Registration and Morning Refreshments

Imperial Ballroom Foyer

Opening Remarks

Imperial Salon III, IV & V

Teena Piccione, Secretary and Chief Information Officer, Department of Information Technology, State of North Carolina

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

Imperial Salon III, IV & V

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

General Session – The Power of Storytelling: Building Your Brand and Advancing Your Mission

Imperial Salon III, IV & V

Effective storytelling isn’t just about communication - it’s a powerful tool for building trust, engaging communities, and attracting top talent. How can organizations craft compelling narratives that highlight their mission, impact, and values? Can it be a tool to strengthen brand awareness and public perception? This session will dive into strategies for using storytelling to humanize government work, showcase success stories, and connect with both constituents and potential recruits. Learn how a well-told story can differentiate your workplace culture, enhance recruitment efforts, and inspire the next generation of public servants.

Networking Break

Imperial Ballroom Foyer

Concurrent Sessions

Strengthening Readiness in the Face of Cyber Risks and Natural Disasters

Imperial Salon I & II

North Carolina’s recent experiences with natural disasters, coupled with the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats, have highlighted the critical need for robust resiliency and continuity planning. This session will explore how the state is addressing these challenges head-on, focusing on strategies for safeguarding infrastructure, maintaining continuity of operations, and protecting sensitive data.

Adrian Savic, Managing Director, KPMG, LLP

Building Tomorrow’s IT Workforce: Strategies for Recruitment and Retention

Imperial Salon VI

As technology rapidly evolves, state and local agencies face significant challenges in attracting, hiring, and retaining skilled IT professionals. Competition with the private sector, rigid hiring processes, and shifting workforce expectations require innovative solutions to build a resilient and future-ready team. This session will examine the root causes of these hiring challenges and explore practical strategies to overcome them.

Empowering Organizational Agility: Bridging IT and Business for Success

Imperial Salon VII

In today's dynamic landscape, aligning IT endeavors with overarching business strategies is a priority for organizational agility. Establishing strong relationships is the key to achieving this alignment. Do you have the right structure to get things done? Join us to discover strategies for fostering cohesion between IT and business operations, enhancing collaboration, and cultivating agility.

Phaedra Boinodiris, IBM Consulting's Global Leader for Trustworthy AI, IBM

Cynthia Bowles, Account Executive, Atlassian

Lunch

Imperial Ballroom III, IV & V

Higher Ed Showcase – Strategies to Reskill and Uplift

Imperial Ballroom III, IV & V

Short Break

Concurrent Sessions

Passing the Torch: Strategies for Knowledge Retention and Workforce Transition

Imperial Salon I & II

As seasoned public sector professionals retire and workforce dynamics shift, state and local governments must proactively address knowledge retention and leadership transitions. How can we more effectively plan for the future and establish knowledge management strategies? This session will discuss best practices for documenting and sharing critical knowledge, the role of mentorship, cross-training, and leadership development to better capture and manage institutional expertise.

Gary Smith, Executive Managing Director, Sales, KnowledgeLake

Navigating the Future: Economic Outlook and IT Budgeting in North Carolina

Imperial Salon VI

With shifting policies, state and local governments in North Carolina must adapt their IT strategies to align with evolving economic conditions and funding landscapes. This session will provide an economic outlook on IT in North Carolina, examining key trends, investment priorities, and the impact of regulations on state and local technology initiatives.

Networking Break

Imperial Ballroom Foyer

General Session – Accelerating North Carolina’s IT Strategy

Imperial Ballroom III, IV & V

Teena Piccione, Secretary and Chief Information Officer, Department of Information Technology, State of North Carolina

Teri Takai, Senior Vice President, Center for Digital Government

Networking Reception

Imperial Ballroom Foyer

Network with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event sponsors.

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