Lucas Allen is the Manager of Data Analytics for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Audit. With over 18 years of service to the people of Maine, Lucas is no stranger to addressing the challenges of the government sector. He continues to play a vital role in the modernization of the Division. He also serves as a Privacy and Security Liaison as well sits on various committees/stakeholder meetings on technology related matters.

Doug Birgfeld is the Director of Project Management for Maine State Government, where he and his team are building a true EPMO with a focus on organizational transformation, strategic engagement, portfolio management and continuous improvement.
The focus of Doug’s career is and has been leading public service organizations to greater effectiveness and quality outcomes for constituents. Doug has previously been the Innovation Director at The Department of Economic and Community Development and Virtual CIO for Maine Equal Justice.
Prior to that Doug was Director of Project Management and The Agile Center of Excellence in his previous incarnation with Maine’s PMO. Doug is also a podcast producer, comedy writer and light entertainer.

Jesse Blier joined the State of Maine in 2012. He currently serves as the Security Operations Center Manager for the Information Security Office within the Maine Office of Information Technology. He leads a team responsible for Endpoint Security and Incident Response, Security Monitoring (SIEM), Vulnerability Management and Testing, and Threat Intelligence.

Chris Boudreau is the Director of Enterprise Data Services at MaineIT where he specializes in Data Analytics services, Data Integration services and all things Oracle. Formerly the Director of the Center for Workforce Research and Information (CWRI) at the Maine Department of Labor, Chris has been nationally recognized for his development work on statistical systems, leveraging data visualizations to convey labor market data on CWRI’s website and for his work on longitudinal outcomes research. He was a member of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Labor Market Information Oversight Council and the Sigma Class of Leadership Maine.

Meet Adam, a seasoned IT professional with over 20 years in the industry and 8 years at MaineIT. For the past 2 years, he has served as the technical lead for the Linux team at MaineIT, driving pivotal projects. Notably, Adam successfully implemented the Delinea privileged access management (PAM) solution across the MaineIT Linux server fleet, enabling Active Directory logins and introducing multi factor authentication. With a rich background in Information Technology and implementing technical projects, Adam offers a wealth of experience. Join Adam to explore innovative solutions and strategies for elevating your organization’s PAM practices.

Jess Crosby started her career with Maine State Government in January 2018 as the Director of Talent Management. She works with departments across state government on recruitment, retention and professional development strategies. Prior to this, Jess spent seven years working in the private sector as a recruiter and district manager for Bonney Staffing Center. She graduated magna cum laude from Mount Holyoke College in 2007 with a degree in Psychology.

At AHEAD, Shubhendu leads our ESM Advisory Services specializing in helping clients with their ESM Transformation Journey. Shubhendu excels in envisioning long-term, “end to end” business opportunities and translating them into actionable strategies that drive growth and revenue or reduce spend. Shubhendu brings this unique perspective to senior management and C-suites looking to achieve operational excellence, global expansion, product development, and organizational transformation.
Shubhendu had over 22 years of experience driving business outcome and innovation for multibillion-dollar businesses. Achieved collaborative business, technology, and people management transformations across a wide range of industries, including financial services, gaming, healthcare and retail.

[LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-erickson-harris-797b0/

Lisa is an accomplished information technology strategist with a history of connecting technology and organizational value to support mission-critical and operational decisions. She currently serves within the Maine Secretary of State’s division leading the transition to digital records preservation and related digital services for Maine State Archives and the people of Maine, digging deep into data requirements and digitization technologies.
In partnership with Maine State Archives and Secretary of State Information Services, Lisa is leading the implementation of a digital preservation system to support digitization efforts and engaging across all state agencies to understand digital records needs, technology needed to support digitization, workflow, and related policy development. Her work involves participation in a cross-governmental collaboration to establish and advance data governance policies and programs, collectively.

Karen Fraser is the director of the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services at the Maine Department of Labor. She joined the department in 2003, was the Manager of the Year in 2008, and has been in her current role since 2015. Karen has extensive public and private sector experience working with people with disabilities in both residential and employment programs, as well as providing technical assistance to employers and social service agencies, oversight of accreditation and quality assurance activities, and directing daily operations. She has a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in organizational psychology.

Nicholas has over 26 years of experience working with the public sector specializing in state and local government finance and administration. Nick has helped save state agencies, municipalities, and public school districts in the northeast US millions of dollars through building relationships, leveraging technology, and redesigning workflow. As a field sales consultant with Google, he helps enable state and local governments in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont to serve citizens more efficiently.

Sharon Horne is the Executive Director of Enterprise Shared Services for the State of Maine in the Office of Information Technology. Sharon leads the application strategic initiatives as well as the Enterprise Architecture & Policy office for the Office of Information Technology. Sharon’s passion is to deliver essential services to state agencies while providing the best value to the State of Maine. With over 36 years in the technology industry she uses her tireless energy to inspire teams to work collaboratively, drive change and deliver innovative solutions that are secure, follow best practices and are sustainable while balancing risk & value.

Joshua Howe is the Deputy Executive Director for Workforce Training and Remote Working for the Maine Community College (MCCS) Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce. He leads Remote Work for ME project which is training Maine people and employers to be effective, healthy and productive remote workers, and how to lead remote and hybrid teams. He joined MCCS after 19 years with the State of Maine, specializing in system improvement, workforce development, and disability services.

Jeff Jordan is the Director, Health and Human Services Applications at Maine’s Office of Information Technology (MaineIT). Through 20 years working in technology for Maine State Government, Jeff uses his experience to help bring solutions to key State of Maine business needs. Jeff’s approach is built on a foundation of collaboration, communication, and transparency, bringing key stakeholders together, and fostering strong working relationships.

Robert Kim, Chief Technology Officer at Presidio, advises clients on how to accelerate digital transformation and use technology to drive organizational outcomes. He evaluates IT trends and clients’ specific challenges with the goal of optimizing key business processes to improve end-user experiences, accelerate innovation and create market differentiation. Prior to joining Presidio in 2016, Rob held leadership positions at technology management and consulting firms, with roles in sales engineering, business development, operational excellence, and financial management. He graduated from Penn State with a Bachelor’s Science and earned his MBA at Drexel University.

Harry Lanphear is currently the Administrative Director for the Maine Public Utilities Commission overseeing finance, IT, human resources, legislation, and operations. He is an experienced senior leader with over 25 years of senior executive experience working with public and private sector organizations. Harry has served as Chief Executive Officer for a large non-profit, Chief Information Officer for Maine State Government, managing director for a $1 billion electric utility, and director of information security for a $400 million healthcare provider. He holds a BA from Bowdoin College in Mathematics and MBA from Thomas College. Harry has served as President of the KVYMCA Board of Directors, he also serves on Maine’s Make-A-Wish board of directors and the Executive Committee of the Maranacook Education Foundation. He is past president of the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce, RSU 38 Board of Directors, Augusta Junior Achievement and Kennebec Leadership Institute.

Jennifer Lane has over 15 years of project management experience, 10 with the State of Maine. Jennifer has a proven track record of working with diverse stakeholders, meeting high expectations and strong organizational skills. Jennifer grew up in Maine and loves her family, traveling and camping.

A spirited leader with a vision that focuses on delivering excellent customer service through process improvement and modernization of desktop technologies. A strong aptitude for developing and implementing new technology initiatives, policies, and procedures. Implementation of ITSM best practices to improve service delivery and support. BS CIS, ITIL and HDI certified.

Derek Mullens has been the Director of the Account Management team at MaineIT since 2018. With over 20 years of experience in the IT industry, the last 11 years have been with the State of Maine. This vast experience includes client systems support, administration of an enterprise infrastructure, and acted as a senior advisor to the chief information security officer focusing on risk management and the overall security posture for the State of Maine. His most recent accomplishments include working on the development and execution of MaineIT and agency strategic imperatives to support State of Maine operations and services. Derek manages the oversight and business relationship of 14 departments and 40+ agencies. He is currently assigned as a member of the MaineIT CIO advisory team assisting in the development of information technology and leadership strategies.

Has vast experience in public sector. Currently manages ITSM application for the State of Maine, Certified in ITIL 4 Foundation in ITSM.

Over the course of 23 years, Cindy has worked up from Maine Department of Transportation intern to Assistant Director of MaineDOT’s Results and Information Office. She currently manages the data analytics team, data warehouse, and GIS services. Cindy represents MaineDOT on various state IT committees and is involved at the national level. Most recently, she was appointed to the Committee on Data Management and Analytics with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and is also chairing their Technical Services Subcommittee. Cindy has been involved in several research projects with the National Academy of Science on various transportation data topics. Cindy holds a master’s degree in public policy and management. A good day in the office flies by when she is knee-deep in data. A good day at home includes time with her husband, two Boston terriers and a few games of pickleball.

Dave Pascarella is currently serving as the Director of the MaineIT Cloud Center of
Excellence for the State of Maine. Dave has held technical and leadership positions across public and private industry focusing on a variety of technology including implementation of cloud services, hyperconverged hosting, network, and telephony with the goal of modernization and process improvement. He is dedicated to advancing the State of Maine's IT capabilities, ensuring robust services, and optimizing technology infrastructure. He lives in Bowdoinham with his wife and two children.

Henry has been the State of Maine’s Digital Accessibility Coordinator since 2019 and plays an integral role in setting the strategic direction for Maine’s digital accessibility program. Prior to that, Henry served in multiple information technology roles within Maine State Government, including Security, Architecture and Policy, Applications, Fiscal Management, Customer Relationship Management, Server Administration, and Operations. Henry is the Chair of the State Information Technology Accessibility Committee, a long-standing advisory group to the Chief Information Officer. Henry also coordinates the Multi-State Digital Accessibility Collaborative, which was initiated by Maine and now includes representatives from fifteen different states. Henry is a lifelong Maine resident and is the proud dad of two grown daughters. Henry’s educational background includes advanced degrees in Business Administration, Public Policy and Management, Business Education, and Information Systems. Outside of work, Henry regularly performs in community theater.

At AHEAD, Bob provides program support to Enterprise Clients as they evaluate, design, implement and managed data center, cloud or service management solutions. Supports end-to-end program lifecycle including presales support, project initiation, delivery oversight, enablement and associated financials.

Charles Rote currently serves as the Deputy Chief Information Security Officer within the Information Security Office for Maine Office of Information Technology. He leads a team focused on the areas of cybersecurity risk management, governance, regulatory compliance, information security policies and procedures, and legislation. He also serves on the StateRAMP Standards and Technical Committee.

Jackie Sabasteanski is a System Section Manager at MaineIT. She manages the Help Desk and Escalation support teams as well as the licensed software team and Enterprise operations and monitoring. She has 14 years’ experience in IT related fields and is certified as an Expert in ITIL v3 and a Managing Professional in ITIL v4.

Jenna supports and offers thought leadership to the New England and Upstate NY public sector customers. Prior to joining the Fortinet SLED team, Jenna supported over 2000 of Fortinet’s partners across the country.

Prof. Soroush Vosoughi leads the Minds, Machine, and Society group at Dartmouth, focusing on natural language processing, machine learning, and social media analytics. The group aims to make large language models (such as GPT models used for ChatGPT) more prosocial by addressing their anti-social tendencies, improving interpretability, and refining fine-tuning strategies. Their research also involves creating computational tools to examine social systems and issues, with recent work extending to health and bioinformatics applications.
Prof. Vosoughi has received multiple awards, including the Google Research Scholar Award (2022) and Amazon Research Award (2019), and served as a technical advisor to Public Mind. He has affiliations with various institutes at Dartmouth and was previously a postdoctoral associate at MIT and an affiliate at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center. During his time at MIT, Prof. Vosoughi directed the "Electome" project and advised the nonprofit organization Cortico. He holds a Ph.D., MSc, and BSc from MIT.

Patrick Williams is the Director of Architecture and Policy for MaineIT. He was initially appointed Acting Director in July 2020 and later formally hired as the Director during the pandemic. Patrick has 30 years of diverse service experience within the private and non-profit sectors. During his 15-year tenure with a New England based health system, Patrick served in many roles leading up to a System Director for LEAN as an advanced workshop leader of an internationally recognized client centric management method. Throughout his career, Patrick has developed a focus on customer service approaches while aligning organizational mission & vision strategies impacting service delivery, leadership development, and the execution of strategic plans.
Patrick has served as president on local non-profit boards providing support for industry and community programs. As a native of Maine, Patrick obtained his undergraduate from the University of Southern Maine, his two graduate degrees (MBA and Organizational Leadership) from Southern New Hampshire University along with his Project Management and LEAN graduate certificates from Villanova University. Patrick is a graduate from the Maine Development Foundation’s Leadership Maine program (Pi Class).

Mr. Willigar is the Chief Information Security Officer for the State of Maine. He oversees security for the State’s information technology infrastructure and delivers IT solutions targeting the needs of agency customers in support of their missions. In his 4 plus years with the State as Chief Information Security Officer, he has forged relationships with agency leadership and his work on cybersecurity from a whole-of-state approach has enhanced the State’s cyber posture. He is responsible for managing and maturing Maine’s information security program to safeguard citizen's data and the State's IT assets. He and his security team partner with state and federal agencies to identify threats, mitigate vulnerabilities and reduce risks within the State. Cyber threat risk mitigation, security governance, incident response services, and integration of IT security capabilities across the State enterprise are his key strengths. In this leadership role, he continues to advance Maine’s cyber defenses in an ever-changing threat environment.
Mr. Willigar currently serves as a member of the State of Maine Cyber Security Advisory Council and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center. He holds a CISM certification and received his MBA from Thomas College and BA from Husson College. He was recently selected to participate in the FBI’s CISO Academy for Information Security Leaders. He lives in Sidney, Maine.

Curt most recently served as the Technology Services and Security Cabinet Secretary and Chief Information Officer for Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, leading the Commonwealth’s digital and cyber security transformation. Prior to his Cabinet appointment in 2018, Mr. Wood served 8 years as the Public Safety Undersecretary for Forensic Science and CIO overseeing major public safety and justice operational and technology modernization efforts. He began his government career in 1975 and has served in multiple roles.