Tracy Babineaux began her career with the Louisiana Department of Corrections in 2014 at Headquarters, where she is now a Business Analytics Specialist.  She works within the Office of Data Research and Statistical Analysis supporting business processes for data collection and analysis for all inmate related data for our agency. Her primary focus is on data utilization and visualization. She acts as the Tableau Project Manager for the department. Her position gives her the opportunity to learn and work with the many different sections that keeps DPS&C moving forward.

Ben Barnes is a Senior Business Analyst with Louisiana's Office of Technology Services, where he initiated and leads the Business Analysis Center of Excellence, advancing business analysis practice across the Office of Technology Services. With over eight years of experience modernizing state agency operations, he currently serves as the lead business analyst for Louisiana's Citizen Portal (my.la.gov), a transformative single sign-on initiative streamlining citizen access to services across multiple state agencies. A certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA), Ben holds an MBA with a specialization in Project Management from Louisiana State University, Shreveport. He is passionate about designing solutions that create efficiencies for Louisiana's public agencies.

Lee Biles is a 14x Certified, Lead Solution Engineer at Salesforce, specializing in leveraging cutting-edge Salesforce and AI innovations to drive successful transformation within the public sector. With a robust background in enterprise software, Lee's expertise empowers government agencies to improve citizen services and optimize operations.
Lee's expertise spans various domains within the Salesforce ecosystem, with a particular focus on implementing AI solutions within state and local governments. He empowers organizations by translating intricate AI concepts into practical, tangible benefits, enabling them for significant customer success.
As a valued contributor to the panel, Lee will share actionable insights on the real-world application of AI within government, drawing upon his extensive experience in guiding agencies through their adoption journeys. His unique journey from government customer to implementer and now trailblazing leader at Salesforce offers invaluable guidance on navigating challenges and maximizing the potential of AI technologies to address government needs.

Grant Black is a distinguished technology leader with a remarkable career spanning over 25 years in the IT industry. His journey has been one of constant innovation and transformation, marked by his diverse roles as a Director of Technology, Program manager, Developer, System Administrator, Database Administrator, System Integrator, and System Architect. Grant's exceptional expertise was brought to the forefront when he spearheaded the pioneering migration of the U.S. Navy's First Large System into the Amazon Web Services Cloud, achieving the first cloud full DoD accreditation. Currently, he stands as the preeminent IT figure for a 1,200-person organization, steering its technological future with a firm hand. In his role as Director of Technology at St. Tammany Parish Government, Grant commands a realm of technological functions ranging from Cybersecurity to Geographic Information Services. He is the architect of largescale projects, such as creating and leading the development of a public private partnership to provide internet access thousands of citizens. His tenure as Manager of Production Operations at General Dynamics Information Technology saw him navigate the migration of a 400,000 user system to AWS while leading a diverse team of 35 IT Subject Matter Experts. In the capacity of a Technical Project Manager, he adeptly bridged the gap between Program Managers and Technical Staff, leading major DoD system migrations ensuring seamless communication and efficient task completion.
Beyond his professional achievements, Grant's impact extends to his role as a host of the "Tammany Tech 101" TV Show. His recognition as the Louisiana IT Symposium 2023 Louisiana IT Leader of the Year, accolades like the Space and Naval Warfare Center Information Technology Performance Award and inclusion in the Lockheed Martin High Potential Employee's List showcases his enduring commitment and outstanding contributions to the IT realm.

Ashley Brassette leads Technology Capabilities at Access Sciences, where she focuses on delivering inclusive, user-centered solutions. With a background in intelligent information management and project services, Ashley is a champion for digital accessibility and equitable design. Known for strategic thinking and collaborative leadership, Ashley works closely with teams across the organization to deliver impactful technology solutions. Her commitment to accessibility and continuous improvement makes her a trusted leader in the field.

Matt Brickey, Program Director, has 23 years of experience in project and logistics management, including experience with federal programs such as the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). He has in-depth knowledge of federal regulations and compliance, and his career background includes extensive delivery of key priorities in information technology, operations, supply chain, and construction.

Dr. John W. Burris is the Chief Information Officer at Southeastern Louisiana University. He holds the academic rank of Associate Professor of Computer Science. Originally from Franklinton, LA, John is driven by the practical applications of technology whether it is at the university or his family farm. His research areas include computing theory, cybersecurity, ERP systems, software engineering, machine learning, project management, and policy/governance.

Charles Burton has led technology teams in Louisiana government for 20 years and is currently the Calcasieu Parish Technology Director. Data Center and communication modernization projects along with Cybersecurity programs have been some of his successful accomplishments with disaster recovery being one of the more challenging success stories. He holds a Masters in Cybersecurity and bachelor’s in computer science. His certificates include ITIL, PMP, CGCIO, CISSP, CompTIA as well as Microsoft certificates. 
Mr. Burton serves on several boards and committees at the National, State and Local levels, he speaks at conferences and advises on the topics of Cybersecurity & Technology. Mr. Burton is involved in several community organizations where he resides in Lake Charles, LA with his wife and family. 

Jason Carr, Enterprise GIS Manager at LaDOTD, is a driving force behind the agency's geospatial innovation. Since 2017, he's led the modernization of LaDOTD's GIS, overseeing the development of key web applications for environmental screening, operations, project development, and emergency response. He also spearheads the integration of business systems with GIS for enhanced analysis and reporting. With 27 years of GIS development and management expertise, including 19 years as a consultant, Jason brings a wealth of experience to his role, which also includes serving on the Louisiana Geographic Information Systems Council. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Geography from LSU.

Isral C. Duke is the Lead UI / UX designer for Louisiana Office of Technology services. He has worked on native mobile apps, web applications, and websites for clients in the higher education, insurance, sports, maritime, construction, and medical spaces. As accessibility is human right, he relentlessly adocates for it in state government. He holds various accessibility certifications including the federal Trusted Tester certification.

With two decades of experience in the public sector, Jade Freeman has built a career turning complex challenges into impactful solutions. She manages a team of Business Analysts across a wide range of modernization initiatives and previously served as the lead BA on a major transformation project. She’s committed to driving lasting improvements by aligning people, processes, and technology with purpose.

Adan Hernandez is a Senior Manager in Accenture’s Public Service Strategy group where he serves as the North American Lead for Accenture’s Workforce Development and Labor practice. Adan has extensive experience across the country in Public Service innovation, talent strategy engagements, complex large-scale assessments, and service delivery redesign and implementations. He works with public service organizations on issues related to workforce strategy, benchmarking, policy implementation, economic development, operating model redesign, and organizational transformation. Adan collaborates with government clients to define community-focused outcomes and strategies, turning those conceptual goals into tangible, realistic, and measurable targets. Adan holds a bachelor’s degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin. Adan has co-authored publications with his clients that have been featured in publications such as the American Public Human Services Association’s Policy and Practice Journal.

Melodie L. Landry is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree in Communications. She served for thirteen years in the East Baton Rouge Parish Library System as the Outreach Collections Development Specialist, supervising in technical support, programming, and operational amelioration.
Throughout her career, Melodie has delivered motivational speeches, led community outreach programs, and conducted communication workshops for a wide range of organizations.
Currently, she serves as the Outreach Coordinator for the Information Services Department of the City-Parish of East Baton Rouge. In this role, she supports the Data, Analytics, and Performance Section in promoting open data and government transparency, while also assisting with onboarding citywide data strategies and utilizing various AI software to enhance resident engagement with City-Parish services.

Lester Millet III, a nationally recognized subject matter expert in the field of Homeland Security, has held the positions of Policy & Planning Director and Safety Risk Agency Manager at the Port of South Louisiana for the past 20 years, serving as a public/private stakeholder liaison on issues pertaining to Port security and emergency preparedness. Lester serves on a multitude of local, state and federal committees, most notably, the nationally recognized InfraGard Louisiana (President) and LOMSEC (Louisiana Maritime Security Community) Chairman, and has received the following awards for his past efforts:
Louisiana Technology Council Governor’s Award (2014), CAMO (Coastal & Marine Operators) Visionary Award (2014),Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Association’s (LEPA) Dedication Award (2016), (2) USCG’s Meritorious Public Service Award, FBI Gulf Coast INLETS Award (2017), FBI N.O. / InfraGard Service Award (2019), Government Technology & Services Coalition HS Today Citizen of Mission Award (2020), & InfraGard National Public / Private Partnership Award (2023).
Lester graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1985 with a BA degree in Management, and has taken hundreds of hours of training in Homeland Security & Safety courses. Most notably, Lester is a certified LEPA (Louisiana Emergency Planning Association) Louisiana Emergency Manager and a certified FSO.
Lester and his wife Vicki (Poche) reside in LaPlace and have two sons, Lester IV (38) and Christopher (31).

Sergio Ortega serves as the Business Development Lead for AI/ML Worldwide Public Sector at Amazon Web Services, focusing on State and Local Governments. With over 20 years of experience in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Analytics, Sergio is a recognized leader in driving technological innovation in the public sector. Previously at Microsoft Corporation, he led global strategies for Metaverse, IoT, and AI solutions. He holds a Master's in Data Science from CUNY, an MBA from the University of Warwick (UK), and degrees in Computer Science and Public Policy. Sergio is passionate about leveraging technology to solve complex governmental challenges

Wes Palmer, Geospatial Manager, has more than 16 years of experience using GIS and geospatial data to support a variety of projects. He has worked on multi-scale data acquisition and mapping projects to support local, state, and federal clients, producing complex data interlays that can be easily understood by the public and elected officials. He is an ASPRS Certified Photogrammetrist (CP), Certified Mapping Scientist (CMS), and GIS Professional (GISP).

William (Bill) Rials, Ph.D., is a professor and associate director (department chair) of the Tulane University School of Professional Advancement IT and Cybersecurity Program, where he focuses on continually delivering and updating the program curriculum based on innovative and emerging technologies. Before transitioning to academia and higher education, he had a diverse gov tech career delivering value to state agencies, local governments, and law enforcement agencies throughout the state of Mississippi. He has served in CIO, CTO, and CISO roles for local governments and also in various leadership positions within the state of Mississippi’s IT organization as a deputy to the state CIO. Dr. Rials holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Belhaven University, a master’s degree in computer information systems and cybersecurity from Missouri State University, as well as a Ph.D. in higher education administration and public administration from Jackson State University. His dissertation research involved the critical factors that affect the adoption of cloud services within the public sector. He is a noted expert in the IT and cybersecurity space and is frequently quoted by national media outlets. He is also a frequent contributor to national IT government organizations such as NASTD and NASCIO.

Johnathon Sprouse serves as the Chief Technology Officer for the Louisiana State Employees’ Retirement System (LASERS), a $15 billion pension fund providing services to more than 90,000 members. With over 16 years of dedicated experience at LASERS, he provides the technology vision and strategic leadership for the agency's Information Technology Division.
Johnathon is passionate about leveraging innovative solutions to improve government operations and services. He is actively focused on exploring emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, to identify opportunities for enhancing business efficiency and driving value in the public sector. His expertise in strategic planning, cybersecurity, and data analysis allows him to effectively bridge the gap between technology and policy, ensuring the development of cost-effective and efficient programs that successfully support the LASERS mission.

Cherita K. Taylor serves as the Assistant Director of Information Services for the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge. In this role, she oversees the daily operations of technology solutions and drives operational efficiency through engagement and transparency. With more than 15 years of experience in the IT industry, Cherita is recognized for fostering strategic relationships and advancing sustainable development to enhance IT governance. In addition to her leadership in technology, Cherita has an extensive background in communications, with experience spanning radio, television, and marketing advocacy. She holds a master’s degree in communications and is a proud alumna of Southern University and A&M College. Her unique blend of IT expertise and business acumen allows her to successfully bridge the private sector and municipal operations. Beyond her professional endeavors, Cherita is actively involved in philanthropic initiatives and is passionate about creating positive community impact by balancing her professional excellence with strong commitment to personal fulfillment and service.

Ricky Tucker is a UX/UI designer for Louisiana's Office of Technology Services. In addition to contributing to the state's Design System, Pelican, he works daily with state agencies to develop digital products with the goal of improving the lives of Louisiana residents. Ricky holds certifications from Meta and Google, as was well as the W3Cx Introduction to Web Accessibility certificate.

Robert works as a Program Manager for the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, Office of Reentry. In his current role, Robert is responsible for several BJA grants as well as multiple other statewide programs. Robert’s career has spanned over 20 years mostly in the criminal justice field. He earned his BS at University of Louisiana at Lafayette and his MPA from the Louisiana State University Public Administration Institute.