Tennessee Digital Government Summit 2024 Banner

Overview

The Digital Government Summit brings together technology focused public-sector professionals with leading industry partners to connect on innovative approaches, get inspired and discover new technologies. Join us and let’s improve the future of government together!

A message from our Keynote Speaker

It is my pleasure to invite you to join us at eRepublic’s 21st annual Tennessee Digital Government Summit on May 14th! Join us as we harness the power of cross-industry collaboration and expertise to navigate the dynamic landscape of the digital era. Together, we will explore how to revolutionize the digital experience for our citizens, adapt to future trends, and enhance public service delivery. This event unites professionals from government, technology, finance, business, and the private sector to inspire groundbreaking discussions and foster impactful user experiences. Don't miss out on the opportunity to connect, learn, and forge valuable relationships that drive innovation in our ever-evolving field. I look forward to seeing you soon at the 2024 Tennessee Digital Government Summit.

– Stephanie Dedmon, Chief Information Officer, State of Tennessee

Speakers

Stephanie Dedmon

Stephanie Dedmon

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

Stephanie Dedmon was named CIO for the State of Tennessee in October 2018. In this role she is responsible for all operational areas of the state’s central IT organization, Strategic Technology Solutions. This includes managing the team’s IT service delivery, technical infrastructure development and support and customer service management and a workforce of almost 1200 IT professionals.
As Deputy CIO, Dedmon was previously responsible for the Enterprise IT Transformation (EIT) initiative that furthered the State’s enterprise IT organization by transitioning over 800 Executive Branch Department IT employees to STS. Prior to being named Deputy CIO in November of 2015, Dedmon served as the Director of Business Solutions Delivery (BSD), also within the Department of Finance & Administration. BSD was created in late 2011 to build a team of experienced senior project directors, project managers and business analysts to help lead the state’s most complex IT/business solution implementations and improve project delivery success rates.
Prior to joining the State in 2005, Dedmon was an Associate Partner with Accenture in Nashville and served as project director on many public sector software implementations. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Tennessee Technological University (TTU) in Cookeville, Tennessee, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, also from TTU. She achieved her Project Management Professional certification in August of 2012.
Dedmon is a member of the National Association of State CIOs (NASCIO), where she serves as Secretary/Treasurer with the Executive Committee and as Co-Chair of the Innovation Committee. She is a member of the Greater Nashville Technology Council, where she serves as the Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair and is a Board Member. She is also an active member of Women in Technology in Tennessee and the Nashville Project Management Institute (PMI) chapter. In March 2018, she was named one of Government Technology’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers for her work on the State’s IT transformation. She also was the recipient of the George H. Bass award for Leadership in Tennessee State Government in October 2019. Most recently, Dedmon was awarded CIO of the Year at the Greater Nashville Technology Council’s 12th Annual NTC Awards in April 2021.

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Sharon Gai

Sharon Gai

Keynote Speaker and Author

Sharon Gai is an international female keynote speaker for corporations, associations and the public sector. Using her unique background from the east and west, she works with leaders worldwide to understand how to adopt AI into their workflows to increase productivity and efficiency. In her tenure at Alibaba, she advised brands and heads of state in crafting their digital strategy with programmatic marketing and AI. She has been the keynote speaker at TEDx, Singularity University, UBS, Deloitte, LVMH, Nestle, Ecomworld, and Etail. She is in the AAE list of Top Keynote Speakers in 2023. She is also one of 2024’s RETHINK Retail’s Top Retail Expert and a LinkedIn Top Voice in Public Speaking 2023. She has appeared on Bloomberg, ABC, CBC, CCTV, Techcrunch, Retail Asia, Wired, and The Next Web. She is the author of the book, Ecommerce Reimagined. Sharon has an Honors Bachelor’s degree in International Development from McGill and a Masters in Information and Knowledge Strategy from Columbia University.

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Teri Takai

Teri Takai

Senior Vice President, Center for Digital Government

Teri Takai is Senior Vice President of the Center for Digital Government, a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. She worked for Ford Motor Company for 30 years in global application development and information technology strategic planning. From Ford, she moved to EDS in support of General Motors. A long-time interest in public service led her to the government sector, first as CIO of the State of Michigan, then as CIO of the State of California and, subsequently, the CIO of the U.S. Department of Defense, the first woman appointed to this role. She then served as the CIO for Meridian Health Plan.
Teri is a member of several industry advisory boards. She has won numerous awards including Governing magazine’s Public Official of the Year, CIO Magazine’s CIO Hall of Fame, Government Technology magazine’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers, the Women in Defense Excellence in Leadership Award and the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.

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Dr. Kristie A. Abston

Dr. Kristie A. Abston

Associate Professor of Management, Jones College of Business, Middle Tennessee State University

Kristie has spent 25+ years as a practitioner, student, and scholar in human resource management and holds the SPHR and SHRM-CP certifications. Her expertise encompasses employee burnout, engagement, and retention, employer branding, inclusion and belonging, organizational culture, and talent development. In the Jones College of Business at MTSU, she emphasizes practical, experiential learning in both undergraduate and graduate courses. Kristie earned her Ph.D. in business administration from the University of Tennessee and is an award-winning research reviewer and scholar with publications in renowned outlets like the Journal of Business Research and the Journal of Management. She is a past-president and Fellow of the Association for Business Simulation and Experiential Learning (ABSEL) and the Southeast Case Research Association (SECRA). Kristie is a member of RUTHERFORD Cable, the Middle Tennessee Society for Human Resource Management, and several academic organizations. She grew up in Tennessee, and her family calls Murfreesboro home. She volunteers regularly for events like the Invention Convention and DECA, and she serves in the special needs ministry at her church.

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Tim Appleby

Tim Appleby

Sr. Director, Head of Public Sector Strategic Services and SLED Lead, Google Cloud Security

Mr. Appleby is an information technology executive focused on Cybersecurity with over 20 years of progressive experience in information security and large-scale project/program management. Mr. Appleby has worked for various commercial companies, US government agencies, law enforcement organizations and consultancies such as Citibank, Mandiant, FireEye, Iridium, USF&G Insurance, and Fujitsu. Tim also has extensive experience speaking at conferences and events, has published articles for numerous professional journals and magazines, and has participated in many industries round table events. 
Tim is currently accountable for the delivery of the Strategic Portfolio of Professional Services at Global Public Sector. As such, he is responsible for the management and oversight of more than 46 strategically aligned professional services. Further, Tim has led internal focus areas such as Supply Chain Risk Management, Election Support, Cloud Services, Zero Trust architecture and Framework development, Significant Event Coordination, Large scale National capacity and capability planning, and Long-Term Strategic and Operational Development.  
Tim has maintained thought leadership in all of these subject areas through various industry and global writings, presentations, and research projects. He also leads our participation in various government sanctioned efforts such as the Department of Homeland Security Joint Cyber Defense Collective, the Department of Homeland Security Continuous Diagnostics and Monitoring program. Tim is also serving as the President of the North Texas Members Alliance of the FBI Infragard Private Sector Outreach program.

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Jim Bryson

Jim Bryson

Commissioner, Finance & Administration, State of Tennessee

Jim Bryson became commissioner of Finance and Administration on June 15, 2022, after joining Gov. Bill Lee's administration in May 2019 as deputy commissioner for Parks and Conservation in the Department of Environment and Conservation, where he was responsible for Tennessee State Parks, Tennessee Division of Archaeology, Tennessee Division of Natural Areas, Partnerships and Development, Recreation Education Services, Administration, Facilities Management, Interpretive Programs, and Marketing.
Jim is founder and president of 20/20 Research Inc., a market research consulting, project management and technology firm based in Nashville. He served three terms as international president of the Qualitative Research Consultants Association, supporting skills, abilities and competencies that help companies better understand customers' needs.
Jim also served as state senator representing Williamson County from 2003 to 2007.
Jim is Past President of The Sycamore Institute, an independent, nonpartisan public policy research center focused on Tennessee issues. He is also a member of the Nashville Downtown Rotary Club and the Brentwood Methodist Church in Brentwood. Jim earned his bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and received a Masters in Business Administration from Vanderbilt. He and his wife, Carol, a Greeneville native, have four children and two grandchildren.

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Ron Cameron

Ron Cameron LinkedIn

CEO, KnowledgeLake

With over 3 decades of experience in the technology industry, Ron is a passionate leader and innovator who specializes in business process automation. As the Founder and CEO of KnowledgeLake, he oversees the vision, strategy, and execution of our solutions that help organizations achieve super-efficient AI powered workflow automation. Ron is proud to be part of AIIM and the Forbes Technology Council where he shares his insights. His company, KnowledgeLake, has been recognized as the Top Workplace for the last 5 years in a row and has won the Microsoft Partner of the Year award 5 times. Ron enjoys collaborating with customers, partners, and team members to create value and solve problems.

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Curtis Clan

Curtis Clan

Chief Information Security Officer, Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions, State of Tennessee

As Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the state of Tennessee, Curtis Clan leads the State of Tennessee’s security program. He is able to utilize his vast technical knowledge in networking and information security as well as his leadership skills developed over his career. With this knowledge and skills, Curtis keeps the State well ahead of any threats to the state information technology assets.
After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Kentucky University, Curtis worked his way up the Information Technology ranks through positions at Fort Knox, Keesler Air Force Base, Fort Campbell, and finally the State of Tennessee. In addition, he has received his Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) certification.
During his 23-year career at the State, Curtis has held multiple key positions in Information technology. Positions held being network engineer, engineering manager, director of network and finally in 2015 was named Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).
As CISO, Curtis has expanded the capabilities of the security program and drastically reduced the risk to the State.
Curtis believes in a strong work ethic, which he learned during his upbringing in a very small, but industrious farming community.
Curtis is a dedicated father to his young son Hunter.

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Jim Conkwright

Jim Conkwright LinkedIn

Managing Director, KPMG

Jim is a Managing Director with KPMG supporting State and Local Government. With nearly 30 years of experience in a variety of positions within the Information Technology, Software Development, Government, and Data/Information Management industries, Jim provides Technical Advisory Services, Project and Program Leadership, Strategic Planning, Governance, Enterprise Architecture, IT Strategy development and implementation, Quality Assurance, and leadership in Data Governance, Data Management and Enterprise System Implementation and Integration.
Jim has a broad range of experience in both the public and private sectors and has served as executive leadership responsible for systems development and systems integration for several Fortune 100 companies including those that serve government clients. Jim has also provided subject matter expertise and acts as a trusted advisor to organizations undergoing large scale transformation and modernization, especially during implementation of large enterprise solutions.

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James

James "Artie" Crawford

Cyber Security Coordinator for the State of Tennessee, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

Mr. Crawford is seasoned professional with a robust background in cybersecurity strategy and an in-depth technical knowledge of complex issues with a deep understanding of tools, techniques, procedures, and attack vectors used by cyber adversaries. Experienced in providing strategy, collaboration and engineering support to a multitude of organizations ranging from State and Local Governments, Education, Intelligence, and the Department of Defense in support of their Cyber Security mission.
Artie's career spans roles at Microsoft, FireEye, MITRE, LMCO, and SAIC, where he developed Techniques, Tools, and Procedures (TTPs) for Joint Service Components, and the National Security Agency. Notable achievements include establishing the Joint Cyber Center for US Central Command and implementing Active Defense concepts for real-world operations with United States Central Command. A 27-year Marine Corps veteran, Artie retired in 2011 as the Cyber Security Chief of the Marine Corps, serving as the Senior technical advisor to the CIO and Director of C4.
Artie holds a Graduate Degree in Computer Engineering with a focus on Cyber Security from the Air Institute of Technology. He is actively pursuing a Ph.D. and has published works on topics such as "Total Cost of Ownership for Software Protection" and participated in conference hearings on "Cyber Warfare Defensive Operations," "Return on Investment for Building Secure Software," and "Building the Cyber Security Workforce."

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Erin Crisp

Erin Crisp

Executive Director, Tennessee Grow Your Own Center, University of Tennessee

Dr. Erin Crisp leads the Tennessee Grow Your Own Center where her team is expanding the educator pipeline through registered teacher apprenticeship programs. Prior to joining the GYO Center, Crisp held the chief academic officer's role for a software development startup for two years. The first two decades of her career were spent in K-12 education and higher education where she designed pathways for innovative programs including competency-based education, project-based learning, micro-credentialing, and online programs to better serve working adult learners. Erin's research interests revolve around the instructional technology, curriculum, and feedback design to improve the learner experience. She holds a doctorate in education, instructional technology, from Indiana University, a masters in instructional technology from Towson University, and a bachelor's in English education from Indiana Wesleyan University. When she isn't thinking about teaching and learning, she is probably visiting her 3 adult sons, camping, backpacking, or exploring Knoxville with her spouse, Eric.

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David Cumbow

David Cumbow

Solutions Architect, Palo Alto Networks

David Cumbow is a seasoned security professional and Principal Architect at Palo Alto Networks. With 22 years of experience in the field, he has a passion for helping organizations improve their security posture. David has led engineering teams across the U.S. to deliver innovative solutions that tackle security challenges faced by State Government, Local Government, and Education customers. Prior to joining Palo Alto Networks, he worked for 13 years in the public sector and has held various technical roles from Database Administration to Virtualization. His passion for security and focus on leveraging intelligence and automation have helped many organizations achieve a stronger security posture with limited manpower and budget.

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Brad Freeze

Brad Freeze

Deputy Director, Nashville Department of Transportation & Multimodal Infrastructure, Metropolitan Government & Davidson County

Brad Freeze is the Deputy Director of the Nashville Department of Transportation & Multimodal Infrastructure. He joined NDOT on November 1, 2021, with a mission to improve our city's transportation network, connecting neighborhoods, residents, and businesses in a safe and efficient manner.
Brad is a licensed engineer and holds degrees in Engineering from Tennessee Technological University and Civil Engineering from the University of Tennessee. Prior to his current role, he worked as the Director of the Traffic Operations Division at the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).
A native of the Nashville area, Brad resides in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, with his wife, Rachel, and their two daughters, Eliza and Emajean. In his role as Deputy Director, Brad is dedicated to serving Nashville's residents and commuters, striving to enhance the accessibility and efficiency of our transportation system.

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John Griffey

John Griffey

Chief Information Security Officer, Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County

John Griffey is the current Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County (Metro) Chief Information Security Officer and interim Chief Information Officer.  He has been the CISO for 8 years, overseeing Metro’s information security management program, including policy development, cyber risk management, incident response and awareness training, as well as supervising various security related divisions within the Information Technology Services department.  He has worked in various public sector information technology and security roles for 27 years.  Most recently he has led efforts in developing Metro’s first Artificial Intelligence and Generative Artificial Intelligence Use policy and building out standards, guidance, and training around the use of artificial intelligence at Metro.

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Sherry Lawdermilt, Ph.D.

Sherry Lawdermilt, Ph.D.

Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Austin Peay State University

Dr. Sherry Lawdermilt is the Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Austin Peay State University, collaborating with campus constituents to align technology initiatives with the University’s strategic goals. She has over 26 years of experience in IT in both higher education and municipal government having worked in many different technical and managerial roles. Prior to working in IT, she served in the United States Marine Corps for seven years. Sherry has a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership, an MBA with a focus on management information systems, and a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems.

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Anthony Lawson

Anthony Lawson LinkedIn

Senior Director, Technical Product Management, Cradlepoint

Anthony Lawson is a seasoned expert with over two decades of experience in the realm of secure enterprise networking technologies, coupled with profound expertise in 5G cellular wireless and SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) security solutions. His career journey embodies a relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation in the rapidly evolving landscape of telecommunications and cybersecurity.

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Trena Maynard

Trena Maynard

Chief People Officer, Finance & Administration, State of Tennessee

Trena Maynard has been with the Department of F&A for over 20 years. She currently serves as the Department of Finance and Administration’s (F&A) Chief People Officer since January 2023. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the people strategy, human resources, and talent management functions within the department. The department currently has over 2200 positions to support eight divisions of which 1200 of those positions are currently in the IT division known as Strategic Technology Solutions (STS).
She started her state career with F&A in March 2004 in Benefits Administration. She has served in various HR and Operational roles throughout her state career and led the Next Gen IT effort for the division of STS to establish new IT job classifications which led to the recruitment and reassignment of more than 700 IT employees within a span of three years.
In her spare time, Trena enjoys spending quality time with family and friends. She has grandchildren and a 2-year-old Australian shepherd who help to keep her active.

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Jamia McDonald

Jamia McDonald LinkedIn

Principal, Deloitte

Clyde Roark

Clyde Roark

Cybersecurity Advisor, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

Clyde Roark serves as a Cybersecurity Advisor (CSA) for Region 4 of the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). In this role, he coordinates CISA’s efforts to reduce risk and enhance the cyber resiliency of critical infrastructure throughout the eight southeastern states (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC and TN) with a focus on the gulf-coast. He works with public sector partners, such as state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as private-sector organizations essential to the nation’s critical infrastructure.
Prior to becoming a CSA, Clyde successfully served CISA in numerous roles as the Deputy Section Chief of Threat Hunt Industrial Control Systems Section, Deputy Section Chief of Threat Hunt Advisary Pursuit, Section Chief of Federal Network Defense, and the Pensacola Section Chief for the Threat Hunt Detection Branch. Prior to his positions at CISA, he was a senior information systems engineer and deputy program manager at the United States Army Network Technology Command.
Clyde enlisted in the United States Navy as an Aviation Boatswain Mate, Landing Signal-men. After his enlistment, Clyde obtained a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from Old Dominion University. While he pursued a career in cybersecurity, Clyde affiliated with the Navy Reserves in 2010 and commissioned in 2012. He currently holds the rank of Lieutenant Commander and serves as the Operations Department Head for Navy Information Operations Command Pensacola-Georgia.
Clyde holds numerous military and industry certifications and is the recipient of multiple awards and accolades. He lives in Pensacola with his 13 year old son.

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Cesar Salazar

Special Agent in Charge, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, State of Tennessee

TBI Special Agent in Charge Cesar Salazar has been with the TBI approximately 17 years. He's in charge of the Cybercrime and Digital Evidence Unit, consisting of 4 squads, Digital Forensics, Internet Crime Against Children, Operational Technologies and Cybercrime Investigations. During his career with the TBI he has been involved in investigating primarily technical investigations including Internet Crimes Against Children and Cybercrime investigations. He is also a Task Force Officer with the FBI Cyber Squad. Prior to joining the TBI he worked as a Software Engineer developing different kinds of software. He holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering and a Masters Degree in Computer Science. He also holds a CISSP certification.

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Rob Tudor

Rob Tudor

Director, IT Partnerships, The Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education, Nashville State Community College

In 2018, Nashville State Community College hired Rob Tudor as the Director of IT Partnerships and Student Placement to develop work-based learning opportunities for IT students, create deep partnerships in the IT community and innovate the college’s credit programs and non-credit IT training. Rob is an IT Leader with 35 years of project and people management experience in many industry verticals: automotive financing, publishing, retail, supply chain / logistics and higher education / state government. He holds a BS degree in MIS from Western Kentucky University and a Certificate of Graduate Studies in CBE from Lipscomb University.

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Sergio Weiberg

Sergio Weiberg

Director of Operations, Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions, State of Tennessee

As the Director of Operations for Center for Enterprise Data and Analytics (CEDA), Sergio is fortunate to work with a great team, some of the smartest folks at the State, helping Departments and Agencies traverse through their analytical endeavors.

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Agenda

Tuesday, May 14

8:00 am Central

Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Grand Ballroom 1

9:00 am Central

Opening Remarks

Grand Ballroom 2-3

Stephanie Dedmon, Chief Information Officer, State of Tennessee

9:10 am Central

Keynote – Leading the AI Revolution: IT's New Role in Global Public Sector Innovation

Grand Ballroom 2-3

AI is reshaping everything and IT leaders in government and public sector organizations stand at a pivotal juncture. Traditionally viewed as reactive and slower to innovate than the private sector, the public sector is now uniquely positioned to take a hands-on stance in AI implementation. To do that, we need to understand how IT departments can anticipate and address business needs proactively. In this whirlwind session, digital transformation and AI expert, Sharon Gai, will take us on a journey around the world. Starting from the bustling streets of Hangzhou to the high-tech healthcare facilities of Tokyo, and finally to the classrooms of New York. Through this session, government leaders will understand the myriad ways AI is redefining society and be equipped with actionable insights, aiding them in harnessing the full potential of AI for the betterment of their communities.

Sharon Gai, Keynote Speaker and Author

10:15 am Central

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Grand Ballroom 1

10:45 am Central

Concurrent Sessions

Demystifying AI – A Realistic Perspective

Fisk, Level 2

Artificial Intelligence is one of the most talked about technologies inside and outside of government. Machine learning, chatbots, predictive analytics and generative AI are only some of the ways AI is rapidly embedding itself into organizations across the globe. As with any new technology, there are more questions than answers. This session will offer a level set, exploring various terms and definitions as well as the ethics, governance and security concerns AI presents that must be confronted now and into the future.

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

Akhil Bhargava, Field CTO Solution Pursuit, Advizex

John Griffey, Chief Information Security Officer, Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County

Jamia McDonald, Principal, Deloitte

The IT Workforce of the Future

Belmont 1, Level 3

Workforce challenges in the public sector are not a new issue – but one that has certainly evolved over the last few years. What skills are ACTUALLY needed to have an effective team in 2024? How can we ensure we have the right people in place to align IT initiatives with business strategies? Are there new approaches to examine as we look to retain and upskill our current staff? This session will provide answers to those questions as we strive to build a robust and dynamic workforce.

Moderator: Rob Tudor, Director, IT Partnerships, The Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education, Nashville State Community College

Ron Cameron, CEO, KnowledgeLake

Erin Crisp, Executive Director, Tennessee Grow Your Own Center, University of Tennessee

Sherry Lawdermilt, Ph.D., Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Austin Peay State University

Trena Maynard, Chief People Officer, Finance & Administration, State of Tennessee

Show Me the Money – Planning for the Future!

Belmont 2, Level 3

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the public sector faces unique funding challenges. From upgrading outdated systems to developing innovative solutions - securing adequate capital is crucial for driving progress and delivering effective services. Why does IT cost more and how does that affect our planning for the future? Can we be agile as we look to integrate emerging technology solutions into our short and long-term strategies? This session will provide an overview of how we pay for technology in government and how to get the most out of our finite resources.

Moderator: Teri Takai, Senior Vice President, Center for Digital Government and Center for Public Sector AI

Jim Bryson, Commissioner, Finance & Administration, State of Tennessee

Sarah VanWormer, Director of Technology, City of Brentwood

Senator Bo Watson, Chair, Finance, Ways and Means Committee, State of Tennessee

Driving Smart Communities Forward in Tennessee

Belmont 3, Level 3

Improving service delivery for Tennessee residents depends on effective and “smart” collaboration. How should we be approaching partnerships and how can we ensure the right stakeholders have a seat at the table? How do issues like affordable housing, transportation and connectivity affect the bigger picture? How does emerging technology and IoT affect the landscape? This session will dive into how leaders across the state are working together to improve lives.

Moderator: Zach Thorn, Senior National Conference Director, Government Technology

Brad Freeze, Deputy Director, Department of Transportation & Multimodal Infrastructure, Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County

Don Katello, Senior Manager, State Government, T-Mobile for Government

Anthony Lawson, Senior Director, Technical Product Management, Cradlepoint

11:45 am Central

Lunch

Grand Ballroom 2-3

12:30 pm Central

General Session – Surviving the Hack Attack: What You Need to Know!

Grand Ballroom 2-3

Ransomware attacks are ever-evolving security threats that require continuous and diligent proactive defense. What can past incidents and attacks teach us about building resilient systems and processes? How should your organization respond to minimize damage and downtime during an attack? What do you need to look at as you recover and rebuild? This interactive session will throw you into the action and showcase effective strategies for both preparation and response.

Moderator: Zach Thorn, Senior National Conference Director, Government Technology

Curtis Clan, Chief Information Security Officer, Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions, State of Tennessee

James "Artie" Crawford, Cyber Security Coordinator for the State of Tennessee, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

Cesar Salazar, Special Agent in Charge, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, State of Tennessee

1:20 pm Central

General Session – From Fragmentation to Fusion: Building a Unified Government IT Ecosystem

Grand Ballroom 2-3

In an era marked by rapid technological advancements and evolving citizen expectations, the need for seamless cooperation among different government entities has never been more crucial. But what does that actually look like? Is there a way we can better harness the combined power of federal, state and local thought leadership and funding opportunities? Do we need to reexamine our communication strategy? This session will dive into the challenge we face as public sector leaders – and further explore best practices and tactics for breaking through those silos.

Moderator: Teri Takai, Senior Vice President, Center for Digital Government and Center for Public Sector AI

Stephanie Dedmon, Chief Information Officer, State of Tennessee

Cody York, Director, Office of Information Technology (OIT), Rutherford County

1:40 pm Central

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

1:50 pm Central

Concurrent Sessions

Securing the Backbone: Strategies for Defending Critical IT Infrastructure

Fisk, Level 2

Bad actors have more tools at their disposal than ever before and staying on top of them has proven to be the challenge of our day. What does the current threat landscape look like? Are there new tools and tactics we can deploy to strengthen our security posture? Following up on our earlier discussion, this session takes a further dive into cyber strategies and how to ultimately protect your most critical infrastructure.

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

Tim Appleby, Sr. Director, Head of Public Sector Strategic Services and SLED Lead, Mandiant, now part of Google Cloud

David Cumbow, Solutions Architect, Palo Alto Networks

Clyde Roark, Cybersecurity Advisor, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

Data Governance: Navigating the Present and Shaping the Future

Belmont 1, Level 3

In an era defined by rapid technological advancement and exponential data growth, organizations face unprecedented challenges and opportunities in managing and sharing data effectively. This session delves into the critical considerations and strategies for navigating the complex landscape of data governance and sharing - both now and into the future.

Moderator: Zach Thorn, Senior National Conference Director, Government Technology

Amber Brimm, Director of Data Governance, Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions, State of Tennessee

Zach Brunk, Senior Solution Engineer, Snowflake

Jim Conkwright, Managing Director, KPMG

Karl Rehder, IT Director, Data Engineering, Supporting Department of Human Services, State of Tennessee

Sergio Weiberg, Director of Operations, Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions, State of Tennessee

Focusing on People in Times of Disruption

Belmont 2, Level 3

“Disruption” has been defined in various ways over the last few years. The pandemic made us look inward and focus on our teams in a different way as our home life and professional life seemingly melded together. The AI integration we now find ourselves in presents new and different challenges. The bottom line is that technology changes people. How should we approach these impacts on individuals in the workplace, such as stress and exhaustion? What tendencies do we have as IT professionals, and how do we take advantage of them? Can we more effectively utilize individuals with a more creative or digital mindset? This session will dive into how technology shapes us as humans and how to overcome the challenges along the way - helping organizations retain IT talent.

Moderator: Dr. Kristie A. Abston, Associate Professor of Management, Jones College of Business, Middle Tennessee State University

Pearl Amanfu, Digital Inclusion Officer, Information Technology Services, Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County

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

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Belmont 3, Hotel Level 3

Hosted by: Stephanie Dedmon, Chief Information Officer, State of Tennessee

2:50 pm Central

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Grand Ballroom 1

3:10 pm Central

General Session – The State of AI in GovTech: Exploring the Future

Grand Ballroom 2-3

Presented by the Center for Public Sector AI, this keynote presentation delves into the present status of Artificial Intelligence in the GovTech sector, offering a detailed examination of AI's applications within state and local governments. We will explore AI's potential future paths in GovTech, highlighting emerging trends and discussing how technology and policy leaders can prepare for AI's impact on service delivery. We will address starting points for AI implementation, stressing the importance of collaboration, ethical considerations, and equitable technology access. This forward-looking talk will equip attendees with a thorough understanding of AI's trajectory in GovTech, providing practical insights to effectively leverage AI for public sector innovation and advancement.

Teri Takai, Senior Vice President, Center for Digital Government and Center for Public Sector AI

4:10 pm Central

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

Grand Ballroom 1

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

4:45 pm Central

End of Conference

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

Renaissance Nashville Hotel

611 Commerce Street
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 255-8400

Get Directions To
Renaissance Nashville Hotel

Advisory Board

Government Representatives

Gabrielle Authier
Executive Director Business Solutions Delivery
Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions
State of Tennessee

Brian Beard
Enterprise Solutions Architect Supervisor
Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions
State of Tennessee

Anthony Burwell
Agency CIO for Human Services
Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions
State of Tennessee

Bob Campbell
Chief Technology Architect
Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions
State of Tennessee

Curtis Clan
Chief Information Security Officer
Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions
State of Tennessee

Stephanie Dedmon
Chief Information Officer
Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions
State of Tennessee

Joe Denton
Director of Business Intelligence for Business and Community Development Business Domain
Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions
State of Tennessee

Chris Fears
Deputy Director for Customer Focused Government (CFG)
Finance and Administration
State of Tennessee

Stacy Gibson
Assistant Commissioner
Department of Revenue
State of Tennessee

Vijay Gollapudi
Chief Information Officer
Education
State of Tennessee

Hugh Hale
Chief Information Officer
TennCare
State of Tennessee

Vicky Hutchings
Project Management User Group, Executive Committee Chair
Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions
State of Tennessee

Lynn Jennings
Executive Director of Cloud
Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions
State of Tennessee

Jerry Jones
Chief Operating Officer
Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions
State of Tennessee

Andy Kidd
Deputy Commissioner
Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
State of Tennessee

Christin Lotz
Director of the Office of Evidence & Impact
Finance & Administration

Trena Maynard
Chief People Officer
Finance & Administration
State of Tennessee

Bishoy Mikhail
Vice President of Research
Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

Tyson Morris
Chief Information Officer
City of Chattanooga

Eugene Neubert
Deputy Commissioner
Finance and Administration
State of Tennessee

Sandra Perry
Chief Information Officer
Shelby County

Lola Potter
Director of Communications
Finance and Administration
State of Tennessee

Bob Pucci
Executive Director of Innovation and Enterprise Architecture
Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions
State of Tennessee

David Tall
Agency CIO
Department of Health
State of Tennessee

Greg Turner
Director, Health and Social Services Business Domain
Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions
State of Tennessee

Sarah VanWormer
Technology Director
City of Brentwood

Tim Warren
CIO
Tennessee State University

Roger Waynick
Director of Strategic Engagement
Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions
State of Tennessee

Peter Westerholm
Policy Director
Greater Nashville Regional Council

Greg Wilkins
Executive Director of Center for Enterprise Data & Analytics (CEDA)
Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions
State of Tennessee

Jennifer Williams
IT Professionals Association (ITPA) Chair
Administrative Office of the Courts
State of Tennessee

Amie Wilson
IT Director
Information Technology
City of Clarksville

Kim Yap
Assistant Commissioner
Department of Human Resources
State of Tennessee

Cody York
Director of OIT
Office of Information Technology (OIT)
Rutherford County

Dr. Sam Zaza
Assistant Professor of Information Systems and Analytics
Middle Tennessee State University

Industry Representatives

Megan Buell
Client Relationship Executive for State, Local & Higher Education
Deloitte Consulting

Lauren Collett
Account Executive
Google Cloud

Maggi Duncan
Industry Segment Advisor
T-Mobile for Government

Bill Huskey
Account Executive
Snowflake

Ben Moebes
Sales Director
Cradlepoint

Bart Peluso
Vice President of Marketing
KnowledgeLake

Bruce Priddy
Account Executive
Advizex

David Rodriguez
Managing Director, State of Tennessee Account Lead
KPMG

Daniel Stunkel
Account Executive
Palo Alto Networks

Registration Information / Contact Us

Contact Information

2025 Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact:

Heather Earney
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 932-1339
E-mail: heather.earney@erepublic.com

Venue

Renaissance Nashville Hotel

611 Commerce Street
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 255-8400