Taylor has more than 20 years of information technology (IT) experience. Most of his experience was acquired with multiple state and federal agencies. Taylor has worked in various roles within IT, from Security & Compliance to Chief Information Officer (CIO). He has been a Network Administrator, a System Administrator over multiple platforms, and an Information Systems Security Officer (ISSO).
Before joining the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), Taylor was an ISSO for the Federal Government. Before becoming an ISSO, Taylor was the CIO at the largest community college in Mississippi. In addition to being a CIO, Taylor was either the Assistant Director of Technology or the Director of Technology in the two previous education organizations he worked for. In these positions, he led network and datacenter administration teams, systems services teams, and communications teams. He was also responsible for security and compliance, system audits, and network accreditation.
He holds Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certifications.
Taylor is a graduate of Mississippi State University, with a B.S.I.S. degree in computer science, history, and educational psychology. He is also a graduate of Western Governors University, Millcreek, Utah, with an M.S. degree in information technology management. He finished his Ed.D. degree with an emphasis on curriculum and instruction from Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia.

Steven’s career, spanning some twenty-five years, has been supporting National, Federal, State and Local Governments in the Cyber Security Industry. His extensive knowledge and experience have given him insight as organizations adopt a more secure environment in an ever-changing landscape. Prior to joining Fortinet in 2022, he served as Senior Engineering Leader for Cisco Systems Global Security Sales Organization, supporting U.S. Civilian Agencies. Steven is based in Atlanta, GA, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from The University of Tennessee.

With over 13 years of experience in software development, David Dennis has built a career rooted in problem-solving, innovation, and continuous learning. Specializing in full-stack development, he has worked across a variety of technologies, contributing to everything from enterprise applications to custom business tools. Known for clean, maintainable code and a collaborative mindset, David thrives in team environments and enjoys mentoring junior developers.
Outside of work, David values quality time with his family, finding balance and inspiration through shared moments and meaningful connections. Whether debugging code or enjoying a backyard barbecue, he brings dedication, patience, and a thoughtful approach to everything he does.

Dr. Deborah Dent is the Chief Information Officer at Jackson State University (JSU) where she oversees the management of the university's network and communications infrastructure, academic information technology (IT), the enterprise resource planning system, cybersecurity, and other IT services that support all levels of research, learning, and teaching. She joined JSU in 2012 after a 37-year career with the U. S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). She serves as PI of an ERDC Critical Infrastructure Cyber Protection BAA contract, is a founding member of the Minority Serving Cyberinfrastructure Consortium (MS-CC), and co-PI on two Internet2/MS-CC Cyberinfrastructure NSF grants.  She is a member of the Internet2 Board of Trustees and a member of the NSF Advisory Committee for CI. She holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), an MS in Computer Science from JSU, and a Ph.D. in Scientific Computing from USM.

Jason Hageman is the Director of Information Security and Data Privacy at the Mississippi Department of Education, where he leads efforts to protect educational data and strengthen cybersecurity across the state’s K-12 systems. Originally from Southaven, Mississippi, Mr. Hageman brings over 25 years of experience in information technology, cybersecurity, and data governance. His work focuses on aligning security practices with educational goals, protecting sensitive data, advancing cybersecurity readiness, ensuring compliance with FERPA, CIPA, and COPPA, and promoting a culture of data responsibility within public education. His diverse background has equipped him with a broad perspective on risk management, data governance, and information security. He is a respected voice in the field, a frequent speaker on cybersecurity risk management, privacy, and data stewardship, and is known for his practical, policy-driven approach to protecting critical information assets.

Andrew is a Senior Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services (AWS) with 20 years of industry experience in a variety of engineering and leadership roles. He now focuses on helping public sector customers in their journey to realize the technical and business impacts of cloud computing.

Gary Nalley is all about making things work better. Whether as a kid taking things apart and putting them back together, as a network security engineer, or in his current product roles at C Spire. Based in Ridgeland, Mississippi, Gary is an experienced professional at aligning product and service strategies with business goals. He seeks to ensure C Spire products run as designed and customers have great experience.
Before this role, Gary was a Senior Solutions Architect. He worked on some big projects like disaster recovery for regional healthcare data centers as well as virtual server farm migrations and consolidations. He implemented networking solutions for national financial and health organizations, a major futures and options exchange, and worldwide retail operations. He was part of the team that launched C Spire Advanced Data Services, C Spire Cloud, and C Spire’s Cloud Metro Edge, which was named “Product of the Year” in 2018 by Cloud Computing Magazine and TMC. Gary is still leading with new approaches to technology and works closely with many different teams at C Spire. He’s currently very involved in activities around automation, service transformation and Artificial Intelligence.
Gary is a requested trainer and speaker as a board member at both state and national levels of the American Institute of Technology Professionals. He is chair of the Diaconate and Technology sub committee at his church. And an active member of Jackson Metro Cyclists.
Gary is known for being clear in his communication and always looking to improve. He’s a trusted collaborator among his peers and leadership.

Brian Norwood serves as the Chief Technology Officer for the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services. As CTO, he is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of ITS’ enterprise central IT functions. In his 20+ year career at ITS, he has worked in several facets of the organization beginning in application development before moving to network management and later into executive management. He holds a Master of Computer Science degree from Colorado State University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi State University.

[LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsliman'

Mr. David Sliman is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the University of Southern Mississippi in the Information Technology Services department, which consists of 75 employees. As CIO, Sliman is responsible for the academic and administrative technical needs of approximately 14,000 students and 2,500 faculty and staff in several locations in south Mississippi.
Mr. Sliman has been a member of the USM technical staff since 1997. He was integral in the rebuilding of the technical infrastructure of all the USM Gulf Coast teaching sites after hurricane Katrina and the modernization of the USM Technology and Data Center in Hattiesburg. He was involved in the creation of the Mississippi Optical Network (MissiON) and serves as the spokesperson for the state university CIOs for Internet2. He is a member of multiple university committees and is the EDUCAUSE primary representative for USM.
Prior to USM, Mr. Sliman was co-founder, president, and CEO of Southwind Technologies, a computer integration company and one of the first internet service providers on the MS Gulf Coast. Mr. Sliman worked for several contractors at the NASA Stennis Space Center as a scientific programmer, database administrator, and network specialist for NASA, the Naval Oceanographic Office, and the Naval Research Laboratory. Mr. Sliman helped develop databases, network disaster recovery strategies, and business continuity plans.
Mr. Sliman served as a past president of the Mississippi Chapter of InfraGard, a national public/private partnership with the FBI, working on the protection of critical infrastructures. He has been involved in the annual Mississippi Region VI Science and Engineering fair and the Mississippi Coastal Cleanup for almost three decades.
The Ocean Springs, Mississippi native graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Hailey R. Tucker is a dedicated and knowledgeable human resources professional with over 15 years of progressive experience in the financial services industry. Throughout her career in the private sector, Hailey has managed comprehensive HR operations, supporting numerous staff members and departments. Her expertise spans recruitment and selection, employee onboarding, performance evaluations, training and development, and regulatory compliance.
As Director of Human Resources for the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services, Hailey plays a key role in planning and implementing HR policies and procedures that align with organizational goals and comply with state and federal regulations. Her leadership includes hands-on management of both professional and operational-level employees, coaching and mentoring team members, and guiding agency leadership on disciplinary investigations, employee engagement strategies, and policy implementation. Hailey is a trusted advisor across the agency for HR best practices and works closely with executive leadership to support strategic planning, workforce structure, and employee engagement initiatives.
Hailey holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Marketing and Microbiology from Mississippi State University and is a recent graduate of the Human Resources Certification Program through the Mississippi State Personnel Board. She brings a practical, policy-driven approach to human resources leadership and operational excellence.
Hailey and her husband Nick have been married for 19 years and have 2 children, Mary Haddox (16) and Swayze (12) and a big giant baby Aussiedoodle, Doug. Hailey enjoys cooking, traveling, watching Wheel of Fortune, and attending any and all sporting events: professional, collegiate, or recreational with her family.