Phil Bertolini is a Chief Delivery Officer for Government Technology, the premiere event and thought leadership content provider for state and local government technology professionals. 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.

Gailene Briggs has been with the State of Michigan for 35 years at the end of this month, April 2025). Gailene started out in the mailroom at the DHHS Grand Rapids office and has had the greatest opportunity to work with several offices and departments before joining the DTMB in 2000. Gailene has been in Management for over 15 years, managing several different teams. Gailene has been privileged to work with all the areas of DTMB and have built many business relationships and friendships throughout the years.
Gailene is currently the SAM15 over Field Services with Operation overseeing the whole state to assure customer service is provided to the state employees so they can provide the best customer service to the citizens of our wonderful state of Michigan. Gailene’s teams work with all the agencies to assist with needs they have in various capacities for their computer and peripherals.

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. During the past 10+ 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 maximize the ability of City staff to work efficiently and provide forward thinking, sustainable solutions 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. Under his leadership, the City of Westland has won numerous technology awards from various organizations, including the MI-GMIS 2023 Organizational Impact Project of the Year and 2023 and 2024 Citizen Impact Project of the Year awards. The City was also nominated for the Trimble Excellence Award in 2024.
Craig believes in helping develop the next set of IT professionals. Under his leadership the Department of Innovation and Technology has developed internship programs with three different organizations for GIS, Cybersecurity, and general Information Technology.
Craig is chairman of the William Ford Career Center Cybersecurity Program advisory board, and member of the Michigan IT and Leadership Summit advisory boards. He is an active board member of MI-GMIS and a member of the Cityworks Michigan Regional User Group. Along with leadership roles, Craig is known to present work the City does in various forums to help other communities to improve their systems and grow.

Jayson Cavendish is the Chief Security Officer (CSO) and Information Technology (IT) deputy director for the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget’s (DTMB) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection (CIP) division.
Jayson is dedicated to serving the State of Michigan and brings an enthusiasm to his role as CSO, as well as a valuable blend of strengths including leadership, vision, and strategic planning. He excels in collaboration at all levels to support critical, high-level statewide projects to successful completion. He has several years of experience in state government and has steadily built his in-depth IT/security architecture knowledge while serving in various leadership positions during his extensive career, which includes roles in information security management, data warehouse management/architecture, and as director of technical services. 
Jayson is a graduate of Campbell University and Northwood University and holds an associate degree in accounting and a bachelor's degree in business administration and management.  Additionally, he has numerous certifications, including CISSP, CISA, PMP, and is a licensed professional investigator in Michigan. 

Brian Chidester is the Head of Global Strategy & Innovation for Public Sector at Adobe and the host of the award-winning podcast “The Government Huddle” from GovExec. Mr. Chidester was a 2025 award recipient for the FORUM IT100 Award which honors individuals for driving innovation and advancement in the Federal government space. He also held global public sector leadership roles with OpenText, Arrow ECS and S&P Global. Mr. Chidester holds a B.S. in Communications Studies from Liberty University, is a Board Member for the University of South Florida – Muma College of Business, an advisor to the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance at the World Economic Forum, and a member of the Forbes Technology Council.

With over 25 years of unwavering commitment to the realm of Information Technology, all within the dynamic landscape of the State of Michigan, I have forged a path marked by innovation, advocacy, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
My journey began as a Field Services technician, traversing the length and breadth of Michigan to ensure the smooth functioning of crucial DNR field offices. This hands-on experience laid the foundation for my deep understanding of the technological landscape and the power it holds to transform operations.
My tenure as one of the founding architects behind the creation of the standardized office environment, M1ADOPT, marked a turning point. This endeavor allowed me to cultivate a vision for seamless, cohesive technological solutions that transcend silos and enhance productivity across diverse domains.
In my subsequent role as a leader within Design and Delivery services, I embraced the opportunity to shape strategies and guide teams toward optimal outcomes. My focus on questioning the 'why' behind decisions has been a driving force, fostering a culture of critical thinking and a relentless pursuit of excellence within my teams.
Today, I stand as the Director of Cloud and Infrastructure Delivery—a role that encapsulates my passion for building the very foundation upon which the state government's technological infrastructure rests. My responsibilities encompass not only maintaining this vital framework but also crafting strategies that will propel our state's technological landscape into the future.
Central to my philosophy is the belief that technology should never be a barrier; it should be an empowering tool. I am dedicated to making technology accessible, understandable, and user-friendly for all. Whether through automation, comprehensive training, meticulous documentation, effective communication, or the integration of cutting-edge technologies, my goal is to enable efficiency and effectiveness at every turn.
I am driven by the conviction that progress is built on the pillars of innovation, collaboration, and a genuine commitment to understanding the needs of both individuals and organizations. I am excited to share my experiences, insights, and vision to inspire others to harness the power of technology in their own pursuits.
Join me on a journey to demystify technology and harness its potential to not only revolutionize operations but also to enhance the lives of those it touches.

John Peralta is the Assistant Administrator of the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget’s (DTMB) Office of Continuous Improvement (OCI). John has been with the State of Michigan for 12 years, seven of which in roles that were dedicated to supporting State of Michigan Agencies with continuous improvement (CI) initiatives and projects related to human-centered design, lean process improvement, and strategic planning. John has a bachelor’s degree in professional communications and is a certified human-center design practitioner and facilitator, change practitioner, and lean process improvement facilitator. John carries a passion for CI and being part of change that positively impacts people as users and customers of tools and services. John is happily married and the father of five-year-old twins, Brooks and Mya. When not at work, John and his family spend as much time as possible outdoors, golfing, playing baseball, or walks through the neighborhood.

Brian Pillar is a General Manager for the State of Michigan, Department of Technology, Management and Budget with his teams providing support to the Michigan Department of Corrections, the Michigan State Police and the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. Brian’s core values are: the strength of the teams; customer service; Innovation; Security; and Business Value.
Brian is an alumnus of Michigan State University and began his professional career working for one of the university’s IT departments where he drove a major network operating system modernization project. He then pursued opportunities at a small, but global, software development company where he led the IT Operations teams in their journey to the public cloud. In 2018, Brian joined the Department of Technology, Management and Budget, accepting his present role in 2021. Since joining the State of Michigan, Brian has been passionate about driving modernization towards cloud friendly platforms and services.