Phil Bertolini is senior vice president of the Center for Digital Government, a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. Previously, he served as deputy county executive and CIO for Oakland County, Michigan. During his 31-year tenure, Phil built a world-class IT organization in the second-largest county in Michigan, just north of Detroit. As Oakland County CIO, he oversaw more than 150 employees serving over 1.2 million residents. In 2005, he was also promoted to deputy county executive, holding dual positions until his retirement. Phil’s efforts earned the county national attention, winning numerous awards for technology innovation and excellence. He was named Governing Magazine’s Public Official of the Year and Government Technology Magazine’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers. He was also honored by the President Obama White House as a Champion of Change.

Craig Brown is the Chief Innovation Officer for the City of Westland. As head of the City’s Department of Innovation and Technology, he is responsible for all aspects of Information Technology services for the City of Westland. As he would say, “If it touches electricity, then we are responsible for it.” During the past 7 years with the City of Westland, Craig has capitalized on over 25 years in various customer service driven industries to help facilitate and grow all aspects of technology service to the City’s 85,000 residents and staff from a service-oriented point of view and delivery. Every decision made by his department is geared to maximizing the ability of City staff to work efficiently in delivery of their products to the residents and to provide forward thinking, sustainable solutions to the residents based on what the resident’s needs are now and in the future. He is always looking for new opportunities in technology to provide better, smarter, more cost-effective ways to serve the City.
Currently, Craig holds multiple degrees and industry certifications, including a Bachelor’s in Technology Management. He also helped facilitate the City of Westland winning the Cityworks Exemplary User Award for Excellence in Online Practice.

Eric is an IT generalist with 30+ years in the IT industry.
He has spent 21 years with Logicalis titled as a Network Administrator but placed in a wide variety of environments and wearing various hats.
For the Last 6 years he has been the IT Manager for the City of Birmingham.

Andy Brush is the program director for Michigan Cyber Partners. In this role, Andy seeks to improve the cyber security posture of governments across the State by finding innovative ways of working together across all sectors. Prior to joining the State of Michigan, Andy served Washtenaw County for 17 years in various roles including Webmaster, Knowledge Manager, Innovations Manager, and spent 7 years as the head of the IT organization. Andy has also worked as a managing consultant, technical writer, project manager, teacher, cherry tree shaker operator, and Peace Corps volunteer in Sri Lanka.

Chief Technology Officer for Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s US Public Sector Business Unit. In this role, Mr. Burnham is responsible for providing expert technical guidance and direction across all Federal Civilian Agencies, the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, State and Local governments and Higher Education Institutions. He works extensively with HPE Labs, and our partners and systems integrators, to design secure Hybrid Cloud and Intelligent Edge solutions for specific problem sets, injecting technology innovation that fosters business and process transformation.
Mr. Burnham joined HPE in 2018, after seven years of federal service as the Chief Technology Officer for the United States Special Operations Command. In this position, he provided authoritative technical leadership on complex, controversial and precedent setting matters ranging from innovative data center designs to hybrid cloud implementation strategies.
Mr. Burnham attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science/Artificial Intelligence, and the University of Southern California, where he received a Master of Science in Systems Management.

Matt Cammarata is a Sr. Solutions Architect for OutSystems, the global leader in low-code application development. For the last 14 years, he has specialized in helping customers design solutions and workflows across dozens of platforms. He is based out of Chicago, Illinois, and his love for software development is only matched, by his love to attend music concerts.

Jayson Cavendish is the Deputy Chief Security Officer for DTMB's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection.
Jayson brings a unique blend of strengths to the role, including leadership, vision, and strategic planning, along with the ability to promote collaboration at all levels to support critical, high-level statewide projects to successful completion. As part of DTMB's leadership team, Jayson has helped to formulate and implement policies, strategic plans, directives, and organizational structure. Jayson leads several Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection committees, as well as programs at the local and state level.
Jayson has three years of experience in state government and has steadily built his in-depth IT/security architecture knowledge while serving in various leadership positions his career including Information Security Management roles, Director of Technical Services, and Data Warehouse Manager/Architect roles. In addition, he has numerous certifications including CISSP, CISA, PMP and is a Licensed Professional Investigator in Michigan.
He is a graduate of Northwood University and Campbell University and holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management and an associate degree in accounting.

Laura Clark serves as the chief information officer (CIO) for the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB), directing the state's technology and digital security efforts, as well as continuing a DTMB's the chief security officer, overseeing operations for the state agency that provides information technology, business and administrative services to Michigan's residents, businesses, state agencies, state employees, and retirees.
As chief security officer for the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget, Laura Clark brings a unique blend of strengths that include leadership, vision, and strategic and tactical planning, along with the ability to promote collaboration at all levels to support high-level, critical statewide projects to successful completion.
As chief security officer, Clark is responsible for Michigan Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Services and the deployment of their resources. Through her effective leadership, her team can ensure that critical processes are audited, reviewed, and designed for maximum effectiveness, and that structures for all cybersecurity and infrastructure protection are effectively delivered and operationalized throughout the enterprise.

Joe Daw has been a Cyber Security Architect for IBM North America in the Communications and Public and Federal industries for seven years. Joe came to IBM with 15+ years of experience in Firm Information Security leadership, which included Jones Day, a top global law firm, and Bristol West/Farmers Insurance. Joe’s key strengths are in assessing, implementing and building information security programs within multiple industries, many of which required and maintained Sarbanes-Oxley and Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance.
Joe holds a Bachelor of Computer Science from the University of Akron and maintains numerous certifications, including Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM), as well as being a founder and active board member for the local Cleveland, OH International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC2) chapter program.

Eric Frederick serves as the State of Michigan’s first Chief Connectivity Officer. In this role, Mr. Frederick leads the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office (MIHI) with the goals of achieving universal broadband access and creating a more digitally equitable state. Mr. Frederick is a state and community broadband policy and planning expert and a sought-after speaker on broadband and technology issues with experience working with local to international stakeholders to improve the access, adoption, and use of broadband. Mr. Frederick’s long-term and comprehensive approach to technology-related community development provides wide-ranging insights, education, and solutions to create digitally inclusive and equitable communities.
Over the last decade, Eric served as the Executive Director of Connected Nation Michigan where he advised several state agencies and was a steadfast advocate and resource for expanding broadband in Michigan. During this time, Eric advised the Michigan 21st Century Infrastructure Commission, was the principal author of the 2018 Michigan Broadband Roadmap, (and its 2021 update), created the Connecting Michigan Taskforce, and developed and administered the Connecting Michigan Communities grant program.
Eric has advised the Obama and Biden Administrations, Federal Communications Commission, Michigan’s Congressional delegation, the last three Michigan gubernatorial administrations, and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, among many others, on issues of connectivity and digital inclusion, and is one of the longest tenured members of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s State Broadband Leaders Network. Eric is an advisory board member for Michigan State University’s Urban and Regional Planning Program and MSU’s EDA Center for Regional Economic Innovation. Eric holds a Bachelor of Science degree in planning from Northern Michigan University and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from Michigan State University.

As General Manager for the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB), Ms. Galeazzi is accountable for all Information Technology services provided to the Attorney General, the Executive Office of the Governor, the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, and the Department of Transportation. She oversees IT strategic planning and governance of IT investments, with a focus on customer service, innovation, and new technologies to achieve Agencies’ strategic business objectives.
With more than 24 years’ experience in IT, Ms. Galeazzi has held several senior executive, IT management and IT program management positions. She is the recipient of the Governor’s Coins for Leadership, Excellence and was also recognized with a State Leadership of the Year award. Under her leadership, Michigan received two national IT Recognition Awards by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO).
Ms. Galeazzi holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Management of Information Systems.

Tommy Gardner is HP’s Chief Technology Officer for HP Federal, spanning the US Federal Agencies, Higher Education, K-12 Education, State and Local government customer segments, as well as Federal Systems Integrators. His current responsibilities include technology leadership, strategic technology plans, product and technology strategies, sales force technical support, and customer and partner relationships.
Previously, Tommy has served as the Chief Technology Officer for Jacobs Engineering, Scitor, and ManTech. Earlier in his career he was a senior technical executive at Raytheon. In the U.S. Navy he served as the Deputy for Science and Technology for the Chief of Naval Research. He oversaw the Navy’s Deep Submergence Program as well as its Advanced Technology Program. He also commanded the nuclear submarine, USS San Juan (SSN 751).
Tommy’s educational background covers multiple disciplines and fields of interest including: cybersecurity, data science, blockchain, quantum information science, artificial intelligence, high performance computing and systems integration.
Tommy holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy, a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University, an M.S. in Management of Technology from MIT and a Ph. D. in Energy Economics from George Washington University. He is a Professional Engineer, an ASME Fellow, and serves on the ASME Board of Governors, the ANSI Board of Directors and the U. S. Council on Competitiveness as the Co-chair of the Advanced Computer Roundtable.

Brad is the Director of one of three regions in Google Cloud’s SLG and Higher Ed North American business unit. His Team's focus is AI, Analytics, Constituent Experience and Cyber Security. He has been working in enterprise technology for over 25 years with two decades spent at Novell and Oracle in leadership positions respectively. He is based out of Cary, NC where he lives with his wife and two small kids.

Jim Hogan has been a General Manager since the formation of the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget in 2002. In this role, Mr. Hogan has directed IT support for Michigan’s education, business, human services, human resources, administrative and Quality of Life agencies. Jim has also served as Director of the e-Michigan Office, supporting the State’s award winning web site: www.michigan.gov.
Mr. Hogan has directed the development of a number of key projects that have been recognized with twelve #1 best practice awards from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO). Prior to his appointment as a General Manager, Jim worked 8 years in the State Budget Office developing annual budgets, spending policies and Legislative overviews as part of the annual appropriation process. Jim has also been an adjunct faculty member with Lansing Community College, teaching evening IT classes for 30 years. In this capacity, Jim has developed apprenticeship programs with the college to assist in the attraction and retention of student workers and graduates to help meet hiring needs within DTMB.

Kenny Holmes became the leader of go-to-market strategy for Public Sector at Fortinet in March 2019. He was selected due to extensive industry experience, expertise in a wide range of technologies, and his proven sales execution and analytics background. An advocate and speaker for the Public Sector, he has been in Information Technology for more than twenty years and held more than ten technology certifications and positions spanning from Engineering to Sales Executive. He is an expert in cybersecurity with a background in cryptography. He has worked in the Federal Government, State Governments, Research Institutions, and Universities on some of the largest security projects in the world. Kenny currently resides in the Chicagoland area with his amazing wife and ten-year old daughter. He spends as much time as possible with them including taking them along whenever possible on his business travels.

Daniele Loffreda is Marketing Lead for Ciena’s Virtualized Edge Solution State/Local Government and Education (SLED) and Healthcare in Ciena’s Solutions Development organization. In this role he leads Ciena’s initiatives applying next generation networking technologies to help these sectors deliver higher quality experiences to their constituents through disruptive technologies, optimized cloud strategies, virtualized infrastructure and improved data security.
Daniele has more than 25 years of experience helping customers leverage Information, Communications and Technology solutions provide greater value, streamline their operations and generate higher returns on network investments. In addition to his current role at Ciena, Daniele has worked in pioneering roles at AT&T, Sprint and Fujitsu. He has presented at numerous industry conferences, and published articles and posts on next generation network connectivity as a critical foundation of enterprise transformation.

Allison Mendoza-Pemberton is an experienced and thought leader in government and communication solutions with a diverse background in business development. After retiring from the State of Michigan, she joined Verizon to bring creative solutions to help transform government communities through cross functional collaboration, making end-to-end mobility solutions a reality while focusing on innovative enterprise-wide security, network, and partnered solutions. Allison has helped government, public safety, and universities solve their most difficult challenges.

Dan Rainey is the Chief Information Officer for the City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD). Dan has been with DWSD since 2013 and is responsible for the delivery of customer centric solutions the exceed expectations. Providing innovative, usable technology based services to DWSD’s 250,000 residential and commercial customers is what drives Dan to be better every day.
Prior to his current role, Dan served as Information Technology Director for the City of Ann Arbor for over seven years and before that worked in the Insurance industry for over sixteen years. Dan is a 2012 recipient of Computerworld’s CIO 100 award and the 2009 State of Michigan Leadership in IT award.

For more than a decade, Dr. Kevin D. Starks has proven to be a noteworthy leader in the space of equity in education. In his current work as a K-12 Education Industry Segment Advisor with T-Mobile, he partners with districts and libraries across the central region to help close the digital divide. In addition to thought-partnering with academic institutions spanning 15 states, Dr. Starks can also be credited for his research on cultural sensitivity within children’s literature. He recently completed a 3-year term as a board member for St. Louis nonprofit, Noble Neighbor, bringing in-person authors and free books to underserved schools and children throughout the St. Louis region. Dr. Starks is also an adjunct professor at Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville where he teaches Master’s level capstone courses to education’s promising future school administrators. Dr. Starks holds a doctoral degree in education administration from Lindenwood University.

Doug Start is an experienced IT leader with a passion for technology and empowering people to reach their full potential. Beginning his career as an educator teaching technology topics like hardware repair, computer programming and web design, Doug has sought opportunities to increase his exposure to all facets of the IT landscape eventually moving into the role as the Director of Instructional Technology for Grand Haven Area Public Schools. There he spearheaded a sustainable 1:1 initiative that sought to increase student and teacher engagement and level the playing field for all learners.
Now as the Director of Technology for the City of Grand Rapids, Doug has turned this user driven focus to driving a sustainable, reliable and best practice aligned IT program to support and empower 30 diverse lines of business. Over the past two years Doug has spent time modernizing the City’s IT security infrastructure, expanding frameworks to support resiliency, and positioning the IT department as an organizational strategic partner by rebranding the department as the department of “Yes If...”.
Doug has a Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in Business from Western Michigan University, a Master of Arts in Educational Technology with a focus on leadership from Western Michigan University. Go Broncos!

Justin Stojsih is DocuSign’s Public Sector Account Executive for the state of Michigan. Located in the Lansing region, Justin is excited to talk with you about how DocuSign can help your agency make its contract and agreement processes more efficient.

Teri Takai is the senior vice president of the Government Technology, a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. She worked for Ford Motor Company for 30 years in global application development and information technology strategic planning. From Ford, she moved to EDS in support of General Motors. A long-time interest in public service led her to the government sector, first as CIO of the State of Michigan, then as CIO of the State of California and, subsequently, the CIO of the U.S. Department of Defense, the first woman appointed to this role. She then served as the CIO for Meridian Health Plan.
Teri is a member of several industry advisory boards. She has won numerous awards including Governing magazine’s Public Official of the Year, CIO Magazine’s CIO Hall of Fame, Government Technology magazine’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers, the Women in Defense Excellence in Leadership Award and the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.

Matt Thibault leads the cybersecurity business for AT&T’s Public Sector, specifically focused on securing the missions of State, Local, and Education (SLED) customers across America. Entering the industry as a cybersecurity solutions architect and serving as Chief of Staff for the Public Sector organization, Matt brings together deep technical knowledge with an understanding of the business and customer landscape to own and direct the relationship with key leadership across the Federal and SLED markets.

Pawel is Accenture’s Midwest Public Service AI Lead. Over the course of the pandemic, he has focused his time on the development of the Accenture Behavioral Health Solution and helping government organizations across the US to implement the 988 rollout. His work and expertise focus on automation and digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence 'AI,' Robotic Process Automation 'RPA', as well as product development leveraging Design Thinking, Lean Startup, Agile and data analytic approaches. He is an advisor to state and local governments to help them adopt digital delivery of public services, which covered major public programs in the United States such as Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, TANF and Unemployment Insurance. He also supported government agencies with adoption of automation and digital channels for serving the public using AI technologies including, Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism, NICE, Genesys, as well as AI offerings from Amazon, Microsoft, Google and IBM.)

EJ Widun is the Chief Technology Officer for Oakland County. EJ joined Oakland County 2015 to launch their Enterprise Architecture practice. His philosophy and team culture focus on integrating business, security, application, technical, and data risks into executable strategies while fostering a spirit of collaboration across IT and business partners.
EJ brings over twenty-five years of experience to his endeavors that spans several industries including government, financial services, car rental, technology and automotive. During his career, EJ’s responsibilities have included: Enterprise Architecture, IT Strategy, Information Security, Data Management, Business Intelligence, Business Analysis, Process Transformation, Application Development, Identity Management, Cloud, Technology Operations and Project Management. EJ is also an active member on the Board of Directors for Michigan Government Management Information Science (MiGMIS), Oakland Schools Cyber Security Advisory Committee and Tulane University SoPA Information Technology Programs Industry Advisory Board.