Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Opening Remarks

Nicholas Marquis, Acting Chief Information Officer, Office of Information Technology, State of Maine

Keynote – Find Your Fight: Innovating When the Odds Are Against You

In moments when challenges feel insurmountable, and the odds are stacked against us, how do we find the will to fight—and win? In this powerful and energizing talk, Jessica O. Matthews shares how the most groundbreaking innovations often emerge from struggle, uncertainty, and adversity. Drawing from her own journey as a pioneering entrepreneur and inventor, Jessica explores how resilience, creativity, and relentless problem-solving can transform even the toughest setbacks into opportunities for impact and growth. This session will help you reframe challenges as opportunities for breakthrough innovation, develop resilience during moments of struggle, and uncover determination to keep fighting for transformative solutions.

Jessica O. Matthews, CEO of Uncharted, Innovator and Social Entrepreneur, Trailblazing Energy Advocate

General Session – IT State of the State

A distinguished panel of IT leaders from across the state will deliver a series of rapid-fire lightning talks, showcasing the latest advances driving digital transformation in Maine. Highlights include updates from the State’s AI Task Force, the incident response framework tailored for K-12 and municipal agencies, and critical data governance initiatives. This session offers a concise, impactful overview of Maine’s strategic technology efforts.

Moderator: Zach Patton, Chief Editor, Content Studio, e.Republic

Daniel Matz, Policy and Data Analyst, Economy and Infrastructure, Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, State of Maine

Raja Paidipalli, Chief Data Officer, Department of Administrative and Financial Services, State of Maine

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Concurrent Sessions

Preparing for AI: Governance, Readiness, and Risk

As AI and emerging technologies evolve rapidly, state and local governments must balance innovation with governance, practicality, and risk. This session will explore real-world use cases, ethical adoption, and data governance strategies, while offering budget-conscious approaches and AI readiness frameworks. Attendees will gain insights into distinguishing hype from impact, preparing for operational changes, and building a foundation for responsible, secure, and resilient AI use in government.

Reimagining Service Delivery for a Seamless Constituent Experience

Public-sector agencies are reimagining service delivery to be more personalized, interconnected, and accessible. This session will explore how governments can assess their readiness, align systems and data, and collaborate across jurisdictions to streamline services and create a more seamless constituent experience. Learn practical strategies to shift organizational mindsets, adopt enabling technologies, and build the foundation for responsive, connected public services.

Moderator: Zach Patton, Chief Editor, Content Studio, e.Republic

Victor Chakravarty, Director of Digital Services, Office of Information Technology, State of Maine

Future-Ready Workforce

As the nature of work evolves rapidly, government IT organizations must proactively prepare their workforce by identifying skill gaps and developing targeted upskilling strategies that support employees across diverse experience levels. This session will explore tools for workforce planning, effective training methods for hybrid environments, and approaches to ensure readiness for ongoing technological change. Learn how to build a resilient and adaptable team equipped to meet the demands of modern public service.

Enterprise Architecture: Bridging Business and Technology for Lasting Impact

Enterprise Architecture is critical for aligning business goals with technology strategies in the public sector. This session will cover why a strong enterprise architecture program matters and how to integrate business process approaches throughout the project lifecycle. Attendees will learn practical methods for business process re-engineering and best practices to establish and sustain an effective program that drives organizational success.

Lunch

Bits and Bytes

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

Concurrent Sessions

Bracing for the Next Crisis: Disaster Preparedness and Digital Continuity

Disasters, whether natural or digital, are rarely isolated, and their impact can disrupt essential government services. This session explores how state and local governments can align preparedness efforts, assess vulnerabilities, and build coordinated emergency response plans. Learn how to confidently discuss, report, and implement protocols, understand your role in collective defense, and access free tools and practical strategies to fund, build, and sustain resilient systems that protect your community before, during, and after a crisis.

Moderator: Brigadier General Diane L. Dunn, Adjutant General, Maine National Guard

Joe Legee, Deputy Director, Maine Emergency Management Agency

Daisy Mueller, Cybersecurity Advisor – Maine, DHS/CISA/IOD/Region 1 (New England), U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Data Strategy in Action

Public-sector organizations increasingly recognize the power of data to improve decision-making and service delivery, but many still struggle to unlock its full potential. This session will explore practical frameworks for building a data-informed culture, highlighting readiness assessment, collaboration, and aligning data strategy with mission goals. Learn best practices for making data more manageable, discoverable, and actionable to drive meaningful impact.

Mark McInerney, Director, Center for Workforce Research and Information, Department of Labor, State of Maine

Managing Change: Practical Strategies for Business Transformation

Change is never easy – especially when organizational and business transformations must move forward with limited resources and outdated processes. This session will explore practical strategies for change management, including managing expectations, engaging cross-functional teams, and maintaining continuity through transitions. Government IT leaders will learn how to foster a culture of adaptability, manage risk, optimize resources, and balance investments in people and technology to ensure long-term organizational readiness.

Moderator: Cindy Owings-Hutchison, Assistant Director, Results and Information Office, Department of Transportation, State of Maine

Rebekah Douin, Director of Application Development, Department of the Secretary of State, State of Maine

Smart Procurement Strategies for Maine

Effective technology procurement is critical for public-sector success—but where do you start? What criteria should you use to determine your needs, and which partnerships best align with your goals? How do you decide what to outsource versus what to keep in-house? This session will explore how to evaluate SaaS and software options, manage risks, and conduct thorough security reviews to ensure resilient and compliant deployments. Attendees will gain best practices for assessing the right technology partners, evaluating contracts, and leveraging existing state-local resources to make informed, strategic procurement decisions.

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Hosted by: State of Maine

Nicholas Marquis, Acting Chief Information Officer, Office of Information Technology, State of Maine

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

General Session – Maximizing Government Service through Digital Transformation

MaineIT developed a secure and user-friendly Constituent Portal to streamline access to State government services through a personalized, easy-to-navigate platform. This case study highlights how the portal enhances customer service with automated identity verification, centralized data management, and privacy controls. Attendees will learn valuable guidelines and lessons from the portal’s design, implementation, and its impact on efficiency and constituent empowerment.

Victor Chakravarty, Director of Digital Services, Office of Information Technology, State of Maine

General Session – The Government Experience Revolution – Reimagining Personalized Government Delivery

Constituents today expect the same level of seamless, personalized service from government that they receive in the private sector. The Government Experience Revolution is transforming how agencies deliver services - moving from one-size-fits-all approaches to data-driven, user-centric experiences. This session, presented by the Center for Digital Government, will explore how governments are leveraging AI, digital identity, and advanced analytics to anticipate citizen needs, streamline interactions, and build trust through personalization.

Zach Patton, Chief Editor, Content Studio, e.Republic

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.