Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Opening Remarks

Dr. Matthew McCarville, Chief Information Officer, State of Nebraska

Keynote – Debrief to Win: Building Teams that Succeed in Disruption

In times of turbulence and disruption, even the best teams can struggle to stay focused, aligned, and accountable. Overcoming these challenges requires a shift in mindset and the right leadership tools to create resilient, high-performing teams. Learn from a former U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School ("Top Gun") instructor how elite military teams succeed by centering on a shared mission, driving purpose, and embracing accountability as a path to growth, not blame. Walk away with actionable strategies and inspiring insights to help your teams thrive under pressure and achieve lasting success.

Robert “Cujo” Teschner, Founder and CEO, Vmax Group

OneNebraska IT Roadshow: A Whole-of-State Approach to Modern Government

Nebraska is reimagining how government delivers technology together. In this session, hear from the Office of the State CIO (OCIO) on the OneNebraska IT Roadshow, a statewide effort to modernize IT through shared services, expanded cybersecurity, and stronger collaboration across agencies, counties, cities and education partners. From Network Nebraska’s near statewide backbone and enterprise cyber protections to web modernization, AI governance and workforce development, the OCIO is advancing a whole of state model designed to stretch limited budget dollars while reducing risk and increasing capacity. As the Roadshow prepares to visit communities across Nebraska, this session offers a clear look at what has changed, what is next, and how leaders can do more with less through collaboration.

Bryce Bailey, Chief Information Security Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), State of Nebraska

Joe Homan, Regional Site Support Administrator, Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), State of Nebraska

Dr. Matt McCarville, Chief Information Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), State of Nebraska

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Concurrent Sessions

Fostering Safe Innovation: Responsible AI in Government

AI is transforming public services, but with innovation comes risk. How can government leaders move quickly while maintaining public trust, make informed governance decisions, and build a culture that balances experimentation with accountability? In this session, you will learn practical strategies for vetting use cases, strengthening procurement and vendor oversight, managing cybersecurity and data risks, and launching pilots that deliver measurable value. Join us to explore how to navigate uncertainty and maximize the impact of AI responsibly, securely, and transparently in government.

When Systems Fail: Leadership in Cyber Crisis and Recovery

When cyber incidents strike, government services must continue, and IT leaders are on the front line of making that happen. This session brings together state and local IT perspectives to examine how cybersecurity, crisis management, and continuity planning must work as one. Drawing on real incidents including ransomware attacks, floods, insider threats, and system outages, leaders will share lessons learned on incident response, mitigation controls, and continuity plans that move beyond binders on a shelf. Attendees will explore how to prepare teams, align with emergency management, leverage shared services, and maintain essential operations under pressure, even amid workforce and budget constraints. The focus is practical, collaborative, and grounded in what actually happens when something goes wrong and government still has to deliver.

Let’s Be Friends First: Positioning IT as a Trusted Partner

Successful technology initiatives begin with trust, credibility, and shared understanding. This session explores how IT leaders intentionally build relationships with agency leaders, elected officials, peers, and vendors by meeting people where they are, listening before prescribing solutions, and clearly articulating the value of IT in business terms. Drawing on real-world examples, participants will examine how early engagement, transparent conversations about risk and cost, and effective storytelling help shift IT from a perceived barrier to a mission-enabling partner. The discussion will also highlight strategies for engaging non-technical stakeholders, fostering cross-jurisdiction collaboration, and creating buy-in before projects, policies, or crises force the conversation.

Lunch

What Keeps You Up at Night? A Peer-to-Peer IT Leadership Roundtable

This interactive roundtable invites Nebraska’s IT leaders into a candid, small-group conversation about the real pressures behind the work. It creates space to pause, reflect, and connect before the afternoon program continues. From cybersecurity threats and AI governance to workforce shortages, budget constraints, risk management, and strengthening business-IT relationships, participants will explore the challenges that weigh most heavily and how peers across state, county, city, and education are navigating them. Each table will use a shared set of guided questions to help facilitate discussion, surface common themes, and identify practical takeaways. Expect real talk, fresh perspective, and the reassurance that no one is tackling these challenges alone.

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

Concurrent Sessions

The Leadership Shift in Government IT

As technology reshapes every function of government, the role of the IT leader is evolving just as quickly. Today’s leaders are no longer defined by technical credentials alone. They are strategists, storytellers, risk managers and culture-setters who must balance innovation with accountability. This session explores the mindset required to lead in this new era, especially for those who did not start their careers in IT but now oversee it. How do you assess your strengths, build complementary teams and foster professional growth for yourself and others? How do you move from keeping the lights on to shaping enterprise strategy around AI, cybersecurity and digital services? Join peers from across Nebraska for a candid conversation on leadership identity, growth and the skills that matter most in modern public-sector IT.

The Long-Term Commitment: Managing IT Relationships That Last

Once trust is established, maintaining it requires discipline, communication, and consistency. This session focuses on how IT leaders strengthen long-term relationships by managing expectations, navigating change, and maintaining alignment as priorities, leadership, and technologies evolve. Panelists will discuss how to balance innovation with governance, say yes while setting guardrails, and address conflict without eroding credibility. Topics include shared ownership of risk, ongoing stakeholder engagement, and keeping partners informed during incidents, budget pressures, and major transformations. The goal is to move beyond one-time buy-in to resilient, collaborative relationships that endure stress, adapt to change, and deliver sustained public value.

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Hosted by: Dr. Matthew McCarville, Chief Information Officer, State of Nebraska

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

General Session - Made in Nebraska: Developing the Next Generation of Government IT Talent

Nebraska’s biggest IT challenge isn’t just technology, it’s people. This session explores how state, local, and education leaders are building sustainable talent pipelines that start early, move fast, and stick locally. Learn what’s working across K-12, community colleges, universities, internships, apprenticeships, military transitions, and upskilling programs to keep Nebraskans in Nebraska. Expect practical examples on developing early interest, creating real-world pathways into government IT, competing with the private sector on purpose rather than just pay, and retaining institutional knowledge in a rapidly changing workforce. The focus is simple: grow talent here, keep it here, and future-proof Nebraska’s public-sector IT workforce.

Cheri Polenske, Vice Chancellor for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, System Office IT, Nebraska State College System

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.