Claire Bailey is the Chief Security Advisor at Tanium, supporting U.S. State and Local Government & Education (SLED). Her more than 40 years of experience includes driving modernization, security, and transformation initiatives for federal, state and local governments, in both private and public sector leadership roles. Some of her most prominent positions include serving as Chief Technology Officer for the State of Arkansas, and several industry vice president and director roles at Veracode, KWR Strategies, and Compuware, among others. Bailey’s contributions to public service and innovation have earned her honors and recognition from several institutions including the Governor’s Quality Award (Arkansas), Government Technology, StateScoop, and the Arkansas Academy of Computing.

Chris Barry, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, leads the Public Sector Industries segment in the United States, encompassing the Federal, State & Local Government, and Education sectors. Chris oversees a team of nearly 4,000 professionals who are dedicated to leveraging Microsoft Cloud and AI solutions to drive digital transformation, enhance productivity, and achieve business goals. His team comprises sales, service and customer success experts who leverage their industry-specific knowledge to empower customers to achieve more.
A seasoned technology leader and adept at driving transformational change, Chris has nearly 23 years of experience at Microsoft and has held leadership roles in sales and marketing for both Enterprise and Partner Groups in the US, Canada and globally.
Chris has also served as the Chief Operating Officer for Microsoft’s Industry Solutions business, where he developed strategies to maximize impact for top industry accounts and scaled solutions through partner ecosystems and worldwide sales teams. Most recently, he served as President of Microsoft Canada, leading a team dedicated to delivering transformative outcomes for Canadians.
Chris is passionate about driving meaningful and lasting relationships, building diverse and inclusive teams, and driving positive organizational outcomes. He believes culture is a powerful differentiator and delivering outstanding customer service requires leadership that emphasizes achievement, impeccable service, and problem solving through autonomy and inventiveness.
Chris serves on the Board of Directors for Toronto Global and splits his time between Seattle and Washington, D.C. Outside of work, he enjoys fly fishing, photography and boating.

Phil Bertolini is a Chief Delivery Officer for Government Technology, the premiere event and thought leadership content provider for state and local government technology professionals. Previously, he served as deputy county executive and CIO for Oakland County, Michigan. During his 31-year tenure, Phil built a world-class IT organization in the second-largest county in Michigan, just north of Detroit. As Oakland County CIO, he oversaw more than 150 employees serving over 1.2 million residents. In 2005, he was also promoted to deputy county executive, holding dual positions until his retirement. Phil’s efforts earned the county national attention, winning numerous awards for technology innovation and excellence. He was named Governing Magazine’s Public Official of the Year and Government Technology Magazine’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers. He was also honored by the President Obama White House as a Champion of Change.

Thomas Boon is the Chief Information Officer of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). Boon leads the successful GO-Biz technology team known for the development of the California Business Portal, the California Competes Tax Credit Application, and the California Film and Television Tax Credit Application. Cloud First principles have enabled the GO-Biz technology team to be a leader in the modernization of digital services for Californians. The California Business Portal was developed with the California Information Technology Leadership Academy in 7 months. The California Competes Tax Credit Application and the California Film and Television Tax Credit Application are essential to the online submission, review, and award of over $500 million in tax incentives to businesses and film production companies in California. In 2018, Boon led GO-Biz to become one of the first State of California offices to implement cloud-based desktop computers for its entire staff. Being able to work from anywhere on any device proved to be very valuable during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Previously, Boon served as the Application Architect for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from 2009 to 2013, where he was also a lead software developer from 2001 to 2009 and an associate programmer from 1997 – 2001. Boon earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from the University of San Diego and has served as a Program Coach and Program Advisor to the California Information Technology Leadership Academy.

Kelly Chambliss is Senior Vice President of IBM Consulting, Americas. In this role, Kelly leads one of the largest professional services organizations in the world, helping enterprise clients across industries transform their businesses through services spanning strategy, technology, and operations.
Kelly returned to IBM Consulting, Americas after serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of IBM Consulting where she was a catalyst for Hybrid Cloud and AI driven growth, strategic focus, and employee empowerment, while leading core business functions that included offerings, assets, global delivery, and acquisitions.
During her initial tenure leading IBM Consulting in the Americas, Kelly led the business to sustained growth, creating a client-focused and collaborative culture. During this time, she also established and led the IBM Consulting Strategic Sales function globally, developing innovative client strategies and solutions, with a focus on harnessing the power of Hybrid Cloud and AI.
Other notable roles at IBM include Managing Partner of IBM Consulting, North America; Managing Partner of the Distribution Market, which included the Consumer Goods, Retail, and Travel & Transportation Industries; and the Chief Technology Officer for IBM Consulting.
Kelly joined IBM through the acquisition of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Consulting, where she was a Partner. Her experience at PwC included leading technology-enabled programs across Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America.
Her leadership has been recognized by Business Insider, Fortune, and Consulting Magazine. She is an advocate for engaging and empowering women and expanding allyship.
Kelly serves on the Board of Directors of American Tower Corporation (NYSE: AMT) and previously served on the Board of Directors for CoreSite Realty Corporation (NYSE: COR), leading the Governance Committee and serving on the Compensation Committee.
Kelly graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Management Science and a specialization in Decision Support Systems. She attended Virginia Tech on a full athletic scholarship and served as co-captain of the volleyball team her senior year.
She resides in Chicago, Illinois with her husband and two children. She is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and is an avid runner.

Jennifer has over 20 years of private and public sector experience collaborating with executive and key stakeholders , ensuring seamless IT operations, leading key initiatives, and managing organizational change while delivering quality results and implementing transformation and continuous improvement projects.
Currently she serves as the Assistant Chief for the California Justice Information Services (CJIS) at the Department of Justice (DOJ).  CJIS’ mission is to provide accurate, timely, and comprehensive criminal history and analysis data to its client agencies, which include California’s local police and sheriff departments, district attorneys, and local and state regulatory agencies. In addition, the CJIS supports the critical DOJ information technology infrastructure. CJIS serves as a bridge for these services to the federal and other states’ criminal justice agencies.  Since joining the state in 2010, she has served in various management and executive leadership positions while also participating on industry Advisory Boards. 
Her state executive experience has included directing 24/7 IT operations, managing IT budgets in excess of $174M, and overseeing a large portfolio of over $3.7B in complex IT contracts.  Prior to 2010, she served as an IT consultant in the private sector providing project management, Independent Project Oversight Consulting (IPOC), Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V), and business analysis services.  Jennifer possesses a Master of Business Administration from the California State University, Sacramento, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Psychology from the University of California, Davis. 

Shaw-chin leads IBM's consulting portfolio for state, local, and education agencies in California. She brings 20 years of extensive experience in global business transformation, digital innovation with emerging technologies, including cloud, AI, and GenAI, process re-engineering, and organizational/change management. She has supported clients in the Government, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Consumer and Retail Industries spanning North America, Europe, APAC and Latin America. She had the pleasure of serving the state early on in her career as an HR Business Partner at the California Judicial Council. Some of her notable achievements at IBM included infusing enterprise design thinking methodologies to drive more human-centricity through “IBM Garages” and IBM’s blockchain-based COVID digital credential platform. She graduated with an MBA in Finance, Marketing, and Health Sector Management from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a BA in Psychology and Anthropology from the University of CA, Berkeley. Shaw-chin is also a published author of a book dedicated to the power of working mothers called, "Integrating Me in Motherhood: A Mom's Guide to Preventing Burnout and Unleashing Her True Essence."

Tristian Cormier is a charismatic technology executive in leading-edge IT management and strategy. With over 20 years of experience in IT Infrastructure Operations for the State of California, Tristian has established himself as a visionary leader known for his strategic vision and transformative initiatives. As Chief of the Information Technology Division (CIO) at the California Secretary of State (SOS), Tristian has oversight for directing the most complex multi-functional responsibilities, specifically, program development, technical and production support, and administrative functions. He is responsible for aligning technology investments with agency objectives, ensuring that IT initiatives contribute directly to the organization's growth and success. Tristian's leadership style is characterized by his ability to inspire and empower teams to achieve their full potential. He fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement, enabling his teams to tackle complex challenges. Prior to the Secretary of State, Tristian served dual roles as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the Office of Tax Appeals (OTA). Before OTA, Tristian served as technical support in Network Engineering and Operations. Tristian attended California State University, Sacramento (CSUS), earning his Bachelor's Degree in Business. Outside of his professional pursuits, Tristian is passionate about mentoring the next generation of technology leaders. In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf and volleyball. Tristian was a three-time All-American (Sacramento State) and All-State (American River College) volleyball player.

Kevin Cornish serves as Chief Information Officer at Covered California, orchestrating digital transformation at the nation's largest state-based health insurance marketplace. As a strategic technology leader, he partners with government agencies, health insurers, and consumer advocates to pioneer healthcare innovations centered on exceptional user experiences, including oversight for CalHEERS, the innovative platform connecting millions of Californians to affordable, high-quality healthcare. Before joining Covered California, his technology leadership experience spanned healthcare, higher education, and high-tech industries. A UC San Diego graduate with expertise in Human Information Processing, Kevin is recognized for leveraging technology to advance organizational missions and deliver business value.

Ryan Covell is Dynatrace’s Chief Strategy Officer for North America. Since 2001, Ryan has been a subject matter expert in the field of application and infrastructure observability and has helped world-leading companies leverage observability to transform faster and operate more efficiently. Dynatrace exists to make the world’s software work perfectly. Our end-to-end platform combines broad and deep observability and continuous runtime application security with Davis® hypermodal AI to provide answers and intelligent automation from data at an enormous scale. This enables innovators to modernize and automate cloud operations, deliver software faster and more securely, and ensure flawless digital experiences. That’s why the world’s largest organizations trust the Dynatrace platform to accelerate digital transformation.

Michael Crews is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), where he oversees the agency’s technology strategy and operations in support of California’s emergency response and preparedness efforts.
With over 25 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, Michael has led initiatives to enhance cybersecurity, data management, and IT infrastructure for critical state operations. He began his state service as a program manager at Cal OES and later served as the Chief Information Security Officer and Data & Geospatial Branch Chief, where he played a key role in strengthening the agency’s geospatial capabilities.
Prior to joining Cal OES, Michael worked as an IT consultant, managing projects in telemedicine, modeling & simulation, cybersecurity, and risk management. He also served as an Intelligence Analyst/Operator in the U.S. Navy. Michael is a member of the State Technology Council, where he collaborates with other technology leaders on statewide IT initiatives.

Eyal works with clients across the public sector to help them take advantage of the Generative AI and AI innovations that are transforming the delivery of customer experiences, the organization’s workforce, and the enterprise. He leads teams of dedicated strategy, consulting, technology, and operation professionals to design, implement, and deliver Generative AI solutions that can enable public sector organizations to transform their operations and the customer experiences they offer, simplifying and accelerating how citizens can access government services. Eyal combines passion and pragmatism to shape innovative solutions that positively impact his clients’ customers. 

Joe Durante, a servant leader with a strong focus on Customer Advocacy is a Chief Technology and Innovation Strategist supporting SLG customers on the West Coast for Dell. His years of experience allows for a collaborative environment to talk about topics that are on most CIO’s Top Priority lists for 2025. Hot Topics of conversation include Accelerating Digital Transformation, Modernization, Enhancing Cybersecurity protocols and Data Protection efficacy and Driving AI Automation.
With 20 years in private sector, Joe began his tech career as an Account Executive supporting HIED accounts in NY Metro area and Mid-Atlantic regions for Dell. He also carried a leadership flag supporting Public and Large Enterprise sales teams while also at Dell. In 2010 he transitioned to Aruba Networks, Bomgar and VMWare to build channel/partner programs. Focused on ENT software sales impacting Digital Transformation, Edge Computing and Cyber Security initiatives Joe rebranded himself as a Channel guru and focused his efforts on making solutions relevant and easy to sell through the partner ecosystems.
His greatest accomplishment was as a VP of Sales for BeyondTrust where he led a team of 10 ENT software sellers, covering 29 states. His collaborative sales stylings allowed his team to thrive in a setting that was inclusive and rewarding. Focused on mentoring his junior reps: SDRs, Channel and renewals team members on the value of selling into the Public marketplace. Joe enjoys sharing his SLED knowledge with a broad audience who are passionate about learning about what is important to SLED customers as it pertains to AI, Edge Computing, Digital Transformation and Cyber Security landscape.
In his free time Joe and his neighbor do competitive BBQ cooking on the team name “Dazed and BBQ’s”. They have won several categories for Best Brisket, Best Ribs and Best Chicken.

Don Foley comes to DTSC with over 25 years of experience in information technology from both private and public sectors. He most recently served as Chief over the Innovative Technology Solutions Branch at the Department of Social Services (CDSS), supporting enterprise applications and services. Prior to CDSS, Don worked for the Department of Water Resources (DWR) in various roles supporting the California Natural Resources Agency Multi-Tenant Data Center and State Water Project (SCADA) environments. He’s worked in various industries including health care, banking, and IT consulting, holding multiple positions such as Enterprise IT Project Director, Network and Security Manager and consultant. Over his career, Don obtained industry certifications such as PMP, ITIL, CSM, CCNP, CNA and MCSE.
Don is inspired daily by his family and the people around him. Don is native to Guam, USA and moved to Sacramento, CA in 1984. The people around Don will say he is a champion in the concept of “Teamwork makes the Dream work.” He focuses on culture and promotes collaboration and employee engagement.

As the Chief Information Officer of the Employment Development Department (EDD), Ajit leads the modernization and strategic direction of the IT Branch, overseeing critical systems that facilitate the disbursement of billions of dollars in Unemployment Insurance (UI), Disability Insurance (DI), and Paid Family Leave benefits. With over 20 years of IT experience spanning both public and private sectors, Ajit is dedicated to leveraging technology to drive innovation and improve services that profoundly impact the lives of Californians.
Ajit is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and ITIL Expert, with an MBA and a bachelor's degree in engineering. His leadership drives the advancement of EDD’s Unemployment Insurance (UI), Disability Insurance (DI), workforce, and tax collection systems under the EDDNext initiative. Committed to operational excellence, he delivers measurable outcomes that align with and enhance the agency's mission to serve Californians effectively.

Fredrick is a proud Air Force veteran who attended the Community College of the Air Force, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Arizona State University, where he completed his studies in Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering Technology before beginning his IT career. His IT experience and educational background, which support his 24-year career, include earning his Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certification, Cisco Certified Network Administrator (CCNA) certification, Networking+, Computer Associates A+, and Computer Systems/Applications certifications.
His IT career began in 2000 in the private sector, where he held various positions of increasing responsibility for several companies, including Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Army Corps of Engineers, Dunmore Homes, and Verizon, before joining the state as a consultant with the Office of Systems Integration in 2007. He was recruited as the Infrastructure Lead and Supervisor at the California Employment Development Department. Subsequently, he served as the Infrastructure Chief at Caltrans before being appointed CIO and IT Director for the California Public Utilities Commission. He later returned to Caltrans as the IT Strategy Management Office Chief.
In June 2024, he joined the California Department of Food & Agriculture and was appointed to the Agency Chief Information Officer and Director over the Information Technology Services Division (ITSD). Fredrick is a State’s IT Leadership Academy graduate and a recipient of the Outstanding Leadership award. He feels honored to have worked in both the public and private sectors. His journey has provided him with valuable experience and fostered strong working relationships. He finds fulfillment in collaborating with stakeholders, building strategic partnerships, delivering exceptional customer service, providing innovative solutions, and cultivating a one IT concept of cohesive and productive teams.

Ruth Green currently serving as the City of Rocklin, Chief Information Officer who has serves in various California public sector roles, including being the Statewide Technology Recovery Program Manager at the California Department of Technology, Privacy and Risk Management Administrator for the California Highway Patrol, and the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for both the California State Lottery and the Judicial Council of California. Ruth also holds master’s degree in Emergency Management and Homeland Security from Arizona State University and maintains several professional IT certifications, including CRISC, CIPM, and C)DRE.

Crystal Holcomb is the Deputy Director for the Office of Professional Development at the CA Department of Technology (CDT). With 25 years of state government experience, and more than 20 years in technology, Crystal has led multiple high performing teams always focused on providing top notch customer service. Her leadership experience includes workforce development, customer engagement, change management, project management, application development, Service Desk, and IT procurement. She is passionate about making a positive impact and serving others.
Crystal has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the CA State University, Sacramento. She is also a proud graduate of ITLA Class 22. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family at sporting events, or anything outdoors.

Marcie Kahbody is the Deputy Secretary of Technology, Agency Information Officer (AIO) for the California State Transportation Agency as well as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Caltrans. As AIO, Marcie leads collaboration across California transportation entities to increase innovation and successful information technology (IT) project delivery. Marcie is responsible for developing policies and procedures to govern business processes, security protocols, operational programs, and IT resources across the agency. As Caltrans CIO, she also has direct responsibility for Caltrans information technology programs, projects, and people. She ensures that resources are deployed efficiently, effectively, and in accordance with statewide mandates and department priorities.
Marcie has held Information Technology positions within the State of California for over 32 years including the role of Agency Information Officer at CalSTA since 2015. Prior she was an IT Chief for the Department of Health Care Services and worked in similar positions for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the California Department of Technology. Marcie spent the bulk of her career – nearly 20 years – at the Department of General Services as an Information Technology Manager and network administrator.
Marcie earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from California State University Sacramento and was a participant in the state’s Information Technology Leadership Academy in 2012. She is a Certified Microsoft Engineer and is part of Sac State’s Leadership for the Government Executive program. In 2023, Marcie received the esteemed ‘Women Who Mean Business Award’ from the Sacramento Business Journal.

Jason Lally currently serves as California’s State Chief Data Officer (CDO), responsible for setting the statewide strategic direction around the ethical, effective, and equitable use of data with the overarching goal to improve use of data in government. He serves in this role at the Office of Data and Innovation (ODI), a California department under the Government Operations Agency. ODI’s mission is to drive innovation across California state government, using data, technology, and human-centered design to achieve exceptional, equitable outcomes for all Californians. ODI partners with other state departments in hands-on projects to build better services and then train the statewide workforce to set them on a path of continuous improvement, collaboration, and innovation.
Prior to his role as State CDO, Jason was the Deputy Director for Data Engineering and Services with ODI. In this role, he worked with his team to help departments across the State adopt modern data infrastructure and Data Operations practices. Before joining the State, he was the Chief Data Officer of the City and County of San Francisco. There he drove efforts to make open data and dashboards available about the County’s pandemic response. He also worked with his amazing team to plan and implement comprehensive, automated reporting for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) inventory and distribution. Prior to the pandemic, Jason helped operationalize the City’s data strategy under the first CDO of San Francisco, setting up processes that were copied the world over for managing an open data program.
Jason has more than a decade of experience in the use of civic data including data management, governance, analysis, visualization, and engineering.

Douglas serves as the Chief Information Security Officer for the Employment Development Department, bringing a forward-thinking mindset to technology leadership. With a keen understanding of the rapidly changing digital landscape, he is dedicated to fostering a culture that prioritizes security and privacy through continuous improvement. Douglas’s primary goal is to cultivate a strong, resilient team committed to supporting EDD's mission and ensuring its ongoing success.

Stephenson has been part of the CalPERS team since 2010. He’s held a number of positions beginning with the Pension System Resumption Customer Acceptance Testing technical team, as a lead technical engineer for myCalPERS architecture, and as a supervisor over the Application Engineering and Support team. In 2017, he moved from the Enterprise Solutions Development Division to become the chief of Data Center Systems Management within the Technology Infrastructure Services Division; and, two years later, promoted to Data Center chief. During that time, Stephenson was responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the most critical and highly sensitive Data Center operations and interdepartmental infrastructure projects. In 2021 he became the chief technology officer leading the Customer Technologies Support team, Data Center, and part of the Information Technology Services Branch leadership team. He also took on additional responsibility as the interim CIO before being named permanently to the position.
Prior to joining state service, for more than 10 years Stephenson worked for a multi-national consulting firm with employees around the world. He handled multiple customers, predominantly in the North American financial services industry, managing production operations and application development for many applications using the onsite offshore model. He’s played many roles, including application development and maintenance, project management, and operations support.
Stephenson graduated from the University of Madras, India, with a Bachelor of Engineering in mechanical engineering. He went on to earn a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in information technology management and finance (minor) at the National Institute of Technology, Trichy, India.
Stephenson is an active leader in many civic organizations. He’s the immediate past president of the Asian Pacific State Employees Association and also a board member of the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Greater Sacramento chapter.

Mike Marshall assumed the role of CalEPA’s Agency Information Officer (AIO) in January of 2024, following his tenure as the Agency Information Security Officer (AISO) beginning in December 2017. With a wealth of experience in information security, Mike significantly contributed to CalEPA’s cyber resilience during his time as AISO.
Prior to his role at CalEPA, Mike dedicated nearly a decade to various information security roles at the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) from 2008 to 2017. His extensive experience at CalPERS equipped him with a deep understanding of information security principles and practices, which he has applied effectively in his leadership roles at CalEPA.
With his proven track record of leadership and expertise in information security, Mike continues to play a pivotal role in safeguarding CalEPA’s information assets and advancing its technological capabilities to meet the evolving needs of the agency and its stakeholders.
Mike earned his Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

Bill McCoy is an executive coach, consultant, and trusted advisor to CEOs, future CEOs, and boards. He specializes in executive coaching and management consulting, combining his deep expertise in leadership development, strategic discipline, and organizational transformation to help senior leaders achieve extraordinary business and personal outcomes.
As an executive coach, Bill focuses on leadership development during critical transitions such as onboarding, promotions, mergers and acquisitions, and organizational restructuring. He partners with leaders to hone their performance, align professional and personal goals, and create enduring organizational and individual impact. His organization development experience includes board and executive team alignment, organization design, and harmonizing leadership performance objectives with organizational strategy.

Calvin McGee II has over three decades of experience in information technology, with a distinguished 25-year track record in IT management across both the public and private sectors. As a proud alum of California State University, Sacramento, Calvin holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems and an MBA, credentials that have underpinned a career marked by innovation, leadership, and a profound commitment to leveraging technology to drive organizational success.
Currently serving as the Chief Information Officer for the California Department of Real Estate, Calvin has a rich history in IT leadership roles, including significant tenures within California state government. Notably, Calvin's expertise has been instrumental in transforming and leading initiatives that significantly enhanced service delivery and operational efficiency.
A certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Calvin is known for his pragmatic and results-focused approach to technology services, consistently delivering solutions that enhance business outcomes while optimizing cost-effectiveness. Calvin's leadership extends beyond IT management to encompass comprehensive enterprise programs, organizational restructuring, and change management.

Rosanna Nguyen is the Chief of the Information Technology Consulting Unit for the Department of Finance. She leads a team responsible for performing fiscal oversight of IT projects and evaluating fiscal and operational impacts for IT initiatives as part of the state’s annual budget process. Prior to this role, Rosanna served as a Fiscal Oversight Manager for the Department of Finance from 2016-2019. She has also held IT management and analyst positions working in the areas of Project Management, Project Oversight and Enterprise Strategic Planning at the Franchise Tax Board in her 26 years of state government service.

Russ Nichols’ public service spanned over 32 years and included management and executive positions with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the California State Controller’s Office, and the Employment Development Department.
In 2015, Nichols was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown as the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Chief Information Officer and Director of Enterprise Information Services. While serving at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Nichols also served as a board member for the Corrections Technology Association and served as CTA President from 2019 to 2021. In February 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Nichols Deputy State CIO and Chief Deputy Director at California Department of Technology. Prior to retirement, Nichols also served as Acting State CIO and CDT Director for several months.
During his career, Russ won numerous awards including the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s 2014 Administrator of the Year, Government Technology’s 2018 CIO of the year, and Government Technology’s 2023 California Public Sector Hall of Fame Award.

Robert O’Brien has worked for the State of California for 37 years in the Information Technology field and is the CIO for the California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS). Robert and his team are currently working to bring in Gen AI to CCHCS to increase efficiency and expeditiousness of information retrieval and patient care.

Enrique Parker is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the California Department of Human Resources, leading the organization’s IT strategy and operations with over two decades of experience. He has a proven track record in driving innovation and transformation and improving operational efficiencies. Enrique holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a Master’s in Information Assurance. At CalHR, he focuses on advancing digital transformation, enhancing cybersecurity, and fostering continuous improvement, ensuring that CalHR delivers on its mission.

With 26 years at AT&T, Brett Perez leads IoT and Advanced Mobile Application solutions for K-12, higher education, and government sectors. His expertise spans LTE/5G, private cellular networks, intelligent transportation systems, and bridging the digital divide. Passionate about technology and education, Brett drives innovation in smart cities, public safety, and IoT applications.
A U.S. Air Force veteran, Brett holds BBA and MBA degrees from St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. He resides in Dripping Springs, Texas, with his wife Jill and daughters Kella and Piper.

Ren is the Chief Enterprise Architect for the State of California. In this capacity, he is the executive that leads the Office of Enterprise Architecture for the California Department of Technology. Ren is responsible for the state’s architectural framework that describes California’s technology and business activities. He drives digital transformation and evaluates the adoption of new technology for the state to ensure that it meets the needs of the state government and the citizens of California.
Ren has 30 years of experience in the information and technology profession. He has held leadership positions in federal and state governments, and industry. Ren is a veteran of the United States Air Force where he served as a commissioned officer. In the Air Force Ren held several key positions, to include commanding two squadron sections, and an operations officer for the Nation’s Warfighting Network.
Ren focused his professional career on information and data architecture. He is an active member of the information architecture professional community and is a past co-chair and board member of the Information Architecture Conference.
Ren is an Army brat and has lived in many places, however he grew up primarily in Sacramento, California. He attended the New York Institute of Technology and received a Bachelor of Science in Technical Writing and was a member of the Arnold Air Society, the honor society for Aerospace Studies, Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.

As HR Director for Comcast Business, California, John spearheads initiatives that enhance productivity and organizational health through innovative Talent Development, Performance Management, and DEI strategies. With a robust background in change management, he excels at guiding organizations through transformative periods, ensuring high performance and smooth transitions.

Cathilea is Chief Executive Officer of e.Republic, where she oversees operations for the company’s award-winning media platforms: Governing, Government Technology and Emergency Management. Cathilea also oversees e.Republic’s websites, conferences and events, and its national research and advisory groups: the Center for Digital Government, the Center for Digital Education and the Governing Institute.
In 2014 Cathilea directed the launch of the Governing Institute’s Women in Government Leadership Program, an innovative initiative that encourages future generations of women to participate in public service.
Cathilea is a frequent speaker for government and education organizations worldwide, including the United Nations, Harvard University, the State Legislative Leaders' Foundation, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Council of State Governments, and the World Congress on Information Technology. She has been quoted frequently in publications including the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Forbes and others.
Cathilea is a recipient of NASCIO’s National Technology Champion Award for her outstanding contributions to advance public sector information technology innovation. She is also the winner of an Outstanding Women Leadership Award from the Sacramento Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and is a Greater Sacramento Business Hall of Fame Laureate.

Prior to joining the Government Operations Agency, Mr. Robinette, worked at the California Department of Technology where he was responsible for creating the Technology Stabilization Service and Technology Modernization Service.
With a career in public service spanning more than 25 years, he has assisted in the state response to emergency situations such as H1N1, the Angora fire, and COVID-19. From 2014-2017, he served as CIO at the California Department of Community Services and Development, earning CIO of the Year in 2016. His state service includes roles at the California Department of Public Health and the State Water Resources Control Board. Over the years, his technology teams received numerous state and national awards.
Ron received a Bachelor of Science in Business with a concentration in Management Information Systems from Sacramento State University and a Master of Science in Management from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

John Roussel is the current Chief Information Officer (CIO) for California Department of Public Health (CDPH).  He is responsible for IT leadership and defining the strategies to execute the technology vision for California’s modern public health landscape and services. John has been instrumental in leading critical efforts such as the Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record and most recently the Future of Public Health to advance the department’s technology services, data science, and informatics framework for a 21st century public health system. 
John is a business and IT professional with expertise in setting enterprise vision and strategies that drive transformational technical solutions to solve real world problems driven by business outcomes. He has over 20-year in State service as a strategic thought leader but started his technology career in the mid 90’s. John worked in the Bay Area private sector’s vendor community as an IT consultant in addition to moonlighting as a Multimedia Instructor at the University of California Davis Extension (1996-1998). After John started with the State in 1999 he has been a part of many of the State’s most complex, transformative, and innovative IT efforts and has held several critical senior management and executive leadership positions throughout his career including a member of California Franchise Tax Board’s Enterprise Architecture Council, California Health and Human Services Agency’s Chief Enterprise Architect, California State Lottery as the Chief Innovation Officer, and his most recent assignment as the Chief Information Officer for California Department of Public Health.

Patty Roze serves as Vice President of Public Sector Sales focused on state, local, and education markets for the Verizon Business Group, part of Verizon Communications.
In this role, she leads a nationwide team responsible for developing solutions to address the complex requirements of state government, local government, and education clients. Patty and her team oversee the seamless delivery of integrated solutions across Verizon’s industry-leading portfolio, including best-in-class wireless mobility services, cloud and information technology, security, strategic networking, and advanced communications offerings to meet the needs of the Public Sector and the citizens they serve.
Patty previously served as Director of global Enterprise Sales for the Transportation, Distribution, and Construction vertical practice for the Verizon Business Group. Patty and her team served the topmost influential multi-national corporations to identify, create, and deliver solutions to meet the unique traditional and emerging business needs of the industry. She began her career with the company in 2000 as a wireless account executive in Houston and has held roles of increasing responsibility ever since.  Patty has led teams across the United States responsible for selling Intelligent Global IP Networks, Dynamic Cloud, Security Solutions, Mobility, and M2M Solutions. Roze’s 24+ year career at Verizon includes extensive work in large enterprise sales, consulting, and leadership positions supporting F500 clients throughout the United States.
Patty earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ashford University in San Diego, CA.

Avinash Shetty is Vice President, Product Management at Nutanix. Nutanix is a global leader in cloud software and a pioneer in hyperconverged infrastructure solutions, freeing customers to focus on their business outcomes. He has been with Nutanix since 2013 and started out as one of the early Product Managers driving product direction, specifically the NX portfolio roadmap. Over the years, he was responsible for pricing and licensing, sales, operations and helping the company pivot to software and subscription selling. He is focused on the broader Nutanix portfolio strategy, cross product roadmap as well as dissecting the broader competitive landscape. With a background in engineering and Product Management and his ability to work across various teams within the organization, he has worn multiple hats at this time at Nutanix and filled gaps in various domains when needed. He has the rare ability to connect with customers while having a depth of knowledge across multiple disciplines.
Before Nutanix, Avinash spent 5 years at Riverbed Technology, working in various roles and working closely with customers and internal organizations with a focus on the networking and storage domains. He helped shape early workloads and use cases for the SteelFusion product line. He also spent 8 years at Cisco Systems, working in the security space on the PIX/ASA product line.
Avinash graduated from the University of Southern California with an M.S. in Computer Science. He lives in Palo Alto, CA and likes to tinker with various technologies, stay active and spend time with his two kids.

Jared W. Snow, DBA, has over 25 years of leadership experience across private, public, and academic sectors and throughout various industries. He holds a BA in Organizational Management and Project Management, MBA, and Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), is a Master Resilience Trainer, and holds executive and high-performance leadership certificates from Cornell University. Jared serves in multiple leadership roles and is presently the Chief Information Officer for the California Military Department, Adjunct Professor with Palo Alto University and Doane University, Deputy Director of Public Affairs for the California Army National Guard, Director of VIP-ManAlive, and serves on the Koinonia Family Services Executive Board of Directors. His research interests include workplace and domestic violence, resiliency, interpersonal communication, organizational behavior, leadership, mentorship, and organizational strategy development.

Tulika Srivastava is the Branch Chief for the Project Oversight and Strategic Technology Branch at California Department of Social Services where she oversees critical IT projects ensuring their successful implementation and alignment with the organizational goals. Before joining CDSS in August 2024, Tulika was Assistant Deputy Director (Project Approval and Oversight) at the California Department of Technology, overseeing Health and Human Services Agency portfolio. Prior to State service, Tulika worked with CGI for 15 years, where she established PMO and led multiple high-impact projects, including the implementation of the VoteCal system at Secretary of State and the State Disbursement System at Department of Child Support System. 
Tulika is an accomplished Project Management Professional with over 25 years of IT experience in public and private sector. With a proven track record of successfully managing complex projects, fostering team collaboration, and driving organizational change, Tulika Srivastava is dedicated to leveraging her expertise to enhance IT implementation success and reduce project failures.

Michelle is a Principal in the Consulting Enterprise Risk practice of Ernst & Young LLP with over 17 years of experience leading major strategic, risk and resilience program transformations globally.
She helps EY clients harness value through strategic risk management over enterprise and program portfolios. Michelle has also worked in energy risk management at a multinational professional services company and as a corporate and program risk manager over a $2.25b portfolio.

Kim Vu is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the California Air Resources Board (CARB), where she plays a pivotal role in driving the organization’s objectives through innovative technology strategies, implementations, and fostering strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders. With more than 20 years of experience in state government, Kim began her career as an analyst, advanced into leadership roles in 2011, and has served as Assistant CIO for multiple agencies since 2015.
Throughout her career, Kim has demonstrated a strong proficiency in strategy development, organizational change management, project management, and financial oversight. She has successfully led major transformation initiatives, including talent management projects, which have significantly enhanced operational effectiveness and overall efficiency.
Kim holds a Master of Science in Computer Information Systems and dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Rhetoric and Communications. This unique blend of expertise has been instrumental in navigating complex IT environments while cultivating collaborative relationships across teams and key stakeholders.

Dara Wheeler is the Chief of Research, Innovation & System Information, as well as the Senior Lead for GenAI at Caltrans. In addition to her state role, Dara plays a number of national leadership roles. She sits on the American Association of State and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Special Committee on Research & Innovation; is the Co-Chair of the AASHTO Innovation Community of Practice, and Vice-Chair of the AASHTO Innovation Management committee. Dara is also Co-Chair of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America’s Workforce Development Community of Practice and has recently received her Prompt Engineering certification. Dara holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from San Diego State University.

Brian Wong serves as the Deputy Secretary of Innovation and Technology / Agency Information Officer of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency. With over 18 years of state government experience, he has been both a Chief Deputy Director and Chief Information Officer providing operational leadership and strategic direction of large state organizations and a multi- billion-dollar technology project portfolio. In his current role, he is focused on leveraging technology to enable new business models and transform service delivery to innovate and enhance department programs. Brian has a bachelor’s degree in finance from California State University, Long Beach and is a member of ITLA 22.

Peter Zalkind holds the position of Principal within KPMG's Government Solutions Advisory practice and the role of Managing Partner for the Sacramento office. Further duties involve serving as the lead advisory principal for the State of California account and leads KPMG’s Government West POD operations across eight states: California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, Hawaii, Arizona, and Nevada. Bringing over 30 years of experience within the State & Local government sphere, Peter has established a reputation as a results-focused executive with an intricate understanding of complex project delivery. His proven leadership history extends to building businesses, managing executive relationships, fostering teams and company culture, and guiding multiple initiatives and large-scale projects. Before joining KPMG, Peter held the Global Lead for Government position at Microsoft and worked for five years as the West Coast Lead for Government, operating from Sacramento. His comprehensive technical acumen encompasses cloud technology and AI applications in the business setting.