Massachusetts IT Leadership Forum 2025 Banner

Overview

The IT Leadership Forum is a premier event designed for current and emerging public sector IT leaders to explore technological advancements that drive government innovation. The forum emphasizes leadership development, offering participants valuable opportunities to enhance their professional skills, engage in peer networking, and collaborate on strategies to improve public services through technology. This invitation-only event provides a space for leaders to collaborate while addressing the most important policy, management and leadership issues surrounding the future of digital government. Contact us if you’d like to join the conversation!

A message from our Keynote Speaker

The ability to lead effectively is essential in an age where digital transformation is ongoing. We are thrilled to partner once again with Government Technology to offer this opportunity to inspire and assist IT leaders from all areas of government in Massachusetts to drive growth and build successful teams. I look forward to seeing everyone on May 21.

– Jason Snyder, Secretary, Executive Office of Technology Services and Security, and Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Speakers

Anton Gunn

Anton Gunn

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

Anton Gunn elevates organizations through his innovative insights on leadership and workplace culture. With a distinguished career spanning college sports, healthcare, public service, and executive leadership, Anton is highly sought-after as a strategic advisor. As a former senior advisor to President Barack Obama and C-level healthcare executive, he delivers game-changing strategies that help audiences and organizations build exceptional leaders and unstoppable teams. A trailblazer from the start, Anton made history as the first African American elected to the South Carolina Legislature from his district. He also became the youngest CEO of a statewide nonprofit advocacy organization. His meteoric rise in healthcare leadership earned him recognition as one of the Ten Most Influential Minority Executives in Healthcare. His 25 years of service as Board Director and the current Chairman of the Columbia Metropolitan Airport Commission underscores his strategic leadership and corporate governance expertise. With his unique ability to combine academic rigor with real-world experience, global organizations like Pfizer, KPMG, Microsoft, T-Mobile, SHRM, HCA Healthcare, and Mercedes-Benz Vans turn to Anton for his motivating insights on leadership, organizational culture, and inclusion strategy. His keynote presentations combine magnetic stage presence with profound wisdom and unforgettable storytelling, leaving audiences both inspired and equipped with actionable solutions that drive measurable results. As a member of the prestigious Aspen Global Leadership Network and former Harvard University Resident Fellow, Anton's thought leadership reaches millions through his bestselling books, proprietary research, and features in major media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., TIME, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, NPR, CNN, and Good Morning America. When he's not transforming workplace cultures, Anton Gunn moonlights as an 80s and 90s hip-hop historian with a music and memorabilia collection that would make DJ Jazzy Jeff jealous.

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Agenda

Wednesday, May 21

8:00 am Eastern

Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

9:00 am Eastern

Opening Remarks

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

9:15 am Eastern

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

10:15 am Eastern

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

11:00 am Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

11:30 am Eastern

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.

12:30 pm Eastern

Lunch

1:25 pm Eastern

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

1:30 pm Eastern

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!

2:30 pm Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

3:00 pm Eastern

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.

4:00 pm Eastern

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

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

4:30 pm Eastern

End of Conference

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

Westin Waltham Boston

70 3rd Ave
Waltham, MA 02451
(781) 290-5600

Get Directions To
Westin Waltham Boston

Advisory Board

Government Representatives

David Bedard
Chief Information Officer
Department of Transportation
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Eric Belford
Deputy Chief Information Officer
City of Cambridge

Erin Botelho
Chief Information Officer
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Erica Bradshaw
Deputy Secretary
Executive Office of Technology Services and Security
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Donald Chamberlain
COO, Assistant Secretary for Security and Operations
Executive Office of Technology Services and Security
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Thomas Cream
IT Director
Mass State Lottery Commission

Steven Duncan
Chief Information Officer
Judiciary
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Anthony Fantasia
Chief Information Officer
Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Santiago Garces
Chief Information Officer
Department of Innovation and Technology
City of Boston

Ramon Garcia
Chief Information Officer
Information Technologies
City of Chelsea

Michael Hamel
Chief Information Officer
Department of Innovation and Technology
City of Worcester

Antoine Harrison
Chief Information Officer
Executive Office of Education
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Robin Healey
Chief Information Officer
Executive Office for Administration and Finance
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Katrina Jagroop-Gomes
Chief Information Officer
Gaming Commission
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Greg Martin
Chief Information Officer
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

David Mastronardi
Chief Innovation Officer
City of Woburn

Thomas Meier
Chief Information Officer
Office of the State Auditor
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Maria Michalski
Chief Information Officer
Executive Office of Public Safety & Security
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Michael Milligan
Vice President and Chief Information Officer
University of Massachusetts

Matthew Moran
Assistant Secretary and Chief Engagement Officer
Executive Office of Technology Services & Security
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Peter Murphy
Chief Information Officer
Office of the Comptroller
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Thomas Myers
Chief Privacy Officer & General Counsel
Executive Office of Technology Services and Security
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Anthony O'Neill
CISO & Chief Risk Officer
Executive Office of Technology Services and Security
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Devyn Paros
Chief Digital Officer
Executive Office of Technology Services and Security
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Jorge Pazos
Director
Information Technology
City of Revere

John Petrozzelli
Director
MassCyberCenter

Jessica Powers
Director of Internal Communications
Executive Office of Technology Services and Security
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Cheri Rolfes
Chief of Staff
Executive Office of Technology Services and Security
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Daniel Sionkiewicz
Secretariat Chief Information Officer
Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

Michelle Vaughn
Assistant Secretary of Strategy and Planning
Executive Office of Technology Services and Security
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Feng Yang
Chief Information Officer
Information Technology Department
Town of Brookline

Industry Representatives

Christopher Stack
Director, Advisory, Health & Government Solutions
KPMG LLP

Sean Tynan
Senior Account Executive
Dell Technologies

Registration Information / Contact Us

Event Date: May 21, 2025

This is an invitation-only event, open to Public Sector only. For more information or to request an invitation, please contact Brad Loebs

If you represent a Private Sector organization and are interested in Sponsorship Opportunities, please contact Heather Earney.

Contact Information

To RSVP and for general assistance contact:

Brad Loebs
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 932-1409
E-mail: bloebs@erepublic.com

For assistance or questions concerning Sponsor Logos or Logistics please contact:

Mireya Gaton
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 296-2617
E-Mail: mgaton@erepublic.com

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact:

Heather Earney
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 932-1339
E-mail: heather.earney@erepublic.com

Venue

Westin Waltham Boston

70 3rd Ave
Waltham, MA 02451
(781) 290-5600

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Accomodations

Room Block

Room Rate: $209/night, single.
Rate Cut-off Date: Friday, March 28, 2025.

To Make a Reservation:
Phone:
(888) 236-2427 and reference Massachusetts IT Leadership Forum.
Online: Group Reservation Link
If you experience issues booking online, call the hotel directly for assistance.

Rooms are on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note, once the room block is full, you will need to make other arrangements for your accommodations with the hotel directly or at a nearby hotel.

 

Map and Directions

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/bosww-the-westin-waltham-boston/overview/

 

Event Parking

Self-parking:  Complimentary overnight parking and event parking – self parking only

Parking fees subject to change without notice.