prevent drowning at County pools, the establishment of a countywide plan to modernize over 100 mission‐critical application systems, as well as leading the effort to establish the County’s first consolidated, robust and cost‐efficient data center. His leadership and advocacy for innovation was recognized by Government Technology; Mr. Al Rawi was named one of the nation’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers. Mohammed Al Rawi brings more than 16 years of experience in managing complex information technology operations in both the public and private sectors. He earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science summa cum laude from California State University – Los Angeles.

Snehal Antani is co-founder and CEO of Horizon3.ai. Prior to Horizon3.ai, he was a CTO in the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), the CTO of Splunk, and a CIO within GE Capital. Snehal holds 18 patents granted by the USPTO in data processing, cloud computing, and virtualization. He regularly participates in keynote speeches and often writes articles on leadership, innovation, digital transformation, data security, and cloud security.

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.

Throughout her impressive and diverse career, Stacey Caster has earned a reputation for being a forward-thinking leader, business consultant, executive coach, and workshop facilitator. Possessing an innate understanding of people, businesses, and systems that she has continued to develop throughout her 25+ year career, Stacey has been recognized for her innovative approach to organizational structure, management, and leadership development. At the core of her work, she was responsible for increasing the value and performance of senior leaders, c-level executives, organizations, and teams and for delivering the necessary support to help businesses run smoothly. Stacey is an accomplished and well-respected speaker, consultant, and engaging business coach. She’s also an accomplished business leader specializing in technology and business operations. Stacey is constantly driven to transform obstacles into opportunities and challenges into possibilities for her clients.
Stacey was chosen by LA Weekly as one of the “Top 10 Leadership Coaches to Watch in 2024” and a 2023 RISE Mentor of the Year. In addition, she is an ICF Certified Executive Coach, a Certified Master Facilitator, and a Genos Emotional Intelligence Certified Practitioner.

Noah Cox, a Deputy Public Defender with over 15 years of experience, obtained his JD from the University of Miami School of law and currently serves in a trial assignment focusing on handling complex felony cases within the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office. He leads the groundbreaking Neurocognitive Disorders Team (NDT), a pioneering unit aimed at enhancing advocacy efforts for adult clients grappling with various neurocognitive disorders such as Intellectual Disability, Autism, seizure disorders, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Dementia.
Under Noah's leadership, the NDT has garnered recognition, winning the California Public Defender Association’s esteemed Program of the Year award in 2022. This team, the first of its kind in an indigent defense organization, endeavors to elevate awareness of neurocognitive disorders within the criminal justice system while developing tailored treatment options within the community.
Noah champions a collaborative, team-based approach to representation, where attorneys, paralegals, social workers, and other professionals work together to provide holistic defense strategies for their clients. Additionally, Noah actively integrates technological advancements into his practice to better serve his clients. He plays a pivotal role in the Office’s Client Case Management System Steering Committee, offering guidance and training to Public Defender staff on effectively utilizing new technologies in criminal defense work.
This unique amalgamation of advocacy for disabled clients and leveraging technology for legal innovation was recently highlighted in the short film “Forgiving Johnny,” available for streaming at  https://time.com/6311088/forgiving-johnny-documentary/.

Mike Driessen joined Government Technology in 2021 as the VP of Subscription Services, where he is responsible for managing execution, strategy and operations for all recurring revenue services. He also oversees Navigator, a market and sales intelligence tool for private-sector SLED teams, and Techwire and Industry Insider – Texas Edition, each of which provide daily news and insights into the California and Texas GovTech markets.
Mike brings over 25 years of experience in the IT consulting and systems integration industry with firms like Accenture, Grant Thornton and Hitachi Consulting. His experience covers Sales and Marketing leadership, advising on Digital Strategies, and managing Enterprise Application alliances and implementations. He has managed large global teams and led start-ups. Mike lives in Los Angeles, although he grew up in the Midwest, and graduated from Marquette University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Business Administration.

Mr. Eckstrom is responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day management of Metropolitan’s information technology operations and organization.
Prior to joining Metropolitan, Mr. Eckstrom was the assistant chief information officer and interim CIO for Orange County, where he was responsible for the technology vision and the day-to-day information technology operations serving approximately 3.1 million citizens in the sixth largest county in the United States. He was named the “2017 Innovator of the Year” by the Association of California Cities, and under his leadership, the Orange County Information Technology team was awarded the “Best in Category Achievement Award for County Administration and Management” by the National Association of Counties.
Mr. Eckstrom previously held IT executive positions at Toshiba America Medical Systems, United Health Group, and Deloitte Consulting. He received a master's degree in business administration from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Jim Falvey has spent the past 17 years at VMware leading various sales teams within the Enterprise, Healthcare, and SLED segments. For the past 12 years, Jim has been solely dedicated to the State, Local and Education segment helping lead Public Sector clients through their digital transformation journey. Specific areas of expertise include helping clients modernize their data centers, helping clients modernize their application portfolios, and helping clients integrate their private & public clouds on a single unified platform. Jim now leads the Strategic SLED team at VMware by Broadcom.

For the past 27 years, Lauren Farese has been a dedicated member of Oracle, focusing on bringing Oracle technology to various public sector customers. She currently holds a prominent position as Group Vice President of Cloud Engineering for the Public Sector – SLED Sales organization, where she provides support to all State and Local governments and Higher Education institutions. Previously, she led the US Federal government and Canada public sector engineering teams. Additionally, she plays a crucial role in supporting key Systems Integrators and partners who work with SLED Government customers. Throughout her impressive career spanning 35 years, Lauren has been actively involved in planning, developing, and implementing technology solutions for a wide range of organizations, including government, utilities, pharmaceuticals, financial services, and commercial sectors.
Before joining Oracle, Lauren's experience was diverse, having served as a developer, trainer, senior consultant, and solution architect at esteemed companies such as Advanced Data Management, Digital Equipment Corporation, and Hewlett-Packard.
Lauren's passion for technology extends beyond her work at Oracle. She is an active member of the NASCIO Enterprise Architecture, AI/ML and Data Governance workgroups, contributing to the publication of several technology briefs on emerging technologies. Moreover, Lauren is a valued member of the Smart Cities Council, and she has presented and been a panelist on numerous Digital Government Technology Summits, Alliance and GovExec events on various topics, including Data Modernization, Cyber Security, SOA/Integration, Data Warehouse/Data Lakehouse, Data Management, Extending SaaS Applications, AI/ML for Government, Analytics for Education, Application and Data Center Modernization, and Cloud and Hybrid deployments.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Lauren resides in rural Hunterdon County, NJ, with her husband and rescued animals. She is deeply engaged in her church and community. Currently, Lauren volunteers at the local food bank/thrift shop and actively supports animal rescue and adoption initiatives in her region. Her dedication to both her professional and charitable endeavors reflects her commitment to making a positive impact on society.

Dean Gialamas is an executive manager for the Los Angeles County Internal Services Department (ISD). In that role, he currently oversees ISD’s Enterprise Performance and Accountability efforts on matters relating to business development, accountability systems and innovation via continuous improvement. ISD is LA County's essential support services provider with more than 5,100 employees and contractors operating with a budget of over $1B supporting the county’s 38 departments.
With experience in both the private and public technology sectors, he has over thirty-three years of progressively responsible experience in government leadership with nineteen of those years in high-level executive management. He is an accomplished author, presenter, instructor, and innovator.  In his spare time, he manages his own corporation that specializes in leadership development and high-performance executive coaching as well as enjoys the outdoors mountain biking. 

Dr. Dianne Hackett is a racial equity consultant with over 25 years of experience. She began her career in public education, teaching K-12 students, leading school-based diversity efforts, and coaching teachers towards equitable outcomes in both district and public charter schools.
She received her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for Social Justice from Loyola Marymount University where she later served as full-time Clinical Faculty in the Department of Specialized Programs in Urban Education.
Dr. Hackett has consulted with philanthropic foundations, education nonprofits, and government entities seeking to strengthen their racial consciousness, work more effectively across lines of difference, audit their internal systems for equity, and address disparities created by broader systems of oppression.
She brings all of this expertise to her role as Head of DEI, Tech Portfolio, supporting company wide efforts to promote a diverse, accessible and inclusive Google.

IBM’s Customer Transformation and Interactive Experience helps clients transform customer, constituent, and resident engagement. As an executive leader in this business, Sandra is responsible for managing IBM Consulting delivery at scale, helping clients service their customers and residents with a human-centered approach. This includes ensuring the end user experience is at the heart of every solution we deliver and driving a talent-centric organization that collaborates across our client’s functional areas to design with a “people first” approach. The result is an outstanding total experience for our client’s employees and customers.

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.

Mr. Ohanian is a highly accomplished and experienced Information Security Officer with 25 years of experience in information technology, cybersecurity, and defense strategies in both the private and public sectors. He currently serves as the Information Security Officer for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the largest child welfare institution in the nation. At DCFS, Mr. Ohanian has successfully architected and implemented cybersecurity and privacy programs from the ground up, interwoven cybersecurity into the business culture, and created a security-conscious enterprise. He has also achieved the organization's mission of service excellence through outstanding leadership, governance, strategic planning, business acumen, and cost-saving transformation initiatives.
Mr. Ohanian is an innovative and visionary leader who has chaired the Countywide Risk Management Cybersecurity Team responsible for developing and implementing administrative, technical, and tactical strategies to assess and reduce cybersecurity risks to County information assets. He is also an innovation advisory council member of various Cybersecurity taskforces and workgroups.
As an accomplished keynote speaker and panel member, Mr. Ohanian has participated in numerous national and international private and public sector conferences, including Interop, CISO 360 USA, Los Angeles Government Summit, and National Cybersecurity Awareness seminars. In addition, he serves as a Ph.D. Dissertation Committee Member for Cybersecurity using Artificial Intelligence at Center for Information Systems & Technology Claremont Graduate University. Mr. Ohanian's accomplishments in improving organizations' cybersecurity posture have led to various excellence awards, including multiple Information Security Officer of the Year awards.
He holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from Cal Poly Pomona (magna cum laude) and obtained his dual Master's Degree in Cybersecurity and Business Administration at the University of Maryland (UMUC). He is pursuing a Ph.D. in the Industrial/Organizational Psychology program, demonstrating his passion for continuous learning and growth.

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. 

As the Chief Data Officer (CDO) for Los Angels County, Christopher “Chris” Pailma is responsible for the County’s Enterprise Information Management Program (EIMP) and the Analytics Center of Excellence (ACE).  He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of data management, including data architecture, data integration, data warehousing, and data analytics to facilitate information sharing, improve delivery of services, and ensure effective use of IT and data-related assets between the County’s 40+ departments, commissions, and agencies.   

Tracy-Ann is a seasoned, well-rounded, executive leader with 25+ years of global transformation experience and deep expertise across all areas of the business. She is a catalyst for change and a savvy, courageous leader who is unafraid to tackle difficult challenges. Optimistic in the face of uncertainty, Tracy-Ann is able to skillfully navigate through ambiguity and stay ahead of the market. She is a stellar relationship builder and inspirational leader who creates diverse, resilient teams that consistently exceed growth targets. Tracy-Ann develops bold leaders through passionate, empathetic mentorship. With a pioneer mindset, she develops winning cultures and empowers people to deliver value beyond their own expectations. Tracy-Ann is a celebrated motivational speaker, executive coach known for accelerating growth in the face of adversity, exceptional entrepreneurial success, and visionary leader.
Tracy-Ann is a 2023 Stevie Award Winner – Women Executive of the Year, a CRN Executive Mentor of the Year, a CRN Inclusive Leader Award recipient, a Channel Futures Top 20 Cloud Channel Leader, a CRN Female Executive of the Year and Role Model of the Year finalist, and a CRN Power 100 recipient three years in a row for The Most Powerful Women of the Channel. Tracy-Ann is also the Founder of the “We Build Character” non-profit executive leadership mentoring program.

Monique Scott is a National Conference Director at Government Technology. She has been producing tech conferences in the U.S., Asia, and Europe since 2011 working on brands with focus on data analytics, AI, and cybersecurity. Curating technical content and being a part of these pivotal conferences, has been the focus of her career.

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.

Jeff brings more than 30 years of hands-on cybersecurity intelligence and cybersecurity operations experience including engagements with the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Energy (DOE), and NASA. More recently Jeff has served as CISO at Blue Team Alpha, where he educated customers on the current threat landscape and served as an advocate for the need of a strong cybersecurity practice.
Jeff serves as Lumu’s Field CTO where he helps the company raise awareness about the Continuous Compromise Assessment concept and advises organizations of all sizes on how to optimize their cybersecurity operations in today’s challenging cyberthreat landscape.

Ryan has served as a Deputy Public Defender in Los Angeles since 2014 and has handled dozens of jury trials and juvenile adjudications. He now trains newly hired public defenders. In 2016, he was recognized by his colleagues as Misdemeanor Attorney of the Year. Ryan has served in various roles to launch technology initiatives within his office, including serving on the steering committee to implement his office’s case management system. Ryan attended USC Law where he received various awards including the Public Interest Law Foundation Student of the Year and Mason C. Brown Award for trial advocacy and commitment to public service.
Ryan is also the chair of the board of directors at St. Joseph Center, a leading social service agency in Los Angeles with a budget of $50 million a year and over 300 staff that empowers the homeless and working poor.