Registration and Morning Refreshments

Opening Remarks

Thomas Baden, Commissioner and State Chief Information Officer, MNIT Services, State of Minnesota

Keynote – Hacking the Learning Curve

Bronkar Lee, Peak Performance Expert, Author, Speaker and Dynamic Performer (@BronkarLee)

We live and work in a fast-paced, high-pressure world. If we’re not gaining new skills and continuously upping our games we risk being left behind… not just in our jobs but also in our personal lives. On the bright side, what better time to learn for the simple reason that knowledge and information have never been more easily obtainable. But transforming information into ability isn’t so easy. That’s where Bronkar excels. His unique learning system shortens the runway for anyone, regardless of their goals, interests or inherent talents. In this unforgettable presentation, Bronkar shows us how to re-energize our approach to skill acquisition and hands us the key to unlock our passion for learning.

Networking Break

Concurrent Sessions

Future of Cybersecurity

It’s an old adage that the cyber landscape is constantly shifting. But some things remain unchanged. Attacks are still efforts to rob, disrupt or avenge. Motives are still economic, political or cultural. The overall battlefield remains much the same but the weapons and tactics continue to evolve – often dramatically. This session provides a front-row seat to a live hack demonstration and offers a look at emerging trends and developments on the cyber front.

Steve McCluskey, Manager – Solutions Architect, IoT Development, Verizon

Cloud Readiness

Today, it’s tough to find an organization that doesn’t depend on the cloud for something critical. The question is no longer whether to venture into the cloud, yes or no. Now it’s a matter of “How, what, when and where?” Understanding and anticipating risks, limitations, scope and accountability are critical to success. This session explores the factors to consider before going “all in” (or even partway).

Brian Bream, Chief Technology Officer, Collier IT (@snatchbrain)

Susan Rohde, Director of Applications Management, Department of Public Safety, MNIT Services, State of Minnesota

Data Sharing – How to Make It Pay Off

Pressure is intensifying on government organizations to share information with other agencies and jurisdictions. But one must choose one’s battles. First and foremost, is to establish whether your data-sharing initiative will solve real-life problems, otherwise it’s just wasted effort. This session looks at some ringing successes and fruitful approaches.

Lisa Meredith, Executive Director, Minnesota Counties Computer Cooperative

Stephanie Nuttall, Vice-Chair, Minnesota Counties Computer Cooperative and Diversion Coordinator, Winona County Attorney’s Office

Ellena Schoop, Senior Data Governance Planner, Planning and Digital Services, MNIT Services, State of Minnesota

Collaboration Strategies and Opportunities in Minnesota

Collaboration might have got a bad rap a decade ago, but times have changed. Today, it’s alive and kicking! This thought-provoking session looks at a series of innovative and inspiring initiatives – and some creative tools and approaches – that prove collaboration can be efficient, effective, rewarding and even enjoyable!

Mark Anderson, Information Technology Director, Winona County (@andersonwinona)

Terre Heiser, Information Technology Manager, City of Roseville

Veronica Koes, IT Support Supervisor, City of Roseville

Lunch

Featured Speaker – Leading in a Time of Transformation

Mark Sunday, Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President, Oracle

We’ve all heard the saying “It’s not a technology problem, it’s a people problem.” More often than not, it’s true. Technology has reached the point where it can support just about anything that anyone wants to do. The toughest challenge for a government organization is to embrace the process of reinventing itself. Oracle’s Mark Sunday, with more than 30 years in the high-tech industry and currently a leader in one of the largest tech companies in the world, has witnessed more than a few transformations – some highly successful and some falling well short of the target or, in some cases, missing it completely. It’s all in the leadership. In this session, Mark shares his personal insights into where the industry is headed and why effective leadership is the key to staying ahead of the curve, optimizing results, enabling operational excellence and accelerating innovation.

Networking Break

Concurrent Sessions

Reinventing the Customer Experience

It’s a highly interactive and fast-paced society, and people are getting more demanding about, well, everything. The pressure is mounting on government services, too, and our challenge right now is to make “citizen-centric” more than just a buzzword. This session looks at creative strategies to remake government’s relationship with its customers into something more stimulating, accessible and beneficial.

Otto Doll, Chief Information Officer, City of Minneapolis

Charles (Chip) Swisher, Director of Business Development, Practice Development and Delivery, CenturyLink

Jay Wyant, Chief Information Accessibility Officer, MNIT Services, State of Minnesota

Optimizing the Workforce and Workplace of Tomorrow

For years government has widely reported the onset of the “silver tsunami”, and NASCIO has consistently placed “Human Resources & Talent Management” on its State CIO Top 10 Priorities list. The looming retirement wave is driving the need to accelerate innovative recruitment and retention practices in government at all levels, particularly in IT. Questions about mobility, collaboration tools and collaborative spaces are becoming common during the interview process and government is not always prepared to offer competitive answers in today’s legacy environment. This session offers a look at what some innovative organizations are doing to scrap outmoded practices, address modernization and embrace new paradigms.

Robert Zapotocky, Manager, IP Application Strategy, Global Public Sector, Government & Education, AT&T

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Today

We’re living in a hybrid world: cloud, mobility, self-service, automation, “as a service”, big data, centralization, etc. Nothing is simple and straightforward anymore, and disaster recovery can get lost in the shuffle – particularly when budgets are tight. This session looks into practical and affordable strategies for ensuring continuity across the board.

Siri Johnson, Director, Project and Program Management, MNIT Services, State of Minnesota

David Wulff, Business Continuity Lead, Enterprise Services Project Management Office, MNIT Services, State of Minnesota

Sponsor Briefing

(Industry sponsors only)

This informal discussion will be hosted by State Chief Information Officer Thomas Baden. The focus will be on strategies, priorities, opportunities, and the procurement process.

Networking Break

General Session

Cognitive Technology and Its Emerging Impact on Government

Cognitive technology is an artificial intelligence-based system that does tasks that were previously the sole province of human beings. It’s one of the fastest-growing fields in the technology industry and it’s leading to some marvelous results. Things that used to be found only in our imaginations are quickly becoming reality. This session discusses the current state of cognitive technology, where it’s headed, how fast it’s moving, and its potential impact on government.

Deepak Mohapatra, Global Industry Leader, Government Industry Solutions, IBM

Don’t Take the Bait!

Government organizations are under attack and the stakes have never been higher. Threats of all types are increasingly sophisticated and better organized. Spearfishing and ransomware are becoming full-fledged industries with remarkably low barriers to entry. This session takes an unflinching look at what we’re up against and how to avoid becoming a prize catch.

Luke Papin, Senior Consulting Engineer, Arbor Networks

Networking Reception

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

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