Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Opening Remarks

Jason Snyder, Secretary of Technology, Executive Office of Technology Services and Security, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Keynote – Leading with Vision

Being in charge isn’t easy, but in an era of rapid change and disruption brought on by incredible innovation, “the right” leadership is paramount to driving government and education forward. Leaders must achieve results, but that can be difficult if you are not also garnering respect and admiration. In this compelling keynote address, Anton Gunn delves into the strategies you can use to cultivate and hone essential leadership qualities, inspire your teams, and foster positive change within your organization.

Anton Gunn, Keynote Speaker, Best-selling Author, Former Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama

General Session – From Agency to Secretariat: The Leadership Journey of Massachusetts EOTSS

As Massachusetts’ Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS) approaches its 10-year milestone, this session will explore its transformation from an agency to a cabinet-level secretariat. Former and current leaders, including Jason Snyder, Curtis Wood, and Mark Nunnelly, will share key moments of change, lessons learned, and the strategies that shaped EOTSS’s evolution and maturity. Attendees will gain insights into navigating large-scale organizational change, fostering innovation in government IT, and aligning IT modernization with public sector priorities.

Jason Snyder, Secretary of Technology, Executive Office of Technology Services and Security, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Concurrent Sessions

The morning concurrent sessions will be featured as Leadership Exchanges, designed to enhance interactivity and foster collaboration. Through shared experiences and lessons learned, attendees will brainstorm strategies, identify opportunities and risks, and gain actionable insights to immediately apply within their teams and organizations.

Leadership Communications and Consensus Building: Driving Change in Government IT

Effective leadership in IT goes beyond technical expertise—it requires the ability to communicate complex ideas to diverse teams, influence decision-makers, and align technology with public service priorities. Successfully advancing initiatives across government requires collaboration, trust, and overcoming resistance to change. This session will provide actionable strategies for building compelling business cases, maintaining team morale through transitions, and effectively conveying technical concepts in ways that foster trust and accelerate adoption. Attendees will also explore practical approaches to interagency collaboration, bridging the gap between future initiatives and present realities, and driving meaningful progress through consensus-building and effective change management.

AI Strategy and Disruptive Technology: Governance, Innovation and Risk

As AI and emerging technologies reshape government operations, leaders must balance innovation with governance, risk management, and long-term sustainability. This session will explore lessons from successful AI initiatives, assess readiness for organizational change, and consider future integration strategies for data and analytics. Attendees will gain insights into the future of data and AI in government, strategic developments of multi-disciplinary teams, and successful approaches to implement emerging technologies while ensuring operational stability and public trust.

IT Change Management and Adoption

Successful IT change management requires strategic leadership, cultural adaptability, and effective training, especially when implementing new technologies. This session explores best practices for guiding teams through transformation, overcoming resistance, and fostering a shared digital experience. We’ll also examine the key distinctions between change leadership and management, along with strategies for assessing organizational readiness while leading teams through transformation.

Lunch

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

Concurrent Sessions

IT Portfolio Management: Governance, Prioritization and Security

Effective IT portfolio management is essential for maximizing limited resources while ensuring security, compliance, and long-term sustainability. This session will explore the best approaches for developing governance frameworks, addressing cybersecurity risks, and prioritizing IT investments amid resource constraints. Attendees will gain strategies to align technology initiatives with agency priorities and drive sustainable, secure IT decision-making in the public sector.

Leading a Future-Ready Workforce

To build a future-ready workforce, government IT leaders must navigate the challenges of an aging workforce while attracting and retaining next-generation talent. This session will explore strategies for upskilling teams, leading multigenerational workforces, fostering emerging leadership, embracing neurodiversity for innovation, and enhancing communication and motivation across diverse teams.

Women in IT Leadership: Breaking Barriers and Building Futures

Women in IT leadership play a critical role in driving innovation, fostering inclusion, and shaping the future of public sector technology. This session will explore strategies for navigating leadership as a woman in IT, modeling inclusive and empowering leadership behaviors, and building strong professional networks. Join this empowering panel of accomplished women in the IT industry and be inspired to break barriers, leverage mentorship, and lead and create diverse, dynamic teams!

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

General Session –Concluding Insights: A Collective Path Forward

Join Massachusetts IT leaders from various state agencies for a closing reflection on the day’s discussions and insights. Speakers from the morning Leadership Exchange sessions will share a report-out, highlighting key outcomes and takeaways. Together, these insights and reflections underscore the continued collaborative efforts for the future.

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.