Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Eric Swanson, Acting Chief Information Officer

Kyle Guerrant, Acting Director

Keynote – Full Throttle Leadership: Strategies for the Modern Tech Landscape

When the pace is fast and expectations keep rising, IT leaders need clarity and confidence to guide their teams forward. Public sector technology work demands the ability to manage shifting priorities, deliver complex initiatives, and keep people motivated even when resources are limited. Success depends not only on technical expertise but also on helping teams stay focused and resilient during uncertainty. This session uses lessons from high performance racing and innovation leadership to highlight how preparation, communication, and steady decision making can shape outcomes under pressure. Participants will learn practical techniques for strengthening team readiness, encouraging ownership, and supporting smoother transitions as responsibilities evolve.

Julia Landauer, Champion Racecar Driver, Podcast Host and Entrepreneur

General Session - Building Team Readiness for the Road Ahead

IT leaders are navigating rapidly shifting skills, expectations, and roles. This session highlights how to prepare teams for what’s ahead, support smooth transitions, and maintain continuity. The conversation will explore how to create space for thoughtful planning while still maintaining momentum in fastmoving environments. Leaders will leave with strategies they can apply immediately to strengthen team readiness and set their people up for long term success.

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Refuel and reconnect over premium refreshments courtesy of Recharge Break Sponsor: Salesforce

Concurrent Sessions

Visionary Leadership: Turning Ideas into Action

This session focuses on how IT leaders turn ideas into action. Discussions will include how to shape a vision into clear steps, align it with organizational goals, and structure work so momentum continues even when responsibilities shift. Participants will gain practical approaches for demonstrating that their vision will work and driving execution from strategy to results. The session will also explore how to build buy‑in across teams and create the conditions that help ideas move from concept to ongoing practice. Leaders will leave with techniques they can apply quickly to bring clarity, direction, and forward progress to their initiatives.

Stand Out and Step Forward: Building Your Professional Brand

This session explores how leaders shape and communicate their professional identity in a way that supports long‑term growth. Discussions will focus on how personal branding helps individuals position themselves for the next steps in their careers, demonstrate value across the organization, and stay adaptable as responsibilities while expectations change. Attendees will learn practical approaches for refining their message, aligning strengths to opportunities, and building a reputation that supports advancement in a constantly evolving environment.

Lunch

General Session - From Here to There: A Real Talk Leadership Panel

This fast-paced session brings together seasoned leaders and aspiring leaders for an open conversation about what it truly takes to step into leadership in today’s public sector environment. Panelists will explore how to inspire people to pursue leadership roles, how to support staff transitioning from technical positions into people‑focused responsibilities, and how leadership expectations have evolved over time. Through short stories, lessons learned, and practical guidance the panel will highlight what new leaders should understand early and how experienced leaders stay grounded as they take on greater responsibility.

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions

Concurrent Sessions

Ethical Leadership: The Choices That Shape Culture

This session examines the realities of ethical leadership in today’s public sector environment. Panelists will explore the light and dark sides of leadership, including the pressures, disruptions, and difficult moments that test a leader’s moral compass. Discussions will highlight how leaders set the tone for integrity, navigate gray areas, model accountability, and own their mistakes in a way that strengthens trust. Attendees will gain insight into how ethical choices shape culture, guide teams through uncertainty, and support long‑term credibility across the organization.

The Impact of AI: Productivity, Security, and the Future of Work

AI is rapidly reshaping how public sector teams work, make decisions, and deliver services. This session takes a practical look at how AI is improving productivity, strengthening security, and supporting compliance across state and local government. Discussion will also highlight how AI is changing day‑to‑day roles, what leaders should consider when balancing automation with the human element, and the emerging best practices for using AI responsibly. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of where AI delivers the most value today and how to prepare their teams for new ways of working as these tools continue to evolve.

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Refuel and reconnect over premium refreshments courtesy of Recharge Break Sponsor: Salesforce

General Session – Communicating for Impact: Cyber Strategy That Lands

This session focuses on how leaders communicate cybersecurity strategies in clear, concise, and decision‑ready formats. Discussion will cover how to tailor messages to different audiences, apply analytical thinking to highlight what matters most, and use storytelling techniques to translate technical plans into business‑level understanding. The session will also explore the difference between creating a cybersecurity plan and exercising it, how to “plan your plan” to ensure readiness, along with why strong relationships across leadership and operational teams are critical for timely response. Attendees will leave with practical approaches for developing executive summaries that elevate strategy, drive clarity, and support informed decision‑making.

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.