Douglas Alexander, CISSP, serves as the Director of the Institute for Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies at Rhode Island College, where he spearheads initiatives in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence education. With advanced degrees from Princeton University and the Rochester Institute of Technology, Mr. Alexander brings over 27 years of experience in technology and cybersecurity to his role. Throughout his career, he has held key leadership positions across a variety of sectors, including K-12 educational technology, community broadband, and systems engineering. In his current capacity, he is dedicated to enhancing the capabilities of Rhode Island's cybersecurity and AI workforce, fostering connection, innovation, and resilience in the field.

Nick Craig is the Director of Information Technology for the City of Newport, RI. He has been working for the department since 2021. Prior to moving into the public sector, Nick was the Chief information officer for a regional fastener distributor for 12 years, where he developed skills inside and outside of the technology scope. Nick has also been the sole proprietor of an IT consulting business since 2007. After graduating from Moses Brown, a preparatory school in Providence, he studied in numerous areas, including journalism, mechanical and material engineering, network engineering and cybersecurity at Indiana University, Clark University, Bristol Community College, and Purdue. Nick created programs for small businesses to attract talent, manage in-house IT infrastructure, and to educate teams on how to effectively develop and deploy software solutions. It was the success of these programs that urged him to seek opportunity to develop similar strategies in the public sector. Nick currently sits on the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program committee, the Aquidneck Island Broadband Consortium, and actively seeks involvement in opportunities to improve local government access to funding and support for a broad range of IT infrastructure.”

Scott Gausland leads the newly formed Data, Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence (DAAI CoE) within the Enterprise Technology Strategy & Services (ETSS) Division of the Department of Administration. The DAAI CoE will serve Rhode Island state agencies as the innovation hub for data, analytic and AI projects by providing strategic direction, policy formation, and technology recommendation. The DAAI CoE will also manage the development of the Integrated Data System that will connect and make available data from different state agencies to better inform policy and improve efficiencies. Scott is also charged with developing a statewide data governance program which will create standards for state agencies on classifying and sharing data.
Scott joined state service in 2004 at the Rhode Island Department of Education. He created the K12 student ID system and went on to develop several data collection platforms. Scott designed and developed a comprehensive data warehouse system, single sign-on portal and procured and installed several server farms as their Sr. Database Administrator before being promoted to CIO in 2019. Previously Scott held positions as a software engineer at American Power Conversion and as a technical sales rep at IBM.
Scott graduated Magna Cum Laude from Bryant University in 1993 with a BS in Marketing and went on to earn his MBA at Bryant in Computer Information Systems in 2001.

Gabriele Fariello is a strategic IT executive with nearly three decades of experience leading transformative initiatives in higher education, healthcare, biotechnology, and beyond. Currently serving as the CIO and AVP of IT at the University of Rhode Island, he specializes in aligning technology with organizational strategy to drive measurable impact. His expertise spans digital transformation, machine learning, cybersecurity, and data-informed decision-making.
Previously, Gabriele held leadership roles at Harvard University, where he led IT and research computing for the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and taught courses in artificial intelligence. He has also held executive positions in clinical research informatics and the biotech industry. A frequent advisor to senior leadership teams, Gabriele is known for building high-performing organizations and bridging technical innovation with strategic outcomes.

I have worked with the State of Rhode Island since October 2016 in various roles within ETSS (Enterprise Technology Strategy and Services). I am currently responsible for the Agency and Enterprise Applications for all Non-Health agencies. Additionally, I am leading the Low Code/No Code Center of Excellence initiative under our Office of Digital Excellence. My experience with Workforce Hiring and Upskilling began long before the state at my previous job in Managing technical teams. Hiring in Rhode Island has always been a struggle with our neighboring states often offering more perks and higher salaries. Becoming creative in efforts like taking on interns from colleges, mentorship programs, providing training for those who have an interest in another career path, sourcing and recruiting efforts.

Dr. Timothy M. Henry, a seasoned educator and project management professional, brings over 40 years of computer science and Information systems technology expertise. With a Ph.D. In applied mathematical sciences and with a PMP certification, Dr. Henry has distinguished himself in academia and industry. He has taught and developed a diverse array of undergraduate and graduate courses, specializing in areas such as cybersecurity, artificial Intelligence, and project management.
While working in industry, Dr. Henry managed large-scale projects showcasing his ability to lead teams in developing and implementing complex information systems. He directed projects involving state-wide child welfare systems, healthcare corporate financial systems, and mobile projects to serve healthcare professionals and first responders. His strategic planning, budgeting, and system design expertise have consistently driven successful project outcomes.
Dr. Henry's career includes roles at several public and private higher education institutions. His contributions extend beyond teaching; he has led initiatives for program assessment and accreditation, developed online learning management systems, and directed cybersecurity centers.
Dr. Henry is an accomplished author who has co-authored award-winning textbooks and served on numerous boards and committees, contributing to community health and education. Dr. Henry combines his technical prowess with exceptional communication skills, making him a pivotal figure in his professional and local communities.

Gary Jarvis is the Deputy Chief of Information Technology for the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority. He has been working for RIPTA since 2018. Gary’s career spans forty years working in the private sector in manufacturing, distribution, retail and now transportation in the public sector. A graduate from Roger Williams University, he has been in leadership positions throughout his career. Gary embraces new technological advances to increase efficiency in processes while ensuring the authority’s cybersecurity safeguards are adequately in place.

Jacques Laflamme is a graduate of Northeastern University and a proud US Army Veteran with close to 40 years of experience in Information Technology and Cyber Security. A Network Engineer by trade, he possesses both hands-on technical skills and business acumen in building, leading and delivering IT solutions and services. Jacques has a proven successful track record in identifying and executing technology strategies with his present employer, New England Institute of Technology, as well as Harvard University, Thomson Reuters, State Street Corp, Fidelity Investments and MIT Lincoln Laboratory. Throughout his career, he has provided business value to organizations as a natural communicator who has built relationships across multiple levels within all of the organization he has been part. He has completed focused areas of study in Computer Science, Project Management, Cyber Security, as well as IT Service Management and is a Certified Information Security System Professional (CISSP). Jacques was awarded the 2018 Providence Business News C-Suite Award, as well as the 2018 Rhode Island Magazine Tech10 Award. He currently serves as the Chair of the Board for OSHEAN Inc. Jacques’ community work includes close to 20 years of running youth sports organizations and coaching youth Hockey, Baseball and Softball.

Dr. Rebecca Lebeau, M.P.H., Ph.D., serves as the Director of Data and Analytics at The Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), where she spearheads data governance and data sharing practices across agencies. With a steadfast commitment to collaboration and transparency, Dr. Lebeau leads efforts to integrate diverse data systems, ensuring a more comprehensive understanding of populations across the state.
Dr. Lebeau directs a dynamic team of analysts, guiding initiatives aimed at synthesizing data from various sources to inform policy development, program management, and operational strategies within the healthcare sector. Through her leadership, she establishes and upholds robust data governance frameworks, ensuring the responsible and ethical use of data in decision-making processes.

Chuck earned an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Chuck has multi-industry experience which began in aerospace & defense. He later became the CIO of Textron Financial, a $900m commercial finance company. He spent 7 years on the board of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of RI, of which his last 3 were as Chairman of the Board.
Chuck currently serves on the Board of the YMCA of Pawtucket. He is a governing body co-chair for the Boston CIO Summit, and previously served 4+ years as an advisory board member and mentor for Year Up.
Chuck recently led a cross functional team at Braynt University that created a suite of Generative AI tools that were honored by the 2025 CIO 100 Awards. It’s an award that recognizes the top 100 organizations in the U.S. that drive innovation, transformation, and business success through technology.

Nicole Nelson has spent the last 20 years leading and directing IT system projects, 12 years in the private sector and 8 years within state government.
As the Director of IT Systems for EOHHS, Nicole brings clear direction and oversight to the large technology systems that support human service program operations, and Health Information Technology. Her responsibilities include strategic planning, procurement, vendor management, design solutioning, and organizational change management.

Arulanandan (Arul) Rangaraju is the Chief of Information Technology for the State of Rhode Island, where he leads the strategy and delivery of critical digital programs that impacts various agencies that bring a unified and seamless digital experience to the residents of Rhode Island. He is a seasoned IT and business transformation professional with core architecture and solution delivery experience in government, environmental management, retail, CPG, and telecom domains. His vast experience includes strategic consulting, technology, and business transformation with a global delivery experience for large companies with work exposure in 25+ countries.

Laurie has over 25 years of experience in higher education, developing business-aligned technology strategies and building high-performance IT teams. She is a leader in launching and managing secure mission-critical enterprise systems and infrastructure and successfully integrating disparate systems. She became a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) in 2015, a Certified ScrumMaster in 2021, and earned a Master of Science degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology in 2022 in Project Management. 
In December 2023 she came to Rhode Island College from Connecticut College, where she served as the Associate CIO, Enterprise Systems. In the role at Conn College, she led the IT Portfolio and Project Management Office, as well as many strategic initiatives to move applications to software as a service or Cloud hosted solutions. 
During her time in the Asst. CIO role at RIC, she worked closely with then CIO, Pamela Christman, the Information Technology Services department, and campus partners to enhance project management and governance of critical technology projects.
When Pam departed in October 2024, Laurie stepped into the Interim Assistant Vice President and Chief Information Officer position at RIC. In the CIO role she has focused her efforts on several strategic initiatives including improvement of Information Security, development of an ERP Strategy, and modernizing systems to provide streamlined and more efficient services to the RIC community.

Samuel Shankar is a seasoned technology executive and Agentforce and Agentic Lead for State & Local + EDU at Salesforce, where he drives strategic initiatives to maximize client value and satisfaction. With an MBA from Henley Business School and a background in engineering, Sam blends technical expertise with strong leadership to drive outcomes. Passionate continuous learning, and he remains dedicated to delivering impactful solutions to State and Local Government and EDU initiatives.

Jonathan serves as the National Director of State Strategy at Fortinet. Prior to joining Fortinet, Jonathan served the State of North Carolina in various appointed leadership positions for two separate Governor’s administrations.
Most recently, Jonathan served as the Chief Operating Officer of the NC Department of Information Technology. As COO, Jonathan ran all aspects of operations within the department and its nearly $1.2billion budget as well as the state’s $1.5 billion Statewide IT Procurement Office. He managed the Legal Division, Chief Procurement Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Legislative Affairs, Human Resources, Communications and Facilities.
Jonathan began his service to the department when he was appointed to be the General Counsel. In that role, he managed the Department ‘s legal department, with a focus on complex IT contract negotiations and legislative affairs. He also wrote the legal structure for the State’s Office of Broadband and Digital Opportunity which is set to distribute over $2billion in state and federal funds.
Prior to joining DIT, Jonathan spent over a decade with the NC Department of Justice where he was a Special Deputy Attorney General representing various state agencies including DIT where he served as legal counsel to the Statewide IT Procurement Office negotiating IT contracts for all state agencies.
Jonathan is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, in Chapel Hill and the North Carolina Central School of Law. He is a self-proclaimed rabid fan of Carolina Basketball and a lifelong Tar Heel.

Elise Swearingen holds a Master of Science in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution from Creighton University School of Law and has worked in the public sector for nearly two decades. Throughout her career in Municipal and State government, Elise has brought to bear her unique background and knack for fostering cooperative environments to create strong, successful teams and advance collective priorities. She's a proven collaborator, an electrifying speaker, and a trusted, pragmatic leader who readily deploys humor and grace to the benefit of user adoption and utilization

Interim Chief of Cyber for Region 1 – New England and Cybersecurity Advisor for Rhode Island, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Mike Tetreault is the Cybersecurity Advisor (CSA) for Rhode Island and the interim Chief of Cyber for New England with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). CSAs are the front-facing cyber experts supporting regional operations capabilities. Mr. Tetreault manages the major cyber engagements in Rhode Island with additional support to New England, championing cyber resilience to public and private sector partners through information sharing, engagements, promoting education and awareness of Cybersecurity, and performing risk assessments.
His career began over 30 years ago as a private sector programmer analyst, including 18 years as an IT Director with the Department of Defense (DoD) before joining CISA in January 2021. Mike is a retired Army Colonel and proud Army combat veteran. Mike holds a B.S. degree from Bryant College in Computer Information Systems, an MBA in Information Technology from Trident University, an M.S. degree in Government Information Leadership from National Defense University, and an M.S. in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.
Mike is a certified Department of Defense Chief Information Officer, Chief Information Security Officer, Cyber Leader, Government Strategic Leader, and Enterprise Architect. He is also a Committee on National Security Systems Certified Information Security Professional, System Certifier, Risk Analyst, and Senior System Manager. He holds the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Information Systems Security Management Professional (ISSMP), and Certified in Governance Risk and Compliance (CGRC) certifications from the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2).

Director Jonathan Womer has a strong record of public service, both in Rhode Island and in the nation. From 2015-2021 he served as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget at the RI Department of Administration, where he worked collaboratively with the Governor and General Assembly to develop and implement the annual budget for the state. During his previous tenure at DOA, he also redesigned business processes, implemented a cloud-based budgeting system, established the state’s fraud data analytics section, and created a cohesive statewide rule-making process.
Director Womer has also served as Deputy Director for Management and Chief Information Officer for the North Carolina Office of the Governor, as Associate Vice President for Finance and Economic Analysis at the University of North Carolina, and most recently as Senior Advisor to The Policy Lab at Brown University. He holds a BA in Public Policy from Duke University and both a Master of Public Policy and a Master of Science of Information from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor.

Before joining the City of East Providence, Zambrano served as the Director of Technology Services at Family Health Center of Worcester where he oversaw IT operations for the healthcare facility of more than 500 people across 12 buildings. In addition, Zambrano successfully managed a multi-million dollar budget, while overseeing compliance with industry standards and regulations.
Prior to his time at Family Health Center, Zambrano served as the Director of Technology for the City of Warwick where he oversaw day-to-day IT operations, created significant cost-saving measures for the city, and developed and implemented a long-term IT plan for the city. In addition, Zambrano previously served as the IT Director for East Greenwich Public Schools.
Zambrano earned his Master of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership and his Bachelor of Sciences in Information Science from Johnson and Wales University. He also served five years as a personnel specialist with the U.S. Air Force Reserves.