Illinois Digital Government Summit 2024 Banner

Overview

The Digital Government Summit brings together technology focused public-sector professionals with leading industry partners to connect on innovative approaches, get inspired and discover new technologies. Join us and let’s improve the future of government together!

A message from our Keynote Speaker

The Illinois Digital Government Summit is set to take place in Springfield this year, and promises to be our best year yet! I am excited to welcome you and the hundreds of IT leaders and professionals from across State, local government and the private sector. Together, we will share ideas and explore the latest technology advancements that are transforming public services.

- Sanjay Gupta, Secretary and State Chief Information Officer, State of Illinois

Speakers

Sanjay Gupta

Sanjay Gupta

Secretary and State Chief Information Officer, Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT), State of Illinois 

Sanjay Gupta serves as the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) and the State Chief Information Officer. Sanjay leads the agency’s strategic IT planning and service delivery to 35 State of Illinois Agencies and over 80 boards, commissions, and offices throughout the State, representing nearly 60,000 users.
Previously, Sanjay served in the Chief Information Officer and Chief Technology Officer roles for the U.S Department of Justice and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) respectively. His modernization of SBA’s technology enabled it to process more than $1 trillion in economic assistance for the nation’s largest economic recovery effort.
He demonstrated the “art of the possible” in the public sector by delivering modernization, new cybersecurity models, collaborative standardization and innovative solutions that have informed policy updates. He also served on the Board of the Technology Modernization Fund (of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget), overseeing a $1 billion fund to modernize government IT and cybersecurity.
Appointed by Governor Pritzker in June 2023, the Illinois Senate confirmed Sanjay’s appointment in May 2024 as the State Chief Information Officer and Secretary of DoIT.

More
Brandon Ragle

Brandon Ragle

Deputy Secretary and Deputy State Chief Information Officer, Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT), State of Illinois 

Ragle brings 30 years of service in state government, serving in various roles supporting the Department of Corrections, Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and Department of Insurance. Ragle spent the past two decades in information technology and joined the DoIT team in the role of Deputy Chief of Enterprise Applications in May 2016 where he was later promoted to Chief of Enterprise Applications in May 2019. In July 2022, Ragle assumed the role of Assistant Secretary of DoIT and subsequently served as interim Secretary from January to June 2023.
In June 2023, Ragle was appointed as the Deputy Secretary of DoIT and Deputy State CIO receiving Senate approval for the position in May 2024.

More
Jason Bowen

Jason Bowen

Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT), State of Illinois 

Serving as Statewide Chief Information Security Officer, Jason drives positive cybersecurity outcomes for residents and visitors that leverage resources delivered by agencies across the State of Illinois. By building relationships and maximizing value provided through Federal - State - Local partnerships, Jason strives to promote and implement a unified cybersecurity strategy while providing tactical support where needed. As a public servant, he’s honored to lead a talented cybersecurity team dedicated to serving our residents and neighbors in the accomplishment of this mission.

More
Sharon Gai

Sharon Gai

Keynote Speaker and Author

Sharon Gai is an international female keynote speaker for corporations, associations and the public sector. Using her unique background from the east and west, she works with leaders worldwide to understand how to adopt AI into their workflows to increase productivity and efficiency. In her tenure at Alibaba, she advised brands and heads of state in crafting their digital strategy with programmatic marketing and AI. She has been the keynote speaker at TEDx, Singularity University, UBS, Deloitte, LVMH, Nestle, Ecomworld, and Etail. She is in the AAE list of Top Keynote Speakers in 2023. She is also one of 2024’s RETHINK Retail’s Top Retail Expert and a LinkedIn Top Voice in Public Speaking 2023. She has appeared on Bloomberg, ABC, CBC, CCTV, Techcrunch, Retail Asia, Wired, and The Next Web. She is the author of the book, Ecommerce Reimagined. Sharon has an Honors Bachelor’s degree in International Development from McGill and a Masters in Information and Knowledge Strategy from Columbia University.

More
Bill Rials

Bill Rials

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

William (Bill) Rials, Ph.D., is a professor and associate director (department chair) of the Tulane University School of Professional Advancement IT and Cybersecurity Program, where he focuses on continually delivering and updating the program curriculum based on innovative and emerging technologies. Before transitioning to academia and higher education, he had a diverse gov tech career delivering value to state agencies, local governments, and law enforcement agencies throughout the state of Mississippi. He has served in CIO, CTO, and CISO roles for local governments and also in various leadership positions within the state of Mississippi’s IT organization as a deputy to the state CIO. Dr. Rials holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Belhaven University, a master’s degree in computer information systems and cybersecurity from Missouri State University, as well as a Ph.D. in higher education administration and public administration from Jackson State University. His dissertation research involved the critical factors that affect the adoption of cloud services within the public sector. He is a noted expert in the IT and cybersecurity space and is frequently quoted by national media outlets. He is also a frequent contributor to national IT government organizations such as NASTD and NASCIO.

More

Agenda

Tuesday, November 19

8:00 am Central

Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

9:00 am Central

Opening Remarks

Sanjay Gupta, Secretary and State Chief Information Officer, State of Illinois

9:15 am Central

Keynote – Leading the AI Revolution: IT's New Role in Global Public Sector Innovation

AI is reshaping everything and IT leaders in government and public sector organizations stand at a pivotal juncture. Traditionally viewed as reactive and slower to innovate than the private sector, the public sector is now uniquely positioned to take a hands-on stance in AI implementation. To do that, we need to understand how IT departments can anticipate and address business needs proactively. In this whirlwind session, digital transformation and AI expert, Sharon Gai, will take us on a journey around the world. Starting from the bustling streets of Hangzhou to the high-tech healthcare facilities of Tokyo, and finally to the classrooms of New York. Through this session, government leaders will understand the myriad ways AI is redefining society and be equipped with actionable insights, aiding them in harnessing the full potential of AI for the betterment of their communities.

Sharon Gai, Keynote Speaker & Author

10:15 am Central

General Session: Emerging Technology: Real-World Applications of AI in the Illinois Public Sector

While stakeholders may believe the sky is the limit with AI and emerging technology, public sector IT leaders must work hard to manage expectations on realistic ways to weave AI into workflows without compromising constituent privacy and critical security safeguards. In this session, we will talk about use cases where AI afforded wins across the state, as well as times IT leaders had to pivot from the original request to stay in compliance with the important policies and governance that protect the people of Illinois.

Sanjay Gupta, Secretary and State Chief Information Officer, State of Illinois

10:35 am Central

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

11:00 am Central

Concurrent Sessions

Navigating AI Policy and Governance While Prioritizing Public Trust

The proliferation of AI systems and the data that drives them are increasingly shaping our daily lives. Having guardrails and an effective governance process in place is more vital than ever and is essential to ensuring public trust. How should we approach the ethical and regulatory considerations that now must be taken into account? What are key principles and best practices for navigating the complex landscape of data and AI governance? This session offers actionable insights to promote transparency, accountability, and ethical use of data and AI technologies to foster public trust in their deployment within government organizations.

Cyber Hygiene 101

In an unpredictable world, effective crisis management and business continuity are essential responsibilities for everyone, regardless of their role. Are your teams doing all they can to defend your agency against a cyber-attack? What resources are you leaning on to stay up to date about the current threat landscape? Have you reached out to DoIT to leverage the state contracts and other resources that are available to help you create a meaningful response plan? This session will highlight the resources available, and how they can help you make a dent in being prepared.

Data Governance: Navigating the Present and Shaping the Future

In an era defined by rapid technological advancement and exponential data growth, organizations face unprecedented challenges and opportunities in managing and sharing data effectively. We are inundated with data and challenged with making the most out of it. How are conversations around governance and privacy affecting day-to-day work life? What should we focus on when approaching this challenge to turn it into an opportunity? This session delves into the critical considerations and strategies for navigating the complex landscape of data governance and sharing - both now, and into the future.

Innovation Through Optimizing Partner Relationships

To ensure the delivery of successful, consistent services and the efficient use of taxpayer dollars, cooperative, mutually beneficial IT partnerships are crucial for state and local governments. Skill and experience are needed to align the right IT solutions to fit current and future business strategies, functional requirements, technical specifications, and budgets. Hear benchmarking strategies on optimizing partner relationships and outsourcing agreements, focusing on key aspects such as contract negotiation, performance monitoring, compliance, and risk mitigation.

12:00 pm Central

Lunch

12:45 pm Central

Bits and Bytes – DoIT Wins in 2024

Join our distinguished panel to learn how to take ideas from stakeholders into projects that solve real-world problems with DoIT. This discussion will provide details on projects that started as ideas that evolved into success stories that our IT leaders have had working with partners throughout the State in 2024. Don't miss this discussion on the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of public sector IT.

1:15 pm Central

Short Break

1:30 pm Central

Concurrent Sessions

Legacy to Leading Edge: Modernization Strategies for Government

Legacy applications often form the backbone of many public sector organizations' IT infrastructure; however, as technology advances, they can become a liability, hindering innovation and efficiency. Modernizing these systems is crucial for improving service delivery, operational effectiveness, and citizen engagement. Where do agency leaders start the process of modernization when the obstacles can seem overwhelming? This session will provide valuable insights on how others have modernized legacy systems in the public sector, considered different models for moving forward, adopted agile methodologies to implement the change, and managed the costs associated with the modernization efforts.

The Future of the Digital User Experience

Often when we talk about user experience, the conversation focuses on ease-of-use. Constituents seek an intuitive, holistic, and accessible approach when working with government. How can we craft well-designed, accessible systems that understand enough about the user to personalize the experience and offer the least-restrictive option to meet that user’s needs without compromising privacy? Are we designing our systems and applications to meet the needs of individuals where they are? Join our session to give into the idea of meaningful access as we look to elevate the constituent experience for ALL that call Illinois home.

Finding, Keeping, and Growing Our Public Sector IT Talent

As the workforce landscape evolves, attracting and retaining top talent has become a critical challenge for organizations, especially the public sector. The modern workforce values flexibility, purpose-driven work, and opportunities for growth more than ever before. Where can the public sector find new talent to fill critical roles? How do we motivate and upskill our existing teams to meet the needs of an ever-evolving tech environment? This session shares creative tactics and strategies for establishing, retaining, and fostering a diverse, future-ready workforce.

Executive Briefing for Industry Partners

Sanjay Gupta, Secretary and State Chief Information Officer, State of Illinois

2:30 pm Central

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

2:45 pm Central

General Session – The Constituent Digital Experience of the Future

Constituents are accustomed to a certain level of ease and convenience when it comes to buying and receiving goods and services – typically through a click of a button on their smartphones. Ensuring this digital experience is at the top of the NASCIO priorities for 2024. In this fast-changing world, with soaring pressures to be constituent-centric, how can government keep up? How can government ensure digital equity and accessibility are embedded in their solutions? How will AI and new technologies enhance the digital experience while ensuring constituent privacy? This session will look to answer those questions and discuss what it takes to deliver government services safely, equitably, and securely.

William (Bill) Rials, Ph.D., Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

3:45 pm Central

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

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

4:15 pm Central

End of Conference

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

Crowne Plaza Springfield - Convention Center

3000 South Dirksen Parkway
Springfield, IL 62703
(217) 529-7777

Get Directions To
Crowne Plaza Springfield - Convention Center

Advisory Board

Government Representatives

Jason Bowen
Chief Information Security Officer
Department of Innovation and Technology
State of Illinois

Bill Downing
Chief of Enterprise Architecture
Department of Innovation and Technology
State of Illinois

Sanjay Gupta
Secretary and State Chief Information Officer
Department of Innovation and Technology
State of Illinois

Jennifer Jennings
Communications Director
Department of Innovation and Technology
State of Illinois

Jenfier Johnson
Chief of Staff
Department of Innovation and Technology
State of Illinois

Brandon Ragle
Deputy Chief Information Officer
Department of Innovation and Technology
State of Illinois

Lori Sorenson
Chief Technology Officer
Department of Innovation and Technology
State of Illinois

Industry Representatives

Shabeena Alam
Director, Delivery Partner
Kyndryl

Sunny Barot
Sr Account Manager
Amazon Web Services

John Cecala
Government & Higher Education Advocate
Public Sector
Google Cloud

Michael Musser
Advanced Technology AE
State of Michigan
CDWG

Abrar Shaikh
Illinois Deputy Client Account Lead
Accenture

Eric Westberg
State of Illinois Technology Leader
IBM

Registration Information / Contact Us

Event Date: November 19, 2024

Open to Public Sector only.

Registration - Free

If you represent a Private Sector organization and are interested in Sponsorship Opportunities, please contact Heather Earney.

Contact Information

For registration and general assistance contact:

Jasmin Tetzlaff
Government Technology
Phone:  (916) 932-1308
E-mail:  jtetzlaff@erepublic.com

For assistance or questions concerning Sponsor Logos or Logistics please contact:

Mireya Gaton
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 296-2617
E-Mail: mgaton@govtech.com

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact:

Heather Earney
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 932-1339
E-mail: heather.earney@erepublic.com

Venue

Crowne Plaza Springfield - Convention Center

3000 South Dirksen Parkway
Springfield, IL 62703
(217) 529-7777

Show More

Parking

The Crowne Plaza offers complimentary parking for hotel and meeting guests. 
www.cpspringfield.com 

 

Accommodations

Government Technology has a group block established at the host hotel. Please reference the “Illinois Digital Government Summit” or Group Code: D7W when making your room reservations to receive our group rate over the phone or click on the Group Reservation Link
Rate:
$120.00 single/double
Cut-off Date: 11/1/24
Rooms are on a first come, first served basis. Please note, once the room block is full, you will need to make other arrangements for your accommodation with the hotel directly or a nearby hotel.