Michigan 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 Michigan Digital Government Summit is the ideal venue for bringing together public sector leaders to discuss how we can work together as public servants to develop, integrate, and support digital strategies critical to serving the needs of our 10 million residents. Join us as we exchange ideas and explore technology advancements that are making public services more accessible, efficient, equitable, and secure for everyone in our great state.

- Laura Clark, Chief Information Officer, State of Michigan

Speakers

Laura Clark

Laura Clark

Chief Information Officer & Chief Security Officer, Department of Technology, Management & Budget, State of Michigan

Laura Clark serves as the chief information officer (CIO) for the State of Michigan, directing the state’s technology and security efforts. As deputy director for the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB), she also oversees operations for the department, which provides information technology, business, and administrative services to state employees and stakeholders, as well as Michigan residents, visitors, and businesses.
During her 20-year career in public service, Clark has embraced a hands-on, adaptable approach to leadership. Since being appointed as CIO by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, she has helped the State of Michigan achieve success through many initiatives, such as the launch of the award-winning Michigan Secure mobile app and successfully securing $20 million in critical cybersecurity funding from the Michigan Legislature for statewide security enhancements.
In her day-to-day work, Clark values the contributions of every person on DTMB’s 5,000 member team and has the unique ability to connect her sense of purpose and service with the overall work and mission of directing the State of Michigan’s technology and security efforts. She leads by example, seeking out opportunities that will allow those around her to succeed. Throughout these efforts, Clark’s compassion, patience, experience, and skills as are helping DTMB and the entire state forge a successful path into the digital future.

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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.

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Sanjay Srivastava, PMP, BRMP, ITIL V3

Sanjay Srivastava, PMP, BRMP, ITIL V3

Business Relationship Manager, Department of Technology, Management and Budget, State of Michigan

Accomplished IT Professional with 30+ Years of Experience
Results-driven IT leader with over 30 years of diverse experience in strategically guiding departments and teams to achieve organizational goals. My extensive background in project management, customer relations, and contract management, combined with my current role at the State of Michigan, underscores my commitment to enhancing system infrastructure and elevating the customer experience.
Key Qualifications:
Certified Expertise: Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Business Relationship Management Professional (BRMP), with a proven track record in the State Government industry.
Strategic Leadership: Proven ability to lead large-scale teams, currently managing over 250 software professionals, and effectively delivering IT systems that meet complex business requirements.
Project Management: Extensive experience in all facets of project management, including business requirement analysis, functional and detailed design, software release management, and change management.
System Development: Skilled in business process re-engineering, budgeting, scope planning, capacity planning, and training, ensuring robust and scalable IT solutions.
Customer and Employee Focus: Dedicated to improving the customer experience and increasing employee engagement through enhanced system infrastructure and effective management practices.
Current Role:
As a Business Relationship Manager. My role involves ensuring the successful delivery of IT systems, fostering strong relationships with stakeholders, and driving continuous improvement in system performance and team dynamics.

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Danielle Alvarez

Danielle Alvarez

North America Public Sector Security Lead, Accenture

Danielle is a former Information Security Manager for a Florida State Agency and the State’s former Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). As the ISM for a State Agency with 13 Divisions, she oversaw CJIS, PCI, FTI, and many other compliance initiatives. Danielle has served in multiple cyber capacities since joining Accenture, she was the security architect for a Medicaid integration services and integration platform, with a next generation digital identity stack. This experience was underpinned by her prior public sector and healthcare experience, as well as adherence to a defense-in-depth strategy to design and implement the architecture. She also served as the security lead for a large-scale statewide ERP, leveraging her prior expertise as an IT auditor and her degree in accounting to deploy best of breed security tools. Danielle recently led the Security workstream for a cloud migration that was critical to various back-office operations for a Florida-based utility. Danielle continues to support these clients and brings a continuous improvement approach to each architecture, which ties to emerging technology, automation efficiencies, and risk-based methodologies. Danielle’s latest efforts are focused on workforce pipeline development by partnering with higher education institutions and embedding cyber resiliency across clients in critical infrastructure verticals.

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Guadalupe Ayala

Guadalupe Ayala

Statewide Language Access Coordinator, Office of Global Michigan

Guadalupe Ayala brings over a decade of extensive expertise and dedication to her role as Statewide Language Access Coordinator, where she oversees the development and implementation of language access plans across Michigan's state departments, agencies, and bureaus. With a robust background in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, Guadalupe is committed to ensuring that populations who speak a language other than English (LOTE) receive linguistically and culturally appropriate services when accessing state resources.
Previously serving as the inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for the City of Lansing, Guadalupe led the research, development, and implementation of DEI policies and
programs. In her capacity as the City’s Title VI Coordinator, she advocated for equitable practices and fostered collaboration among internal departments and external stakeholders to advance equity and inclusion goals.
Guadalupe's career includes managing grant-funded community programs and providing technical assistance on civil rights issues, including discrimination complaints and ADA compliance.
Guadalupe Ayala holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan, majoring in Latina/o Studies, Sociology, and Spanish. She has also earned certificates in Immigration Law from the New York Immigration Coalition, Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace from the University of South Florida, and General Civil Mediator from the Resolution Services Center of Central Michigan.
Born in the U.S. and raised in El Salvador, Guadalupe brings lived experiences that have given her a deep understanding of the significant challenges involved in accessing essential services. These experiences fuel her dedication to breaking down language barriers and ensuring equitable access for all.

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Jamie Bennett

Jamie Bennett LinkedIn

Deputy Chief Security Officer, Department of Technology Management and Budget, State of Michigan 

Jamie Bennett serves as the deputy chief security officer with DTMB’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Division at the State of Michigan. Jamie has worked for the State of Michigan for over 24 years, utilizing her collaborative leadership style and expertise in service management, emergency management, and strategic planning. Through her time at the state, she has served many positions focusing on data center security, operations, continuous improvement, enterprise monitoring, and disaster recovery.  Jamie is a passionate, inclusive leader that strives to provide the most innovative and secure technologies for the State of Michigan.

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Phil Bertolini

Phil Bertolini

Senior Vice President, Government Technology

Phil Bertolini is a senior vice president 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.

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Vinod Brahmapuram

Vinod Brahmapuram LinkedIn

Senior Director, Security, Lumen

Vinod Brahmapuram is Senior Director of Security for state and local government and education markets at Lumen Technologies. With more than 25 years of information technology experience, Vinod has held cybersecurity leadership positions in three states, advising governors and legislators on key cyber issues. Before joining Lumen, he served as the State Chief Information Security Officer for the State of Washington.

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Craig Brown

Craig Brown

Chief Innovation Officer, Department of Innovation and Technology, City of Westland

Craig Brown is the Chief Innovation Officer for the City of Westland.  As head of the City’s Department of Innovation and Technology, he is responsible for all aspects of Information Technology services for the City of Westland.  As he would say, “If it touches electricity, then we are responsible for it.”  During the past 9+ years with the City of Westland, Craig has capitalized on over 25 years in various customer service driven industries to help facilitate and grow all aspects of technology service to the City’s 85,000 residents and staff from a service-oriented point of view and delivery.  Every decision made by his department is geared to maximizing the ability of City staff to work efficiently in delivery of their products to the residents and to provide the forward thinking, sustainable solutions residents need now and in the future.  He is always looking for new opportunities in technology to provide better, smarter, more cost effective ways to serve the City.

Currently, Craig holds multiple degrees and industry certifications, including a Bachelor’s in Technology Management.  He is the chairperson for the William D. Ford Career-Technical Center cybersecurity program advisory panel and a member of the Center’s advisory panel for the game design and programming program.   He facilitated the City of Westland’s win of the Citywork’s Exemplary User Award for Excellence in Online Practice in 2018, Mi-GMIS 2023 Organizational Project of the Year award, and the 2023 Mi-GMIS Citizen Impact Project of the Year award.  He has presented or moderated at various events including the Cityworks National Conference, Cityworks Michigan Chapter Roundtables, Michigan Digital Government Summit, and Michigan IT Leadership Forum.  Craig believes that connecting people within the IT space is vital for everyone's continued success within this career path and strives to help promote that philosophy whenever possible.

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Ted Cotterill

Ted Cotterill

StateRAMP Board Member, and Chief Privacy Officer, State of Indiana

Named a Top 25 Doer, Dreamer & Driver by GovTech, Ted Cotterill serves as Indiana Chief Privacy Officer and as General Counsel for the Indiana Management Performance Hub, where he designed and implemented Indiana’s legal framework for responsible data-driven innovation. Ted’s practice focuses on governance, ethics, compliance, licensing, and privacy issues presented by AI, complex digital infrastructure partnerships, cloud services, and product development across various standards and regulatory frameworks. He serves as a founding officer of StateRAMP, co-chair of the NASCIO Privacy & Data Protection Forum, appointee to the Indiana General Assembly’s AI Task Force, and in his community as VP of the Greater Allisonville Community Council. Ted earned his JD from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law, is recognized as a Fellow of Information Privacy by the International Association of Privacy Professionals, and was honored by the Indiana Lawyer with a Leadership in Law Award in 2022.

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Anthony Essmaker

Anthony Essmaker

Regional Engagement Manager, MS-ISAC

Anthony has over a decade of experience in local government experience serving the community. After working in the public sector, Anthony chose to join the efforts of the MS-ISAC and assist with increasing the cyber posture of local agencies.

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Heather Frick

Heather Frick

Agency Services Director, Department of Technology,  Management & Budget, State of Michigan 

Heather Frick is the Agency Services Director at the Michigan’s Department of Technology, Management and Budget. Heather leads the Agency Services Division, which delivers enterprise-wide technology supporting the 20 State of Michigan Departments, state employees and digital services to Michigan residents driving digital transformation and innovation.
With a proven track record of leadership supporting critical, high-level statewide projects to successful completion, Heather brings a unique background spanning the legal, finance and IT fields to her role along with critical experience in strategic planning, organizational change management and executive leadership. Prior to joining DTMB, Heather worked for 13 years serving in a variety of senior executive positions including Deputy Treasurer, Executive Director of the State Tax Commission and Chief Operations Officer for the Michigan Department of Treasury. Heather spent the first half of her career in private practice as an attorney, representing a broad range of clients in complex contract, tax, and corporate matters. Heather leverages her legal and finance expertise to navigate the complex legal and regulatory landscape governing technology implementations.
Heather is a member of the State Bar of Michigan. Heather holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Denison University and holds a Juris Doctorate (JD) from The Ohio State University. Heather believes in the power of collaboration and innovation to drive positive change both within government and our communities.

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Tiziana Galeazzi

Tiziana Galeazzi LinkedIn

General Manager, Department of Technology, Management & Budget, State of Michigan

As General Manager in the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB), Ms. Galeazzi is accountable for all Information Technology services provided to the Department of Attorney General, the Executive Office of the Governor, the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, and the Department of Transportation. She oversees IT strategic planning and governance of IT investments, with a keen focus on fostering innovation and harnessing new technologies to achieve strategic business objectives. With more than 25 years’ experience in driving digital transformation, Ms. Galeazzi has held senior executive, and IT program management positions. Ms. Galeazzi serves as a mentor with the Michigan Council of Women in Technology (MCWT) Foundation, and she volunteers as a mentor in DTMB. She is the recipient of the Governor’s Coins for Leadership, Excellence and was also recognized with a State Leadership of the Year award. Under her leadership, Michigan received two national IT Recognition Awards by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO). Ms. Galeazzi holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Management of Information Systems (MIS).
@tizianagaleazzi, michigan.gov/dtmb

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Ryan Garvelink

Ryan Garvelink

VP of Engineering, Trace3 

Ryan Garvelink is the Regional VP of Engineering at Trace3, where he leverages over 15 years of experience in the industry. His role encompasses leading teams specializing in advisory services, solution architecture, engineering delivery, and program management. He takes a client-first, client-centric approach that combines a love of technology with a passion for problem-solving in order to exceed client expectations through innovative and efficiently engineered solutions.
Ryan is a graduate of Davenport University and began his career working for several value-added resellers and managed service providers in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He spent the early part of his career as a solution architect and delivery engineer, working with local government, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail clients, designing and implementing infrastructure, cybersecurity, and automation solutions. Most recently, he has been leading solution architecture teams while continuously driving go-to-market strategies in spaces such as Data & Analytics, AI/ML, Observability, Cloud and Hybrid-Cloud.

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Dana Justice

Dana Justice

eMichigan Digital Accessibility Testing Manager, Department of Technology, Management and Budget, State of Michigan 

Dana Justice serves a manager in eMichigan, the state office responsible for the vision, development and design of Michigan’s digital imprint. Dana leads two teams: the Digital Accessibility Testing Team responsible for reviewing systems against SOM Digital Standards for Websites and Applications, and the Web Content Management System (WCMS) Support Team responsible for maintaining Michigan.gov, where citizens can find information about services, programs and activities offered by the state, as well as the enterprise platform where executive branch agencies can edit content. Dana began her career with the state as a student intern at the DTMB Client Service Center IT Help Desk in 2013. Prior to her current role, she worked as an IT technician, programmer analyst and business analyst.

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Rex Menold

Rex Menold

Chief Technology Officer, Department of Technology Management and Budget, State of Michigan

Ti'Kyra Napoleon

Ti'Kyra Napoleon

Equity and Inclusion Officer, Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget

Ti’Kyra Napoleon is the Equity and Inclusion Officer at the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget. In this role, she is responsible for leading the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion advisory council and committee, and developing and administering the diversity and inclusion programs for the department in alignment with the DTMB’s mission, strategic direction, values, and goals.

Ti’Kyra has experience building mutually beneficial business partnerships as well as community partnerships. She has led efforts in higher education/student affairs and financial services prior to her work in State government. Her passion is in promoting accountability and awareness around DEI and belonging through identity development, driving employee engagement, and diversity, equity, and inclusion in hiring practices.

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Mike Homant

Mike Homant

Chief Technology Officer and Deputy Chief Information Officer, City of Detroit

Mike Homant is an innovative technology leader with more than 30 years of success. Currently he is CTO and Deputy CIO for the City of Detroit. Previously, was CIO at Wright & Filippis.  He has held leadership roles at: Asset Acceptance Capital, Comprehensive Receivables Group - BC/BS WI, and William Beaumont Hospital. He specializes in implementing technology modernization and building customer service focused teams. Outside work he is a husband, father, and passionate photographer.

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Sergio Ortega

Sergio Ortega LinkedIn

AI/ML Business Development Lead, Amazon Web Services 

Sergio Ortega is an accomplished executive with 20+ years of experience in AI, machine learning, analytics, and public sector industries. He excels in driving organizational excellence, fostering inclusive cultures, and solving customer challenges. Sergio has 15+ years of experience in cloud computing, PaaS, SaaS, and solution selling, with expertise in program management and go-to-market strategies. Currently, he is the Business Development Lead for AI/ML WW Public Sector at Amazon Web Services. Previously, he held leadership roles at Microsoft, including Metaverse, IoT, Light Edge Azure Engineering Global GTM and Ecosystem Lead. Sergio holds advanced degrees in data science, business, computer science, and cybernetics. His extensive experience and academic credentials make him a valuable asset to any organization.

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Ryan Parthasarathy

Ryan Parthasarathy

Managing Director - Accenture Security, Accenture

Ryan is a Managing Director at Accenture Security, based in Detroit, Michigan, bringing over 20 years of global experience in digital transformation, technology integrations, and cybersecurity across the Financial Services sector. His expertise covers cyber strategy consulting, digital identity, cloud and application security, cyber defense, and managed security services.
Ryan has successfully led security practices, demonstrating a strong track record in organizational leadership and technology change management. He is recognized as a cybersecurity leader, currently overseeing a team responsible for next-generation digital transformation services, including Cyber Security, Identity Solutions, and Application Security for North America.
With deep knowledge of CloudOps, DevSecOps, and integrated security requirements, Ryan blends technical proficiency with leadership acumen. His two decades of experience in technology transformation and digital innovation position him as a technically-savvy, results-driven leader, adept at managing complex solutions and implementations at scale.

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Suzanne Pauley

Suzanne Pauley

eMichigan Director, Department of Technology, Management and Budget, State of Michigan 

Suzanne Pauley serves as the director of eMichigan, the state office responsible for the vision, development, and design of Michigan’s digital imprint. eMichigan brings citizen-centric government to the Michigan’s residents and businesses, providing GIS, mobile, and web technology resources while ensuring a secure and accessible portal to connect residents with government online services. In her role, she oversees the team that has earned Michigan placement among the nation’s top 10 state government digital experiences every year since 2015. In 2017 and 2018, StateScoop editors chose Suzanne as one of the "Top 50 Women in Technology.” In 2022, Suzanne was named one of Government Technology’s “Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers”.
Pauley began her tenure as a student assistant with the State of Michigan in 2000. Over the course of her career, she worked as an application developer and project and program manager before being named eMichigan director in 2014.

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Brian Pillar

Brian Pillar

General Manager, Department of Technology, Management and Budget, State of Michigan 

Brian Pillar is a General Manager for the State of Michigan, Department of Technology, Management and Budget with his teams providing support to the Michigan Department of Corrections, the Michigan State Police and the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. Brian’s core values are: the strength of the teams; customer service; Innovation; Security; and Business Value.
Brian is an alumnus of Michigan State University and began his professional career working for one of the university’s IT departments where he drove a major network operating system modernization project. He then pursued opportunities at a small, but global, software development company where he led the IT Operations teams in their journey to the public cloud. In 2018, Brian joined the Department of Technology, Management and Budget, accepting his present role in 2021. Since joining the State of Michigan, Brian has been passionate about driving modernization towards cloud friendly platforms and services.

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Jessica Randall

Jessica Randall

Infrastructure and Data Director, Michigan High-Speed Internet Office 

Jessica Randall is the Infrastructure and Data Director for the Michigan High-Speed Office, with responsibility for overseeing our state’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program and Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Information Networks (ROBIN) program. Before joining MIHI, she was a Senior Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist where she worked on a range of topics including broadband and digital equity. Her past roles include nearly five years as staff in the Michigan Legislature and positions at a number of advocacy organizations based in Washington, DC. Her work has been quoted in The Washington Post and a range of other publications. Jessica holds a BA from American University, a JD from the Georgetown University Law Center, and an LLM awarded jointly by the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris and Université de Paris I Panthéon-La Sorbonne. She lives near Mason with her husband and their two young children.

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Carlos Rivero

Carlos Rivero LinkedIn

Executive Government Advisor, Amazon Web Services

As an executive government advisor, Carlos is a public sector data practice subject matter expert who specializes in helping organizations leverage data to make informed, actionable decisions. He also works with Chief Data Officers, Geospatial Information Officers, and other data leaders to develop mission-driven data programs.
Prior to joining Amazon Web Services (AWS), Carlos gained 27 years of experience in federal and state government and higher education. Carlos was the first Chief Data Officer for the Commonwealth of Virginia. During his tenure, he helped former-Governor Northam, his executive team, and public health and emergency management professionals respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by leveraging data-driven intelligence products to help keep Virginians safe.
In Virginia, Carlos developed a statewide data program that leveraged the data trust as the legal framework to facilitate data sharing across public and private entities. The data program featured a secure cloud-based data sharing platform as the technical implementation of the data trust. He also established a centralized entity resolution service mapping individuals across multiple data systems supporting longitudinal studies. Carlos also provided an enterprise reporting system to facilitate the development and delivery of data-driven intelligence products to internal and external stakeholders. Lastly, he implemented the governance structure which facilitated engagement among leaders across the organization from agency data stewards to state senators in the data conversation.
Carlos also served as Chief Data Officer and Chief Enterprise Architect for the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration in Washington, D.C. Prior to these roles, Rivero worked at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center in Miami, Florida, as a physical scientist and as a research associate at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. This is where he developed a passion for geospatial information systems, ecological modeling, and data.
Carlos earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies from Florida International University. He received a Master of Science in Business Intelligence and Analytics from Saint Joseph’s University, focusing on database design, data management, business intelligence, big data, and data analytics.
Carlos enjoys traveling the US with his wife, daughter, and dogs in their RV and participates in outdoor activities everywhere he goes.

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Bryan Schneider

Bryan Schneider

Director, SLED, Fortinet

Bryan Schneider is a Director in the Fortinet Capture Team.  His expertise includes 20+ years of experience in Public Sector advanced solutions business development for a range of Wireless carriers, including leading strategic initiatives such as Mobile Security, Endpoint protection, Digital Transformation, Mobile Forms, LBS, Interoperability, IOT and OT, covering SLED, K12 and Federal Agencies.  Bryan also brings domain expertise into Public Safety, Next Generation 911, FirstNet, Telco/ISP,  CJIS, Remote WFH solutions, and Federal ZTA initiatives. 

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Doug Start

Doug Start

Director of Information Technology, City of Grand Rapids

Doug Start is an experienced IT leader with a passion for technology and empowering people to reach their full potential. Beginning his career as an educator teaching technology topics like hardware repair, computer programming and web design, Doug has sought opportunities to increase his exposure to all facets of the IT landscape eventually moving into the role as the Director of Instructional Technology for Grand Haven Area Public Schools. There he spearheaded a sustainable 1:1 initiative that sought to increase student and teacher engagement and level the playing field for all learners. 

Now as the Director of Technology for the City of Grand Rapids, Doug has turned this user driven focus to driving a sustainable, reliable and best practice aligned IT program to support and empower 30 diverse lines of business. Over the past several years Doug has spent time modernizing the City’s IT security infrastructure, expanding frameworks to support resiliency, and positioning the IT department as an organizational strategic partner by rebranding the department as the department of “Yes If...”. 

Doug has a Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in Business from Western Michigan University, a Master of Arts in Educational Technology with a focus on Leadership from Western Michigan University and is a Certified Government Chief Information Officer (CGCIO) through the University of North Carolina School of Government.
In his spare time Doug enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, and cooking. 

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Art Thompson

Art Thompson

Chief Information Officer, City of Detroit

Art Thompson is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the City of Detroit, Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT). Prior to this appointment, Art served as the Director of Public Safety and Cyber Security for DoIT. Art is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a degree in Supply Chain Management. He has over fifteen (15) years of technical experience with the public safety environment and managing both union and non-union employees across multiple areas.

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Bala Vaithyalingam

Bala Vaithyalingam

WW Leader for Data & AI Solutions, IBM

Bala is a recognized Thought Leader on Data and AI from IBM. He leads Worldwide Solution engineering from IBM Technology Expert Labs to design and deliver solutions around Data Governance, Data Integration, Data Observability, GenAI and AI Governance.
Bala has a proven track record of designing and implementing Data and AI solutions for many State agencies, federal and private organizations in North America and around the world. He has extensive expertise in working with Chief Information Officers (CIOs) Chief Data Officers (CDOs) and CXOs to develop information governance strategy, Data Strategy, and agile implementation roadmaps to successfully adopt the governance journey to meet their regulatory compliance needs as well as to generate business value from the data management landscape. Bala received many awards in IBM including patent application invention achievement award for governed database connectivity through and around data catalog to registered data sources.
Bala lives in Frisco, Texas, and holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Purdue University and awarded three University gold medals for his outstanding achievements in bachelor degree (B.Tech) from Anna University, India.

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Jackie White

Jackie White LinkedIn

National Conference Director, Government Technology

As National Conference Director for Government Technology magazine, Jackie produces, manages, and emcees government IT conferences throughout the country. With over 20 years in the SaaS and Tech arena, Jackie proudly brings strategy, project management, operational excellence, and production together to streamline the efforts of live national events. For 15 years Jackie has worked within the greater Chicago market, while also planning and producing events throughout the US, Canada and Europe. 
Jackie is a proud member of GMIS Illinois, active with Chicago Innovation (FKA Chicago Innovation Awards),  and is also known for dedicating countless hours volunteering and fundraising for non-profits including Surge for Water, Hephzibah Children's Association, SheSays Chicago, and Naperville Safety Town.

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Agenda

Wednesday, September 25

8:00 am Eastern

Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Banquet 5 – 8

9:00 am Eastern

Opening Remarks

Banquet 1 – 4

Laura Clark, Chief Information Officer, State of Michigan

9:15 am Eastern

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

Banquet 1 – 4

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 Eastern

General Session: Emerging Technology: Real-World Applications of AI in Michigan’s Public Sector

Banquet 1 – 4

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. What are the prep steps that should be considered before the decision tree comes into play? 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 Michigan.

Moderator: Laura Clark, Chief Information Officer, State of Michigan

Sanjay Srivastava, ITIL V3, Business Relationship Manager/ Div. Director Eligibility Area, Department of Technology, Management and Budget, State of Michigan

Art Thompson, Chief Information Officer, City of Detroit

10:35 am Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Banquet 5 – 8

11:00 am Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

Exploring Disruptive Technology: The World of AI, LLM, RPA, and More

Meeting Room 201/202

As lawmakers and constituents are hearing more about AI and deciding that this is "new" tech, many do not realize that most IT practitioners have been using generative AI for decades. Creative marketing may characterize new tech products as AI, but do you know the difference in the RPA, LLM, and ML capabilities, and can you help explain the difference to stakeholders? How can these offerings help you solve the challenges you are facing? Join us for an engaging session where we discuss the intersection of emerging tech, and where it meets the opportunity to solve real problems with greater efficiency.

Moderator: Phil Bertolini, Senior Vice President, Government Technology

Vinod Brahmapuram, Senior Director, Security, Lumen

Sergio Ortega, AI/ML Business Development Lead, Amazon Web Services

Andrey Verevko, General Manager, CTO, Platform, Design & Support Services, Department of Technology, Management & Budget, State of Michigan

Data Structure: Laying a Solid Foundation

Meeting Room 203/204

Effective data management is the backbone of successful public sector innovation. If done right, technology leaders can develop a strategic data foundation that will create a resilient infrastructure to support both current operations and future initiatives, including AI readiness. This session delves into best practices for records data management, data governance and data retention, the ways succession planning could factor into forward-thinking policies, and the ways we can leverage data in tools like watsonx BI Assistant and Power BI to better understand and serve our populations. Join us for actionable insights to elevate your data strategy and drive meaningful transformation.

Moderator: Jackie White, National Conference Director, Government Technology

Deb Fett, Chief Information Officer, Ingham County

Rod Davenport, Chief Information Officer, Oakland County

Bala Vaithyalingam, WW Leader for Data & AI Solutions, IBM

Change Management: State + Local Collaboration Required

Meeting Room 103/104

In a time when technology is constantly changing our world, our primary goal is to improve the lives of our residents. It's been said that the proxy for your customer is sometimes the person you need to work with more closely. When working with various agencies and the State, County, and Cities, are we doing our best to communicate with all parties about upcoming changes that could impact all that are servicing the state residents? Do we always think about informing and collaborating with partners at all levels before initiating projects? If not, how can we improve? Join this session to learn more about the role of change management in better success and adoption of your project outcomes.

Moderator: Brian Pillar, General Manager, Department of Technology, Management and Budget, State of Michigan

Heather Frick, Agency Services Director, Department of Technology, Management & Budget, State of Michigan

Ryan Garvelink, VP of Engineering, Trace3

David Holcomb, Director of Information Technology (CIO/CTO), County of Hillsdale

Doug Start, Director of Information Technology, City of Grand Rapids

Optimizing Funding for Cyber Readiness

Meeting Room 101/102

Funding to stay one step ahead of the threat actors is a constant challenge and determining where to go for additional support can create stress for even the most seasoned IT leaders. For those that did not receive grant funding in previous rounds, what opportunities are on the horizon? Are there still resources available? Do partners like CISA, MS-ISAC, and StateRAMP offer services that help cover things you may otherwise have to pay for out of your own budgets? This session will help identify the grant funding opportunities that are available, and how to best optimize your financial resources.

Moderator: Jamie Bennett, Deputy Chief Security Officer, Department of Technology Management and Budget, State of Michigan

Ted Cotterill, StateRAMP Board Member, and Chief Privacy Officer, State of Indiana

Anthony Essmaker, Regional Engagement Manager, MS-ISAC

12:00 pm Eastern

Lunch

Exhibit Hall B

12:45 pm Eastern

Bits and Bytes– What You Need to Know About the New Web Accessibility Laws

Banquet 1 – 4

The Department of Justice established new technical standards under the ADA’s Title 2.1 Level AA for state and local government to create greater accessibility for ADA compliance. You have 2-3 years to get to compliance depending on the size of the jurisdiction. Learn more about this important initiative and how you can help prepare for the project planning early to better serve those with disabilities.

Dana Justice, eMichigan Digital Accessibility Testing Manager, Department of Technology, Management and Budget, State of Michigan

Suzanne Pauley, eMichigan Director, Department of Technology, Management and Budget, State of Michigan

1:05 pm Eastern

Short Break

1:15 pm Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

Designing for All: Meaningful Access in 2024 and Beyond

Meeting Room 201/202

Having the right services that meet users' needs is becoming more critical than ever before. Constituents seek an intuitive, holistic, and accessible approach when working with government. If English is not your first language, are you able to access all of the government services available? How can those without a mobile or connected device gain? Are we designing our systems and applications, so they 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 Michigan home.

Moderator: Ti'Kyra Napoleon, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget

Guadalupe Ayala, Statewide Language Access Coordinator, Office of Global Michigan

Craig Brown, Chief Innovation Officer, Department of Innovation and Technology, City of Westland

Mike Homant, Chief Technology Officer and Deputy Chief Information Officer, City of Detroit

Cybersecurity: Assess Your Risk and Build Your Resiliency Framework

Meeting Room 203/204

With cyber criminals increasingly targeting local governments, what unique cybersecurity challenges does the public sector face? StateRAMP, CISA, and MS-ISAC agencies are proven subject matter experts that you can leverage when fighting the fight at little to no cost for public sector IT leaders. Have you completed a StateRAMP assessment? Is your cyber response plan up to date, or do need help? Do you know which of these agencies to access, and the capabilities they can offer? This session will highlight the resources available, and how they can help you make a dent in being prepared.

Moderator: Phil Bertolini, Senior Vice President, Government Technology

Danielle Alvarez, North America Public Sector Security Lead, Accenture

Ted Cotterill, StateRAMP Board Member, and Chief Privacy Officer, State of Indiana

Anthony Essmaker, Regional Engagement Manager, MS-ISAC

Bryan Schneider, Director, SLED, Fortinet

Under Construction: Fresh Funding for Digital Equity and Broadband

Meeting Room 103/104

There has been talk about Michigan being awarded $1.6 billion in federal infrastructure funding. Do you know which funding categories exist within these grants? Legislative changes have helped enable the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office (“MIHI”) to leverage some of these funds for digital equity and broadband initiatives. Join this session to learn which categories your agency may be eligible to benefit from with these grants, how to apply, and more about this funding opportunity.

Moderator: Tiziana Galeazzi, General Manager, Department of Technology, Management & Budget, State of Michigan

Jessica Randall, Infrastructure and Data Director, Michigan High-Speed Internet Office

Art Thompson, Chief Information Officer, City of Detroit

Executive Briefing for Industry Partners

Meeting Room 101/102

Hosted by: Laura Clark,  Chief Information Officer, State of Michigan

Rex Menold, Chief Technology Officer, Department of Technology Management and Budget, State of Michigan

2:15 pm Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

2:35 pm Eastern

General Session – The Constituent Digital Experience of the Future

Banquet 1 – 4

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.

Phil Bertolini, Senior Vice President, Government Technology

3:45 pm Eastern

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

Banquet 5 – 8

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

4:15 pm Eastern

End of Conference

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

Lansing Center

333 E Michigan Ave
Lansing, MI 48933
(517) 483-7400

Get Directions To
Lansing Center

Advisory Board

Government Representatives

Sunil Asija
Chief Learning and Development Officer
Oakland County

Jamie Bennett
Deputy Chief Security Officer
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Craig Brown
Chief Innovation Officer
Dept of Innovation & Tech
City of Westland

Eric Brunk
IT Director
Information Technology
City of Birmingham

Tom Cantrell
Business Relationship Manager
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Chris Cantrell
Director of IT/GIS
Midland County

Paul Carley
IT Manager
Marquette County

Jayson Cavendish
Chief Security Officer
Department of Technology Management & Budget, Cyber & Infrastructure Protection
State of Michigan

Laura Clark
Chief Information Officer
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Valerie Craft
Information Technology Director
Antrim County

Kim Crawford
General Manager
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
MI Department of Technology Management and Budget

Rod Davenport
Chief Information Officer
Oakland County

Andy Esch
Director, Office of Enterprise Information Management
Office of Enterprise Info Mgmt
MI Dept of Transportation

Deb Fett
Chief Information Officer
Ingham County

Eric Frederick
Chief Connectivity Officer
Michigan High Speed Internet Office, Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity
State of Michigan

Heather Frick
Agency Services Director
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Tiziana Galeazzi
General Manager
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Holly Grandy-Miller
Director of Organizational Development
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

John Hartley
Information Technology Director
Alcona County

David Holcomb
Director of Information Technology
Hillsdale County

Robert Johnson
Director of Technology Experience
Wayne County

Robert (Bob) Jones
Executive Director of Support Services
Information and Technology Services
University of Michigan

David Judd
Director, Systems, Evaluation & Technology
Department of Education
State of Michigan

Duane Kerkstra
Business Relationship Manager
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Michelle McClish
Cybersecurity Local Partnerships
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Rex Menold
Chief Technology Officer
Department of Technology Management and Budget
State of Michigan

Susan Nordyke
IT Policy Advisor
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Suzanne Pauley
eMichigan Director
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Brian Pillar
General Manager
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Lucy Pline
Business Relationship Manager
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Dan Rainey
Chief Information Officer
Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD)
City of Detroit

Hector Roman
Chief Information Officer
Wayne County

Manny Rosales
General Manager
Department of Technology Management and Budget
State of Michigan

Steve Sedore
Executive Director of Operations
Allegan County

Tom Shewchuk
IT Director
Ann Arbor

Tom Spencer
IT Director
Ogemaw County

Doug Start
Director of IT
City of Grand Rapids

Willard Stuart
Business Relationship Manager
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Eric Swanson
Director, Center for Shared Solutions & Technology Partnerships
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Art Thompson
Chief Information Officer
City of Detroit

Andrey Verevko
General Manager
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

John Walker
Business Relationship Manager
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
State of Michigan

Ulri Zay
Outreach Specialist
Department of Technology, Management & Budget
MI Department of Technology Management and Budget

Industry Representatives

Andy Durren
Principal Account Manager
Amazon Web Services

Andrew Hagman
Technology Service Lead
Accenture

Jonathan Hill
Account Technology Leader
IBM

Greg Kreiling
Major Account Manager
Fortinet

Registration Information / Contact Us

Event Date: September 25, 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:

Sherri Tidwell
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 932-1382
E-mail: stidwell@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

Lansing Center

333 E Michigan Ave
Lansing, MI 48933
(517) 483-7400

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Parking

The Lansing Center Lot: $2/hour with a daily maximum of $10.
The Lansing Center lot is located underneath the Lansing Center at the entrance off Cedar Street by the City Market.
North Grand Avenue Ramp: $1.50/car/half-hour (or $15 maximum).
The North Grand Parking Ramp is a 24-hour parking facility adjacent to the Radisson Hotel and connected via a covered pedestrian bridge to the Lansing Center.
Hours of enforcement: 8:00am – 11:00pm.


Accommodations

Government Technology does not have a group block established for this event. Please consider staying at any of the surrounding hotels.