Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Grand Ballroom Lobby and Salons FG

Opening Remarks

Grand Ballroom Salon E

Matthew C Fraser, Chief Technology Officer, New York City

New York City IT Leadership Awards Program

Grand Ballroom Salon E

Hosted by: Matthew C Fraser, Chief Technology Officer, New York City

Keynote – Leading with Vision

Grand Ballroom Salon E

Being in charge isn’t easy, but in an era of rapid change and disruption brought on by incredible innovation, “the right” leadership is paramount to driving government and education forward. Leaders must achieve results, but that can be difficult if you are not also garnering respect and admiration. In this compelling keynote address, Anton Gunn delves into the strategies you can use to cultivate and hone essential leadership qualities, inspire your teams, and foster positive change within your organization.

Anton Gunn, Keynote Speaker, Best-selling author, Former Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Grand Ballroom Lobby and Salons FG

Concurrent Sessions

Succession Planning for the Future-Ready IT Organization

Grand Ballroom Salon H

As the public sector faces an aging workforce, rapid technological change, and evolving talent expectations, succession planning has become a strategic imperative and not just an HR task. Future-ready IT organizations must ensure that institutional knowledge is preserved, emerging leaders are identified and developed, and key roles are prepared for seamless transition. How can you ensure that your agency is not only prepared for leadership transitions but also positioned to thrive through them? In this session, learn how IT leaders are advancing succession planning by identifying key roles, developing internal talent, and aligning growth with future innovation goals.

Moderator: Mohammed Hassan, Chief Information Security Officer, Office of Labor Relations, New York City

Michael Bruen, MS, PMP, Assistant Commissioner, Bureau of IT Infrastructure and Support Services, Division of Information Technology, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York City

Dr. Teboho Moja, Professor of Higher Education, Administration, Leadership and Technology, New York University

Gail Tang, Associate Commissioner, Program Management, Office of Technology and Innovation, New York City

Inspire and Motivate: Building a Culture of Trust and Energy

Grand Ballroom Salon I

A high-performing team isn't built on skill alone. It thrives on trust, motivation, and shared purpose. In today’s fast-paced digital environment, IT leaders must go beyond managing tasks to creating a culture where people feel valued, energized, and empowered to do their best work. How can leaders keep teams motivated and connected, especially during times of change and uncertainty?

Join this session where we’ll explore practical strategies for fostering a positive, high-trust environment that boosts morale and drives performance.

Moderator: Ken Skeen, Conference Director, Government Technology

Laura Archer, Director of Training and Operations, Housing Preservation and Development, New York City

Kareem Gabriel, Associate Commissioner, Personnel, Office of Technology and Innovation, New York City

Marjorie Parker, CEO and President, JobsFirstNYC

Communication Strategy and The Art of Storytelling for IT Leaders

Golden Boardroom

An effective IT strategy is only as strong as your ability to communicate it. From vision-setting to progress reporting, IT leaders must translate technical roadmaps into compelling narratives that resonate with diverse stakeholders. Storytelling plays a vital role in making complex ideas accessible, building trust, and driving alignment across departments. What makes a strategic message stick and how can leaders ensure their vision connects beyond the IT team? This session explores practical communication techniques that enhance leadership presence, improve cross-functional collaboration, and elevate the visibility and impact of IT initiatives.

Patti Bayross, Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer, New York City Housing Authority

Christopher Casarez, Deputy Executive Director, Office of Field and Information Services, New York City Public Schools

Lunch

Grand Ballroom Salon E

Short Break

Please proceed to the general session.

General Session – Leading Through Change: Measuring Leadership Effectiveness in the Age of Emerging Technology

Grand Ballroom Salon E

As technology continues to evolve at a breakneck speed, IT leaders face mounting pressure to not only keep up with innovation but also guide their teams and organizations through constant transformation. Effective leadership goes beyond vision – it requires adaptability, digital fluency, emotional intelligence, and the ability to deliver measurable impact. This session explores the intersection of emerging technologies and modern leadership, examining how public sector leaders can successfully drive innovation while fostering resilient, high performing teams.

Moderator: Zach Patton, Chief Editor, Content Studio, Government Technology

Ruby Choi, Deputy Commissioner, Strategic Initiatives, Office of Technology and Innovation, New York City

Mike Hoernemann, Senior Manager, Solutions Engineering, Dynatrace

Christopher Radich, Vice President, Customer Success and Public Sector CTO, UiPath

General Session - Empowering Government IT Leaders to Overcome Modern Challenges in a Digital-First Era

Grand Ballroom Salon E

State and local government IT leaders are at the forefront of navigating a rapidly evolving technology landscape, where challenges such as reduced budgets, the need to modernize legacy technology, and understand cloud and AI keeps them up at night. At the end of this session, participants will gain insights into navigating tight budgets without sacrificing innovation, modernizing legacy IT assets, mastering multicloud and hybrid cloud strategies, and leveraging AI.

Franklin Foster, Segment Marketing Leader, Equinix

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Grand Ballroom Lobby and Salons FG

Concurrent Sessions

Leading Organizational Change in a Digital-First Era

Grand Ballroom Salon H

Digital transformation is about more than technology. It is about people. As public sector agencies adopt new tools, platforms, and processes, successful change depends on how well employees are supported and engaged throughout the journey. Leaders must not only drive innovation but also foster a culture of adaptability, trust, and readiness. What does it take to prepare your workforce for continuous transformation and keep them motivated along the way? This session explores strategies for leading organizational change in a digital first environment, with a focus on employee impact, communication, and training.

Moderator: Peta-Gay Campbell-Perdomo, Senior Organizational Change Manager, New York City Housing Authority

Amit Agarwal, Chief Information Officer, Taxi and Limousine Commission, New York City

Tiffany Blair, Industry Advisor, State and Local Government, Salesforce

Richard Piña, Technology Director, City of New York, Google Public Sector

Elevating Existing Talent – Unlocking Leadership Within

Grand Ballroom Salon I

In today’s fast-evolving digital landscape, the key to a resilient, future-ready IT organization may already be within your walls. Elevating existing talent not only boosts retention and morale but it also builds a leadership pipeline rooted in institutional knowledge and lived experience. How can you ensure your internal talent feels empowered, valued, and prepared to step into greater responsibility? Join this session to learn strategies for cultivating leadership at every level of your organization and unlocking the full potential of your workforce.

Moderator: Seth Guthartz, Senior Advisor, Office of the Chief Information Officer, New York City Housing Authority

Anna Vaysman, Assistant Commissioner, Human Resources, Office of Finance and Administration, Division of Human Resources, Housing Preservation and Development, New York City

Jack Wilde, Head of Strategic Analytics, Asset Management, Economic Development Corporation, New York City

Cybersecurity 101 for IT Leaders: Building Awareness and Confidence

Golden Boardroom

Cybersecurity is no longer just a technical concern. It’s a strategic leadership imperative. As digital services expand and threats grow more sophisticated, IT leaders must build both awareness and fundamental knowledge to make smart decisions, manage organizational risk, and foster a culture of security. This session offers a clear, practical introduction to key cybersecurity concepts, equipping leaders with the insight and language they need to support secure operations and build resilience across their teams.

Moderator: Demond Waters, Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Education, New York City

Thomas Kordich, Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Parks and Recreation, New York City

Michael Melore, Senior Cybersecurity Advisor, CISSP, IBM

Jose Tejada, Deputy Chief Information Security Officer, Cyber Command, Office of Technology and Innovation, New York City

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

Grand Ballroom Lobby and Salons FG

End of Conference

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