Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Grand Ballroom Pre-Function and Grand Ballroom 1

Opening Remarks

Grand Ballroom 2-3

Kristin Darby, Chief Information Officer, Department of Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions, State of Tennessee

Keynote – The Future of AI

Grand Ballroom 2-3

How can your organization harness the power of artificial intelligence without sacrificing ethics, trust, or long-term value? Together we will explore how industries are evolving with generative and applied AI while spotlighting real-world case studies that move beyond the hype. Founder and Chief AI Officer at AI Leadership Institute, Noelle Russell, offers a clear, actionable framework to scale AI responsibly, mitigating bias, protecting privacy, and fostering innovation that complements human ingenuity. Discover how to translate excitement into execution and ensure your AI investments drive meaningful, sustainable growth.

Noelle Russell, Leading AI Innovator and Practitioner, Founder and Chief AI Officer at AI Leadership Institute

Sponsored by: Carahsoft | Adobe, CGI, Slalom

General Session – Mission-Critical: The Role of IT in Statewide Disaster Response

Grand Ballroom 2-3

IT professionals serve as "digital first responders" during catastrophic weather events, providing the technical agility and mission-critical infrastructure required to power life-saving operations. By examining Cross-Agency Collaboration as a Lifeline, we will discuss how diverse state and local divisions move beyond their daily silos to act as a unified force, utilizing Centralized Crisis Communication to offload emergency dispatchers and Real-Time Data Systems to maintain clinical interventions for vulnerable populations in isolated facilities. The session highlights the critical coordination required to restore damaged infrastructure and maintain networks under extreme pressure, offering actionable lessons in technical resilience and inter-departmental cooperation to build a more responsive and prepared state.

Richard Littlehale, Assistant Director for Technology, Tennessee Bureau of Investigations

Alex Pellum, Chief of Staff, TEMA

Dr. Paul Petersen, Director, Emergency Preparedness Program, Department of Health, State of Tennessee

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Grand Ballroom Pre-Function and Grand Ballroom 1

Refuel and reconnect over premium refreshments courtesy of Recharge Break Sponsors: C Spire, Krasan Consulting, and Red Hat, Inc.

Concurrent Sessions

Cultivating an AI-Ready Culture

Music City Ballroom, Level 2

Before plugging in the tools, organizations must reanalyze their fundamental processes. This session explores the essential change management exercises required to shift organizational mindsets and prepare for a digital-first future. We will discuss the strategic necessity of auditing legacy workflows and how to stand up a Business Process Management team to define exactly what problems need solving before applying automation. By focusing on a "problem-first" rather than a "tool-first" approach, leaders will learn how to build a scalable foundation that ensures AI implementation drives meaningful results rather than just automating existing inefficiencies.

Moderator: Crystal Haring, Artificial Intelligence Administrator, Finance and Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions, State of Tennessee

Karthik Agarwal, Chief Executive Officer, Gov2Biz, Inc

Rajesh Santhanam, Principal, KPMG

Kendrick Vaughns, Technical Director, Department of Human Services, State of Tennessee

The Corridor of Tomorrow: Scaling Smart Hubs and Operational Tech

Fisk Room, Level 2

As municipalities transition from traditional infrastructure to data-driven ecosystems, the integration of Operational Technology (OT) has become the cornerstone of regional connectivity. This session provides a deep dive into the Smart Hub concept, exploring how interconnected corridors are transforming the way cities manage mobility, public safety, and resource allocation. We move beyond the buzzwords to examine the specific hardware requirements, such as edge computing nodes, multi-sensor arrays, and high-speed fiber backbones, necessary to support a modern and tech-enabled region.

Moderator: Zach Patton, Editorial Director, Content Studio, Government Technology

Brent Morgan, Technology Strategist, Lumen

The Blueprint for High-Quality Data Ecosystems

Belmont Room 2-3, Level 3

Before an organization can effectively leverage advanced automation or intelligent systems, it must first secure and understand the data that fuels them. This session explores the critical prerequisites for digital readiness, focusing on the transition from fragmented data silos to a governed, high-quality data ecosystem. We will discuss the strategic necessity of data discovery and mapping, identifying where sensitive information lives and ensuring it is properly classified before new technologies are integrated into the environment.

Cristin Lotz, Director of the Office of Evidence and Impact, Finance and Administration, State of Tennessee

Defending Against Autonomous Digital Threats

Belmont Room 1, Level 3

In 2026, the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity has moved from theory to a high-stakes "arms race." As government agencies integrate AI to improve service delivery, adversaries are simultaneously leveraging Agentic AI - autonomous systems capable of scanning vulnerabilities, chaining exploits, and executing destructive attacks at a velocity that exceeds human response times. This session provides a critical briefing for government leaders on the current threat landscape and the strategic shifts required to maintain digital sovereignty.

Moderator: Zach Thorn, National Conference Director, Government Technology

David Campeau, Director of SOC, Finance and Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions, State of Tennessee

Neal Gallucci, Senior Manager, Solution Consulting, Socure

Andrew Weidenhamer, Principal, National Cyber Public Sector Leader, RSM US LLP

Lunch

Grand Ballroom 2-3

General Session – The Digital Front Door: Navigating the ADA Title II Final Rule

Grand Ballroom 2-3

The clock is ticking on the Department of Justice’s new federal mandate for digital accessibility. For Tennessee state and local governments, "accessible" is no longer a suggestion—it is a strictly defined technical requirement with looming legal deadlines. This session provides a practical roadmap for public officials, IT leads, and ADA coordinators to bring their digital presence into compliance.

Alexandria Eddings, Digital Accessibility Coordinator, Department of Disability and Aging, State of Tennessee

April Romero, Sr. Enterprise Project Director, Enterprise Project Management Office, State of Tennessee

Sarah VanWormer, Technology Director, City of Brentwood

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

Concurrent Sessions

From Suspicion to Recovery: Building Cyber Resilience and Continuity in the Real World

Grand Ballroom 2-3

Incident response and resilience planning are increasingly complex. In this immersive Save the Data ransomware tabletop exercise, participants will work through a county ransomware attack scenario based on real-world events. Attendees will step into key stakeholder roles to make real-time decisions, prioritize critical services, coordinate with partners, and determine what to communicate publicly. They will collaborate with peers and experts to move from early threat suspicion to coordinated response and recovery. Participants will leave with practical strategies to shift their organization's strategy from reactive response to proactive cyber resilience and continuity planning.

Optimizing the Workforce for a New Era

Fisk Room, Level 2

Emerging technologies are transforming the public sector workforce by streamlining operations, enhancing decision-making, and redefining job roles. As government agencies adopt new tools and automation, the challenge lies in balancing technological innovation with workforce optimization. How can IT leaders ensure a smooth transition, empower employees with new skills, and foster effective collaboration? This session will delve into strategies for seamlessly integrating emerging technologies into government operations while cultivating a culture that is resilient.

Moderator: Zach Patton, Editorial Director, Content Studio, Government Technology

Christy Gary, Vice President of Strategic Accounts, KnowledgeLake

Bill Lewis, Director, Business Process Automation, Finance and Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions, State of Tennessee

Dr. Sam Zaza, Associate Professor of Information Systems and Analytics, Jones College of Business, Middle Tennessee State University

Beyond the Prompt: Skills for Using Generative AI Effectively

Belmont Room 2-3, Level 3

Generative AI has opened the door to new levels of productivity, creativity, and decision-making—but only if you know how to use it well. This session is designed to help public-sector professionals build the skills needed to get the most from AI tools. We’ll explore the art and science of crafting effective prompts, strategies for checking and verifying outputs, and best practices for integrating AI into daily workflows responsibly. Join us for an engaging session that demystifies GenAI and helps you become a more confident, competent user.

Moderator: Zach Thorn, National Conference Director, Government Technology

John Evans, Chief Technology Advisor, SLED Advisory Consultant, World Wide Technology

Burton Nyhus, Program Director, AI Enablement, Finance and Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions, State of Tennessee

How IT Serves as the Invisible Backbone for Major Events

Belmont Room 1, Level 3

When massive events draw global crowds, a region's digital infrastructure faces an ultimate stress test. This session explores the critical IT elements required to manage high-density gatherings, moving beyond standard planning to discuss the challenges of scaling connectivity for international media and safeguarding the infrastructure supporting major stadiums and urban corridors. Participants will learn how IT serves as the "invisible backbone"—ensuring that despite unprecedented demand, large-scale events remain secure, connected, and operationally resilient.

Derek Usner, Sr. Manager, T-Mobile for Government

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Music City Ballroom, Level 2

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Grand Ballroom Pre-Function and Grand Ballroom 1

Refuel and reconnect over premium refreshments courtesy of Recharge Break Sponsors: C Spire, Krasan Consulting, and Red Hat, Inc.

General Session – The Future Frontier: Realizing Tennessee’s Quantum Leap

Grand Ballroom 2-3

Following Governor Lee’s State of the State address, which committed $20 million to establish Tennessee as a national leader in quantum computing, this session explores the strategic roadmap for the "Tennessee Quantum Initiative." We will examine how this state-level investment is transforming the regional economy by fostering a "quantum-ready" workforce through cutting-edge research hubs and academic partnerships. Join us to learn how Tennessee is leveraging its unique scientific infrastructure—from state-of-the-art laboratory breakthroughs to interdisciplinary training programs—to solve the nation’s most complex problems and secure its position as the primary catalyst for the next generation of technological innovation.

Moderator: Mike Connors, Principal, Deloitte

Evann Freeman, Vice President, Government & Community Relations, EPB

Hugh Hale, Chief Information Officer, TennCare

Colin Soutar, US Quantum Cyber Readiness Lead, Deloitte

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

Grand Ballroom Pre-Function and Grand Ballroom 1

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

End of Conference

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