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.

Jonathan Behnke is the CIO for the City of San Diego and is responsible for the technology strategy and operations for America's eighth largest City managing data center, networks, wireless communications, web services, enterprise applications, IT governance, cybersecurity, and GIS in support of over 11,000 users and 1.4 million residents.

Mr. Benny Chacko possesses 23+ years of progressive IT leadership and technical experience in the private and public sector. He is Acting General Manager of LA County’s Internal Services Department’s Information Technology Service, providing technology services to 100,000+ county employees in 36 Departments managing a team of 1100+ employees and operating a $400M budget.

Mike Driessen joined e.Republic 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.

Lea Eriksen is the Director of Technology and Innovation and CIO of the City of Long Beach and is in charge of implementing the City’s technology vision. The City of Long Beach is recognized as a Top 10 Digital City by the Center for Digital Government. With more than 20 years of experience working in local government, Lea’s background includes positions related to economic development, budget and finance, and technology. Lea also has extensive experience serving on non-profit boards and committees, including the Long Beach Transit Board. Lea is passionate about advancing digital equity and using emerging technology and data to solve civic challenges in Long Beach.

As the Chief Deputy, Registrar Recorder/County Clerk Jeramy Gray serves as the Chief of Staff / Chief Operating Officer for the largest local elections and public records agency in the United States. Prior to his role with the Registrar Recorder County Clerk, Mr. Gray was the Chief Deputy, Executive Officer for the LA County Board of Supervisors. Mr. Gray has held numerous senior IT executive roles in his public sector career. With over 20 years of information technology experience, he has served as Chief Information Officer (CIO) for four LA County departments. Amongst many other accomplishments on February 6th, 2016 Mr. Gray was appointed by the United States Elections Assistance Commission, where he assisted the Federal Government to develop national voting technology standards. Mr. Gray has been featured in publications such as Government Technology, TechWire, Politico, and Harvard Business Review.

Jen Kirkwood is an IBM Partner with over 25 years of experience in the Human Capital industry
transformation and technology. She has also been named consistently amongst the top thought leaders
in Data and HR Technologies globally including one of the “Top 65 Global Thought Leaders” and “Top
Women in Data Analytics to Watch”. Her expertise has afforded her knowledge in HR, data, security, &
privacy strategies spanning the globe as she connects HR and operations for people insights. When Csuite leaders want innovative strategies in the Great Resignation, mental wellness, DE&I, or other
challenges, her depth of expertise delivers client success. Her background includes data education at
Johns Hopkins University in data science and in advanced machine learning. She is also skilled having led
teams in DevSecOps, Automation, IBM Academy in Tech & Data, Design Thinking, and is an active
member as a business leader in the leading data science and data professional communities, and
Women in Leadership.

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.

In December 2020, Mr. Levine joined T-Mobile for Government where he was hired as the National Senior Executive for State Government Strategy and given the task of building and leading the company’s State and Local Government Telecommunications & Technology strategy team.
Mr. Levine is a former member of the California State Legislature, where he served as Chair of the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce. Mr. Levine established himself as one of California’s leading experts in energy, telecommunications, and technology policy. Consistently tackling some of the most challenging and signification statutory policy changes, Mr. Levine authored numerous pieces of historic legislation which became national models in many policy areas. Mr. Levine served as a member of Governor Schwarzenegger’s Broadband Taskforce and was a Founding Member of the Board of Directors of the California Emerging Technology Fund.
In addition to his work at T-Mobile, Mr. Levine is a Senior Policy Fellow at the University of California, Riverside’s school of public policy and a Founding Member of the school’s Advisory Board. Along with the School’s Dean, Mr. Levine co-founded the University’s Center for Technology Policy and Society. Later this year, Mr. Levin’s first book, “Technology vs. Government: The Irresistible Force Meets the Immoveable Object” will be published.

Peter Loo is the Acting Chief Information Officer of Los Angeles County. 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.

Leveraging his 35 years’ cybersecurity innovation experience, Jim Richberg has served as Fortinet’s Public Sector Field CISO since 2019. Prior to this, he served as the national intelligence manager for cyber, the senior federal executive focused on cyber intelligence in the U.S. intelligence community. Under Presidents Bush and Obama, he implemented the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative.

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.

Curtis Simpson, CISO at Armis, has over 20 years of experience as an innovative and forward-leading IT and Security practitioner, leader, and executive, and has been responsible for building and leading world-class global cybersecurity and compliance programs within complex Fortune 100 operations, enterprises, and startups.
In his role as CISO he has a broad range or responsibilities in addition to Armis’ internal security strategy and program. He is responsible for IT, Compliance, Threat & Intelligence Services, and is one of the company’s most active thought leaders.
Prior to joining Armis, Curtis held the role of Global CISO at Sysco Foods, a Fortune 54 organization, where he was responsible for building and leading the enterprise’s global security program and a number of highly business aligned IT service functions.
Additionally, Curtis holds the role of Chief, Product Market Alignment at Cyberstarts, a world leading cybersecurity focused venture capital firm. In this role he combines his experience and his overall passion for the space and works with portfolio companies to accelerate the product-market alignment on their journey to become important companies.

Nicolette is a Workspace Specialist who works with clients and prospects to understand customers organizations and environments, assess customer requirements, prepare and present demonstrations of Google products, and address technical questions that arise.

Since March of 2006, Michael J. Sylvester has served as an Assistant Director and Chief Information Officer for Los Angeles County’s Department of Public Social Services (DPSS). During his tenure, he presided over the Bureau of Contract and Technical Services, with a workforce of approximately 400+ IT professionals and responsible for more than 150 IT vendor staff, where he oversees all aspects of the Department’s automation/technology strategy, systems integration, application development and infrastructure and technical support services. He was also responsible for providing direct management oversight for the implementation and maintenance of the nation’s largest public benefits eligibility and issuance system, called LRS. Under his leadership, the Department achieved numerous awards at the local, State and national levels for innovation and technology advancement. During his tenure, he has helped transform the Department into a forward-looking, agile and technologically capable organization.
Given his leadership success in IT, from February of 2018 to September 2020, Mr. Sylvester also successfully led the Bureau of Special Operations, consisting of a very diverse workforce of approximately 1,900+ personnel. The bureau encompassed the following programs/operations areas: In-Home Supportive Services program, the Communications and Project Management Office, Welfare Fraud Prevention & Investigations, Appeals and State Hearings, Civil Rights, Management Research Services, Management Information & Evaluation, Toy Loan and Volunteer Services, as well as Property Management and Strategic Space Planning. All the while, he continued to serve as the Department’s Chief Information Officer and remained closely involved in establishing information technology strategies and promoting innovation throughout the Department, as well as establishing and cultivating key collaborations with other organizations at the Federal, State and local levels. This is evidenced by his leadership and guidance (in both the technical and business areas) over the successful implementation of a new and innovative Department Web portal in 2020 that vastly improved the user experience and level of customer engagement through a user-centric design, results-oriented and streamlined layout, an easy-to-navigate topology, with mobile device native
layout an adaptable framework that incorporates user data and advanced analytics to help inform the Department of what changes should be made to the site based upon how the public is accessing or not accessing various areas.