Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Opening Remarks

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

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Concurrent Sessions

Blueprint for AI Strategies: Implementation for Future Impact

As AI becomes the backbone of modern government operations, understanding how to harness its power is a game-changer. Are you ready to lead your agency into the future by unlocking the full potential of AI? This session dives into the essentials of preparing your agency for AI implementation by discovering practical strategies for integrating AI into your existing frameworks.

Tackling the Black Hole of Data

Feeling overwhelmed by data classification and governance? It can often seem like a black hole, consuming time and resources without clear results. It’s time to overcome these challenges and make your strategy more effective and resource-efficient! This session will introduce the essential building blocks for effective data management and explore AI-based tools and machine-learning techniques that can streamline data sorting and tagging. We'll discuss practical strategies like the 80/20 rule, which focuses on efficiently managing data, motivating teams to clean up data, and partnering with vendors to find the best tools.

Bridging the Divide: Advancing Digital Equity and Accessibility for All

Digital equity is a critical priority as technology shapes every aspect of public life. What will governments do to create full engagement opportunities for all? How will technologies support this endeavor? How will we make those technologies accessible? This session provides foundational knowledge on how to drive digital opportunity and accessibility forward and looks at the great work that is being done in West Virginia to improve the use of technology.

Cybersecurity Costs: Navigating the Financial Impact

Cybersecurity costs and the financial impact of data breaches are significant concerns for all organizations. However, proactive measures can be taken to lower protection costs and reduce risks. What are the current and future cost trends you need to understand? What are the implications of potential breaches? This session covers how to approach the expenses associated with risk assessment, annual security procurement, financial reporting and managing your digital footprint.

Lunch

Bits and Bytes: From Broadband to Business: Catalyzing Economic Development with EDA Grants

Discover how Federal EDA grants and creating a Digital Identity Hub can boost West Virginia's economic development. Hear from experts on leveraging grant funding for digital equity missions and broadband funding. We will also explore NOAH's Technical Hub in Fairmont and its potential to strengthen the state's workforce.

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

Concurrent Sessions

AI in Action: Revolutionizing Government Operations through Automation

AI is not just a tool - it's a transformative force in the public sector, capable of automating processes and significantly boosting efficiency. Let’s explore the real-world applications of AI and discover how to leverage it for automation in government operations! This session will highlight the practical applications of AI within government operations, showcasing how it can revolutionize service delivery, streamline workflows, and improve decision-making.

Guarding the Underdogs: Protecting Small Agencies from Cyber Threats

Local governments are at high risk of cyber-attacks but often lack sufficient cybersecurity funds. This makes it crucial for these agencies to stay vigilant and fully utilize the resources available to them. This session will provide real-world examples of the impact of cyber threats on smaller agencies and highlight key lessons learned. You'll discover how to engage local employees, conduct practical risk assessments in collaboration with Homeland Security, and leverage resources from the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) to strengthen your cybersecurity posture.

Tech Talent Rising: Building West Virginia's Workforce

West Virginia is poised for a workforce revolution, but how can we make it happen? Learn about the relocation incentives from Charleston Roots, Workforce West Virginia, and JobPace.com's efforts to attract tech jobs. Discover how to partner with educational institutions for effective training programs. Understand the distribution of AI capabilities and how they will impact job formats and engagement. By the end of the session, you'll have actionable insights to harness AI for workforce growth and development, driving innovation and opportunities across the state.

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

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

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.

Sean McSpaden, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government/Center for Public Sector AI

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

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

End of Conference

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