Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Matthew Vince, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Office of Technology Services, State of Louisiana

Keynote – How Public Sector Leaders Unlock Collective Genius and Fuel Breakthroughs in the Age of AI

In this energizing keynote, Frankie Russo reveals how public sector leaders can unlock collective genius by uniting teams around a shared purpose that fuels meaningful impact in the age of AI. He shows how partnering with AI as a true copilot, not a replacement, helps leaders amplify imagination, accelerate breakthroughs, and bring bold new solutions to life. By examining what’s been holding organizations back, Russo guides audiences to unleash an infinity loop of innovation. Attendees leave with practical strategies to elevate human potential, harness AI for the greater good, and drive transformational change for the communities they serve.

Frankie Russo, 8X Inc. 500 Founder, Top Growth Keynote Speaker, 2X Best-selling author

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Concurrent Sessions

Getting Started with AI: Building the Right Foundation

AI is transforming government, but responsible adoption requires more than policy. It demands strong governance, cybersecurity, trusted data, and clear accountability. This session explores how organizations are establishing AI guardrails that address security, data access, privacy, and responsible use while ensuring employees understand and follow evolving guidelines. Discover practical approaches to governance, risk management, and oversight that help agencies harness AI's potential, reduce unintended consequences, and build public trust.

Denzel Wilson, Technology Innovation Manager, Access Sciences

Today's Threat Landscape: Collaboration, Risk and Resilience

As cyber threats grow in complexity - ranging from AI-driven attacks and ransomware to threats against critical infrastructure - the need for sustainable cybersecurity funding in the public sector has never been greater. With emerging threats targeting both public and private sectors, working together across all levels of government is essential to safeguarding citizens’ data. This session will examine the future of cybersecurity funding, emerging threats posed by agentic AI, and the urgent need for multi-layered government collaboration and communication.

Charles Burton, Technology Director, Calcasieu Parish

Accessible by Design: Creating Better Digital Services

Digital accessibility is no longer just about compliance. It's about delivering government services that every resident can easily access and use. As agencies modernize websites, applications, and digital services, they must balance user experience, accessibility standards, and evolving technology. This session highlights practical strategies for building accessible, user-centered digital experiences, improving usability across platforms, and embedding accessibility throughout the design and development process. Hear how Louisiana organizations are advancing digital inclusion while creating better outcomes for both employees and constituents.

James Alt, Chief Architect, Louisiana Office of Technology Services

Isral Duke, Design Manager, Architecture, Standards, and Platforms, Louisiana Office of Technology Services

Leading Through Change

Public sector IT leaders must successfully navigate an increasingly complex landscape of change. From evolving technology priorities to tightening budgets, balancing competing demands has never been more critical. How can leaders effectively communicate change, align stakeholders, and make strategic decisions when resources are limited? This session explores practical approaches to leading through change, navigating budget constraints, and fostering a culture of adaptability that enables organizations to move forward with confidence.

Moderator: Dennis Gakunga, Deputy Chief Information Officer, City of New Orleans

Lunch

Bits and Bytes – Countering Dangerous Drones: Preparing for Emerging Public Safety Threats

Drones are creating new opportunities for innovation, but they are also introducing new challenges for public safety, critical infrastructure, and emergency response. As states and local governments expand their ability to address unauthorized or malicious drone activity, technology and public safety leaders must understand the evolving policies, partnerships, and capabilities needed to respond. This session explores how Louisiana is approaching counter-drone preparedness, the role of collaboration between government agencies and law enforcement, and key considerations for protecting communities from emerging aerial threats.

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

Concurrent Sessions

AI Lessons Learned: Finding the Right Fit

The conversation has shifted from "Should we use AI?" to "What have we learned?" Every organization's AI journey looks different, and the most valuable insights come from real-world experience. This interactive session brings together government IT leaders to share practical lessons from implementing AI across their organizations. Explore decisions around subscription and open-source models, supporting developers, deploying citizen-facing solutions, measuring results, and overcoming unexpected challenges. Hear what worked, what didn't, and what teams would do differently. Bring your questions, challenges, and experiences as we compare approaches, exchange practical lessons, and explore what it really takes to move AI from interest to implementation across government.

Brandon O’Deay, IT Director, Ascension Parish

Pathways to a Stronger Cyber Program

Cyber resilience starts with people as much as technology. As cyber threats continue to evolve and many government organizations face limited staff and resources, how can agencies build and sustain a stronger cybersecurity program? This session explores Louisiana's whole-of-state approach to cybersecurity, highlighting how state agencies, parishes, higher education, and partners are working together to strengthen preparedness, incident response, and workforce development. Hear practical strategies for upskilling existing IT staff, leveraging training and shared resources, and building the talent pipeline needed to protect government today and into the future.

The Power of Place: GIS for Smarter Government

Geospatial data is becoming an essential tool for smarter, faster decision-making across government. This session explores how agencies are using GIS to support disaster preparedness and response, streamline damage assessments, improve asset management, and provide real-time information to the public. Hear practical use cases, including hurricane response, road closure reporting integrated with navigation tools, and federal mapping resources that help communities quickly assess impacts after declared disasters. We'll also examine how high-quality geospatial data lays the foundation for AI-powered analytics and automation, enabling more informed decisions before, during, and after an emergency.

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Hosted by: Matthew Vince, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Office of Technology Services, State of Louisiana

Jeremy Deal, Chief Technology Officer, Office of Technology Services, State of Louisiana

Michael Allison, Chief Administrative Officer, Office of Technology Services, State of Louisiana

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

General Session – 25 Years of Digital Government 'The Eras Tour': How Technology, Policy and Public Service Evolved - and What Comes Next

In 2001, "digital government" meant moving paper forms to static PDF downloads. Today, it means real-time, AI-driven resident services, "whole-of-state" cybersecurity, and cloud-native infrastructure that never sleeps. As the Center for Digital Government (CDG) celebrates its 25th anniversary, we invite you to a high-energy retrospective and a forward-looking strategy session that tracks the evolution of the public sector’s digital DNA. We will walk through the "waves" of transformation we’ve navigated together and will provide a roadmap for the next quarter-century of innovation.

William “Bill” Rials, Senior Fellow, Government Technology

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

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

End of Conference

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