Name: New Hampshire Digital Government Summit 2025
Start: 2025-06-03T08:00
Location: DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown

Overview

The Digital Government Summit is an event that brings together public sector leaders and technology professionals to explore innovative solutions to solve government problems. Key themes include cybersecurity, digital transformation, AI implementation, data governance, and fostering collaboration across multiple stakeholders. Attendees will benefit from expert discussions, peer networking, and insights into the future of government technology. Join us and let’s improve the future of government together!

A message from our Keynote Speaker

I'm really excited the Digital Government Summit is returning to New Hampshire! Each year, attendance has been steadily growing, and our goal is to make this the biggest yet. There’s a strong appetite within the IT community for a collaborative platform like this. Bringing state and local government tech leaders together with our industry partners creates an incredible opportunity for a timely and relevant exchange of ideas. I hope to see you there!

– Denis Goulet, Commissioner/Chief Information Officer, Department of Information Technology, State of New Hampshire

Speakers

John Register

Paralympic Games Silver Medalist, Persian Gulf War veteran, TEDx Motivational Speaker

John Register is a two-time Paralympian, Paralympic Games Silver Medalist, Persian Gulf War veteran, and TEDx Motivational Speaker. He embraced a “new normal mindset” in becoming an amputee following a misstep over a hurdle while training for the 1996 Olympic Games, after participation in two consecutive Olympic trials.
An Oak Park, Ill. native, Register discovered how to “amputate his fear of disability” and founded the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee Military Sport Program in the early 2000s. He launched a book titled: 10 Stories to Impact Any Leader: Journal Your Way to Leadership Success, as business leaders return to work with their staff amid stressful circumstances surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic and the recent unrest in our urban cities.
Register teaches business professionals through his “Hurdling Adversity” speeches and podcasts to “amputate fear and embrace their new normal,” as they discover “stories within themselves.”
He finds that “it is the personal stories that inspire teams more profoundly with greater impact.”
Register is a four-time All-American graduate of University of Arkansas. He served six years in the U.S. Army—including in operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and in active-duty with the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program—winning nine gold medals in the Armed Services Competition and two World Military Championships.
Register had his left leg amputated after a misstep over a hurdle changed his life. Register hyperextended his knee and severed the popliteal artery. He started swimming to aid in his recovery, made the U.S. Paralympic Team in 1996, and later won a silver medal in the long jump—as he set an American record—and sprinted to fifth in the 100 meters and 200 meters at the U.S. Paralympic Games in Sydney.
Register resides in Colorado Springs, CO with his wife Alice. The couple have three children - John Jr., Ashley, and Ronald.

Damien Benoit-Ledoux

Digital Transformation Program Manager at the Department of Information Technology, State of New Hampshire

Damien Benoit-Ledoux is a leader in statewide digital transformation, driving the enterprise-wide adoption of Microsoft 365 to modernize collaboration, streamline workflows, and improve internal collaboration for public service delivery. He manages the end user experience with a focus on intuitive, secure, and sustainable solutions.
As head of the Project Management Center of Excellence, Damien promotes best practices and strategic execution, ensuring that project rollouts are both impactful and embraced. He works closely with state and vendor teams to turn complex challenges into meaningful results.
Outside of work, Damien is a proud husband and father to two young sons. He’s also an accomplished novelist, crafting imaginative stories with the same creativity and passion he brings to his role in state government.

Annie Dove

Director of Information Technology, Chief Information Security Officer, City of Dover   

Annie Dove has served as Director of Information Technology for the City of Dover, New Hampshire for the past twenty two years, adding the CISO role in 2021. The Office of Information Technology includes a team of IT professionals supporting Enterprise and Public Safety systems, Utility and Asset Management (Facility/GIS) infrastructure. She oversees an annual municipal Information technology budget of 1.9 million dollars. Annie has participated in NH Local Government Information Network, NH Primex, “Municipal IT Listserv” moderated by NHMA and State of NH BET LEAN programs. She has held or currently holds Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) and LEAN moderator credentials.

Ken Edwardson

Senior Scientist, Watershed Management Bureau, Water Division, Department of Environmental Services, State of New Hampshire

Ken Edwardson is a senior scientist at New Hampshire’s Department of Environmental Services overseeing the water quality standards and assessment programs. Ken has spent the last 25 years at NHDES developing methods and processes to interrogate water quality data to guide sound water quality decisions for New Hampshire waters. Before joining NHDES, Ken spent a half dozen years performing tracer studies in support nutrient isotope work in Arctic rivers then dabbled in teaching. He has a BS and MS in water resource management from the University of New Hampshire.

Rich Lavers

Deputy Commissioner, Department of Employment Security, State of New Hampshire

Rich is currently the deputy commissioner at the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security, a role he has held since first being appointed in 2013. Employment Security plays a major role in the state’s workforce development landscape through a long list of programs focused on helping both employers and workers. Employment Security has something to offer every business and every worker in New Hampshire- From helping employers recruit and retain; to helping individuals access the training and supports they need to prepare for a new career; to administering the state’s unemployment program to provide New Hampshire workers experiencing unexpected job loss with help finding that next great employment opportunity. Employment Security is working to keep New Hampshire working.   

Kathryn Michener

Director of User Experience, New Hampshire Department of Information Technology

Kathryn is a passionate advocate for user-centered design. As the Director of User Experience at the New Hampshire Department of Information Technology, she oversees the migration of State agency websites from a static platform with hierarchy-based navigation to a responsive platform that encourages agency partners to put their constituents first when designing new websites.
With a background in customer service, public information and graphic design, Kathryn was a key participant in the Governor’s initiative to rebrand the State’s websites to have a consistent look and feel, which led to the template and platform now used by the State.
Kathryn is dedicated to helping agencies meet their obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, offering regular training for State employees to learn how to design for accessibility when creating publications and actively emphasizing the importance of digital accessibility.

Saul Morse

Account Partner Senior Director, Salesforce

Saul works within Salesforce Professional Services and is responsible for ensuring that clients maximize their value on the platform by building strategic implementation and advisory services programs. Prior to joining Salesforce, Saul worked in various leadership roles as a digital transformation CIO/CTO in the public sector, higher education and non-profit focused organizations. (pictured attached)

Brian D Rae, Jr

Information Systems Director, Information Technology Office, Town of Goffstown

Brian serves as the Information Systems Director for the Town of Goffstown, where he leads a dedicated IT team providing help desk support, application management, network administration, infrastructure solutions, and more. With over 20 years of IT and public safety experience, he brings a unique ability to collaborate with law enforcement, emergency services, and local government to deliver innovative, problem-solving solutions. As a member of the State IT Council and leader of the NH Municipal IT Leadership Group, Brian is committed to leveraging technology to enhance organizational resilience, security, and responsiveness for the community. Outside of work, he enjoys outdoor recreation, coaching youth sports, and a good BBQ with friends and family.

Matthew Seaton

Chief Information Officer, State of New Hampshire Judicial Branch 

Passionate IT professional with proven leadership analyzing business needs to develop and implement IT solutions that align and support organizations' mission and goals. Significant leadership experience directing and guiding technical resources, leveraging relationship building and collaborate teamwork with a focus on positive open communication, to support and enhance organizational technology capabilities with a security mindset.
At the New Hampshire Judicial Branch, Matthew is responsible for all facets of the institution's information technology operations, strategy, and innovation. Leadership roles with the New Hampshire Cyber Security Advisory Committee and IT Council, New Hampshire Digital Government Summit, Court Information Technology Officers Consortium, board member National Center for State Courts Tyler User Group and co-chair Cyber Security Committee. Founder of tri-state Judiciary CIO network with Maine and Vermont.

Tim Scott

Assistant Director, Division of Emergency Services and Communications, State of New Hampshire

Tim Scott is the Assistant Director at the Division of Emergency Services and Communications in New Hampshire, where he oversees IT, radio communications, GIS and data operations, and special projects. With over 20 years of experience in 9-1-1 technology, he has designed, supported, and maintained the mission-critical systems that ensure emergency calls are delivered reliably and efficiently across the state. Tim is known for developing resilient, redundant infrastructure and for implementing practical, low-cost solutions that improve operations without requiring large-scale investments. His approach emphasizes smart problem-solving, internal innovation, and aligning technology with real-world needs—making him a valuable voice in conversations about digital transformation and government efficiency.

Lindsey Stepp

Commissioner, Department of Revenue Administration, State of New Hampshire

Lindsey Stepp has been Commissioner at the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration since December 2017, and previously served as Assistant Commissioner of the DRA as well as a Financial Analyst. Lindsey began her career at EY as an International Tax and Transfer Pricing Consultant. She received her Master of Business Administration degree from Plymouth State University and her Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Trinity College in Hartford, CT.

Felicia Thomas

Chief Data Officer, Planet Fitness

Felicia Thomas has over 25 years of experience in Information Technology, specializing in data and analytics technologies in the fitness, healthcare, government, transportation, and supply chain management domains. Throughout her career, she has led multiple technology modernization and transformation programs, ensuring technology enablement of strategic business objectives and outcomes. Felicia is currently the VP, Data Solutions at Planet Fitness and has a Master’s degree in Technology Management from Georgetown University.

Ken Weeks

Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Information Technology, State of New Hampshire

Ken Weeks is the Chief Information Security Officer for the State of New Hampshire. He spent most of his adult life as a Naval Officer, Special Duty, Cryptology and Information Warfare, and retired as a CAPT (O6). Although most of his time was spent in the Pacific Theater, he also enjoyed several all-inclusive trips to Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. After the Navy, he worked as an Executive Leader of Cyber Operations at the National Security Agency (NSA). Ken spent a couple years in the private sector as a Consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton and then moved to New Hampshire and back into public service as the Department of IT Business Relationship Manager for the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. Since he always works in rooms with no windows and under artificial lights, he spends the rest of his time as an avid four seasons outdoor sportsman with his spouse, teenagers and two Irish Wolfhounds.

Angela Welle

Senior Manager, Deloitte Consulting

Angela Welle is a Senior Manager at Deloitte Consulting focused on digital government transformations with a human-centered design lens. She has helped elevate the human experience for dozens of state governments and federal agencies. She has 13 years’ experience in customer strategy consulting, including extensive experience with human-centered design, digital government services, service design for large IT systems, and vision development. Prior to Deloitte, Angela worked in the United States Senate, focused on health legislative policy. She holds a Master of Business Administration from the College of William & Mary and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from The Ohio State University. Outside of work, she’s a Navy wife and loves spending time with her kiddos.

Andrew Wheeler

Director of Data Analytics and Business Intelligence, xFact Inc.

Data & Analytics leader with more than a decade of analytics experience bridging hands-on data engineering and executive delivery. I believe in harnessing data-driven decision-making to empower stakeholders and sustainably improve public services at scale.

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Agenda

Tuesday, June 3
8:00 am Eastern	Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area Assembly Lobby and Pemigewasset
9:00 am Eastern	Opening Remarks Armory Ballroom Denis Goulet, Chief Information Officer, State of New Hampshire
9:15 am Eastern	Keynote – Transform Adversity into Advantage: How to Conquer Life's Hurdles Armory Ballroom The world has become more difficult, and the challenges are bigger than ever. Adopting a “new normal mindset” is necessary to empower your team to navigate the challenges and opportunities through a contextual model to overcome adversity. How will you manage uncertainty? Is your team ready to embrace change? This session will provide a powerful and interactive message of resilience and perseverance that will inspire you to see change as an opportunity for growth. John Register, Inspirational and Motivational Speaker, Author, and Two-Time Paralympic Silver Medalist
10:15 am Eastern	Networking Break in the Exhibit Area Pemigewasset
10:45 am Eastern	Concurrent Sessions Data Chaos? Let’s Fix That Contoocook Public sector agencies have a LOT of data. But without the right structures in place that data remains untapped potential or, worse, a liability. Rushing toward AI and advanced analytics without addressing foundational challenges like data quality, security, and accessibility leads to inefficiencies and missed opportunities. How do agencies turn their data into a strategic asset instead of a roadblock? This session examines how strong data practices set the stage for analytics and smarter decision-making. Moderator: Brian Rae, Information Systems Director, Town of Goffstown Annie Dove, Director of Information Technology, Chief Information Security Officer, City of Dover Ken Edwardson, Senior Scientist, Watershed Management Bureau, Water Division, Department of Environmental Services, State of New Hampshire Felicia Thomas, Chief Data Officer, Planet Fitness Andrew Wheeler, Director of Data Analytics and Business Intelligence, xFact Inc. Privacy Gives Me Cognitive Dissonance: Public Duty or Personal Choice? Merrimack In government, protecting privacy is a requirement – and we take it so seriously at the State, that we define it as a fundamental principle for everything we do. But do we truly understand what that means in the Real World? This interactive session will explore the disconnect between professional privacy obligations and personal privacy habits, highlighting the competing perspectives on what privacy really is. Through audience participation and real-world scenarios, we’ll examine why strict privacy protections are mandated in the public sector yet often overlooked – or intentionally ignored - in everyday life. Attendees will engage in discussion with our hosts on privacy risks, how government policies shape expectations, and whether a stronger approach to privacy is needed in an increasingly data-driven world. Moderator: Ken Weeks, Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Information Technology, State of New Hampshire Moderator: Doug Schelb, Deputy Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Information Technology, State of New Hampshire Designing Digital Services That Deliver: Usability Meets Accessibility Piscataquog Public agencies must create digital services that are both accessible and user-friendly but achieving this can be challenging. How can agencies design services based on real user needs rather than assumptions? And what does it take to set up and sustain digital accessibility efforts? This session covers how human-centered design can improve usability while providing practical strategies for implementing and maintaining accessibility across an organization. Whether you're focused on compliance, enhancing user experience, or both, this session will equip you with the tools to build inclusive and effective digital services. Moderator: Matthew Seaton, Chief Information Officer, State of New Hampshire Judicial Branch Gregory Duval, Web Services Administrator, Information Systems Department, City of Manchester Kathryn Michener, ADAC, Director of User Experience, Department of Information Technology, State of New Hampshire Angela Welle, Senior Manager, Deloitte Consulting
11:45 am Eastern	Lunch Armory Ballroom
12:45 pm Eastern	Bits and Bytes - Coexisting with AI: Up Skilling the Workforce for a New Era Armory Ballroom Artificial Intelligence is transforming the public sector workforce by streamlining operations, enhancing decision-making, and redefining job roles. As government agencies adopt AI-driven tools and automation, the challenge lies in balancing technological innovation with workforce skills. How can IT leaders ensure a smooth transition, empower employees with new skills, and foster effective human-AI collaboration? This session delves into strategies for seamlessly integrating AI into government operations while cultivating a resilient, adaptable workforce ready to thrive in an evolving digital landscape. Zach Patton, Editorial Director, Content Studio, Government Technology
1:20 pm Eastern	Short Break Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.
1:40 pm Eastern	Concurrent Sessions AI Readiness: Before You Build the Rocket, Check the Launch Pad Contoocook You’re under increasing pressure to use and implement AI, but are you ready to use it effectively and responsibly? Without proper data governance, workforce preparation, and risk management, AI implementation can create more challenges than solutions. How do you prepare your organization for AI adoption while avoiding common pitfalls? What is the right balance between the risk and reward? This session explores the critical predecessors and dependencies that must be in place before integrating AI such as technical infrastructure, data governance, team skill-building, and leadership alignment. Moderator: Zach Patton, Editorial Director, Content Studio, Government Technology Damien Benoit-Ledoux, Digital Transformation Program Manager at the Department of Information Technology, State of New Hampshire Rich Lavers, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Employment Security, State of New Hampshire Saul Morse, Account Partner Senior Director, Salesforce Jonathan Shaw, National Director of Sate Strategy, Fortinet Tech Tools and Beyond: Real Efficiency in Government IT Merrimack Public sector IT teams are expected to deliver more with fewer resources, all while navigating policy changes, new technologies, and increasing demands from leadership and end users. Many agencies look to digital transformation and AI for solutions, but without a clear problem-solving approach, these tools can become distractions rather than efficiency drivers. How do you align stakeholders, streamline workflows, and drive meaningful change without overspending or over-relying on technology? This session offers practical digital transformation strategies that prioritize process over tools, helping agencies streamline operations and navigate uncertainty. Moderator: Alina Bobar, Assistant Director - Infrastructure and Operations, Department of Information Technology, State of New Hampshire Thomas Rup, Director of Technology, Dover School District – SAU11 Tim Scott, Assistant Director, Division of Emergency Services and Communications, State of New Hampshire Lindsey Stepp, Commissioner, Department of Revenue Administration, State of New Hampshire Exclusive Briefing for the Industry Partners Piscataquog Hosted By: Denis Goulet, Chief Information Officer, State of New Hampshire Ken Weeks, Chief Information Security Officer, State of New Hampshire
2:40 pm Eastern	Networking Break in the Exhibit Area Pemigewasset
3:00 pm Eastern	The New Hampshire Technology Challenge: A Public Sector Trivia Showdown Armory Ballroom Join us for a fun and engaging closing session where we’ll put your knowledge to the test with an interactive trivia game! This session will be a perfect mix of learning and laughter, highlighting key themes from the event and fun facts about New Hampshire. Don’t miss this chance to reflect, gain new perspectives, and wrap up the conference on a high note! Are you ready to challenge yourself and lead your team to victory? Hosted By: Erica Patterson, Vice President of Events, Government Technology Ken Weeks, Chief Information Security Officer, State of New Hampshire
3:50 pm Eastern	Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area Pemigewasset Network with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event exhibitors.
4:15 pm Eastern	End of Conference Conference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change.

DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown

700 Elm Street
Manchester, NH 03101
(603) 625-1000

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DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown

Advisory Board

Government Representatives

Margaret Byrnes
Executive Director
New Hampshire Municipal Association

Maeve Dion
Assistant Professor of Security Studies
University of New Hampshire

Annie Dove
Director of Information Technology, CISO
City of Dover

Perry Eaton
Cyber Services Director
City of Lebanon

Fash Farashahi
GIS/Information Technology Director
Town of Peterborough

Jean Fortier
Director of Information Services
Information Systems Department
City of Manchester

Irena Goddard
NH e-Court Program Manager
Administrative Office of the Courts, Judicial Branch
State of New Hampshire

Denis Goulet
Commissioner & Chief Information Officer
Department of Information Technology
State of New Hampshire

David Hasbany
Chief Information Officer
Salem School District

Steve Jamele
Information Technology Director
Town of Deerfield

John Maddaus III
Chief Information Officer
Department of Corrections
State of New Hampshire

Kate Michener
Director, User Experience
Department of Information Technology
State of New Hampshire

Josh Olstad
Director of Information Technology
Oyster River Cooperative School District

Terry Pfaff
Chief Operating Officer
General Court
State of New Hampshire

Bill Poirier
Vice Chancellor for Technology
University System of New Hampshire

Brian Rae
Information Systems Director
Town of Goffstown

Ron Reed
Information Technology Lead
Department of Safety
State of New Hampshire

Tom Rup
Director of Technology
Dover School District - SAU 11
Dover School District

Doug Schelb
Deputy Chief Information Security Officer
Department of Information Technology
State of New Hampshire

Matthew Seaton
Chief Information Officer
State of New Hampshire Judicial Branch

Andrew Watkins
Chief Information Officer
Department of Information Technology
City of Rochester

Ken Weeks
Chief Information Security Officer
Department of Information Technology
State of New Hampshire

Industry Representatives

Steve Cunha
Named Account Manager
Fortinet

Made Possible by Our Corporate Sponsors

Registration Information / Contact Us

Event Date: June 3, 2025

Open to Public Sector only.

Registration - Free

If you represent a Private Sector organization and are interested in Sponsorship Opportunities, please contact Heather Earney.

Contact Information

For registration and general assistance contact:

Audrey Houser
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 932-1420
E-mail: ahouser@erepublic.com

For assistance or questions concerning Sponsor Logos or Logistics please contact:

Mireya Gaton
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 296-2617
E-Mail: mgaton@erepublic.com

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact:

Heather Earney
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 932-1339
E-mail: heather.earney@erepublic.com

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New Hampshire Digital Government Summit 2025

Overview

A message from our Keynote Speaker

Speakers

John Register

Paralympic Games Silver Medalist, Persian Gulf War veteran, TEDx Motivational Speaker

Damien Benoit-Ledoux

Digital Transformation Program Manager at the Department of Information Technology, State of New Hampshire

Annie Dove

Director of Information Technology, Chief Information Security Officer, City of Dover

Ken Edwardson

Senior Scientist, Watershed Management Bureau, Water Division, Department of Environmental Services, State of New Hampshire

Rich Lavers

Deputy Commissioner, Department of Employment Security, State of New Hampshire

Kathryn Michener

Director of User Experience, New Hampshire Department of Information Technology

Saul Morse

Account Partner Senior Director, Salesforce

Brian D Rae, Jr

Information Systems Director, Information Technology Office, Town of Goffstown

Matthew Seaton

Chief Information Officer, State of New Hampshire Judicial Branch

Tim Scott

Assistant Director, Division of Emergency Services and Communications, State of New Hampshire

Lindsey Stepp

Commissioner, Department of Revenue Administration, State of New Hampshire

Felicia Thomas

Chief Data Officer, Planet Fitness

Ken Weeks

Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Information Technology, State of New Hampshire

Angela Welle

Senior Manager, Deloitte Consulting

Andrew Wheeler

Director of Data Analytics and Business Intelligence, xFact Inc.

Agenda

Tuesday, June 3

8:00 am Eastern

Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Assembly Lobby and Pemigewasset

9:00 am Eastern

Opening Remarks

Armory Ballroom

9:15 am Eastern

Keynote – Transform Adversity into Advantage: How to Conquer Life's Hurdles

Armory Ballroom

10:15 am Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Pemigewasset

10:45 am Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

Data Chaos? Let’s Fix That

Contoocook

Privacy Gives Me Cognitive Dissonance: Public Duty or Personal Choice?

Merrimack

Designing Digital Services That Deliver: Usability Meets Accessibility

Piscataquog

11:45 am Eastern

Lunch

Armory Ballroom

12:45 pm Eastern

Bits and Bytes - Coexisting with AI: Up Skilling the Workforce for a New Era

Armory Ballroom

1:20 pm Eastern

Short Break

1:40 pm Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

AI Readiness: Before You Build the Rocket, Check the Launch Pad

Contoocook

Tech Tools and Beyond: Real Efficiency in Government IT

Merrimack

Exclusive Briefing for the Industry Partners

Piscataquog

2:40 pm Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Pemigewasset

3:00 pm Eastern

The New Hampshire Technology Challenge: A Public Sector Trivia Showdown

Armory Ballroom

3:50 pm Eastern

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

Director of Information Technology, Chief Information Security Officer, City of Dover   

Chief Information Officer, State of New Hampshire Judicial Branch 