Louisiana Digital Government Summit 2026
Overview
The Louisiana Digital Government Summit is where innovation meets impact!
Bringing together the brightest minds in state and local government, this summit empowers public-sector leaders to explore cutting-edge technologies, modernize operations, and solve pressing challenges. From cybersecurity and AI to data governance and digital service delivery, sessions are designed to spark insight, foster collaboration, and accelerate real-world results. Whether you're shaping strategy or implementing solutions, the Summit delivers valuable peer connections and actionable guidance to help move your mission forward.
Speakers
Sean McSpaden
Principal Legislative IT Analyst & Committee Administrator, Joint Legislative Committee on Information Management and Technology, State of Oregon
Jason Carr
Geospatial Program Manager, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
Brandon O’Deay
IT Director, Ascension Parish
Denzel Wilson
Technology Innovation Manager, Access Sciences
Agenda
Thursday, September 17 |
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8:00 am Central |
Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit AreaPremier Ballroom Atrium | Premier Ballroom 3 |
9:00 am Central |
Welcome and Opening RemarksPremier Ballroom 1 and 2Matthew Vince, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Office of Technology Services, State of Louisiana |
9:15 am Central |
Keynote – How Public Sector Leaders Unlock Collective Genius and Fuel Breakthroughs in the Age of AIPremier Ballroom 1 and 2In 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 |
10:15 am Central |
Networking Break in the Exhibit AreaPremier Ballroom 3 |
10:45 am Central |
Concurrent SessionsGetting Started with AI: Building the Right FoundationCypress 2AI 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.
Rizwan Ahmed, Chief Information Officer, City of Baton Rouge & Parish of East Baton Rouge Karthik Poobalasubramanian, Deputy Commissioner for Information and Data Strategy, Louisiana Board of Regents Denzel Wilson, Technology Innovation Manager, Access Sciences Today's Threat Landscape: Collaboration, Risk and ResilienceCypress 1As 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.
Moderator: John Burris, Ph.D., Chief Information Officer, Office of Technology, Southeastern Louisiana University Charles Burton, Technology Director, Calcasieu Parish Sumit Jain, CISSP, Director, IT Security and Policy (CISO), Information Technology Services, Louisiana State University Doug Thompson, Solution Engineering, Tanium Accessible by Design: Creating Better Digital ServicesSamuel Clemens | NatchezDigital 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 ChangeMississippi | DeltaPublic 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 |
11:45 am Central |
LunchPremier Ballroom 1 and 2 |
12:45 pm Central |
Bits and Bytes – Countering Dangerous Drones: Preparing for Emerging Public Safety ThreatsPremier Ballroom 1 and 2Drones 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.
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1:15 pm Central |
Short BreakPlease proceed to the concurrent sessions.
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1:30 pm Central |
Concurrent SessionsCypress 2AI Lessons Learned: Finding the Right FitThe 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.
Moderator: James O. Murray, Jr., Director of IT Services, Louisiana Supreme Court Brandon O’Deay, IT Director, Ascension Parish Pathways to a Stronger Cyber ProgramCypress 1Cyber 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.
Moderator: Dr. Golden G. Richard III, Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, Director, LSU Cyber Center and Applied Cybersecurity Lab, and Associate Director for Cybersecurity, Center for Computation and Technology (CCT), Louisiana State University James Zeller, Cybersecurity Analyst, Information Technology, St. Tammany Parish Government The Power of Place: GIS for Smarter GovernmentSamuel Clemens | NatchezGeospatial 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.
Moderator: Jason Carr, Geospatial Program Manager, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Justin Priola, Data, Analytics, and Performance Manager, City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge Exclusive Briefing for Industry PartnersMississippi | DeltaHosted 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 |
2:30 pm Central |
Networking Break in the Exhibit AreaPremier Ballroom 3 |
3:00 pm Central |
General Session – 25 Years of Digital Government 'The Eras Tour': How Technology, Policy and Public Service Evolved - and What Comes NextPremier Ballroom 1 and 2In 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.
Sean McSpaden, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government |
3:45 pm Central |
Networking Reception in the Exhibit AreaPremier Ballroom 3Network with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event exhibitors.
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4:15 pm Central |
End of ConferenceConference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change.
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Crowne Plaza Executive Center
4728 Constitution Avenue
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
225-925-2244
Crowne Plaza Executive Center
Advisory Board
Government Representatives
Rizwan Ahmed
Chief Information Officer
Information Services
City of Baton Rouge & Parish of East Baton Rouge
Michael Allison
Chief Administrative Officer
Office of Technology Services
State of Louisiana
Tom Allsup
Agency Relationship Management Director
Office of Technology Services
State of Louisiana
James Alt
Chief Architect
Office of Technology Services
State of Louisiana
Anthony Ayo
Chief Information Officer
St. Charles Parish
John Burris
Chief Information Officer
Office of Technology
Southeastern Louisiana University
Charles Burton
Technology Director
Calcasieu Parish
Jeremy Deal
Chief Technology Officer
Office of Technology Services
State of Louisiana
Adrian Erwin
Data Center Operations Director
Office of Technology Services
State of Louisiana
Dennis Gakunga
Deputy Chief Information Officer
City of New Orleans
Natalie George
IT Administrator
Department of Shared Administrative Services
Louisana Office of State Technology
Chase Hymel
Chief Information Security Officer
Office of Technology Services
State of Louisiana
Tai Istre
Louisiana State Census Data Center Lead
Office of Technology Services
State of Louisiana
Kimberly W. LaGrue
IT Director
Information Technology & Innovation
City of New Orleans
Amy Landry
Product Delivery Administrator
Office of Technology Services
State of Louisiana
Tracy Melancon
Director of Information Technology
Information Technology
Louisiana Municipal Association
James Murray
IT Director
Louisiana Supreme Court
Natalie Newsom
Director of Management
Office of Technology Services
State of Louisiana
Brandon Odeay
IT Director
Ascension Parish
Cherita Taylor
Deputy Chief Information Officer, Assistant Director of Information Services
City of Baton Rouge & Parish of East Baton Rouge
Matthew Vince
Deputy Chief Information Officer
Office of Technology Services
State of Louisiana
Craig Wooley
Chief Information Officer
Louisiana State University
James Zeller
Cybersecurity Analyst
Information Technology
St. Tammany Parish Government
Industry Representatives
Glenn Frederickson
Director of Records Management Operations
Business Process Outsourcing
Access Sciences
Lisa Sams
Director of Strategic Accounts
Tanium
Kathy Wilson
Field Chief Technology Officer
IBM
Registration Information / Contact Us
Event Date: September 17, 2026
Open to Public Sector only.
Registration - Free
If you represent a Private Sector organization and are interested in Sponsorship Opportunities, please contact Heather Earney.
This event is open to all individuals who meet the eligibility criteria, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, age, disability, or any other protected class. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all participants.
Contact Information
Need help registering, or have general event questions? Contact:
Jasmin Tetzlaff
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 932-1308
E-mail: jtetzlaff@erepublic.com
Already a sponsor, but need a hand? Reach out to:
Mireya Gaton
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone:(916) 296-2617
E-Mail: mgaton@erepublic.com
Want to sponsor and stand out? Reach out to explore opportunities!
Heather Earney
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 365-2308
E-mail: heather.earney@erepublic.com