The IT Leadership Forum is a premier event designed for current and emerging public sector IT leaders to explore technological advancements that drive government innovation. The forum emphasizes leadership development, offering participants valuable opportunities to enhance their professional skills, engage in peer networking, and collaborate on strategies to improve public services through technology. This invitation-only event provides a space for leaders to collaborate while addressing the most important policy, management and leadership issues surrounding the future of digital government. Contact us if you’d like to join the conversation!
In today’s fast-evolving and challenging tech landscape, we must invest in our current leaders and future leaders to ensure success in public sector IT. The inaugural Washington IT Leadership Forum is your chance to connect with your government and industry peers, share insights, and build leadership skills to navigate change and drive innovation. Whether you're an experienced leader or aspiring to grow, this event is essential for shaping the future of government technology in Washington.
- Bill Kehoe, Director and State Chief Information Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington
Thursday, April 3 |
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8:00 am Pacific |
Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit AreaChambers Bay Foyer |
9:00 am Pacific |
Opening RemarksChambers Bay II-IIIBill Kehoe, Director and State Chief Information Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington |
9:15 am Pacific |
Keynote - Leading with VisionChambers Bay II-IIIBeing in charge isn’t easy, but in an era of rapid change and disruption brought on by incredible innovation, “the right” leadership is paramount to driving government and education forward. Leaders must achieve results, but that can be difficult if you are not also garnering respect and admiration. In this compelling keynote address, Anton Gunn delves into the strategies you can use to cultivate and hone essential leadership qualities, inspire your teams, and foster positive change within your organization. Anton Gunn, Keynote Speaker, Best-selling Author, Former Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama |
10:15 am Pacific |
General Session - Leading Beyond the Firewall: Strengthening Cybersecurity by Putting People FirstChambers Bay II-IIIThe greatest asset in public sector IT is not technology—it’s people. Yet cybersecurity and IT professionals are burning out at unprecedented rates, threatening operational resilience. This session will explore how the “hypocrisy of security economics” leads organizations to misallocate limited public funds, overwhelming teams with tools that create more noise than security. We’ll discuss how a shift in mindset—prioritizing human sustainability alongside risk reduction—can transform security outcomes. By focusing on meaningful relationships, better workflows, and smarter investments, we can protect our people, our organizations, and our communities. Terry Boedeker, Executive, SLED, Armis Public Sector |
10:45 am Pacific |
Networking Break in the Exhibit AreaChambers Bay Foyer |
11:15 am Pacific |
Concurrent SessionsModernization and Transformation: Leading Gnarly Enterprise Projects to SuccessChambers Bay ISuccessful IT modernization goes beyond technology — it requires strong leadership, executive sponsorship, and a customer-centric approach. What critical skills are needed to champion enterprise projects, drive stakeholder alignment, and ensure seamless service delivery? This session explores how to transition from managing projects to leading transformation, build organizational buy-in, and navigate complex change with confidence. Join us and discover practical strategies to push modernization efforts to success! Moderator: Matthew Modarelli, Chief Information Officer, Department of Transportation, State of Washington Cristie Fredrickson, Executive Sponsor, One Washington, Office of Financial Management, State of Washington Amy Pearson, Chief of Staff, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Elizabeth Smith, Deputy Director, Department of Labor and Industries, State of Washington Mentorship in Action: Developing the Next Generation of IT LeadersPoint Defiance Meeting RoomGreat leadership isn’t just about managing teams, it’s about cultivating the next wave of leaders. How can you identify and nurture leadership potential, provide meaningful feedback, and create a culture that fosters professional growth? In this session we examine the critical role of mentorship and highlight the key best practices to develop high-performing teams and future IT leaders. Moderator: Steve Towns, Vice President of Content Strategy, Government Technology Tamara Davis, Acting Chief Technology Officer, King County Heidi Geathers, Sr Assistant Director, Administrative Services, Department of Revenue, State of Washington Scott West, Chief Information Officer, Department of Ecology, State of Washington Leadership in Uncertain TimesUnion Meeting RoomChange is inevitable and uncertainty seems to be around every corner. Stable, strong leadership is key to navigating uncertainty while keeping your team supported, focused, and able to continue delivering services to constituents. This session will cover the leadership values and principles that are important for managing resistance, fostering adaptability, and setting a clear direction during times of transition. Learn how to build resilience, leverage emerging tools, and create a culture that embraces change with confidence. Moderator: Bill Kehoe, Director and State Chief Information Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Ginger Armbruster, Chief Privacy Officer, Seattle Information Technology, City of Seattle Soumam Debgupta, Assistant Secretary / Chief Technology & Innovation Officer, Department of Social & Health Services, State of Washington Sabra Schneider, Chief Information Officer, City of Bellevue |
12:15 pm Pacific |
LunchChambers Bay II-III |
1:00 pm Pacific |
General Session – Trailblazing: Inspiring the Next Wave of Women LeadersChambers Bay II-IIICathilea Robinett, CEO of e.Republic, will share her journey and insights on driving innovation, building strong teams, and navigating challenges in leadership. Join us to gain valuable strategies for success and be inspired to empower the next generation of women leaders. Cathilea Robinett, Chief Executive Officer, e.Republic |
1:30 pm Pacific |
Short BreakPlease proceed to the concurrent sessions. |
1:50 pm Pacific |
Concurrent SessionsFrom Colleague to Manager: Thriving in Your New Leadership RoleChambers Bay ITransitioning to a C-level role means shifting from hands-on operations to strategic leadership. How do you move beyond daily tasks to focus on long-term priorities, innovation, and organizational transformation? This session dives into how you can step out of the day-to-day, focus on the big-picture, and empower your team to succeed. Join us for practical strategies to delegate effectively, build influence, and foster a culture of innovation to ensure your leadership makes a lasting impact. Moderator: Nick Stowe, Chief Technology Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Deanna Brocker, Deputy Director, Strategy and Management, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Stephen Heard, Interim Chief Information Officer/Director of Information Technology, King County Mark Quimby, Deputy Director for Technology Operations, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Building and Sustaining a High-Performing IT WorkforcePoint Defiance Meeting RoomAttracting, developing, and retaining top IT talent is more challenging than ever, especially in a hybrid or remote environment. This session will explore strategies for recruiting and retaining skilled professionals, succession planning, and creating pathways for career growth—from intern to leadership. Discover how to build a high-performing, resilient team that supports both individual and organizational success. Moderator: Rob Allred, State Chief Enterprise Architect, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington James Galvin, AI & Emerging Tech PM, Architecture and Innovation Div, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Chris Lamb, Program Manager, Enterprise Cloud Computing Program / Architecture and Innovation, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington William Smith, Chief of Staff, Information Technology, City of Seattle Influence and Impact: Mastering Communication in IT LeadershipUnion Meeting RoomEffective leadership is built on influence, and strong communication skills are key to inspiring, motivating, and driving change. How can storytelling be used to navigate challenging situations and build trust? Do you have what it takes to foster collaboration and move initiatives forward in high pressure environments? This session covers practical strategies for effective communication, relationship-building, and gaining buy-in to lead with impact…no matter the challenge! Moderator: Steve Towns, Vice President of Content Strategy, Government Technology Viggo Forde, Chief Information Officer & Director of IT, Snohomish County Katy Ruckle, State Chief Privacy Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Vickie Sheehan, Communications Director, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Terry Boedeker, Executive, SLED, Armis Public Sector |
2:50 pm Pacific |
Networking Break in the Exhibit AreaChambers Bay Foyer |
3:10 pm Pacific |
General Session - The Leadership Challenge: A Public Sector Trivia ShowdownChambers Bay II-IIICurious to see how your knowledge stacks up? Can you effectively collaborate under pressure? Dive into this lively, team-based trivia game where attendees join forces to answer questions on governance, policy, emerging tech, and the pressing issues shaping government today. This isn’t just about winning - it’s about networking, sharing expertise and maybe…just maybe - you might learn something new. Whether you’re looking to meet new people or strengthen existing partnerships, this session offers a unique chance to learn and engage with peers from across the public sector. Are you ready to challenge yourself and lead your team to victory? Hosted by: Scott West, Chief Information Officer, Department of Ecology, State of Washington Deanna Brocker, Deputy Director, Strategy and Management, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Kathy Costello, Innovation & Modernization Program Manager, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Viggo Forde, Chief Information Officer & Director of IT, Snohomish County Rob Lloyd, Chief Technology Officer, City of Seattle, WA |
4:00 pm Pacific |
Networking Reception in the Exhibit AreaChambers Bay FoyerNetwork with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event exhibitors. |
4:30 pm Pacific |
End of ConferenceConference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change. |
1538 Commerce Street
Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 294-9200
Robert Allred
State Chief Architect
Washington Technology Solutions
State of Washington
Ginger Armbruster
Chief Privacy Officer
Seattle Information Technology
City of Seattle
Deanna Brocker
Deputy Director for Strategy and Management
Washington Technology Solutions
State of Washington
Bryce Carlen
Chief Information Officer
Information Services Division, Department of Revenue
State of Washington
Tamara Davis
Acting Chief Technology Officer
King County
Soumam Debgupta
Assistant Secretary / Chief Technology Innovation Officer
Department of Social & Health Services
State of Washington
Chris Fadden
IT Director
City of Everett
Viggo Forde
Chief Information Officer & Director of IT
Snohomish County
Heidi Geathers
Senior Assistant Director of Administrative Services
Department of Revenue
State of Washington
Ralph Johnson
Chief Information Security Officer
Washington Technology Solutions
State of Washington
Shalini Joshi
Chief Information Officer
Office of Financial Management
State of Washington
Bill Kehoe
Director and State Chief Information Officer
Washington Technology Solutions
State of Washington
Chris Lamb
Program Manager
Enterprise Cloud Computing Program / Architecture & Innovation Division, WaTech
State of Washington
Rob Lloyd
Chief Technology Officer
City of Seattle
Jim Loter
Deputy Chief Technology Officer
City of Seattle
Brett Mello
Chief Information Officer
Health Care Authority
State of Washington
Matthew Modarelli
Chief Information Officer
Department of Transportation
State of Washington
Brian Moore
Information Technology Director
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
Amy Pearson
Chief of Staff
Washington Technology Solutions
State of Washington
Katy Ruckle
State Chief Privacy Officer
Washington Technology Solutions
State of Washington
Sabra Schneider
Chief Information Officer
City of Bellevue
Vickie Sheehan
Communications Director
Washington Technology Solutions
State of Washington
Greg Tudor
Chief Information Officer
Recreation and Conservation Office
State of Washington
Scott West
Chief Information Officer
Department of Ecology
State of Washington
Terry Boedeker
Account Executive
Armis
This is an invitation-only event, open to Public Sector only. For more information or to request an invitation, please contact Tabbie Pegoda.
If you represent a Private Sector organization and are interested in Sponsorship Opportunities, please contact Heather Earney.
To RSVP and for general assistance contact:
Tabbie Pegoda
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 932-1411
E-mail: tpegoda@erepublic.com
For assistance or questions concerning Sponsor Logos or Logistics please contact:
Mireya Gaton
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 296-2617
E-Mail: mgaton@erepublic.com
Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact:
Heather Earney
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 932-1339
E-mail: heather.earney@erepublic.com