Name: Kentucky Digital Government Summit 2026
Start: 2026-06-10T08:00
Location: Marriott Griffen Gate Golf Resort & Spa

Overview

The Kentucky 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.

A message from our Keynote Speaker

When public servants come together, we spark ideas that can transform communities. The Kentucky Digital Government Summit provides a space for technologists from the state and local level, in collaboration with industry partners, to innovate and catalyze positive change for those we serve. I hope you’ll join us as we explore emerging technologies, share insights, and develop digital strategies to shape a smarter, more connected future for all Kentuckians.

- Liz Rodgers, Chief Information Officer, Lexington Fayette Urban County Government

Speakers

Liz Rodgers

Chief Information Officer, Commissioner, Department of Information Technology, Lexington Fayette Urban County Government

Liz serves as the Chief Information Officer for Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. Prior to her service to the City, she spent over 20 years in service to Kentucky state government, including the Commonwealth Office of Technology, the Justice & Public Safety Cabinet, and the Cabinet for Education & Workforce Development. Her career has been shaped by a passion for service management and continuous improvement, and a talent for bringing together people, processes, products and partners to make technology work for the government and those it serves. A native of Frankfort, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications from the University of Kentucky.

Robert “Cujo” Teschner

Founder & CEO, Vmax Group

After decades of leading high-performance F-15 and F-22 teams as a fighter pilot, Fighter Weapons School Instructor, and Squadron Commander, Cujo concluded that the principles that allow leaders to lead well are universally applicable. Cujo also determined that businesses need to improve their leadership development to thrive in a continuously disruptive environment. Furthermore, he firmly believes that American businesses are the backbone of an economy that helps keep America strong.
And so Cujo is now on a mission: he’s actively helping organizations build leaders who can win in disruption to help keep our economy strong. The most important part of his mission is helping leaders harness the upside of positive, forward-focused accountability to become the best they can be.
Cujo has authored or co-authored three #1 bestselling books to support his mission. He’s built an incredible team of former fighter pilots and US Navy SEALS who have together delivered hundreds of workshops, keynotes, and breakout sessions, helping businesses of all sizes embrace real teamwork by practicing meaningful, effective, forward-focused accountability.

Jessica Fletcher

Chief Communications Officer, Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education

Jessica Fletcher, MPA, has 23 years of experience communicating education and workforce policies and practices in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. After spending the first five years of her career in journalism, she spent 10 years at the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. Jessica also served in leadership roles at the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet, the Kentucky Department of Education, the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence and the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS). She now serves at the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) as Chief Communications Officer. She holds a master's in public administration from Murray State University and a bachelor's in journalism from Eastern Kentucky University.

Neal Gallucci

Senior Manager, Solution Consulting, Socure 

Neal is a driven leader focusing on major digital transformation that constantly challenges the norms of the public sector. Neal has a wide variety of experience in identity and access management, identity verification, criminal/fraud investigations, technical architecture, project management, change management, and steady state operations.
At Socure, Neal is the Head of Public Sector Solutions Consulting within Socure where he is responsible for providing fully inclusive oversight and guidance of Socure’s industry leading product suite and integration into Government systems. 
In Neal's previous public position, he built and led the digital identity platform for one of the largest states. In this role Neal accomplished major digital transformations migrating the State’s existing identity system to a cloud identity system, implementing Single Sign On to thousands of applications (Unemployment, BMV, Medicaid, etc) including MFA and identity verification services. Additionally, Neal led the User Experience/Website platform with over 150+ government websites, and the digital platform for State’s coronavirus pandemic response. At Socure, Neal continues to lead all of Socure's major projects as a dedicated advisor to the State's business and implementation teams.

Amy Glasscock

Program Director, Innovation and Emerging Issues, National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO)

Amy Glasscock is the program director for innovation and emerging issues at the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) where she has worked for over ten years. In her role, she focuses on innovative policies, emerging technologies (including AI) and privacy and data protection within state governments. Previously she worked in government relations at the American Public Power Association and spent four years on Capitol Hill, gaining valuable insights into public policy and the legislative process. Amy holds a BA from Berea College and an MA from the University of Kentucky. She is also the co-host and producer of the NASCIO Voices podcast, and a proud returned Peace Corps Volunteer, having served mid-career in Indonesia from 2012-2014. Amy lives in Lexington, KY with her husband and daughter.

Jim Kelly

Field CISO, Tanium

Jim Kelly is a Field CISO at Tanium with more than 25 years of experience in enterprise security and endpoint operations. His background spans identity and access security, Windows internals, threat hunting, detection engineering, and incident response, including nearly a decade operating as a purple team practitioner. Jim focuses on how real‑time endpoint intelligence and earned automation reduce risk, cost, and operational friction in large, complex environments.

Pamela McKnight

Chief AI Officer, Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government

Pamela A. McKnight is the Chief AI Officer for Louisville Metro Government, where she leads the city’s efforts to deploy artificial intelligence in ways that strengthen public service, modernize operations, and improve how government serves residents and businesses. Her work focuses on turning AI from emerging technology into practical civic value through responsible implementation, workforce enablement, and high-impact use cases across Metro Government.
With more than 25 years of experience in high-tech leading enterprise transformation and scaling innovation across complex organizations, Pamela brings deep expertise in change leadership, adoption strategy, and operational execution. Before joining Louisville Metro, she led Intel’s global AI upskilling and adoption strategy, enabling more than 30,000 employees with critical AI competencies delivering measurable business impact.
Pamela is known for combining technical understanding with human-centered leadership and a strong commitment to responsible AI. She is helping position Louisville as a leader in civic AI by advancing solutions that improve service delivery, reduce administrative burden, and build trust through transparency, fairness, and accountability.

Will Metcalf

Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation, Office of Research and Innovation, University of Louisville

Will Metcalf is an Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation at UofL responsible for leading efforts to scale UofL’s research commercialization pipeline. In this role, he leads efforts to protect UofL’s intellectual property, deepen public-sector collaborations, translate discoveries for the public good, and grow industry partnerships.
Since 2019, he has led the modernization of the University’s industry engagement efforts with a focus on national defense, life sciences, and manufacturing. In 2023, he brought the National Institutes of Standards and Technology funded Manufacturing Extension Partnership to UofL, which has an annual economic impact of more than $200,000,000 on the Commonwealth of Kentucky through its support of Kentucky’s manufactures. In 2024, he became the principal investigator on UofL’s National Science Foundation Innovation-Corps award which has spurred the creation of dozens of technology-backed ventures. In 2025, with support from the Department of Defense (DoD), he launched the Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Kentucky to help accelerate the DoD’s adoption of commercial technology to strengthen national security. In 2026, Will launched the Kentucky Center for Digital Innovation, a UofL center with $10 million in funding from the Commonwealth of Kentucky that is dedicated to advancing cybersecurity and artificial intelligence through cutting-edge research, workforce development and industry collaboration.
With experience in venture-finance, healthcare, national security innovation, and non-profit leadership, Metcalf is passionate about how UofL translates discovery into real-world solutions that drive economic growth across Kentucky. Will holds a Juris Doctor and a Bachelor of Science, both from the University of Louisville. In his free time, Will and his wife enjoy spending time with their three children.

Elwyn Rainer II

Security Operations Manager, Office of Application Technology Services, Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services

Elwyn Rainer II is a dynamic speaker, certified coach, published author, and respected leader with over 15 years of experience in the government and private sectors. He is passionate about helping individuals and organizations unlock their full potential by equipping professionals with practical strategies for career development, leadership growth, and team empowerment. Known for his engaging style and real-world insights, Elwyn collaborates with corporate leaders to cultivate high-performing teams and foster thriving workplace cultures. His mission is simple yet powerful: to help people lead with purpose, grow with intention, and succeed with impact.

Meghan Sandfoss

Executive Director, Office of Broadband Development, Commonwealth of Kentucky

Meghan Sandfoss is the Executive Director of the Kentucky Office of Broadband Development, a role to which she was appointed in September 2022 by Governor Andy Beshear. In this role, she oversees planning and implementation of federal funding for the deployment of broadband infrastructure in the Commonwealth. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, and a master’s degree in Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati.
Sandfoss has more than two decades of experience in government and public administration. She previously held a senior leadership position at a regional development agency where she oversaw a variety of local, state, and federal programs in the areas of transportation planning, infrastructure development, comprehensive planning, and community and economic development.

Craig Wood

Assistant Director of Extension for Agriculture, National Resources and Horticulture, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky

Craig H. Wood is a distinguished leader in the field of agriculture and natural resources, currently serving as the Assistant Director of Extension for Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) at the University of Kentucky. In this role, he provides visionary leadership for Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) and Horticulture agents, associates, extension specialists, and programs. His responsibilities include program development, implementation, and fostering internal and external collaborations, as well as creating digital learning and real time access to data for agents and producers through mobile devices.

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Agenda

Wednesday, June 10
8:00 am Eastern	Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area Grand Ballroom Foyer
9:00 am Eastern	Welcome and Opening Remarks Grand Ballroom A – F Liz Rodgers, Chief Information Officer, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, Commonwealth of Kentucky
9:15 am Eastern	Keynote – Debrief to Win: Building Teams that Succeed in Disruption Grand Ballroom A – F In times of turbulence and disruption, even the best teams can struggle to stay focused, aligned, and accountable. Overcoming these challenges requires a shift in mindset and the right leadership tools to create resilient, high-performing teams. Learn from a former U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School ("Top Gun") instructor how elite military teams succeed by centering on a shared mission, driving purpose, and embracing accountability as a path to growth, not blame. Walk away with actionable strategies and inspiring insights to help your teams thrive under pressure and achieve lasting success. Robert “Cujo” Teschner, Speaker, Author, Elite Fighter Pilot, Inventor, Vmax Group
10:15 am Eastern	Best of Kentucky IT Awards Grand Ballroom A – F
10:40 am Eastern	Networking Break in the Exhibit Area Grand Ballroom Foyer
11:10 am Eastern	Concurrent Sessions Cybersecurity Governance in the Age of AI Terrace Ballroom Cybersecurity is not just an IT issue; it’s a business risk and a challenge to public trust. The acceleration of AI adoption requires public-sector agencies to rethink governance, risk and compliance (GRC) alongside data privacy and regulatory obligations. This session explores how to build an AI governance roadmap within existing GRC frameworks while addressing data exposure, AI-generated records, data subject requests, and the risks that emerge when sensitive data is shared, analyzed, or managed in AI-enabled environments. Moderator: Jessica Ramsey, Director, Technology Services, Kenton County David Carter, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Commonwealth Office of Technology Jim Kelly, Field CISO, Tanium James Meece, Chief Information Security Officer, Louisville Metro Government From Administrative Assistant to Agentic AI Grand Ballroom GH You’ve created guidelines and put safeguards in place, but is your data ready for AI? And as soon as it is, where should you begin and what will AI do for you? This session focuses on data clean-up and preparation, real-world use cases for Agentic AI, prompt building for LLMs and a review of standards to help agencies align with Commonwealth Office of Technology’s framework for the use of artificial intelligence in Kentucky government. Moderator: Will Metcalf, Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation, Office of Research and Innovation, University of Louisville Amy Glasscock, Program Director, Innovation and Emerging Issues, National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) Pamela McKnight, Chief AI Officer, Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government Optimizing the Workforce for the Next Generation Calumet/Darby Dan As public-sector IT evolves, agencies must grapple with different expectations from existing and upcoming generations of professionals. How do leaders guide current teams through rapid change to retain talent and capture institutional knowledge? How are students being prepared for careers in the public sector? How does government attract new talent and what does meaningful mentorship look like when they arrive? This session focuses on the human side of technology transformation, exploring how to build and sustain a resilient IT workforce. Moderator: Margaret Ballard, Systems Analyst, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Elwyn Rainer II, Security Operations Manager, Office of Application Technology Services, Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Constituents, Communication and Compliance Dixiana/Lanes End No matter how much technology changes, the mission of government remains the same: serving the needs of its people. Constituent engagement is evolving right alongside advancements in technology. How can agencies more effectively communicate with the people they serve? What are the current and future trends focused on improving such engagement? How does accessibility play a part in serving the public and building trust, and what can state and local governments do to ensure that they are meeting compliance standards? Moderator: Meghan Sandfoss, Executive Director, Office of Broadband Development, Commonwealth of Kentucky Derek Clark, Manager, Electronic Records Branch, Department for Libraries and Archives, Commonwealth of Kentucky Kasey McCrary, Communications Division Director, LINC Division, Lincoln Trail Area Development District
12:10 pm Eastern	Lunch Grand Ballroom A – F
1:10 pm Eastern	General Session – Turning AI Innovation into Practical Public Sector Results Grand Ballroom A – F Join Dr. Cody Bumgardner and a panel of Kentucky leaders for an engaging discussion on how artificial intelligence is transforming government services, education, workforce development and community outcomes across the Commonwealth. Through real-world use cases, panelists will explore both the opportunities and challenges AI presents for the public sector. Moderator: Dr. Cody Bumgardner, Director, Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence, University of Kentucky College of Medicine Craig Wood, Assistant Director of Extension for Agriculture, National Resources and Horticulture, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky
1:45 pm Eastern	Short Break Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.
2:00 pm Eastern	Concurrent Sessions Smart City Journeys Terrace Ballroom Cities are tasked with specific responsibilities, including managing local infrastructure and public safety, that place them in a unique position to use technology to enhance efficiency and directly improve their residents’ quality of life. In this session, you’ll hear firsthand from local government leaders about their comprehensive smart city strategies, key initiatives and how they are using technology and data analytics to update traditional systems and structures. Dana Spratt, Director of Governance and Strategy, Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government Modernizing the Backbone Grand Ballroom GH Behind every digital service is a system backbone that must be reliable, flexible, and ready to evolve. For many agencies, that backbone includes aging ERP platforms, growing technical debt and complex cloud transitions. What systems should take priority? How do you migrate without disrupting operations? Join a discussion exploring real-world lessons from ERP lifecycle management, cloud migrations and efforts to reduce technical debt. Panelists will discuss how to build a stronger foundation for future innovation without breaking what already works. Aligning Technology with Educational Mission Calumet/Darby Dan Kentucky’s Office of Education Technology recognizes that AI will “undoubtedly be part of every KY K-12 student’s and adult’s future,” requiring schools to constantly adapt. Education presents a set of unique challenges, from communicating with students and parents and providing equitable access to using technology to assess learning and dealing with identity fraud such as the rise of “ghost students.” Join a panel of K-20 IT leaders as they discuss the impact of evolving technology on their mission to advance student success, academic excellence and institutional sustainability. Moderator: William “Bill” Rials, Senior Fellow, Government Technology Jessica Fletcher, Chief Communications Officer, Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education Neal Gallucci, Senior Manager, Solution Consulting, Socure Amy Johns, Director of Technology, Office of Information and Analytics, Fayette County Public Schools Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners Dixiana/Lanes End Hosted by: Commonwealth Office of Technology Chief Information Officer, Jim Barnhard and, Deputy Chief Information Officer, David Carter
3:00 pm Eastern	Networking Break in the Exhibit Area Grand Ballroom Foyer
3:30 pm Eastern	General Session – 25 Years of Digital Government 'The Eras Tour': How Technology, Policy and Public Service Evolved - and What Comes Next Grand Ballroom A – F In 2001, "digital government" meant moving paper forms to static PDF downloads. Today, it means real-time, AI-driven resident services, "whole-of-state" cybersecurity, and cloud-native infrastructure that never sleeps. As the Center for Digital Government (CDG) celebrates its 25th anniversary, we invite you to a high-energy retrospective and a forward-looking strategy session that tracks the evolution of the public sector’s digital DNA. We will walk through the "waves" of transformation we’ve navigated together and will provide a roadmap for the next quarter-century of innovation. William “Bill” Rials, Senior Fellow, Government Technology
4:00 pm Eastern	Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area Grand Ballroom Foyer Network with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event exhibitors.
4:30 pm Eastern	End of Conference Conference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change.

Marriott Griffen Gate Golf Resort & Spa

1800 Newtown Pike
Lexington, KY 40511
859-231-5100

Get Directions To
Marriott Griffen Gate Golf Resort & Spa

Advisory Board

Government Representatives

Dan Atkins
Director, Division of Platform Services
Commonwealth Office of Technology
Commonwealth of Kentucky

Dr. Cody Bumgardner
Director
Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence
University of Kentucky College of Medicine

David Carter
Deputy Chief Information Officer
Commonwealth Office of Technology
Commonwealth of Kentucky

Wendy Dixie
Vice President, Information Technology
Information Technology
Kentucky State University

Richard Harris
Chief Information Officer
Hardin County School District

Amy Johns
Director of Technology
Fayette County Public Schools

Russell Mays
IT Director
Lincoln Trail Area Development

Aaron Miller
Director
Information Technology
Hardin County

Jessica Ramsey
Director
Technology Services
Kenton County

Liz Rodgers
Chief Information Officer
Computer Services
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government

Chris Seidt
Director of Information Technology
Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government

Phil St. John
Chief Technology Officer
Deparment of Revenue
Commonwealth of Kentucky

Paul Stewart
Director of Technical Services
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government

Rick Woodruff
Executive Director - Office of Infrastructure Services
Commonwealth Office of Technology
Commonwealth of Kentucky

Industry Representatives

Nate Schneemann
Regional Director
SLED, Central
Socure

James Thaxton
Director
Strategic Accounts - SLED NC
Tanium

Made Possible by Our Corporate Sponsors

Registration Information / Contact Us

Event Date: June 10, 2026

Open to Public Sector only.

Registration Fee per person: $20

Registration by credit card only; no billing.

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:

Amanda Wallace
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 932-1315
E-mail: awallace@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

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Kentucky Digital Government Summit 2026

Overview

A message from our Keynote Speaker

Speakers

Liz Rodgers

Chief Information Officer, Commissioner, Department of Information Technology, Lexington Fayette Urban County Government

Robert “Cujo” Teschner

Founder & CEO, Vmax Group

Jessica Fletcher

Chief Communications Officer, Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education

Neal Gallucci

Senior Manager, Solution Consulting, Socure

Amy Glasscock

Program Director, Innovation and Emerging Issues, National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO)

Jim Kelly

Field CISO, Tanium

Pamela McKnight

Chief AI Officer, Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government

Will Metcalf

Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation, Office of Research and Innovation, University of Louisville

Elwyn Rainer II

Security Operations Manager, Office of Application Technology Services, Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services

Meghan Sandfoss

Executive Director, Office of Broadband Development, Commonwealth of Kentucky

Craig Wood

Assistant Director of Extension for Agriculture, National Resources and Horticulture, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky

Agenda

Wednesday, June 10

8:00 am Eastern

Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Grand Ballroom Foyer

9:00 am Eastern

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Grand Ballroom A – F

9:15 am Eastern

Keynote – Debrief to Win: Building Teams that Succeed in Disruption

Grand Ballroom A – F

10:15 am Eastern

Best of Kentucky IT Awards

Grand Ballroom A – F

10:40 am Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Grand Ballroom Foyer

11:10 am Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

Cybersecurity Governance in the Age of AI

Terrace Ballroom

From Administrative Assistant to Agentic AI

Grand Ballroom GH

Optimizing the Workforce for the Next Generation

Calumet/Darby Dan

Constituents, Communication and Compliance

Dixiana/Lanes End

12:10 pm Eastern

Lunch

Grand Ballroom A – F

1:10 pm Eastern

General Session – Turning AI Innovation into Practical Public Sector Results

Grand Ballroom A – F

1:45 pm Eastern

Short Break

2:00 pm Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

Smart City Journeys

Terrace Ballroom

Modernizing the Backbone

Grand Ballroom GH

Aligning Technology with Educational Mission

Calumet/Darby Dan

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Dixiana/Lanes End

3:00 pm Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Grand Ballroom Foyer

3:30 pm Eastern

General Session – 25 Years of Digital Government 'The Eras Tour': How Technology, Policy and Public Service Evolved - and What Comes Next

Grand Ballroom A – F

4:00 pm Eastern

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

Grand Ballroom Foyer

Senior Manager, Solution Consulting, Socure 