Wisconsin Digital Government Summit 2026
Overview
The Wisconsin 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.
The Wisconsin Digital Government Summit has been a cornerstone event for collaboration amongst government, tribal, and industry leaders seeking to advance technical excellence in Wisconsin for over 25 years! The demands on today’s technology landscape are unparalleled, making meaningful connections, engaging speakers, and the exchange of ideas fostered by this event even more important than ever. Join us for a day of discovery, inspiration, and conversations that will leave you with fresh perspectives and new possibilities. Don’t miss this opportunity to help shape positive changes for the people and communities we serve!
– Trina Zanow, Chief Information Officer, State of Wisconsin
Speakers
Agenda
Thursday, December 3 |
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8:00 am Central |
Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area |
9:00 am Central |
Welcome and Opening RemarksTrina Zanow, Chief Information Officer/ Division Administrator, Division of Enterprise Technology, State of Wisconsin |
9:15 am Central |
Keynote – EMBRACE THE SHAKE: Transforming Limitations into OpportunitiesSuccess, especially in today’s fast-changing business environment, depends on our ability to make creativity and innovation a continuous process. Leaders want to know how their teams can rise above any challenge and succeed no matter what comes their way. Whether the goal is to embrace change, overcome obstacles, sustain growth, or take your success to the next level, leaders and teams want to learn how to “Embrace the Shake.” The term “Embrace the Shake” is coined from artist Phil Hansen’s personal story of transformation. After developing a career-ending tremor in his drawing hand, Phil embraced his “shake” both physically and metaphorically by redefining his limitation as an impetus for creativity. Phil not only restored his artistic abilities, but he also became a much more creative and innovative artist than ever before. Phil’s powerful message of finding creativity within limitations will inspire you to stop looking outside and start looking within for the resources that can transform your challenges into opportunities for success.
Phil Hansen, Artist, Speaker, Author, and Innovator |
10:15 am Central |
Networking Break in the Exhibit Area |
10:45 am Central |
Concurrent SessionsShared Responsibility Between Business and ITDigital government works better when business and IT are at the table together early. Too often, IT is brought in after the decision is made or a process is already broken. This conversation will bring in business-side voices to discuss what a strong partnership looks like, how trust is built, and how shared ownership helps projects move faster and last longer.
Process Before TechnologyA new tool will not fix a broken process by itself. Agencies, counties, cities, and schools are being asked to do more with limited time and staff, which makes it tempting to put technology on top of how things have always been done. Attendees will learn how to ask better questions up front, understand the real outcome, and improve the process before choosing the solution.
Accessibility as Digital EquityAccessibility continues to be a major need for state and local governments, and many business teams are now taking on part of the work. The pressure is real, but the purpose matters too. This conversation will help attendees understand accessibility as digital equity rather than just another compliance deadline. Practical tools, training, remediation lessons, and business-side support will make this especially useful.
The IT Skillsets of the FutureThe next public sector workforce will need to understand AI, data, security, service design, communication, and modernization all at once. Wisconsin has strong education partners, including UW and K-12 pathways, that can help shape that conversation. This session will connect what students are learning now with what government will need in the next few years.
When to Buy, Build, Share, or CustomizeEvery agency wants tools that fit their work, but heavy customization can create long-term challenges with cost, security, support, and staffing. SaaS can help, but it also changes budget and operating models. Attendees will learn how to think through when to buy, when to build, when to use shared services, and when customization is worth the long-term tradeoff.
Building the Business Case for TechnologyGood technology work must still survive budget constraints, grant cycles, leadership reviews, and competing priorities. The advisory board raised real concerns about rising costs, limited operating budgets, grant restrictions, and the challenge of explaining lifecycle needs. This session will help attendees tell the story clearly, connect technology to business value, and show what happens if the work is funded or delayed.
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11:45 am Central |
Lunch |
12:45 pm Central |
General Session - Plan Before PermissionBefore AI can be used in daily government work, agencies need more than interest and good ideas. They need a policy people understand, leadership buy-in, clear guardrails, and a process for deciding what is allowed. This session will look at how agencies can build that foundation before implementation begins. Attendees will learn how to bring business, IT, security, privacy, data, legal, procurement, and leadership into the conversation early, so AI does not become a side project or a risk no one owns.
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1:15 pm Central |
Short BreakPlease proceed to the concurrent sessions.
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1:30 pm Central |
Concurrent SessionsPrompts That WorkAI literacy is becoming a basic skill, but many people do not know how to use these tools well or safely. This practical session will cover prompting, reviewing outputs, choosing the right tool, and understanding the difference between personal use, free tools, licensed tools, and approved government use. The tone will be useful and approachable, not overly technical.
Riding the AI Wave Without Getting Pulled UnderAI is changing development, cyber operations, service delivery, and daily office work. At the same time, it introduces new risks related to data, cost, bias, security, and long-term governance. This conversation will help attendees understand where AI belongs, where it does not, and how to avoid spending time or money on use cases that are not ready.
Privacy is Not Sitting in the CornerPrivacy is becoming central to AI, data, records, cameras, public safety, public meetings, and citizen trust. Many IT teams may not know how to work with privacy officers or when to bring them into the conversation. This session will introduce the privacy role, explain why it matters, and show how privacy can help projects move forward rather than slow them down.
OT is Everywhere NowOperational technology is no longer just a manufacturing topic. Water systems, buildings, facilities, public safety, transportation, utilities, and connected devices all bring new questions about risk, connectivity, ownership, and response. Wisconsin’s spring cybersecurity summit showed strong interest in OT, so this session will give DGS attendees a practical understanding of what OT is and why leadership is increasingly asking, and concerned, about it.
Fraud, Public Information, and the Details Bad Actors UseFraud is hitting public sector programs from many directions, including benefits, payments, financial aid, impersonation, wire fraud, public packets, and scams built from public information. This conversation will focus on prevention, detection, reporting, and what staff can know before something goes wrong. Real examples will make this land, especially if they show how small details can be used against agencies or citizens.
Exclusive Briefing for Industry PartnersHosted by:
Trina Zanow, Chief Information Officer/Division Administrator, Division of Enterprise Technology, State of Wisconsin Neeraj Kulkarni, Chief Information Officer & IT Director, Dept. of Workforce Development, State of Wisconsin |
2:30 pm Central |
Networking Break in the Exhibit Area |
3:00 pm Central |
General Session - What Wisconsin Can Do Next With AIWe are excited to close the day with examples of what is already moving forward with AI. This conversation will feature agencies or public sector partners with approved AI policies, approved use cases, or practical pilots. Attendees will hear which problem was being solved, which approvals were needed, which guardrails mattered, and what another agency can learn from the work. This gives the day a positive close and shows that governance does not have to mean standing still.
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4:00 pm Central |
Networking Reception in the Exhibit AreaNetwork with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event exhibitors.
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4:30 pm Central |
End of ConferenceConference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change.
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Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center
1 John Nolen Drive
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 261-4091
Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center
Advisory Board
Government Representatives
Bill Brinkley
Chief Information Security Officer/Director of Security Bureau
Department of Administration
State of Wisconsin
Herb Britsch
Chief Information Officer
Department of Justice
State of Wisconsin
Jerry Deschane
Executive Director
League of WI Municipalities
Alex Fortney
IT Director
Public Service Commission
State of Wisconsin
Tom Haukohl
IT Director
Department of Health Services
State of Wisconsin
Amy Kaup
Director
Information Technology
Wood County
Gerard Klein
Director, Information Technology
City County Information Technology Commission
City of Wausau/Marathon County
Kevin Koenig
Solutions and Data Engineering Manager
Information Technology
Waukesha County
Ricki Koinig
Chief Information Officer
Department of Natural Resources
State of Wisconsin
Brian Kreklau
Director of Technical Architecture Bureau, DET
Department of Administration
State of Wisconsin
Neeraj Kulkarni
Chief Information Officer
Department of Workforce Development
State of Wisconsin
Keene Marin
IT Director
Housing & Economic Development Authority
State of Wisconsin
Lucas Munz
Chief Information Officer
Department of Public Instruction
State of Wisconsin
Ed Murphy
Associate Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer
Office of Information Security
University of Wisconsin System
Jason Neilitz
Chief Information Officer
Tribe
Sokaogon Chippewa Community
Joe Patterson
Director, Bureau of Publishing and Distribution
Department of Administration
State of Wisconsin
Joshua Robbins
Information Technology Director
Economic Development
State of Wisconsin
Ed Snow
Chief Information Security Officer/Director of Security Bureau
Educational Communications Board
State of Wisconsin
James Sylla
Deputy Administrator, DET Enterprise Operations
Department of Administration
State of Wisconsin
Steve Van Der Weide
Director of District Attorney IT Bureau, DET
Department of Administration
State of Wisconsin
Greg Vanevenhoven
Audit and Compliance Administrator
Department of Administration
State of Wisconsin
Barry West
Event Coordinator and Liason
GIPAW
Britny Williams
Director of Infrastructure Support Bureau, DET
Department of Administration
State of Wisconsin
Trina Zanow
Chief Information Officer/Division Administrator, DET
Department of Administration
State of Wisconsin
Industry Representatives
Maxwell Babler
Senior Account Manager
Capital Data, Inc.
Ted Basile
Global Public Sector GTM Lead
Wasabi
Adam Erickson
Managing Director
AHEAD
Shane Guyette
Major Account Manager
Fortinet
John Jauquet
Technology Sales Leader
Technology, Sales
HashiCorp, an IBM company
Christopher Mende
Director, Custom Engineering, Higher Education and Government
Customer Engineering
Google Cloud
Jeff Szczerbinski
Regional VP
Salesforce
Chelsey Wolfstor
General Manager, Tyler Wisconsin
Operations
Tyler Technologies
Registration Information / Contact Us
Event Date: December 3, 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:
Jasmin Tetzlaff
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 932-1308
E-mail: jtetzlaff@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