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Overview

The New York City Technology Forum 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!

Winners of the 2025 Best of New York City Awards will be celebrated on Monday, December 8 at the New York City Technology Forum in Brooklyn, New York City. Please submit your nominations here. Nomination closes on Friday, October 24, 2025.

A message from our Keynote Speaker

Speakers

Jessica O. Matthews

Jessica O. Matthews

CEO of Uncharted, Innovator and Social Entrepreneur, Trailblazing Energy Advocate

Founded award-winning power and data infrastructure tech company credited with inventing an energy generating soccer ball and revolutionizing vision AI in energy efficiency
Mission-driven leader who values positive social impact and inspires audience to use innovation and technology to meet everyday needs
Recognized as Fortune’s Most Promising Women Entrepreneurs, 30 Under 30 list for Forbes and Inc., and Scientist of the Year by Harvard University
Powerhouse speaker dedicated to using technology to change the world
Innovation, entrepreneurship, and social responsibility have always been intrinsic to Jessica O. Matthews, even from a young age. At just 19, she invented SOCCKET, an energy-generating soccer ball that reflects her vision for a better world. Matthews was inspired by her experiences in Nigeria, when she noticed the reliance on dangerous diesel generators during power outages. She addressed a community need and created a safer alternative that harnesses power from an everyday activity to provide a source of light.
Her invention of SOCCKET exemplifies Matthews’ unique blend of altruism and a disruptive technological mindset that encourages her audience to embrace innovation and actively contribute to positive change. She channeled these qualities into founding Uncharted, an award-winning sustainable-infrastructure company that empowers small and under-resourced cities. As CEO, she takes her social responsibility seriously, creating solutions that enhance access to energy, water, air, and transit. Notably, Matthews has revolutionized vision AI in energy efficiency, developing technology that employs “smart photos” to visually assess homes. These photos then determine potential savings on energy bills and qualifying rebates. Matthews is committed to preserving the unique identities of the cities she serves, asserting that citizens shouldn’t have to "leave where they are from to get where they are goingExclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Jessica O. Matthews captivates audiences with her engaging presentation style. A relatable, down-to-earth speaker, she refers to herself as a “blend of Beyoncé and Bill Nye the Science Guy.” Her enthusiasm engages audiences, and she often jumps rope on stage to demonstrate her innovations in an interactive way. This personable approach allows her to connect deeply with her audience, fostering an honest dialogue about the challenges and opportunities in innovation. Matthews leaves audiences feeling inspired and motivated to create solutions that disrupt the status quo and encourages them to meet the needs of real people and communities. Her ability to tailor her message to resonate with the unique interests and experiences of each audience ensures that her insights are both relevant and impactful.
Jessica’s success in entrepreneurship led to a White House invitation from President Barack Obama to represent small companies for the signing of the America Invents Act in 2012. In 2016, she raised what was at the time the largest Series A round ever raised by a black female founder in history and was selected to ring the NASDAQ opening ceremony bell, representing all Forbes 30 Under 30 alumni. In 2021, Jessica was officially appointed by Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm to the Electricity Advisory Committee. As a member of the Smart Grid subcommittee, she plays a key role in advising the Department of Energy on the ways we can modernize our nation’s electric delivery system, specifically focusing on accelerating the deployment of electric vehicle charging stations throughout the U.S.
A dual citizen of Nigeria and the United States, Jessica has a degree in psychology and economics from Harvard University, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and is listed on over 12 patents and patents pending. Her list of accolades includes Fortune’s Most Promising Women Entrepreneurs, Forbes 30 Under 30, Inc. Magazine 30 Under 30 and Female Founders 100, Harvard University Scientist of the Year, One Young World Entrepreneur of the Year, the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award, and Black Women Tech Talk’s Tech Trailblazer Award. She has appeared on the cover of Forbes and Forbes Africa, as well as featured in Marie Claire, Wired, Inc., TechCrunch, The New York Times, and Fast Company, among others.

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Yash Acharya

Yash Acharya LinkedIn

Principal, Digital Transformation, KPMG LLP 

Yash is the U.S. State, Local, and Education (SLED) Corporate Services Transformation & Technology Leader for KPMG’s Government Line of Business (LOB) responsible for transforming and positioning government back-office operations across finance, accounting, procurement, HR, payroll, pension, and budgeting operations. He has 23+ years of experience leading business operations and technology-based transformation initiatives for public sector entities across the United States. Yash has been the lead executive at several large NYC and NYS based transformation initiatives including being the overall executive for NYC SCA’s ERP modernization program.
Since, every transformation is grounded in people, process, and technology but with a specific emphasis on “one size doesn’t fit all”, Yash focuses on leveraging process and technology as enablers, bringing deep functional and industry experience to strategy, program management, system implementation, transformation, and organizational transformation initiatives. The guidance and support that Yash provides is strategic and transformational yet grounded in clients’ reality and objectives to help meet their goals.
Yash is also a frequent speaker and presenter at several public sector conferences nationally with a focus on modernizing government operations, organizations, and implementing cloud technologies to help governments position for serving their respected communities, enterprises, and residents.

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Angel Adhikari, PhD

Angel Adhikari, PhD LinkedIn

City Research Scientist II, Property Data Analytics Reporting and Planning, Department of Finance, New York City

Angel Adhikari is a City Research Scientist in the Property Data Analytics, Reporting, and Planning unit at the New York City Department of Finance. He specializes in GIS-based modeling, 3D mapping, and data visualization to support property assessment. He holds a PhD in Remote Sensing from the University of Georgia and has extensive experience applying these tools in both the public and academic sectors. Prior to his role at the Department of Finance, he held research positions at the University of Georgia and the University of Tokyo, focusing on modeling socio-economic and environmental variables using remote sensing data.

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Michael Anderson

Michael Anderson LinkedIn

Chief Strategist, Public Sector, Informatica

As Informatica’s Chief Strategist in the Public Sector, my focus is to lead internal business and external strategic activities supporting the public sector across federal, state, and local government, higher education, and national defense. A vital part of my role is to assist organizations in successfully building a data-driven culture with leading-edge data technology capabilities.
After receiving a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Florida and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from American University, serving a 25-year career with the U.S. Army, and retiring as a Colonel, I built my industry experience at RSA and Dell-EMC within their federal and public sectors.
If your line of work also falls within the public sector focused on data management and you would like to have a chat about industry trends and share experiences, please reach out and I would be happy to talk.

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Hansang Bae

Hansang Bae LinkedIn

Public Sector Chief Technology Officer, Zscaler U.S. Government Solutions

Hansang Bae has over 25 years of experience working in the information technology industry. As Zscaler’s Public Sector CTO, he is responsible for assisting and educating customers in their Digital Transformation journey. He is not only well versed but also passionate about his role in advising public sector organizations on best practices and strategies for adopting a Cloud-First security posture.
During his career, Bae has served in similar roles as an executive member at Netskope and at Riverbed. Prior to Riverbed, he was a member of the Citi (Citigroup) Architecture and Technology Engineering leadership team. As one of the six global engineering leads, he was responsible for datacenter, branch and performance engineering, network management (NMS) tools, and capacity planning groups for all of Citi.
As an avid protocol analyst, Bae collaborates with industry associations in educating public sector organizations and also holds an active role as a board member of Wireshark Foundation, helping steer the open-source project and ensure its continued success.

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Tiffany Blair

Tiffany Blair LinkedIn

Principle, Government Digital Transformation, Salesforce

Tiffany Blair is a Principal Digital Strategist and Industry Advisory at Salesforce supporting State and Local government customers. For the last four years, as part of the Salesforce Government Digital Transformation team, she has worked with agencies and programs to set their strategic vision and roadmap as they undertake complex technology transformation efforts. She has been working with government for over 20 years, having started her career as a Medicaid analyst for New York State, then transitioning to transforming government with CRM and Cloud technology with companies including IBM, Oracle, Pegasystems, and Salesforce.

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Phil Bertolini

Phil Bertolini

Chief Delivery Officer, Government Technology

Phil Bertolini is a Chief Delivery Officer for Government Technology, the premiere event and thought leadership content provider for state and local government technology professionals. Previously, he served as deputy county executive and CIO for Oakland County, Michigan. During his 31-year tenure, Phil built a world-class IT organization in the second-largest county in Michigan, just north of Detroit. As Oakland County CIO, he oversaw more than 150 employees serving over 1.2 million residents. In 2005, he was also promoted to deputy county executive, holding dual positions until his retirement. Phil’s efforts earned the county national attention, winning numerous awards for technology innovation and excellence. He was named Governing Magazine’s Public Official of the Year and Government Technology Magazine’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers. He was also honored by the President Obama White House as a Champion of Change.

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Joe Conti

Joe Conti

Managing Director, Deloitte

Joe is a seasoned leader with over 25 years of experience in Data, Analytics, Risk and Audit. He is a thought leader in the Trustworthy and Ethical use of Artificial Intelligence and is passionate about empower agencies to utilize AI to solve some of the most complex problems they face, while mitigating and monitoring AI risk and protecting the American public. Joe is currently Deloitte Trustworthy AI leader for the Government and Public Services practice. He has held multiple global leadership roles in data, analytics, and automation, over the past 14 years including serving as Head of Innovation and Analytics for BNY Mellon’s Internal Audit department, leading data analytics functions at AIG and within Deloitte’s Risk Advisory Services. His career spans financial services and risk advisory, with a focus on driving transformation through AI, advanced analytics and automation.

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Sandra El Ashry

Sandra El Ashry

Senior Generative AI Strategist, AWS

Sandra El Ashry serves as a Senior Generative AI Strategist at the AWS Generative AI Innovation Center.
In this role, she partners with public sector customers to strategically integrate generative AI across their enterprises. With more than 15 years of experience supporting federal customers, Sandra focuses on helping them transform their operations and maximize organizational impact through the adoption of generative AI solutions.
Sandra holds a Master’s in Security Studies from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Engineering from the American University in Cairo.

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Manny Innamorato

Manny Innamorato

Former Chief Information Officer, New York City School Construction Authority (SCA)

Manny Innamorato recently completed government service after a distinguished career dedicated to seamlessly integrating business operations with cutting-edge technology and continues as an engaged professional. As the Chief Information Officer at the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA), Manny spent ten transformative years leading a digital-first revolution, driving continuous change leadership and digital transformation to enhance government efficiency through innovative tech solutions and laying the groundwork for the next wave of AI applications.
With a keen eye on disruptive technology trends, Manny has been a pivotal force in modernizing government functions throughout his 34 years of public service. His strategic partnerships have redefined how agencies deliver services and focus on their missions. Before his impactful tenure at the SCA, he served as the CIO for NYC MTAbus, where he continued to bridge operational needs with technological advancements.
Starting his career as a developer, Manny has always been at the forefront of connecting operational and tech professionals. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the City University of New York.

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Allison Koenecke

Allison Koenecke LinkedIn

Assistant Professor, Cornell University 

Allison Koenecke is an Assistant Professor of Information Science at Cornell Tech. Her research on algorithmic fairness applies computational methods, such as machine learning and causal inference, to study societal inequities in domains from online services to public health. Koenecke is regularly quoted as an expert on disparities in automated speech-to-text systems. She previously held a postdoctoral researcher role at Microsoft Research and received her PhD from Stanford's Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering. She is the recipient of several NSF grants and a Cornell CIS DEIB Faculty of the Year Award, and has been honored as a Sloan Fellow in Computer Science and Forbes 30 Under 30 lister in Science.

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Alan Leidner

Alan Leidner LinkedIn

GISMO President Emeritus and Board Member, NGAC Member 

As an Urban Planner during the 1970's I worked for the NYC Department of City Planning developed expertise in local area analysis and in the NYC zoning code. I then took an interest in City use of technology, supporting City membership in Public Technology Incorporated (PTI) and helping to introduce microcomputers into City government as the Technology Coordinator for the Mayor's Office. I then moved to the NYC Department of Environmental Protection where I became IT Director and where I coordinated the NYC Enterprise GIS effort. I directed City GIS as Assistant Commissioner and organized the Emergency Mapping and Data Center following 9/11. When I retired from City government I became a Booz Allen Hamilton consultant working on infrastructure protection issues. After leaving Booz I was hired as Director of FCNY's Center for Geospatial Innovation. My current focus is on making infrastructure data interoperable and in improving the way information is used to support disaster and emergency operations. I served as President of the NYS GIS Association and am currently President of NYC GISMO whose membership has just gone above 400. I am currently working as a consultant with NYU on their Underground Infrastructure UNUM Project, and with the Open Geospatial Consortium on their MUDDI Standards Working Group, and with their Disaster Pilot initiatives. I also worked extensively on supporting improved ways of dealing with COVID through the OGC Health Concept Development Study suggesting that spatial data and analytics could be used with greater effectiveness.

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Preston Miller

Preston Miller LinkedIn

Senior Consulting Director, Palo Alto Networks

Preston Miller, a Senior Consulting Director at Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42, is an accomplished cybersecurity professional with deep subject matter expertise in digital forensics & incident response, and experience leading high-level, complex investigations. He has co-authored several books on digital forensics, including The Python Digital Forensic Cookbook, which was named Digital Forensics Book of the Year by Forensic 4:cast.
Preston joined Unit 42 in 2021 after six years at Stroz Friedberg, where he managed complex incident response and digital forensic matters for clients across a wide range of industries. He helped establish Stroz’s mobile device working group and provided expert testimony on forensic analysis in the cases he worked.

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Keith Nelson

Keith Nelson LinkedIn

Senior Strategist, Public Sector Marketing, Open Text

Lead global public sector marketing for publicly traded software firm with $5.8 billion in annual revenues. Grew customer base by 300% year-over-year by providing thought leadership via speaker panels, authoring white papers and developing webinars and other industry-specific content. Developed strategy for growing US and international federal, state and local governments, higher education and non-profit sectors.
Led three critical Department-wide offices within the U.S. Department of Transportation – an $88 billion, 55,000 employee cabinet agency. Served as senior official in the offices of Research and Development, Budget and Finance, and Management/Administration.
As a Senior Consultant with LMI, led multi-million-dollar projects for DoD, DHS, State, GSA, VA, and the House of Representatives.
Specialties: Federal Government, Technology Marketing, Sales Enablement, Public Speaking, AI / ML Government Use Cases, Research and Development, Shared Services, IT Management, Cyber Security, Procurement/Government Contracting, federal budgets, human capital management, risk assessments.

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Laura Ogando

Laura Ogando LinkedIn

Instructional Technology Specialist, Department of Education, New York City

Laura Ogando began her more than 15+ year career with New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) as an elementary school special educator. It was in her role as a special educator that Laura became an advocate for using technology to bring equity and access to all learners. After her time in the special education classroom, she worked in her school’s media center as a digital literacy specialist, where she designed and developed her own curriculum that brought together digital literacy, computer science, and project-based learning. Currently, Laura is an Instructional Technology Specialist with the Manhattan Division of Instructional & Information Technology (DIIT). She has trained teachers, in the NYCPS system and around the country, in topics around accessibility, Google Workspace, digital literacy, and most recently, AI Literacy. Laura holds various ed tech certifications–Google Level 1 and 2 Educator, Google Innovator, BrainPOP Educator, Common Sense Media Ambassador, Apple Teacher, and Adobe District Leader. She has presented at local conferences within the NYCPS, at ISTE, and with various international organizations. Laura is a technology and educational leader who has given workshops at Lehman College and has delivered numerous professional development opportunities at various school districts.

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Shivendra Panwar, PhD

Shivendra Panwar, PhD

Professor, Director, Center for Advanced Technology in Communications, New York University 

Shivendra “Shiv" Panwar is a Professor with the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University (NYU). He is also the Director of the New York State Center for Advanced Technology in Telecommunications (CATT), the Co-Founder of the New York City Media Laboratory, and a member of NYU Wireless. He has been a Visiting Scientist at IBM Research and a Special Consultant at Bell Labs. His current research focuses on cross-layer research issues in wireless networks and multimedia transport over networks. He has co-authored the textbook TCP/IP Essentials: A Lab-based Approach (Cambridge University Press). He received the IEEE Communication Society’s Leonard G. Abraham Prize in 2004, ICC Best Paper Award in 2016, Sony Research Award, Best Paper in Multimedia Communications Award. 2011, and the 2023 IEEE HPSR Best Paper Award. He won the 2020 IIT Kanpur Distinguished Service Award and the inaugural 2020 Excellence in Research Award from NYU Tandon. He is an IEEE Life Fellow and a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.

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Zach Patton

Zach Patton

Chief Editor, Content Studio, Government Technology

Zach Patton is the chief editor of the Content Studio at e.Republic and Government Technology. He has been covering the public sector for nearly 20 years. Until 2019, he was the executive editor of Governing magazine, where he also had served as a staff writer for more than a decade.

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Dave Rheaume

Dave Rheaume

Director of SLED Sales, Atlassian

Dave Rheaume is the Director of SLED Sales at Atlassian where he leads a team dedicated to helping public sector organizations and educational institutions drive meaningful impact through collaboration and innovation. With a proven track record of building and scaling high-performing sales teams, Dave specializes in advancing digital transformation and strategic partnerships across the SLED space. Prior to joining Atlassian, Dave held leadership roles across the tech sector where he helped expand market presence and improve service delivery. He’s passionate about empowering government teams and colleges/universities with tools that streamline work, enhance agility, and ultimately help agencies achieve their mission.

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Aaron Severance

Aaron Severance LinkedIn

US Security and Resiliency Country Practice Leader, Kyndryl 

Aaron Severance is the US Security and Resiliency Country Practice Leader at Kyndryl, with extensive experience in designing and managing enterprise technology solutions focused on security and resiliency. He pioneered early data security organizations, IAM processes, and managed workloads on high-availability cloud infrastructures with 99.999% uptime. Currently, Aaron leads initiatives in data center optimization for hybrid environments, cross-platform security, and cyber resiliency.
He joined Kyndryl via the IBM spinoff after 22 years in delivery and solution design roles at EDS, HPE, and DXC. Aaron partners across US market segments to co-create cyber-resilient solutions aligned with Zero Trust and NIST frameworks, serving industries such as retail, transportation, energy, manufacturing, and financial services.
Aaron holds an Executive MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and certifications including CCSP, CCSK, and CASP+. Outside work, he enjoys the outdoors with his wife and prioritizes time with their three children and six grandchildren.

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Carrie Smith

Carrie Smith

Chief Innovation & Technology Strategist, Dell Technologies

Carrie is known for her out of the box creative thinking, problem solving skills, being an advocate for customer success & driving sales to enable Cities & States to operate more efficiently. As a Breast Cancer Survivor, she never shy’s away from a challenge & focuses on the specific goals of the agencies to provide holistic solutions to prove Dell is the best Technology Partner in the business.

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Stanislav Rostov

Stanislav Rostov

PMP, Director, IT- Architecture, Application Infrastructure and Cloud Solutions, Department of Citywide Administrative Services, New York City

My name is Stanislav Rostov, and I transferred to DCAS from OTI, former DoITT. I was part of OTI Cloud Services team and joined DCAS to help with transformation to the Cloud. But enough about me. I would like to share our Cloud journey so far and look forward to continuing discussion at the Cloud Tactics session of the NYC Technology Forum, 2024.
The transformation of the DCAS Enterprise Projects team from a traditional on-premises team to a fully-fledged Cloud Services team has been a journey of innovation, adaptability, and growth.
Initially, our team focused on managing and maintaining on-premises infrastructure, ensuring the smooth operation of various business functions. However, as the technological landscape evolved, we recognized the need for a more scalable, flexible, and cost-effective solution - cloud computing.
Our journey towards becoming a Cloud Services team also involved a significant focus on security. Ensuring the safekeeping of our data across all services became a primary focus. We implemented several measures to enhance the security of our cloud operations and worked closely with the Cyber team to ensure security accreditations.
As we progressed, we expanded our scope to include cloud adaption, migrations, and application modernization, managing a significant number of resources in the cloud. We also ensured security compliance and scheduled patching through Azure Update Manager for on-premises servers, further enhancing our efficiency and productivity.
Today, as a Cloud Services team, we continue our journey, staying ahead of the curve, and embracing new technologies and methodologies to better serve the business needs of DCAS. Our journey from an on-premises team to a Cloud Services team is a testament to our adaptability, resilience, and commitment to excellence.

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Stefaan Verhulst, PhD

Stefaan Verhulst, PhD LinkedIn

Research Professor, Center for Urban Science and Progress, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University

Dr. Stefaan G. Verhulst is an expert in using data and technology for social impact. He is the Co-Founder of several research organizations including the Governance Laboratory (GovLab) at New York University and The DataTank in Brussels where he serves in leadership positions. As a research professor at the Tandon School of Engineering of New York University, he focuses on using advances in science and technology, including data and artificial intelligence,  to improve decision-making and problem-solving. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the open-access journal Data & Policy and has served as a member of several expert groups on data and technology, including the High-Level Expert Group to the European Commission on Business-to-Government Data Sharing and the Expert Group to Eurostat on using Private Sector data for Official Statistics. Dr. Verhulst has been recognized as one of the 10 Most Influential Academics in Digital Government globally. He has published extensively on these topics, including several books, and has been invited to speak at international conferences, including TED and the UN World Data Forum. He is asked regularly to provide counsel on data stewardship to a variety of public and private organizations.

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Jennifer Walden

Jennifer Walden LinkedIn

Public Sector Client Lead, New York Metro, Accenture 

Jen Walden is a managing director in Accenture’s public sector practice, where she is responsible for government, higher ed, and nonprofit transformation initiatives in New York. With over two decades of experience driving digital transformation, Jen advises and collaborates with state and city agencies as they reimagine their legacy system replacements. She brings deep expertise in delivering citizen-centric services that are resilient, future-ready, and accessible, and that deliver value for every New Yorker.
In Modernizing Legacy Systems: Building the Digital City of the Future, Jen will share practical insights and lessons learned from recent modernization programs. Join us to discuss strategies for balancing budget constraints with long-term value, navigating complexity, and leveraging AI and emerging technologies to build systems that not only deliver measurable resident impact, but empower agencies to do more - with less.

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Agenda

Monday, December 8

12:45 pm Eastern

Registration

Dumbo / Navy Yard

1:30 pm Eastern

Opening Remarks

Salon DE

1:45 pm Eastern

Best of New York City Awards Ceremony

Salon DE

Be ready to celebrate with the New York City Government Technology community as we recognize the amazing technology and service work done for the people across the city.

2:30 pm Eastern

Networking Break

Throughout Second Floor

3:00 pm Eastern

General Session – From Paper Ledgers to Cloud Power: Modernizing ERP to Rebuild New York City Schools

Salon DE

This session highlights how shared vision, deep expertise, and modern technology came together to set a new standard for public sector innovation. The New York City School Construction Authority (NYSCA) faced the challenge of modernizing its aging ERP system to better serve more than 1,800 schools. Through a strong partnership with KPMG, the NYSCA launched a cloud-powered Oracle SaaS transformation that enhanced financial control, improved performance, and fostered inclusive collaboration. The result is a modernized foundation that empowers the agency to deliver smarter, more resilient services for the future. Join this conversation to hear how strong partnerships and modern technology can drive lasting change in government.

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

Yash Acharya, Principal, Digital Transformation, KPMG LLP

Manny Innamorato, Former Chief Information Officer, New York City School Construction Authority (SCA)

3:40 pm Eastern

General Session – Data as a Catalyst: Unlocking the Power of Trusted Information

Salon DE

Data is the fuel that powers modernization, drives AI innovation, and transforms how citizens experience government. Together, Informatica and AWS empower government agencies with trusted, well-governed data solutions that inspire confidence, break down silos, and deliver actionable insights. This session highlights how the joint capabilities of Informatica and AWS accelerate government modernization efforts, enhance AI-driven decision-making, and foster more responsive, citizen-centered services through trusted information management.

Moderator: Phil Bertolini, Chief Delivery Officer, Government Technology

Michael Anderson, Chief Strategist, Public Sector, Informatica

Sandra El Ashry, Senior Generative AI Strategist, AWS

4:20 pm Eastern

End of Day One

Tuesday, December 9

9:00 am Eastern

Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Dumbo / Navy Yard

9:55 am Eastern

Day Two Welcome Remarks

Salon DE

Ken Skeen, Conference Director, Government Technology

10:00 am Eastern

Keynote – Find Your Fight: Innovating When the Odds Are Against You

Salon DE

In moments when challenges feel insurmountable, and the odds are stacked against us, how do we find the will to fight—and win? In this powerful and energizing talk, Jessica O. Matthews shares how the most groundbreaking innovations often emerge from struggle, uncertainty, and adversity. Drawing from her own journey as a pioneering entrepreneur and inventor, Jessica explores how resilience, creativity, and relentless problem-solving can transform even the toughest setbacks into opportunities for impact and growth. This session will help you reframe challenges as opportunities for breakthrough innovation, develop resilience during moments of struggle, and uncover determination to keep fighting for transformative solutions.

Jessica O. Matthews, CEO of Uncharted, Innovator and Social Entrepreneur, Trailblazing Energy Advocate

11:00 am Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Throughout Second Floor

11:30 am Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

Modernizing Legacy Systems: Building the Digital City of the Future

Salon C

As aging technology becomes a growing barrier to efficiency and innovation, agencies are accelerating efforts to modernize legacy systems. This session explores how public sector leaders are approaching large-scale modernization projects, migrating to cloud and hybrid infrastructure, and ensuring systems are future-ready. Panelists will share lessons learned in balancing budget constraints with the demand for scalable, citizen-centric services.

Moderator: Jose Maccera, Deputy Director, IT Operations, Parks and Recreation, New York City

Tiffany Blair, Principle, Government Digital Transformation, Salesforce

AnnMarie Dull, PhD, Senior Advisor, Division of Instructional and Information Technology, Department of Education, New York City

Jennifer Walden, Public Sector Client Lead, New York Metro, Accenture

Unlocking the Power of Data: Sharing Across Agencies for Better Outcomes

Salon B

Government agencies hold vast amounts of data, but siloed systems and fragmented governance often limit its value. How can agencies break down barriers and unlock the full potential of their data to improve outcomes for all New York City residents? This session showcases best practices for data sharing across agencies to drive smarter decisions, strengthen collaboration, and enhance service delivery.

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

Oliver Ho, Senior Director, Data and Analytics, New York City’s Mayor Public Engagement Unit

AI in Action: Public Sector Use Cases That Make an Impact

Salon A

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way city agencies deliver services—from predictive models that anticipate community needs to natural language tools that improve public engagement. This session explores real-world AI use cases already making an impact in New York City. Panelists will highlight how agencies are applying AI responsibly, ensuring fairness, and balancing innovation with public trust.

Moderator: Scott Strickland, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Strategy and Governance, New York City Public Schools

Joe Conti, Managing Director, Deloitte

Keith Nelson, Senior Strategist, Public Sector Marketing, Open Text

Julia Stoyanovich, PhD, Institute Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering Associate Professor of Data Science, Center for Data Science Director, Center for Responsible AI, New York University

Protecting the City: Securing Critical Infrastructure in a Digital Era

Williamsburg / Greenpoint

As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, the security of critical infrastructure has never been more urgent. This session explores how New York City agencies are adopting modern approaches to safeguard essential systems—utilities, transportation, healthcare, and beyond. Experts will share strategies for building resilience, adopting zero trust frameworks, and protecting sensitive data in an environment where public trust is paramount.

Moderator: Lydia Payne Johnson, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Steven Branigan, Chief Information Security Officer, Teacher's Retirement Systems, New York City

Preston Miller, Senior Consulting Director, Palo Alto Networks

Olusegun Opeyemi-Ajayi, Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Transportation, New York City

Aaron Severance, US Security and Resiliency Country Practice Leader, Kyndryl

12:15 pm Eastern

Grab and Go Snack Break and Networking in the Exhibit Area

Throughout Second Floor

1:00 pm Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

Mapping the Future: How GIS Powers Smarter Cities

Salon C

Geospatial technology is central to urban planning, resource allocation, and service delivery. This session showcases how New York City is using GIS to map infrastructure, track real-time conditions, and inform smarter decisions across transportation, housing, and public health. Panelists will share insights into emerging geospatial tools, data integration, and the role of mapping in driving equitable outcomes.

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

Angel Adhikari, PhD, City Research Scientist II, Property Data Analytics Reporting and Planning, Department of Finance, New York City

Sean Ahearn, Professor and Director, Department of Geography and Environmental Science, Hunter College

Jerome Gabryszewski, AI and Data Science Development Manager North America, HP

Alan Leidner, GISMO President Emeritus and Board Member, NGAC Member

Open Data for All: Driving Innovation and Transparency in New York City

Salon B

From dashboards to civic apps, open data is transforming how New Yorkers engage with their city. This session explores how New York City agencies are opening more government data to public use, empowering communities, and fueling civic innovation. Speakers will highlight success stories that demonstrate how open data not only improves transparency but also sparks solutions from the broader tech ecosystem.

Moderator: Heidi Lorenzen, Chief Content Officer, eRepublic

Connolly Carroll, Project Manager, Data Analytics and Reporting, Brooklyn Public Library

Avigail Vantu, Director, Data Analytics, Taxi and Limousine Commission, New York City

Stefaan Verhulst, PhD, Research Professor, Center for Urban Science and Progress, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University

Cloud Smart: Making the Most of Hybrid Infrastructure

Salon A

Government is under pressure to deliver services faster, more securely, and at lower cost. Hybrid cloud strategies are a key enabler — but how can agencies balance innovation with cost management, procurement hurdles, and the need for resilience? This session highlights how New York City agencies are modernizing their infrastructure with hybrid models, rethinking applications, and ensuring cloud adoption delivers real public value.

Moderator: Lydia Payne Johnson, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Patrick Goins, Lead Partner, Hybrid Cloud, Public Market Sector, IBM

Dave Rheaume, Director of SLED Sales, Atlassian

Stanislav Rostov, PMP, Director, IT Architecture, Application Infrastructure and Cloud Solutions, Department of Citywide Administrative Services, New York City

IT Governance That Works: Frameworks for Public Sector Success

Williamsburg / Greenpoint

Strong IT governance ensures that technology investments align with organizational goals, regulatory requirements, and citizen needs. This session explores how agencies are implementing governance frameworks that balance agility with accountability. Panelists will discuss real-world approaches to managing risk, driving compliance, and ensuring technology delivers on its promise of better government services.

Moderator:Phil Bertolini, Chief Delivery Officer, Government Technology

Hansang Bae, Public Sector Chief Technology Officer, Zscaler U.S. Government Solutions

1:45 pm Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Throughout Second Floor

2:10 pm Eastern

General Session – The New York City AI Action Plan: Progress, Impact, and What’s Next

Salon DE

This session explores the progress, impact, and next steps of the New York City AI Action Plan. City leaders will share updates on how New York City is turning its AI vision into action—highlighting implementation milestones, cross-agency collaboration, research and analysis, and frameworks that ensure transparency, public engagement, and equity. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how the City is responsibly harnessing AI to enhance public services, strengthen trust, and shape a more innovative and inclusive digital future.

Moderator: Phil Bertolini, Chief Delivery Officer, Government Technology

2:40 pm Eastern

General Session – New York City IT Management Academy: Leading the Next Era of Digital Government

Salon DE

As technology continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, IT leaders play a critical role in shaping how New York City delivers efficient, secure, and innovative public services. This session highlights the New York City IT Management Academy—a professional development initiative designed to equip city technology managers with the skills, strategies, and leadership tools needed to navigate the complexities of digital transformation. Attendees will gain insight into how the Academy is fostering collaboration, strengthening governance, and preparing the next generation of IT leaders to guide the city’s technology future with vision, agility, and impact.

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

3:10 pm Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Throughout Second Floor

3:30 pm Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

Digital Equity in New York City: Expanding Access and Inclusion

Salon C

Technology should serve every New Yorker, yet access, inclusion, and accessibility remain pressing challenges. How can the city ensure that underserved communities and people with disabilities fully benefit from its digital initiatives? This session highlights New York City’s efforts to expand broadband, provide digital literacy training, improve accessibility in digital services, and design technology with equity at the center. Panelists will share how programs are bridging the digital divide and creating opportunities for all New Yorkers.

Moderator: Heidi Lorenzen, Chief Content Officer, eRepublic

Allison Koenecke, Assistant Professor, Cornell University

Laura Ogando, Instructional Technology Specialist, Department of Education, New York City

Shaping the Smart City: New York City’s Next Frontier with 5G

Salon B

Emerging technologies like 5G are redefining what’s possible for smart cities. From connected infrastructure to immersive public services, the opportunities are immense—but how can New York City adopt this innovation responsibly? This session explores how NYC agencies are beginning to deploy 5G and the challenges of integrating it into the city’s complex infrastructure.

Moderator: Ken Skeen, Conference Director, Government Technology

Shivendra “Shiv” Panwar, Professor, Director, NY State Center for Advanced Technology in Telecommunications, New York University

Rethinking Procurement: Driving Innovation Through Reform

Salon A

Traditional procurement processes often slow down innovation and make it difficult for agencies to adopt new technologies. This session explores how New York City is reimagining procurement to better align with the pace of digital transformation. Panelists will discuss reforms that streamline vendor engagement, improve transparency, and foster stronger public–private collaboration. Attendees will hear lessons learned from agencies that have successfully navigated procurement challenges to deliver smarter, faster, and more impactful services for New Yorkers.

Moderator: Lydia Payne Johnson, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Phillip Intatano, Agency Chief Contracting Officer, Department of Buildings, New York City

Carrie Smith, Chief Innovation & Technology Strategist, Dell Technologies

Christine Weydig, Strategic Advisor, Public Sector, Schneider Electric

Kim Yu, Director, Mayor's Office of Contract Services, Chief Procurement Officer, New York City

4:15 pm Eastern

End of Summit

Conference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change

New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge

333 Adams Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 246-7000

Get Directions To
New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge

Made Possible by Our Corporate Sponsors

Registration Information / Contact Us

Event Date: December 8 - 9, 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.

This event is open to all individuals who meet the eligibility criteria, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, age, disability, or any other protected class. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all participants.</p

Contact Information

Need help registering, or have general event questions? Contact:

Lee Vang
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 932-1407
E-mail: lvang@erepublic.com

Already a sponsor, but need a hand? Reach out to:

Mireya Gaton
Government Technology
A Division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 296-2617
E-mail: mgaton@erepublic.com

Want to sponsor and stand out? Reach out to explore opportunities!

Heather Earney
Government Technology
A Division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 365-2308
E-mail: heather.earney@erepublic.com

Venue

New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge

333 Adams Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 246-7000

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Room Block 

Room Rate: $329/night, deluxe room.
Rate Cut-Off Date: Friday, November 21, 2025.
To Make a Reservation:
   Phone: (718) 246-7000 and reference New York City Technology Forum 2025
   Online: Group Reservation Link
If you experience issues booking online, call the hotel directly for assistance.

Rooms are on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note, once the room block is full, you will need to make other arrangements for your accommodations with the hotel directly or at a nearby hotel. 

Map and Directions

Hotels near Brooklyn Bridge | New York Brooklyn Bridge

Event Parking

Self-parking: $60/night
Valet parking: N/A

SUVs are subject to additional charges.

Parking fees subject to change without notice.