Vermont Digital Government Summit 2026 Banner

Overview

The Vermont Digital Government Summit is where innovation meets impact!

Bringing together the brightest minds in state and local government, this summit empowers public-sector leaders to explore cutting-edge technologies, modernize operations, and solve pressing challenges. From cybersecurity and AI to data governance and digital service delivery, sessions are designed to spark insight, foster collaboration, and accelerate real-world results. Whether you're shaping strategy or implementing solutions, the Summit delivers valuable peer connections and actionable guidance to help move your mission forward.

A message from our Keynote Speaker

We’re thrilled to host the 3rd annual Vermont Digital Government Summit on August 4th. This is the most significant event for Vermont public sector organizations to connect with digital leaders across the state and industry partners. Join us to experience the energy and excitement that have made the past two years a success.

– Denise Reilly-Hughes, State Chief Information Officer, State of Vermont

We are incredibly excited to bring the Vermont digital government community together again. This summit is about strengthening relationships across sectors, learning from one another, and continuing to build an interconnected approach to serving Vermonters—one rooted in collaboration, trust, and shared commitment to public good. Join us!

– Kellie Campbell, Chief Information Officer, Information Technology, University of Vermont

Agenda

Tuesday, August 4

8:00 am Eastern

Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

9:00 am Eastern

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Denise Reilly-Hughes, Secretary and State Chief Information Officer, State of Vermont

Kellie Campbell, Chief Information Officer, University of Vermont

9:15 am Eastern

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

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

Sponsored by: Tusker

10:15 am Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Refuel and reconnect over premium refreshments courtesy of Recharge Break Sponsors: xFact, LLC

10:45 am Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

AI in Action: Practical Strategies for Public Sector Impact

AI is quickly becoming an operational imperative for public sector IT. But where should you start, and how do you move from pilots to production? This session will equip you with practical, actionable steps to identify high-impact use cases, prioritize investments, strengthen data foundations, and integrate AI responsibly. We’ll hear real-world examples of successful AI adoption in action.

Cyber Resilience in Action: Managing Risk in a Modern Threat Landscape

Cyber threats targeting government entities continue to grow in frequency and sophistication. How can public sector IT leaders strengthen cybersecurity, manage risk, and leverage AI without introducing new vulnerabilities? This session will equip you with practical strategies to enhance incident response, strengthen data governance, and responsibly integrate AI into your security approach. Join your peers to take actionable steps toward building a more resilient, adaptive cybersecurity posture.

Modernization Strategies at Scale: Aligning Strategy, Spend, and Services

Modernizing service portfolios requires aligning strategy, budgets, and performance to deliver secure, efficient, and citizen-centric outcomes. How can government agencies scale modernization while controlling costs, reducing risk, and managing resources effectively? This session equips leaders with practical approaches to portfolio management, application rationalization, and cross-functional collaboration to drive sustainable, measurable transformation.

11:45 am Eastern

Lunch

12:45 pm Eastern

Bits and Bytes – The Power of Data

In these lightning talks, we’ll hear from two public sector IT professionals on the power of data to inform, inspire and deliver meaningful impact.

1:15 pm Eastern

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

1:30 pm Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

Human Centered AI: What’s Happening Now?

What is the State of Vermont doing right now, which tools are being deployed, what human centered outcomes are expected, and what comes next? We’ll dive into the newly announced AI Task force and the plan for the coming year. This session will map out a clear view of Vermont’s current AI initiatives, highlight real human-centered outcomes, and provide actionable insights you can use to guide your own AI roadmap.

Workforce and Partnerships: IT Skillsets for the Future

The success of public sector IT hinges on the skills and partnerships we build today. How can agencies evolve their workforce, strengthen cross-agency collaboration, and create operational partnerships that truly support long-term digital transformation? This session will equip you with actionable strategies to develop future-ready IT skillsets, build effective partnerships, and implement sustainable collaboration models that drive lasting workforce and organizational impact.

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Hosted by:

Denise Reilly-Hughes, Chief Information Officer, State of Vermont

Kellie Campbell, Chief Information Officer, University of Vermont

2:30 pm Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Refuel and reconnect over premium refreshments courtesy of Recharge Break Sponsors: xFact, LLC

3:00 pm Eastern

General Session

This engaging, interactive, talk show style session features four public sector IT leaders sharing real world insights and experience.

Denise Reilly-Hughes, Chief Information Officer, State of Vermont

Kellie Campbell, Chief Information Officer, University of Vermont

4:00 pm Eastern

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

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

4:30 pm Eastern

End of Conference

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

DoubleTree by Hilton Burlington Vermont

870 Williston Road
South Burlington, VT 05403
(802) 865-6600

Get Directions To
DoubleTree by Hilton Burlington Vermont

Advisory Board

Government Representatives

Richard Adams
Technology Director
Windham Northeast Supervisory Union School District

Chip Bacon
Associate VP, Information Security and Chief Information Security Officer
Information Technology
Norwich University

Scot Barker
Chief Information Officer
City of Burlington

Phil Baskette
Director of IT
IT
Town of Colchester

Luke Bennecker
Director of Field Services
Information Technology
Agency of Digital Services, State of Vermont

Katharine Bodan
Director of Field Services
Information Technology
Agency of Digital Services, State of Vermont

Kellie Campbell
Chief Information Officer
Information Technology
University of Vermont

Tricia Coates
Director
Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships and Office of Engagement
University of Vermont

Andrea DeLaBruere
Deputy Chief Information Officer
Agency of Digital Services, State of Vermont

Stacy Gibson-Grandfield
Chief Program Officer
Information Technology
Agency of Digital Services, State of Vermont

Tracey Harrington
Core Director
Information Technology
Agency of Digital Services, State of Vermont

Christopher Irish
Technology Coordinator
River Valley Technical District

David Kaiser
Deputy Chief Information Security Officer
Information Technology
Agency of Digital Services, State of Vermont

Jonathan Kelley
Chief of Staff
Information Technology
Agency of Digital Services, State of Vermont

Miles Latham
Director of Artificial Intelligence
Data and AI Office
Agency of Digital Services, State of Vermont

Ashley Lipton
Grants and Partnerships Manager
Norwich University Applied Research Institutes

Adam Locklin
Vermont District Director
U.S. Small Business Administration

Mike Mott
Director of Technology
Colchester School District

Joe Paquin
Director of Information Technoology
Judiciary
Vermont Judiciary

Josiah Raiche
Chief Data and AI Officer
Agency of Digital Services, State of Vermont

Denise Reilly-Hughes
Secretary and State Chief Information Officer
Information Technology
Agency of Digital Services, State of Vermont

Steven Roque
Director of Information Technoology
Town of Essex

Ashish Shukla
Chief Technology & Enterprise Services Officer
VT Agency of Digital Services

Kate Slocum
Chief Financial Officer
Information Technology
Agency of Digital Services, State of Vermont

John Toney
Chief Information Security Officer
Information Technology
Agency of Digital Services, State of Vermont

Meg Walz
Deputy Chief Information Officer
VT State Colleges

Rebecca White
Risk Management Director of Operations
Office of Risk Management
Agency of Administration, State of Vermont

Industry Representatives

Jenny Phelps
Senior Account Manager
Presidio

James Sarno
Account Executive
Cisco

Craig Schena
Senior Enterprise Cloud Consultant
Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Rosalba Schino
Client Relationship Executive
Deloitte

Registration Information / Contact Us

Event Date: August 4, 2026

Open to Public Sector only.

Registration - Free

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:

Lauren Schoenberger
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 932-1408
E-mail: lschoenberger@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

Venue

DoubleTree by Hilton Burlington Vermont

870 Williston Road
South Burlington, VT 05403
(802) 865-6600