Michigan 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

In today's everchanging IT landscape, Michigan has continued to evolve and uphold its reputation as a national leader in digital government. The 2025 Michigan IT Leadership Forum is the perfect opportunity for industry leaders to connect and take part in bold conversations about what's on the horizon. I hope you will join me, so we can work together on how best to meet the needs of those we serve.

- Laura Clark, Michigan Chief Information Officer

Agenda

Tuesday, May 20

8:00 am Eastern

Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

9:00 am Eastern

Opening Remarks

Laura Clark, Chief Information Officer, State of Michigan

9:15 am Eastern

Keynote – Debrief to Win: Building Teams that Succeed in Disruption

In times of turbulence and disruption, even the best teams can struggle to stay focused, aligned, and accountable. Overcoming these challenges requires a shift in mindset and the right leadership tools to create resilient, high-performing teams. Learn from a former U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School ("Top Gun") instructor how elite military teams succeed by centering on a shared mission, driving purpose, and embracing accountability as a path to growth, not blame. Walk away with actionable strategies and inspiring insights to help your teams thrive under pressure and achieve lasting success.

Robert “Cujo” Teschner, Founder & CEO, Vmax Group

10:20 am Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

10:50 am Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

The Leader’s Guide to Prioritization of Projects

As an IT leader, managing competing objectives is part of the daily challenge. Balancing risk management while seizing opportunities for innovation, all while addressing the needs of elected officials and diverse stakeholders, requires a careful approach. In this session, we’ll explore how shifting from traditional project management to prioritization management can help you effectively align tactical, strategic, and organizational goals. Through real-world examples, we’ll dive into the challenges experienced leaders face as they navigate conflicting priorities and adapt their decision-making to stay ahead.

From Colleague to Manager: Learning to Lead, Mentor, and Manage

Transitioning into a leadership role marks a significant shift from executing tasks to shaping strategic direction. The best future leaders aren’t simply born; they are nurtured. As a manager, it's now your responsibility to invest in developing the professionals on your team, fostering a culture that emphasizes guidance, continuous learning, and leadership growth. Are you equipped with the right tools to coach, mentor, and lead effectively? This session will explore how to step away from the day-to-day operations, focus on the bigger picture, and empower your team to thrive.

12:00 pm Eastern

Lunch

12:45 pm Eastern

General Session – Driving Digital Transformation: The DTMB's Strategic Initiative for Accelerating IT Innovation

1:15 pm Eastern

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

1:30 pm Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

From Resistance to Buy-in: Effective Leadership Through Trust

Effective leadership goes beyond mere management – it’s about inspiring and empowering others to act. At the core of great leadership is the ability to influence, build trust, and foster collaboration. When partnering with stakeholders, the key to success lies in understanding their concerns before presenting solutions. Recognizing that one-size-fits-all approaches don’t work for every audience, how can we adjust our communication style to address varying needs? This session will explore practical strategies for tailoring communication, strengthening relationships, and securing buy-in to lead with impact, ensuring that initiatives move forward with greater efficiency and mutual respect.

Leveraging SWOT for Excellence in IT Planning

A clear vision is essential, but without a roadmap, even the best ideas can fall flat. How can IT leaders turn insights into actionable strategies that drive results that meet your strategic, operational, and tactical objectives? This session will provide a practical approach to using SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) as a foundational tool for IT planning. Attendees will explore real-world examples of how IT leaders leverage SWOT to align technology investments with business objectives, mitigate risk, and seize emerging opportunities.

2:30 pm Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

2:50 pm Eastern

Team Building - The Leadership Challenge: A Public Sector Trivia Showdown

Curious to see how your knowledge stacks up? Can you effectively collaborate under pressure? Dive into this lively, team-based trivia game where attendees join forces to answer questions on governance, policy, emerging tech, and the pressing issues shaping government today. This isn’t just about winning - it’s about networking, sharing expertise and maybe…just maybe - you might learn something new. Whether you’re looking to meet new people or strengthen existing partnerships, this session offers a unique chance to learn and engage with peers from across the public sector. Are you ready to challenge yourself and lead your team to victory?

3:50 pm Eastern

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

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

4:20 pm Eastern

End of Conference

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

Lansing Center

333 E Michigan Ave
Lansing, MI 48933
(517) 483-7400

Get Directions To
Lansing Center

Advisory Board

Government Representatives

Sunil Asija
Chief Learning and Development Officer
Oakland County

Jamie Bennett
Deputy Chief Security Officer
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Rose Billington
IT Operations Officer
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Craig Brown
Chief Information Officer
City of Westland

Eric Brunk
IT Manager
City of Birmingham

Chris Cantrell
Director of IT/GIS
Midland County

Tom Cantrell
Business Relationship Manager
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Paul Carley
IT Manager
Marquette County

Jayson Cavendish
Chief Security Officer
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Laura Clark
Chief Information Officer
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Valerie Craft
IT Director
Antrim County

Kim Crawford
General Manager
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Rod Davenport
Chief Information Officer
Oakland County

Andy Esch
Information Security Officer
Department of Transportation
State of Michigan

Deb Fett
Chief Information Officer
Ingham County

Heather Frick
Agency Services Director
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Tiziana Galeazzi
General Manager
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Holly Grandy-Miller
Director of Organizational Development
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Corey Grant
Chief Operations Officer
Department of Treasury
State of Michigan

John Hartley
IT Director
Alcona County

David Holcomb
Director of Information Technology
Hillsdale County

Jamie Howell
Enterprise Portfolio Division Director
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Robert Johnson
Director of Technology Experience
Wayne County

Robert Jones
Executive Director of Support Services
University of Michigan

David Judd
Director, Systems, Evaluation & Technology
Department of Education
State of Michigan

Duane Kerkstra
Business Relationship Manager
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Jim LaBlanc
Business Relationship Manager
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Michelle McClish
Cybersecurity Local Partnerships
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Ken McFarland
Chief Deputy Director
Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
State of Michigan

Rex Menold
Chief Technology Officer
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Suzanne Pauley
eMichigan Director
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Brian Pillar
General Manager
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Lucy Pline
Business Relationship Manager
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Dan Rainey
Chief Information Officer
City of Detroit

Hector Roman
Chief Information Officer
Wayne County

Manny Rosales
General Manager
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Steve Sedore
Executive Director of Operations
Allegan County

Tom Shewchuk
IT Director
City of Ann Arbor

Tom Spencer
IT Director
Ogemaw County

Doug Start
Director of IT
City of Grand Rapids

Eric Swanson
Director, Center for Shared Solutions & Technology Partnerships
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Art Thompson
Chief Information Officer
City of Detroit

Andrey Verevko
General Manager for CTO
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

John Walker
Business Relationship Manager
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Stuart Willard
Business Relationship Manager
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Ulri Zay
Outreach Specialist
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Industry Representatives

Jessica Smack
Account Manager
Adobe

Registration Information / Contact Us

Event Date: May 20, 2025

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

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:

Sherri Tidwell
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 932-1382
E-mail: stidwell@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

Lansing Center

333 E Michigan Ave
Lansing, MI 48933
(517) 483-7400