PJ Biodrowski serves as Chief Information Officer for Sarpy County, Nebraska, where he leads the County’s technology, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and AI initiatives. With more than 25 years of experience in county government and a background in cybersecurity and IT operations, PJ has helped advance Sarpy County’s approach to cyber resilience, responsible AI adoption, modernization, and regional technology collaboration.
In his role, PJ works closely with County leadership and departments to align technology investments with organizational priorities, strengthen cybersecurity practices, improve service delivery, and prepare the organization for emerging technologies and evolving risks. He has also helped lead Sarpy County’s efforts to build practical AI literacy and governance, with an emphasis on responsible use.
Sarpy County provides technology and cybersecurity services to several neighboring municipalities through interlocal partnerships. That regional shared-services model has given PJ a unique perspective on the challenges local governments face in balancing innovation, cybersecurity, limited resources, operational resilience, and the growing expectations placed on public-sector technology organizations.

Mitch Greenwall serves as Deputy Director of the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles, where he helps lead an agency of approximately 230 employees responsible for driver licensing, vehicle titling and registration, motor carrier services, and financial responsibility programs. He works with the agency's executive team on statewide operations, budgeting, technology modernization, digital services, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence and automation.
Mitch joined the Nebraska DMV as an attorney in 2019 and was appointed Deputy Director in February 2024. As an agency attorney, he advised leadership on administrative law, legislation, employment matters, regulatory policy, contracts, and intergovernmental agreements. He worked to establish the DMV's data privacy governance and compliance program, aligning agency practices with the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act, the Uniform Motor Vehicle Records Disclosure Act, and national motor vehicle administration standards. He also strengthened the agency's review of contracts and data-sharing agreements.
In his current role, Mitch helps guide the DMV's replacement of its core driver and vehicle systems and its evaluation and implementation of AI-enabled tools. His work brings together legal, operational, privacy, procurement, and customer-service considerations. He applies that experience to questions involving third-party access to protected information, data use and retention, system integrations, contract accountability, and the practical controls public agencies need when adopting emerging technologies.
Mitch is active nationally through the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. He has served on the State-to-State Subcommittee, the Ignition Interlock Working Group, the Law Enforcement Committee, and the Intelligent Speed Assistance Working Group, contributing to model legislation, best practices, and policy positions. Before joining state government, he practiced law as a general-practice attorney and law firm partner. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska College of Law and his undergraduate degree from North Park University in Chicago.

Mr. Warren Hagelstien serves as a Cybersecurity Advisor for Region 7 (IA, KS, MO and NE) for the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Integrated Operations Division. Based in Omaha, NE he supports the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) mission of partnering with industry and government to understand and manage risk, strengthening the security and resilience of the nation’s critical infrastructure. Mr. Hagelstien provides cyber preparedness assessments and protective resources, working group support, leadership, partnership in public-private development, and coordination and support in times of cyber threat, disruption, or attack to the nation’s sixteen critical infrastructure sectors and state, local, tribal, and territorial government entities.
Prior to joining CISA, Mr. Hagelstien was the Director of Information Systems for the City of Fremont, Nebraska for one year. Before his tenure with the City of Fremont, Nebraska, Warren spent 6 years with the Department of Defense where he held several positions to include Chief, Vulnerability Management for United States Strategic Command, Chief, Cybersecurity for the Air Force Weather Program Management Office, and Information System Security Manager for the Air Force Weather Program Management Office.
Mr. Hagelstien spent time on Active Duty in the United States Air Force from 1998 until 2007. After his military service Warren held multiple positions as a Department of Defense contractor with positions focusing on information security and information assurance. During the time following military service Mr. Hagelstien also spent 3 years as Director, Information Security for First National Technology Solutions in Omaha, Nebraska.
Mr. Hagelstien holds a Master of Science in Cybersecurity and a Master of Business Administration from Bellevue University. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems from Bellevue University. He is a Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) in good standing for the past 15 years and holds the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) certifications from ISACA.

Associate Professor of Cybersecurity, Director, Nebraska University Center for Cybersecurity (NebraskaCYBER), Program Director, Machine Learning, AI, and Threat Response Initiative for Cybersecurity eXcellence in Nebraska (MATRIX), University of Nebraska at Omaha 

I’m Matt Hale, an Associate Professor of Cybersecurity at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Through MATRIX and other public-private partnerships with industry, my lab builds security tools, learning environments, and workforce programs—and studies what happens when people use them.
I'm a software engineer and researcher who focuses on the intersection of technology and human behavior. My work connects technology with the people and institutions that put it into practice—from how individuals recognize risk to how organizations teach, operate, and build regional capacity.

Scott has worked on information technology with Nebraska's educational service units and school districts since 1993. He is passionate about efficient software engineering and development practices across multi-agency teams, improving cybersecurity for all schools and helping to apply enterprise-grade technology solutions across the diverse technical landscapes in Nebraska's schools.

Mr. Kolli is seasoned AI Transformation Executive with over twenty years of experience driving enterprise innovation.
Throughout a distinguished career—including over two decades of technology leadership within the Microsoft ecosystem—he has helped Fortune 500 companies and growing organizations accelerate AI adoption and digital workplace modernization. A trusted advisor and fractional CTO, he specializes in aligning complex, next-generation AI platforms with real-world business strategy.
Vik Kolli has a proven track record of delivering measurable value, from leading multi-million-dollar competitive victories against major industry players to driving hundreds of thousands of dollars in documented operational cost savings. Additionally, as a CISSP-certified professional, they bring a deep expertise in cybersecurity and a rich history of leading high-performing, distributed teams across the Americas.

Derek Kruse is a chief executive, educator, researcher, and founder with more than 25 years of leadership experience across Fortune 500, public sector, higher education, nonprofit, and entrepreneurial environments. His work has centered on building and transforming complex organizations, developing high-performing teams, strengthening partnerships, and translating ambitious ideas into practical action. Across these roles, he has maintained a longstanding interest in how organizations, systems, and leadership practices can help people perform, develop, and thrive. Derek is the Executive Director and Chief Information Officer for the Douglas Omaha Technology Commission (DOTComm), where he is responsible for organizational strategy, financial stewardship, client relationships, board engagement, talent development, partnerships, and technology operations for the shared-services organization supporting the City of Omaha and Douglas County, with more than 100 employees and nearly $30 million in annual revenue. Previously, he held numerous leadership positions at IBM. He is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Creighton University, where he teaches strategy, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, and mindfulness with a focus on translating research and theory into practical tools for leaders and organizations. He launched Exponential Mindfulness to help people harness the power they already have by using simple tools to overcome challenges and build resilience for compounding growth. He also created the Mindful Intelligence Institute to promote and conduct interdisciplinary research exploring how mindfulness can help drive human thriving. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, where he played varsity basketball for four years, an MBA from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, and a DBA from Creighton University’s Heider College of Business. He also holds a certificate in Strategy Execution for Public Leadership from Harvard and a certificate in Mindful Leadership from Spirit Rock. He will complete a two-year Mindful Meditation Teacher Certification Program through the Awareness Training Institute and the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley in early 2027. Derek, his wife Dana, and their two children are native Cornhuskers and live in Bennington, NE.

Diane Mack helps organizations anticipate risk, navigate complex crises, and sustain critical operations when disruption occurs. She leads emergency and crisis management, business continuity, and organizational resilience across complex academic, healthcare, and research environments, with experience addressing incidents ranging from severe weather and operational emergencies to cyber events and technology outages. With more than 20 years of experience spanning higher education, state government, the private sector, and disaster response, Diane brings a strategic and operational perspective to preparing organizations for high-consequence events.

Her work includes enterprise risk and impact analysis, recovery strategy development, cyber incident continuity, executive crisis management, exercises, and multi-agency coordination. A Certified Emergency Manager and Certified Business Continuity Professional, Diane serves on the NFPA 1600/1660 Standard Technical Committee and on Team Rubicon’s national incident management team, bringing extensive real-world incident command and disaster response experience to her work. She is particularly passionate about leveraging data analytics, emerging technologies, and artificial intelligence to enhance situational awareness, inform executive decisions, and strengthen organizational resilience.

Joe Nehila enjoys solving the most complex challenges in security. He has been leading technology modernization programs to accelerate security operations and incident response, including cyber data platforms, advanced analytics, and artificial intelligence. Joe is passionate about improving security outcomes and transforming security programs.

Daniel Nickel is a Computer Information Technology Instructor at Southeast Community College in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he teaches Cisco CCNA, Network Security, and Digital Electronics. He also helped launch the Network Security program at The Career Academy.
Daniel brings more than 15 years of instructional experience to the classroom, supported by over 25 years of experience in technical and leadership roles at IBM and Eakes Office Plus. His industry work included a Homeland Security contract for which he obtained a rigorous security clearance.
He holds an Associate of Applied Science degree in Electronics, Computers, and Networking from Central Community College. He is a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) and a Certified Fiber Optic Technician (CFOS/S/T). Daniel has coached students in AFA CyberPatriot and SkillsUSA competitions. Most recently, a student he coached won gold in Information Technology Services at the SkillsUSA National Championships. Daniel is dedicated to developing Nebraska’s future technology and cybersecurity workforce.

Trent Shoultz is Senior Director of Solutions Consulting for U.S. State, Local Government, and Education (SLED) at Palo Alto Networks. He leads a national organization of more than 120 technical professionals focused on helping public sector customers modernize their cybersecurity strategies and securely advance their digital and cloud transformation initiatives.

Trent brings more than 20 years of technology and leadership experience, with deep expertise in cybersecurity, cloud transformation, technical strategy, and executive customer engagement. During his tenure at Palo Alto Networks, he has held progressively senior leadership roles and has helped scale the company’s SLED technical organization alongside significant growth of its public sector business.

As an executive sponsor and trusted advisor, Trent works with government, education, and technology leaders on cybersecurity modernization, cloud adoption, digital transformation, and emerging technologies, including AI. He is particularly passionate about developing strong leaders, building high-performing teams, and bringing together technical and business stakeholders to solve complex customer challenges.

Trent holds an MBA from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Rollins College. He is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Ryan is the Information Technology Manager for the City of La Vista, where he has served in his current role for six years and has been with the City for more than 15 years in various capacities supporting municipal operations and information services. His experience has given him a broad understanding of how technology, cybersecurity, and collaboration play a role in the day-to-day operations of local government.
In his current role, Ryan provides strategic direction and operational support for the City’s applications, infrastructure, communications, wireless technologies, enterprise systems, and cybersecurity initiatives. He leads projects from planning and procurement through implementation and ongoing support, while working closely with departments to understand their needs and find practical solutions. He also manages contracts and interlocal agreements with the County, regional partners, and vendors, and oversees the department’s budget to ensure resources are invested responsibly and aligned with the City’s priorities.
Ryan’s experience includes strategic planning, project and vendor management, procurement, budgeting, enterprise infrastructure, and cross-departmental modernization. He works to balance the opportunities that new technologies provide with the realities of municipal budgets, security requirements, operational needs, and responsible use of public resources.
As municipalities explore the growing role of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, Ryan brings a practical, hands-on perspective to how local governments can evaluate and put these tools to work. His focus is on finding solutions that are useful, sustainable, secure, and appropriate for the needs of a municipal organization, while ultimately improving how the City serves its residents.

Carl Steffen serves as the Chief Information Officer for the City of Lincoln and Lancaster County, where he leads technology strategy, cybersecurity modernization, and digital service delivery for municipal departments and agencies. With a career spanning startups, large enterprises, and public service, Carl brings a practical, results‑focused approach to integrating emerging technologies—especially AI—into government operations.
Raised in northeast Nebraska, Carl’s early interest in computing evolved into a lifelong commitment to using technology to improve efficiency, resilience, and public access. Today, he focuses on strengthening Lincoln’s cybersecurity posture, expanding digital services, and ensuring that innovation aligns with cost‑effective, mission‑driven outcomes.
Carl looks forward to contributing to the discussion on how Nebraska municipalities are adopting cyber and AI solutions to better serve their communities.

Christopher Wlaschin is a nationally recognized cybersecurity executive whose career spans more than three decades of military service, government leadership, and private sector innovation. Throughout his journey, Chris has remained steadfast in his commitment to safeguarding critical systems, protecting sensitive data, and advancing the cause of trust in technology. His professional story is one of resilience, vision, and impact, underscored by a passion for building stronger organizations and mentoring the next generation of leaders.
Chris most recently served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Election Systems & Software (ES&S), where for over seven years he has led enterprise-wide security programs. In this role, he has been responsible for safeguarding election infrastructure, strengthening operational defenses, and protecting the integrity of products relied upon by millions of voters. His leadership at ES&S has been pivotal in raising industry standards, building trust with stakeholders, and addressing some of the most complex security challenges facing democracy today.
Before joining ES&S, Chris served as Chief Information Security Officer for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In that capacity, he directed cybersecurity operations for one of the largest federal agencies in the country, overseeing the protection of critical systems and sensitive health data affecting more than 300 million Americans. His work at HHS was marked by a forward-looking approach to risk management and the development of policies that continue to shape government cybersecurity practices.
Earlier in his career, Chris held senior leadership roles across both government and private industry. He served as Senior Director of Information Security at NRC Health, where he advanced protections for patient and healthcare data, and as CISO for the University of Nebraska System, where he strengthened cybersecurity posture across a large educational institution. In the Department of Veterans Affairs, he was Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information Security and Risk Management, where he guided initiatives that improved resilience and security for millions of veterans and their families. Each of these roles reinforced his ability to align strategy, governance, and technology in highly complex environments.
Chris’s distinguished career began with over twenty years of service in the United States Navy, where he rose to senior leadership positions in information technology, operations, and communications. From his time as Chief Information Systems Officer aboard the USS John C. Stennis to his work as an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado–Boulder, Chris honed his ability to lead diverse teams, drive innovation, and make decisions under pressure. His naval service instilled in him not only technical acumen but also a deep appreciation for integrity, discipline, and service to a mission greater than oneself.
His influence extends beyond organizational boundaries into broader industry leadership. Chris is the past Chair of the Election Industry Subsector Coordinating Council (EI-SCC), where he collaborated with federal, state, and local officials to enhance security and resilience across the election industry. He has also served as a Federal Advisory Board Emeritus Member for Dell/EMC, providing strategic counsel on cybersecurity and governance. These advisory experiences underscore his ability to connect industry, government, and technology communities in pursuit of stronger, more secure systems.
A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Chris has presented keynote addresses, participated in high-level panels, and contributed insights at some of the world’s most respected security conferences, including DEF CON and Black Hat. He has been featured in national media outlets such as CyberScoop, Nebraska Public Media, and industry blogs, where his expertise on election security and vulnerability disclosure programs has informed public debate and policy development. His presence in these forums highlights not only his technical credibility but also his ability to communicate complex issues with clarity and authority.
Chris’s career is anchored in a deep commitment to cybersecurity governance, data privacy, and infrastructure protection. His expertise extends to disaster recovery and policy execution, areas where his leadership has consistently driven measurable improvements. Across every role, he has championed the principle that security is not merely a technical challenge but a business imperative that requires vision, accountability, and collaboration at the highest levels.
Education and lifelong learning have also shaped Chris’s professional journey. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Technology Education from Southern Illinois University and a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University. He also maintains a CISSP certification, underscoring his commitment to staying current with evolving industry standards. His combination of academic achievement, professional credentialing, and practical experience makes him a trusted advisor to boards and executive teams alike.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Chris values family, music, and the outdoors. A dedicated musician and lover of the performing arts, he also enjoys camping and skiing, pursuits that reflect his appreciation for balance, creativity, and resilience. These personal interests ground him and provide a broader perspective that enriches his professional leadership.
Chris is now focused on expanding his impact through board service, where his blend of executive leadership, cybersecurity expertise, and strategic insight can help organizations in technology, healthcare, defense, and education navigate today’s most pressing challenges. Having served in advisory roles for global corporations and industry councils, he brings not only knowledge but also a proven track record of helping organizations build trust, enhance resilience, and create long-term value. For Chris, serving on a board represents not only a professional opportunity but also a continuation of his lifelong commitment to service, leadership, and giving back.