Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Capitol

Opening Remarks

Executive/Legislative

Kevin Gilbertson, Chief Information Officer, State of Montana

Keynote – Have You Ever Jumped from an Airplane? (The Journey of Delivering a Complex Project in the Public Sector)

Executive/Legislative

Large-scale public-sector technology projects are complex, often requiring IT leaders to address technical debt and legacy issues before envisioning future advancements. Launching new projects involves evaluating everything from the RFP process to relationship management, and regulatory compliance. Join Saby Waraich as he shares actionable insights from his journey of transforming a struggling digital transformation project into a success. Discover the strategies he employed to overcome these challenges and understand the true essence of 'jumping out of an airplane' in the context of leading successful digital transformations.

Saby Waraich, Chief Information Officer/Chief Information Security Officer, Clackamas County College

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Capitol

Concurrent Sessions

AI Literacy: What Is It and What Can We Do Right Now?

Judicial

AI is everywhere, but what is it and how can we use it to enhance service delivery? This session will explore exactly what AI can do for your organization and practical steps for public sector employees to adopt AI tools, focusing on wins like automating citizen inquiries and streamlining document processing. We'll highlight cross-departmental collaboration and real-world examples like enhancing fraud detection. Attendees will learn concrete next steps to start leveraging AI in their daily work. Join us for actionable insights to transform your organization.

Moderator: Scott McMahan, Director of IT, City of Bozeman

John Matelski, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Chris Powell, Chief Information Officer, Office of Information Technology, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation

Collaboration for a New Era

State

As emerging technologies continue to transform the workplace, governments must cultivate a workforce adept at leveraging new tools and committed to innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. How can we effectively train and upskill our current teams and our constituents to thrive in a rapidly evolving tech landscape? This session will share creative tactics and strategies for building, retaining, and fostering collaboration across departments and organizations.

Moderator: Victoria Lowe, Director of Information Technology, Sheridan County

Samantha Cooley, Finance Chief for the Child Support Services Division, Department of Public Health and Human Services

Tamuna Cullison, Product Management Bureau Chief, Department of Transportation, State of Montana

Michael Sweeney, IT Director, Office of the State Auditor, State of Montana

Harnessing the Power of Data

Governor

Public sector organizations recognize the power of data to inform decision-making and improve service delivery. However, accessing and managing this valuable resource is challenging. Are you struggling to unlock the potential of data? Do you face issues with data silos and privacy concerns? Our panel will explore the collection and use of data to manage the performance of programs, initiatives, and teams. This session will provide strategies to overcome obstacles and empower your organization to leverage data while ensuring integrity and security.

Moderator: Chris Hermance, Enterprise Architect, State Information Technology Services Division, State of Montana

Carrie A. Albro, Chief Information Officer, Technology Services Division, Department of Public Heath and Human Services, State of Montana

Katelyn Schaub, Interim Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Application Technology Services Bureau Chief, Department of Administration, State Information Technology Services Division

Lunch

Executive/Legislative

Bits and Bytes

Executive/Legislative

In these use case focused Ted-style lightning talks, we’ll explore public sector success stories. We’ll feature new architecture solutions and cybersecurity innovations.

Chris Hermance, Enterprise Architect, State Information Technology Services Division, State of Montana

Dianne Burke, Professor, National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, University of Montana

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

Concurrent Sessions

AI Deep Dive: Governance and Integrated AI Tools

Judicial

AI is transforming public sector IT, offering tools that can both protect and pose additional risks to organizations. But how do we navigate this double-edged sword? This session delves into the dual nature of AI—and how to manage AI tools integrated into your industry partner’s offerings. Through this dual lens, we'll explore strategies to harness AI's potential while staying vigilant against its misuse. Join us to gain insights into leveraging AI responsibly to create a safer digital world.

Moderator: Michelle Hauer, Chief Information Officer, Department of Transportation

Robert Finstad, Chief Information Officer, Department of Revenue, State of Montana

Zach Rossmiller, Chief Information Officer, University of Montana

Demystifying Zero Trust: Trends, Challenges and Practical Steps

Governor

Zero trust is more than a cybersecurity tool: it's a comprehensive security strategy for municipalities, balancing security with user-friendly solutions. Our panel will explore best practices and effective uses of this strategy. We'll dive into practical; budget friendly zero trust implementation and immediate steps agencies can take. Plus, we'll discuss statewide interoperability and user experience improvements.

Moderator: Chris Santucci, State Chief Information Security Officer, State Information Technology Services Division, State of Montana

James Mahaffey, Consulting Systems Architect, Fortinet

Jonathan Neff, CISO, Information Technology, University of Montana

James Zito, ISSAP, CISSP, ZTX-I, Security Architect, State Information Technology Services Division, State of Montana

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

State

Hosted by: Kevin Gilbertson, Chief Information Officer, State of Montana

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Capitol

General Session – Beta Government - Building Innovation & Continuous Improvement in Government

Executive/Legislative

In an era of rapid technological change and shifting citizen expectations, governments must embrace a culture of experimentation, iteration, and continuous improvement. Beta Government reimagines the public sector as an agile, innovative ecosystem—where policies, finances, services, and technologies evolve dynamically to meet real-time challenges. This session will explore strategies for fostering innovation within government, from exploring the costs of government to innovating across all levels of government. Attendees will gain insights into how leading agencies are embedding a "beta mindset" to drive efficiency, improve service delivery, and build more resilient public institutions.

John Matelski, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Networking Reception

Capitol

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

End of Conference

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