Texas IT Leadership Forum 2026
Overview
The Texas IT Leadership Forum is where tomorrow’s government leaders grow today.
This invitation-only gathering brings together state and local IT executives, emerging leaders, and visionary thinkers for candid conversations on the future of public-sector technology. Focused on leadership development, innovation, and strategy, the Forum goes beyond the tech to address the people, policies, and practices shaping digital government. Through peer exchange and practical sessions, participants gain the insights, relationships, and skills needed to lead their organizations and communities into the future.
Austin Marriott Downtown
304 E. Cesar Chavez Street
Austin, TX 78701
512-457-1111
Austin Marriott Downtown
Advisory Board
Government Representatives
Fuat Aki
Director of Development
Texas Education Agency
State of Texas
Patricia Avitia
Chief Information Officer
Water Development Board
State of Texas
Jessica Ballew
Chief Information Officer
Department of Public Safety
State of Texas
Carl Drescher
Chief Information Officer
Lower Colorado River Authority
State of Texas
Kerrica Laake
Chief Information Officer
City of Austin
Jim Malmros
Application Development Manager
Office of Comptroller
State of Texas
Prasanth Manukonda
Chief Information Officer
Texas Facilities Commission
State of Texas
Drew McGrath
Chief Information Officer
Department of Family and Protective Services
State of Texas
Tony Sauerhoff
Executive Director and State Chief Information Officer
Department of Information Resources
State of Texas
Richard Semple
Chief Information Officer
Williamson County
Jennifer Whitman
Deputy Chief Information Officer
Teacher Retirement System of Texas
Cory Wilburn
Chief Information Officer
McCombs School of Business
The University of Texas at Austin
Industry Representatives
Kindra Allen
Managing Director
Deloitte
David Arington
Cloud Platform Representative
Oracle
John Forshay
Account Executive
Dell Technologies
Brad Gardiner
Enterprise Account Executive, SLED
NinjaOne
Chad Lersch
Client Relationship Executive
KPMG
Amanda Luther
Managing Director and Senior Partner
Boston Consulting Group
Rob McClay
Director of Strategic Accounts
Tanium
Kathryn McGirk
Client Advocate
Google Public Sector
Jack O'Connell
Senior Account Executive
Google Public Sector
Dan Parham
Head of State & Local Government, U.S.
OpenAI
Graeme Steakley
Director of Sales
Wasabi
Dan Teczar
Lead Client Partner
IBM
Registration Information / Contact Us
Event Date: November 19, 2026
This is an invitation-only event, open to Public Sector only. For more information or to request an invitation, please contact Abigail Suiter.
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.
Contact Information
Need help registering, or have general event questions? Contact:
Abigail Suiter
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 932-1405
E-mail: asuiter@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