Utah Digital Government Summit 2023 Banner

Overview

View photo highlights of the Utah Digital Government Summit here.

Photo credit: Matt Herp with Conference Images

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

We are excited to gather once again for the annual Utah Digital Government Summit! This year’s Summit will provide the unique opportunity for you to be able to collaborate with your peers, as well as participate in important discussions and network with industry partners. The Summit is a chance to connect with others to innovate and solve challenges around IT. I’m looking forward to it, and I hope to see you there!

– Alan Fuller, Chief Information Officer, State of Utah

Speakers

Deidre Henderson

Deidre Henderson

Lieutenant Governor, State of Utah

Deidre M. Henderson became Utah’s ninth lieutenant governor on Jan. 4, 2021.
As lieutenant governor, she is Utah’s chief election officer and serves as secretary of state. Lt. Gov. Henderson has dedicated her time in office to removing barriers to success for all Utahns, ensuring that elections are well run, and bolstering the state’s relationship with Native American tribes. In politics, Lt. Gov. Henderson stands by the wisdom of the U.S. Constitution, free markets, fiscal conservatism, federalism, and the blessings of freedom and liberty.
A mother of five adult children, Lt. Gov. Henderson spent her 20s working, wiping her children’s noses and bottoms, and helping put her husband, Gabe, through school. She dropped out of college during her first year at BYU to raise a family in Spanish Fork.
Before Utahns elected Lt. Gov. Henderson as the second-highest official in the Beehive State, she served eight years in the Utah Senate representing south Utah County. As a senator, Sen. Henderson built a reputation as a strong conservative and champion of women and families.
A consensus seeker, Lt. Gov. Henderson assembles every point of view to find solutions. She is a staunch advocate for expanding opportunities for all Utahns.
While in office, Lt. Gov. Henderson created Return Utah, a first-in-the-nation state program for Utahns who have been out of the workforce for an extended period. Return Utah helps people gain relevant experience as they re-enter the workforce.
Lt. Gov. Henderson works closely with Utah’s eight federally recognized Native American tribes on infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic development issues. For example, Lt. Gov. Henderson’s work with leaders from the Navajo Nation, state government, San Juan County, and Blanding City helped secure a deal to bring running water to the Diné community of Westwater.
Lt. Gov. Henderson has a passion for history and stands on the shoulders of Utah’s many history-making women like Seraph Young Ford, Martha Hughes Cannon, Becky Lockhart, Alberta Henry, and so many more.
While serving as lieutenant governor, she returned to college and earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Brigham Young University. Lt. Gov. Henderson loves theater, history, and rural Utah. She hopes to improve how Utah responds to domestic violence.
Lt. Gov. Henderson and her husband Gabe reside in Spanish Fork and spend as much time as possible with their children, three sons-in-law, and two adorable grandsons.

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Alan Fuller

Alan Fuller

Chief Information Officer, State of Utah

John Register

John Register

Paralympic Games Silver Medalist, Persian Gulf War veteran, TEDx Motivational Speaker

John Register is a two-time Paralympian, Paralympic Games Silver Medalist, Persian Gulf War veteran, and TEDx Motivational Speaker. He embraced a “new normal mindset” in becoming an amputee following a misstep over a hurdle while training for the 1996 Olympic Games, after participation in two consecutive Olympic trials.
An Oak Park, Ill. native, Register discovered how to “amputate his fear of disability” and founded the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee Military Sport Program in the early 2000s. He launched a book titled: 10 Stories to Impact Any Leader: Journal Your Way to Leadership Success, as business leaders return to work with their staff amid stressful circumstances surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic and the recent unrest in our urban cities.
Register teaches business professionals through his “Hurdling Adversity” speeches and podcasts to “amputate fear and embrace their new normal,” as they discover “stories within themselves.”
He finds that “it is the personal stories that inspire teams more profoundly with greater impact.”
Register is a four-time All-American graduate of University of Arkansas. He served six years in the U.S. Army—including in operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and in active-duty with the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program—winning nine gold medals in the Armed Services Competition and two World Military Championships.
Register had his left leg amputated after a misstep over a hurdle changed his life. Register hyperextended his knee and severed the popliteal artery. He started swimming to aid in his recovery, made the U.S. Paralympic Team in 1996, and later won a silver medal in the long jump—as he set an American record—and sprinted to fifth in the 100 meters and 200 meters at the U.S. Paralympic Games in Sydney.
Register resides in Colorado Springs, CO with his wife Alice. The couple have three children - John Jr., Ashley, and Ronald.

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Jack Shaw

Jack Shaw

Innovation and Technology Strategist, Speaker, Author, Consultant

Starting over three decades ago, even before the birth of e-commerce, and through the advent of blockchain in the early Millennium era, Jack took an early and enduring interest in understanding how new technologies create disruptive change while enabling creative innovation in everyday processes, corporate strategies, and even fundamental business models as well as how organizations must adjust and adapt to those impacts.
His decades of experience designing, developing, and implementing emerging technologies have given him a deep understanding of how these evolve and are adopted. This experience enables him to speak with unique perspective on such current leading-edge technologies as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, 5G, and the Internet of Things and how, individually and collectively, they will impact business and society.
Jack has delivered over 1,000 keynote presentations and executive forums in 26 countries and every state across the U.S. He is a Yale University graduate, and he holds a Kellogg MBA degree specializing in Finance and Marketing.

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John Barrand

John Barrand LinkedIn

Division Director, Division of Human Resource Management, State of Utah

John Barrand, Division Director of the Utah Division of Human Resource Management (DHRM), was appointed by Governor Cox to lead DHRM effective February 9, 2021. John has served as the director of human resources for Backcounty.com based in Park City, UT, and both Enlivant and Rockit Ranch Productions in Chicago. He also has HR experience at Allstate Insurance and Procter and Gamble. He has a master's degree in human resource management from the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University and a bachelor's degree in organizational communications from Brigham Young University - Idaho.

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Hanna Bennett

Deputy Director, Department of Public Safety, State of Utah

Hanna Bennett is the Deputy Director for the Utah Statewide Information & Analysis Center (SIAC) with the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS). Prior to her current role, she was a Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst and awarded Cyber Analyst of the Year from the National Fusion Center Association (NFCA) and the Public Safety Medal of Excellence from DPS for her work to establish the SIAC's cyber program sharing cyber threat intelligence and information with public and private sector partners. Hanna holds a B.S. in Information Technology, and is currently pursuing her Masters in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance from Southern Utah University.

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Aaron Bentley

Aaron Bentley LinkedIn

Chief Information Officer, Information Management Services, Salt Lake City Corporation

Aaron Bentley has worked for Salt Lake City for over twenty years. While at the city he has held several roles in the Information Management Services department. He currently serves as the Chief Information Officer and a member of Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s cabinet.
Aaron and his team enjoy modernizing local government and transforming Salt Lake City into a more open and inclusive community. He is passionate about tackling the digital divide in the city and has worked with the mayor and city council to establish programs to help address these issues.
Aaron attended Brigham Young University and Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He and his wife Amy enjoy serving the refugee community who call Utah home. They have 8 children, 4 of which are refugees from around the world.

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Jon Bosche

Jon Bosche

Systems Architect, Fortinet

Jon Bosche has over 15 years expertise in the cybersecurity space with a recent focus on SOC and SOC operations. He brings valuable vendor-centric insights to cybersecurity use cases in the wild. Having worked with acquired technologies for major cybersecurity vendors, Jon can offer insight into recent trends of new cybersecurity tools as well as some basics that can be applied to any organization. Jon resides in Chicago, Illinois with his wife and daughter. When he's not out securing the digital world, he can usually be found in a park, in the kitchen cooking, or enjoying city life.

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Christopher Bramwell

Christopher Bramwell LinkedIn

Chief Privacy Officer, State of Utah

Chris Bramwell was appointed by Governor Cox as Utah's inaugural Chief Privacy Officer, responsible for ensuring that individuals' privacy rights are protected by executive branch agencies. In this capacity, Chris is collaborating with executive branch agencies, the Personal Privacy Oversight Commission, and the legislature to identify privacy gaps and propose privacy practices and legislation. In 2023 Chris is executing Executive Order 2023-06, which requires him to create State of Utah strategic privacy plan outlining a privacy strategy for the executive branch over the next four years. Prior to his current role, Chris served as the Director of Information Privacy and Security at the Utah Department of Human Services for seven years. He completed his information privacy and security education at Idaho State’s National Information Assurance Training and Education Center as part of the National Science Foundation’s CyberCorps, and he also earned his MBA. Chris holds a BA in Political Science from BYU.

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Justin Brooksby

Justin Brooksby LinkedIn

Associate Director, Professional Development, Utah Education Network

Justin is passionate about using technology to engage, assess and personalize student learning. He began his career as a network designer for Cisco Systems in 2000. Justin started working at the University of Utah in 2005 in Business and Auxiliary Services and in 2013 he joined the Utah Education Network. Justin has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a Master of Education degree in Instructional Design and Educational Technology from the University of Utah.

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Rachael Cassady

Rachael Cassady LinkedIn

IT Director, DTS Edge, Dept of Government Operations, Division of Technology Services, State of Utah

Rachael Cassady serves as the IT Director for Edge (end user) services at the State of Utah Division of Technology Services (DTS). Additionally, she holds the role of Culture of Excellence Committee chairperson at DTS, where she fosters a culture of collaboration and unity. Rachael is deeply committed to building relationships, engaging with the public, and fostering a sense of teamwork within her organization. With a background as a trained scientist and as the parent of an autism spectrum son, Rachael brings a unique perspective to her work. She thrives on data-driven initiatives and values the importance of human communication and connection. Previously, Rachael served as an Environmental Program Manager with the Utah Division of Drinking Water, showcasing her expertise in environmental management and public engagements. She holds a master’s degree in Secondary Science from Western Governors University and a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Utah.

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Stu Davis

Stu Davis LinkedIn

Vice President, CGI

Stu is a nationally recognized IT leader who previously led the State of Ohio’s Information Technology community and functioned as State CIO. As CIO Stu led the conception and implementation of an IT consolidation and optimization effort that resulted in the realignment of unfocused and duplicative spending to being directed at making Ohio a better place for its citizens to live and businesses to be established and grow.
Stu led the State IT community via consensus driven approaches to technology adoption and the development of new IT services, and the delivery of these services.
Former State of Ohio CIO (~8 yrs) with 20+ years management of Information Technology and Geographic Information Systems in the private and public sector as well as international consulting experience. Past President of the National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC), responsible for the coordination of State Geographic Offices and GIS Coordinators as well as a Past President of the National Association of State CIOs (NASCIO), responsible for the coordination of the community of all State CIOs nationally.

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Marvin Dodge

Marvin Dodge

Executive Director, Department of Government Operations, Salt Lake City

"Marvin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will allow him to hit the ground running in the Department of Government Operations,” Gov. Cox said. “I’m grateful for his willingness to rejoin Team Utah in this key position in our administration."
Dodge currently serves as chief financial officer and vice president for finance and administration at Southern Utah University, a position he’s held since 2014. In this position, he has provided direct oversight of all administrative and operations functions for the university as well as the development of SUU’s annual budget. In addition, he was vice president for finance and administrative services at Snow College.
Prior to these roles, Dodge had a distinguished career with the state of Utah, including serving as deputy director of the Utah Department of Administrative Services, chief financial officer and director of the Administrative Support Division of the Department of Workforce Services, and deputy director and manager of budget and policy analysis for the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget.
Dodge also currently serves as a board member of the Dixie & Anne Leavitt Family Foundation, Southern Utah University Foundation and Utah Shakespeare Festival Foundation, and he previously served on the board of Southern Utah Museum of Art, Snow College Foundation, Sanpete Valley Hospital and other community organizations. He’s also served on the Riverton City Planning Commission. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s of public administration with an emphasis in government management and finance, both from Brigham Young University.

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Amelia Powers Gardner

Amelia Powers Gardner

Commissioner, Utah County

Amelia Powers Gardner is a Utah County Commissioner. Amelia has over 15 years’ experience in the private sector working in engineering, manufacturing, and business development. She is a community leader, business consultant, disruptive technology advocate, government innovation leader, and mentor for career women. Amelia serves on the Utah Digital Innovation and Blockchain Taskforce, the State Growth Taskforce, and on the Boards of Directors for several companies and nonprofits. Prior to being elected as County Commissioner, Amelia served as the Utah County Clerk/Auditor, where she championed innovation and efficiency in government. Under Amelia’s leadership, Utah County launched the first ever completely online marriage license portal, became the first jurisdiction in the United States allowing people with disabilities to vote using blockchain technology, and implemented paperless finance processes earning her a GovTech top 25 Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers for 2020. Amelia grew up in Utah County, earned a BS from Weber State University, then she went to work for Caterpillar, spending time in the mid-west and southern US and Canada, before returning home to Utah County. Amelia and her Husband Tobin live in Pleasant Grove, Utah and have 6 children.

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Tommy Gardner

Tommy Gardner

Chief Technology Officer, HP Federal

Tommy Gardner is HP’s Chief Technology Officer for HP Federal, spanning the US Federal Agencies, Higher Education, K-12 Education, State and Local government customer segments, as well as Federal Systems Integrators. His current responsibilities include technology leadership, strategic technology plans, product and technology strategies, sales force technical support, and customer and partner relationships.
Previously, Tommy has served as the Chief Technology Officer for Jacobs Engineering, Scitor, and ManTech. Earlier in his career he was a senior technical executive at Raytheon. In the U.S. Navy he served as the Deputy for Science and Technology for the Chief of Naval Research. He oversaw the Navy’s Deep Submergence Program as well as its Advanced Technology Program. He also commanded the nuclear submarine, USS San Juan (SSN 751).
Tommy’s educational background covers multiple disciplines and fields of interest including: cybersecurity, data science, blockchain, quantum information science, artificial intelligence, high performance computing and systems integration.
Tommy holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy, a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University, an M.S. in Management of Technology from MIT and a Ph. D. in Energy Economics from George Washington University. He is a Professional Engineer, an ASME Fellow, and serves on the ASME Board of Governors, the ANSI Board of Directors and the U. S. Council on Competitiveness as the Co-chair of the Advanced Computer Roundtable.

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Gary Hensley

Gary Hensley

Industry Segment Advisor, T-Mobile

As the Western Regional Executive for State Government Strategy with T-Mobile, Gary works with elected officials and state agency and department executives to demonstrate T-Mobile’s commitment to serving the public sector. Gary engages with state government leaders to help them understand how T-Mobile’s 5G network – now the nation’s largest and fastest 5G network– can be leveraged for the benefit of their states and constituents.

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Christopher Hughes

Christopher Hughes LinkedIn

Deputy Director, Department of Government Operations, State of Utah

Chris Hughes is currently a deputy director for the Department of Government Operations. Prior to being a deputy director, he was the Chief Procurement Officer for the State of Utah at the Division of Purchasing. In 2017, he was named to Government Technology’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers, & Drivers.

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Mike Hussey

Mike Hussey

Industry Executive Director, Oracle

Mike Hussey is an industry executive director for state and local strategy for Oracle Government and Education. Mike has 25 years of senior leadership experience with the State of Utah where he most recently served as CIO for the State of Utah and the executive director for the Department of Technology Services. While serving in this cabinet-level position, Mike was known as a collaborative and transformative leader who enjoys applying technological advances available in the market. Among some of his accomplishments while the state CIO, Mike led the state’s cloud journey and digital transformation efforts, created the state’s first cyber center, and formed the state’s first innovation fund.
Mike has been recognized as a “Top 25 Doer, Dreamer and Driver” in the public sector.

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Peter Jay

Peter Jay LinkedIn

Director, Economic Development and BRC, Utah Valley University

Peter Jay is an Attorney with an MBA from the University of Alabama. He completed his BA at BYU. He is currently the Director of Economic Development at UVU. He also runs Utah Ignite, the local chapter of US Ignite, a national smart cities organization. He also runs the Utah IoT meetup group with a couple thousand followers. In his positions at Utah Ignite, USTAR, and UVU, he has judged and awarded several million dollars’ worth of federal and state grants to dozens of companies and university research for IoT and smart cities projects in Utah.

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Javaid Lal

Javaid Lal LinkedIn

Director of Performance & Innovation, Salt Lake County

Javaid Lal is the Performance and Innovation Director for the Salt Lake County Office of Data & Innovation. With a strong focus on leveraging technology and data-driven solutions, Javaid drives performance and fosters innovation within the organization. His expertise in performance management strategies and data analytics enables him to implement transformative initiatives, improve operational efficiency, and enhance service delivery. Javaid has been with the County for more than 17 years in various roles and responsibilities.
Javaid has a Master of Business Administration in Finance and a Master of Public Administration with primary focus on local governments. Javaid loves Utah outdoors and enjoys running, biking, and hiking. He recently climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

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George McEwan

George McEwan LinkedIn

Chief Strategy Officer, Department of Government Operations, State of Utah

George McEwan is a multi-disciplined technologist with 30 years of experience in engineering and management. He holds several patents in the field of high-speed satellite communications and has been a contributor to patent applications involving 3D visualization, encryption, and digital forensics. With demonstrated aptitude in electrical, mechanical, and software engineering, he has a significant portfolio of technology wins throughout his career. He recently served as the IT Director for the Utah Department of Health for the duration of the pandemic. George is currently fulfilling the role of Chief Strategy Officer for the Division of Technology Services at the State of Utah where he has responsibilities include the upcoming Citizen Portal. He is also an elected official in his second term as councilman for the city of Centerville, Utah.

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Sean McSpaden

Sean McSpaden

Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Sean McSpaden is an executive level information technology professional with over 30 years of experience in the private, non-profit, and public sectors. His background includes the start-up and management of several small businesses and he has served on the Board of Directors or in Executive Director positions for several 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations. Sean’s public service experience includes progressively responsible positions as an IT analyst, and in statewide coordination, management and leadership positions within the Executive and Legislative branches of Oregon state government. From June 2008 to September 2013, served as the state of Oregon’s Deputy State Chief Information Officer.
Throughout his 25-year tenure in Oregon state government, Sean and the teams he has led have received several state, regional and national recognitions and awards. In addition, Sean has represented the state of Oregon on numerous state, regional and national project steering committees, task forces, governing boards, committees, commissions and associations, and has presented on various topics at local, state, regional, national, and international meetings and conferences.
Sean earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree and Certificate of Public Management from the Willamette University, Atkinson Graduate School of Management. Sean is an ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and holds a PMI Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Sean also holds a Secret level clearance granted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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Wes Miles

Wes Miles LinkedIn

IT Director, Governor's office, Department of Government Operations, State of Utah

Wes Miles has worked with the State of Utah for over ten years in many different capacities, beginning with the Department of Workforce Services. He managed software applications for the Unemployment Insurance and Workforce Development Divisions and oversaw IT support during the Covid-19 pandemic. He has been with the Governor's Office as IT Director for two years and helps support Governor Cox and his initiatives.

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Sheri Newton

Sheri Newton

Voting Access Program Coordinator, Disability Law Center, State of Utah

Coordinating Disability Law Center’s voting access program for 11 years and working as an advocate for over 30, Sheri Newton, knows the power technology has to fully and fairly integrate individuals with disabilities into community life. Collaborating with government leaders, she secured accessible ballot marking devices, then recently, electronic ballot delivery and return for voters with print disabilities. Focused on protecting a private and independent vote, she enjoys working with Utah election personnel to improve voting, inform voters of their options and ensure a statutory foundation that supports the needs of all voters. Raised as a farm kid and a current resident of rural Utah, she is sensitive to the challenges of Utahns living rurally and working remotely. Sheri says that traveling across stunning Utah to reach voters and government leaders everywhere is the chocolate drizzle atop the privilege of advocacy work.

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Collin Peterson

Collin Peterson

IT Director, Workforce Services, Department of Government Operations, State of Utah

Collin has worked for the State of Utah for over 15 years in a variety of leadership and technical positions including, IT Director, Director of Workforce Research and Analysis, Management Information Systems Manager, Program Systems Manager, and Senior Business Analyst...just to name a few.

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Quinnten Price

Quinnten Price LinkedIn

Assistive Technology Instructor, Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, State of Utah

Quinn Price has been an assistive technology instructor for nine years. His role is to teach adults to use screen-reading software on computers and smart phones. This includes learning how to surf the web, use professional suites like Microsoft Office and Google Workspace, as well as other applications and tools that help his clients be more successful in their professional and personal lives.
Quinn has a Bachelor’s degree in History from Utah State University. As a blind person himself, he enjoys working with all kinds of people, as blindness can affect all walks of life. He works to help them feel as though they can be productive and fulfilled despite their disability. Quinn also loves learning new things, and the ever-changing world of technology means that there are always fresh platforms and applications to teach his clients.

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Zachary Posner

Zachary Posner LinkedIn

Chief Information Officer, Salt Lake County

I have been working in technology for over 25 five years, from the time a friend said, “we need a Systems Administrator and do not have money for someone who knows what they are doing”. Since then, I have learned a few things about tech, earned a Masters in IT Management, and had the opportunity to serve great organizations including NPR, Black Diamond Equipment, and for the past 6 years Salt Lake County as CIO. I have built a career on making customer service the first job of Information Technology and leveraging the trust gained there to take on the important work that drives organizations forward.

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Natalie Pyne

Natalie Pyne LinkedIn

Digital Communication Manager, Office of Governor Spencer J. Cox, State of Utah

Natalie Pyne serves as the digital communications manager to Gov. Spencer Cox. Prior to this appointment, Natalie served as the director of correspondence to Gov. Cox and former Gov. Herbert. Born and raised in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Natalie moved to Salt Lake City in 2017 to pursue her education at the University of Utah. Natalie is a graduate of the U with a B.S. in political science and a B.S. in communications with an emphasis on strategic communications.
In her spare time, Natalie enjoys traveling, reading, singing, and spending time with friends and family.

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Carlos Rivero

Carlos Rivero LinkedIn

Executive Government Advisor, Amazon Web Services

Carlos Rivero is an Executive Government Advisor at Amazon Web Services (AWS). Previously, Rivero served as the Chief Data Officer for the Commonwealth of Virginia as well as Chief Data Officer and Chief Enterprise Architect for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration in Washington, D.C. Rivero has also worked at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center in Miami, Florida, as a physical scientist and as a Research Associate at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, where he developed a passion for geospatial information systems, ecological modeling, and data. Rivero earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies from Florida International University and a Master of Science in Business Intelligence and Analytics from Saint Joseph’s University, focusing on database design, data management, business intelligence, big data, and data analytics.

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Chris Sprague

Chris Sprague

Principal Technologist, Pure Storage

Chris Sprague serves as Principal Technologist at Pure Storage for SLED West covering the entire Pure portfolio, serving as an advisor and evangelist across OU’s and BU’s.
Chris has more than two decades of experience in technology, spanning both hardware and software, and private and public sectors. The first 17 years were spent in corporate IT, from Developer to Administrator & Engineer, culminating in enterprise architecture where he aided multiple State business units in their digital transformation.
The last 7 years have been in the Sales Engineering field, from VAR to vendor. Brought on in 2021 to support Pure’s rapidly growing data protection efforts, Chris helps customers realize the best solution for their preferred data and business outcomes.
Based in Boise, Idaho - when not geeking out on technology - Chris enjoys the outdoors with his family, including travel, camping, biking, skiing, golfing, and more.

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Rachel Stone

Rachel Stone LinkedIn

Product Manager, Governor's Office of Planning & Budget, State of Utah

Rachel Stone currently serves as product manager in the Governor's Office of Planning & Budget. In this role, she facilitates development of the office's internal digital tools. Rachel formerly served as Chief Data Officer and Performance Measures Manager, through which she supported interoperability and performance management across state agencies.
Rachel's background includes professional experience in local, state, and federal governments, as well as a Political Science degree from BYU. Her interests also include design and the applications of public interest technology.

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Brett Stott

Brett Stott

General Manager, Utah, Tyler Technologies

Brett Stott is the general manager of Tyler Utah, the state’s partner for digital services. He leads Tyler Utah’s 30-person Salt Lake City office that manages Utah.gov and delivers digital services in partnership with the state. Brett joined the organization in 2000 and has served in several business development leadership roles.

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Steve Troxel

Steve Troxel

Public Sector Solutions Engineer, SHI International Corp

Steve Troxel has over 25 years of progressive experience in information systems infrastructure, software, cybersecurity and management, and over 10 years of experience as a business owner in the Arizona community. He served as the interim CTO of the Arizona Department of Education, and has been serving public sector agencies for over 15 years. He continues this passion as a solutions engineer at SHI, working with agencies and municipalities in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.

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Mark Weatherford

Mark Weatherford

Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Mark Weatherford is a globally recognized information security professional with experience at some of the world’s largest public- and private-sector organizations. He was appointed as the first deputy undersecretary for cybersecurity at DHS in the Obama administration and was chief information security officer for the state of Colorado and for the state of California under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. In the energy industry, he was VP and chief security officer at the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, where he worked daily with Congress and electric utilities across North America on cybersecurity standards, regulations, and policy issues. He also served as a principal at The Chertoff Group and was VP and chief cybersecurity strategist at vArmour. Most recently, he was the VP and global information security strategist at Booking Holdings, the world’s largest online travel business with offices and employees in almost every country in the world and whose major companies include Booking, Priceline, Kayak, OpenTable and Agoda.

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Jonathan Whiting

Jonathan Whiting

Director of Training, WebAIM

Jonathan is the director of training at WebAIM. His main passion is helping others learn to make the web more accessible to people with disabilities. With a master's degree in Instructional Technology and 20 years of experience in the field of web accessibility, Jonathan has published dozens of articles, tutorials, and other instructional resources. He has traveled extensively to train thousands of web developers and other professionals who develop or maintain web content."

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Don J. Wood

Don J. Wood

IT Executive, Wasatch County Government

Don J. Wood is a genuine Geography, Bing Crosby, and Winter fan and is the Information Technologies Executive for Wasatch County Government. He is a whole-hearted enthusiast of powerful technology platforms that allow IT and public administrators to drive effective and efficient modern business processes. He empowers people by building teams, sharing knowledge and insight in an enjoyable, comfortable manner, and expecting results. Don has been the IT Executive and Director for Wasatch County for the past 30 years and set up Wasatch County’s Mapping (GIS) Department in 1993. He has served on many professional boards and organizations. He loves his wife, children, church, and community and can be found serving them in his off time.

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Agenda

Tuesday, June 27

8:00 am Mountain

Registration and Morning Refreshments

Grand Ballroom Foyer

9:00 am Mountain

A Message from the Lieutenant Governor

Grand Ballroom

Deidre Henderson, Lieutenant Governor, State of Utah

Opening Remarks

Grand Ballroom

Alan Fuller, Chief Information Officer, State of Utah

9:10 am Mountain

Keynote – Transform Adversity into Advantage: How to Conquer Life's Hurdles

Grand Ballroom

The world has become more difficult, and the challenges are bigger than ever. Adopting a “new normal mindset” is necessary to empower your team to navigate the challenges and opportunities through a contextual model to overcome adversity. How will you manage uncertainty? Is your team ready to embrace change? This session will provide a powerful and interactive message of resilience and perseverance that will inspire you to see change as an opportunity for growth.

John Register, Inspirational and Motivational Speaker, Author, and Two-Time Paralympic Silver Medalist

10:15 am Mountain

Networking Break

Grand Ballroom Foyer

10:45 am Mountain

Concurrent Sessions

Staying Ahead of the Cybersecurity Curve

Alpine East

Cyberthreat attacks are increasing in potency and frequency while becoming more treacherous to navigate each year. Zero Trust is becoming less of a buzz word and more of a must have. It is critical that state and local government be less reactive and more proactive. This session explores the current reality of security threats and how we can work together to defend and respond.

Moderator: Sean McSpaden, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Hanna Bennett, Deputy Director, Department of Public Safety, State of Utah

Jon Bosche, Systems Architect, Fortinet

Tommy Gardner, Chief Technology Officer, HP Federal

Rethinking Your Workforce Culture

Alpine West

There is no doubt that this is the Age of Acceleration. How can government compete with recruitment and retention of staff in today’s competitive environment? What are the new IT skills sets of the future? How has remote work changed the game? What leadership skills are needed to get the next round ready? How will you grow your technology career? This session examines ways to remain attractive to potential team members in today’s environment.

Moderator: Zachary Posner, Chief Information Officer, Salt Lake County

John Barrand, Division Director, Division of Human Resource Management, State of Utah

Rachael Cassady, IT Director, DTS Edge, Dept of Government Operations, Division of Technology Services, State of Utah

Marvin Dodge, Executive Director, Department of Government Operations, Salt Lake City

We Like Our Services Smart, Simplified and Secure!

Topaz

Having the right services that meet the modern customer’s needs is becoming more critical than ever before. Constituents seek an intuitive, holistic and accessible approach when working with government. Are they getting what they need? Do you know who’s coming through your digital door? Is privacy at the forefront of your constituent services? This session will take a deep dive into what it takes to provide the best public services to help improve the lives of Utahns.

Moderator: Rachel Stone, Product Manager, Governor's Office of Planning & Budget, State of Utah

Brett Stott, General Manager, Utah, Tyler Technologies

George McEwan, Chief Strategy Officer, Department of Government Operations, State of Utah

Don J. Wood, IT Executive, Wasatch County Government

Modernization & Innovation – Can They Coexist?

Seminar Theater

Modernizing our systems can be a costly and cumbersome affair but something that must be done in order to provide efficient constituent services. How can we make sure the tools we are adopting for the future are necessary and relevant? Is it even possible to tackle technical debt and innovate for the future at the same time? This session will examine those questions and will discuss how to deal with the past while also preparing for the future.

Moderator: Mark Weatherford, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Aaron Bentley, Chief Information Officer, Information Management Services, Salt Lake City Corporation

Stu Davis, Vice President, CGI

Carlos Rivero, Executive Government Advisor, Amazon Web Services

11:45 am Mountain

Lunch

Grand Ballroom

12:25 pm Mountain

Utah IT Excellence Awards

Grand Ballroom

12:45 pm Mountain

Bits and Bytes – Verified Digital Credentials: What’s Happening in Utah County!

Grand Ballroom

Amelia Powers Gardner, Commissioner, Utah County

1:15 pm Mountain

Concurrent Sessions

The Balancing Act of Data Privacy

Alpine East

Emerging trends encourage us to use data to enhance everything from decision-making to delivering services effectively and efficiently. As responsible stewards of information, this leaves government with the grand challenge: take additional steps to protect data privacy, while also allowing data to be used as a strategic asset. It’s a tricky balance! This session discusses where things stand in Utah and what to expect going forward.

Moderator: Mark Weatherford, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Christopher Bramwell, Chief Privacy Officer, State of Utah

Chris Sprague, Principal Technologist, Pure Storage

Steve Troxel, Public Sector Solutions Engineer, SHI International Corp

Is It Real or Is It AI?

Alpine West

Emerging technologies continue to march into the workplace, bringing new tools to the fingertips of your teams. Some struggle to know whether what they are seeing or hearing is real or computer generated. How will ethics be addressed when pushing AI forward? Are you ready for the challenge? This session delves into the processes and strategies to use emerging technologies – ethically – that empower humans to better utilize their skills to focus on higher-value activities.

Moderator: Sean McSpaden, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Justin Brooksby, Associate Director, Professional Development, Utah Education Network

Mike Hussey, Executive Director, Oracle

Javaid Lal, Director of Performance & Innovation, Salt Lake County

Accessibility for All!

Topaz

It’s no secret that digital equity and accessibility are imperative to drive today’s modern government. Access to broadband is just one part of a very large puzzle! Do you have the right pieces to build out your strategy? Do you have educational outreach and inclusion baked into your plans? This session will explore what leaders need to consider to make technology usable for everyone.

Moderator: Quinnten Price, Assistive Technology Instructor, Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, State of Utah

Gary Hensley, Industry Segment Advisor, T-Mobile

Sheri Newton, Voting Access Program Coordinator, Disability Law Center, State of Utah

Jonathan Whiting, Director of Training, WebAIM

It’s Not What You Say, It’s What They Hear

Seminar Theater

IT is front and center in virtually everything that government does. Success – and survival – depends on being adept at winning friends and influencing people. Not just your immediate colleagues, but upper leadership, budget directors, legislators and service providers. It’s all for naught if you can’t convey things in the right way. This session dives into the vital subject of communication and why it must be the cornerstone of your role as an IT leader.

Moderator: Christopher Hughes, Deputy Director, Department of Government Operations, State of Utah

Peter Jay, Director, Economic Development and BRC, Utah Valley University

Wes Miles, IT Director, Governor's office, Department of Government Operations, State of Utah

Collin Peterson, IT Director, Workforce Services, Department of Government Operations, State of Utah

Natalie Pyne, Digital Communication Manager, Office of Governor Spencer J. Cox, State of Utah

Executive Briefing

Grand Ballroom

(Industry sponsors only) Hosted by:

Alan Fuller, Chief Information Officer, State of Utah.

2:15 pm Mountain

Networking Break

Grand Ballroom Foyer

2:35 pm Mountain

Featured Speaker – Digital Transformation for Government: The Future is Now

Grand Ballroom

Join our one-hour workshop on Dynamic Digital Transformation and unlock the power of emerging technologies like AI. See how these tools are already transforming state and local government including exciting real-world examples drawn from the latest surveys and reporting by Government Technology magazine. Engage in an interactive session to uncover areas where your organization can benefit from these new tools and discover how to improve outcomes for your constituents and your organization. Stay ahead of the curve and revolutionize your government – the future is now!

Jack Shaw, Innovation and Technology Strategist, Speaker, Author, Consultant

3:45 pm Mountain

Networking Reception

Grand Ballroom Foyer

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

4:30 pm Mountain

End of Conference

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

Hilton Salt Lake City Center

255 S W Temple Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
(801) 328-2000

Get Directions To
Hilton Salt Lake City Center

Advisory Board

Government Representatives

Everette Bacon
Field Service Coordinator
Division of Services for the Blind
State of Utah

Phil Bates
Chief Information Security Officer
Division of Technology Services
State of Utah

Aaron Bentley
Chief Information Officer
Salt Lake City

Ron Boyer
Information Technology Director
Information Technology
Summit County

Justin Brooksby
Associate Director, Instructional Services
Utah Education Network

Tricia Cox
Assistant Division Director
Division of Technology
State of Utah

Chris Earl
Chief Information Officer
Attorney General's Office
State of Utah

David Fletcher
Chief Technology Officer
Division of Technology Services, Department of Government Operations
State of Utah

Alan Fuller
Chief Information Officer
Division of Technology Services, Department of Government Operations
State of Utah

Chris Hughes
Deputy Director
Department of Government Operations
State of Utah

Joe Jackson
Chief Enterprise Architect
Division of Technology Services
State of Utah

Peter Jay
Director
Utah Ignite

Jared Jensen
Director of Enterprise Products
Division of Technology Services, Department of Government Operations
State of Utah

George McEwan
Chief Strategy Officer
State of Utah

Drew Mingl
State Open Data Coordinator
Division of Technology Services, Department of Government Operations
State of Utah

Greg Paras
Deputy Director
Department of Workforce Services
State of Utah

Zach Posner
Chief Information Officer
Information Technology
Salt Lake County

Amelia Powers Gardner
Commission Chair
Utah County

Natalie Pyne
Digital Communications Manager
Governor Cox
State of Utah

Rich Saunders
Senior Advisor and Chief Innovation Officer
Governor's Office
State of Utah

Mark Schultz
Agency Services Director
Division of Technology Services, Department of Government Operations
State of Utah

Shannon Simonsen
Research Coordinator
Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute
University of Utah

Rachel Stewart
IT Director
Health and Human Services
State of Utah

Rachel Stone
Product Manager
Governor's Office of Planning & Budget
State of Utah

Jennifer Weaver
Director of Communications
Department of Government Operations
State of Utah

Stephanie Weteling
Public Information Officer
Division of Technology Services, Department of Government Operations
State of Utah

Kenneth Williams
Director
Division of Archives and Records Service
State of Utah

Industry Representatives

Chad Bowman
Director
Consulting Services
CGI

Cleve Burr
Public Sector Account Manager
HP, Inc.

Nathan Byrd
Account Executive
SHI International Corp.

Gary Hensley
Industry Segment Advisor
T-Mobile

Bruce Larson
Principal Account Manager
Amazon Web Services

Channing Quist
Field Sales Representative
Google Cloud

Brett Stott
General Manager
Tyler Technologies

Calvin Williams
Sales Director
Fortinet

Registration Information / Contact Us

Event Date: June 27, 2023

Contact Information

2024 Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact:

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

ITLF - Invitation only GT/EE - Jen

Venue

Hilton Salt Lake City Center

255 S W Temple Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
(801) 328-2000