Registration and Morning Refreshments

Windsor Ballroom Lobby

Opening Remarks – State’s Vision for IT

Windsor Ballroom

Dr. Craig Orgeron, Executive Director, Department of Information Technology Services, State of Mississippi

Keynote Speaker – Open Roads Open Minds: An Exploration of Creative Problem Solving

Windsor Ballroom

Steve Uzzell, Renowned Photographer

Steve Uzzell is a veteran National Geographic photographer and one of the nation’s leading corporate photographers. Steve's award-winning approach to his photographic work is driven by the philosophy that an open mind allows solutions to appear in unexpected places and, above all, “preparation leads to magic”. Using his striking photographs to illustrate the creative process, Steve inspires us to take advantage of our own experiences and vision to make any venture an adventure.

Break

Windsor Ballroom Lobby

Concurrent Sessions

Living in the Cloud

Churchill Ballroom

Anything as a Service (XaaS) is the essence of cloud computing, and these days almost anything can be delivered as a service: software, infrastructure, storage, platforms, data, you name it. The concept is no longer new, but it's far from settled. Challenges remain in building the business case and determining the risks and rewards. Valuable lessons have been learned by both government and private industry in recent years. This session focuses on available options, practices that work and pitfalls to avoid.

Nathan Slater, Vice President – Cloud Services, C Spire

Analytics: Making the Data Work

Windsor IV & V

The amount and variety of electronically stored information and documents that organizations are responsible for continues to grow, and the analysis of large data sets is increasingly important for success. Knowing how to properly tag, analyze, and respond to the data are necessary characteristics of growing and thriving organizations. This session takes a look at the barriers to fully embracing data and demystifies eDiscovery and data analytics.

Ben Cohen, Chief Information Officer, Information Systems Division, Department of Transportation, State of Mississippi

John Erikson, Business Intelligence Manager, Information Systems Division, Department of Transportation, State of Mississippi

Ken Slay, Lead Business Systems Analyst, Information Systems Division, Department of Transportation, State of Mississippi

Mobility – Better Ways to Serve Citizens and Staff

Winston Ballroom

Smartphones and tablets are increasingly the device of choice, replacing desktops, televisions, landlines, game consoles, GPS devices, and live personal interaction. The reality is that mobility is king. This session discusses the business uses of mobile technologies and the most important factors to consider when developing or utilizing mobile tools and apps, both internal- and external-facing.

Drew Levanway, Director of Operations, Marketing & Business Development, Mississippi Interactive

Eric Rollins, Lead Sales Engineer, State and Local Government, Citrix Systems

Lessons From Healthcare Technology – Breaking New Ground in Government

Surrey Ballroom

Healthcare continues to be one of the hottest initiatives on the political landscape, and it’s driving new technologies that enhance and expand services. Whether it’s record-sharing, paperwork reduction, administrative efficiency, interactive online services, or telemedicine, IT is at the heart of it all. This session takes a look at strategies, tools and opportunities that are applicable not just in the health arena but in all aspects of government.

Jeremy Hill, Acting Executive Director, Mississippi Health Information Network

Denise Jones, Chief Information Officer, Department of Mental Health, State of Mississippi

Dr. Timothy Rehner, Director, School of Social Work, The University of Southern Mississippi

Lunch

Windsor Ballroom

General Session

Windsor Ballroom

Breach! When Bad Things Happen to Good People (and Their Organizations)

Cyber security is the new front line of financial crime and social upheaval. It is the new Wild West, with hackers divided among the "white hats" and "black hats." Stage coach and bank robberies of old have been replaced by heists of personally identifiable information from major retailers, insurers and governments. Political protests are increasingly taking the form of denial-of-service attacks by so-called “hactivists” to disrupt the normal order of things. Such things can and do happen anywhere, and everybody has a role in preventing, preparing for, and responding to cyber threats. This interactive session unpacks key lessons and learnings from real-life cases with the help of a panel of local experts and engaged audience members.

Moderator:

Rebecca Friedman, Government Technology magazine

Panelists:

Kathy Gates, Ph.D., Chief Information Officer, The University of Mississippi

Terry Hect, Director and Chief Security Strategist, AT&T

Shane Loper, Chief Operating Officer, Hancock Holding Company and Information Technology Services Board Member

Scott Wells, Special Agent, FBI Infragard

View Presentation Here

Break

Windsor Ballroom Lobby

Concurrent Sessions

Connected Government

Churchill Ballroom

The population is getting more sophisticated - and demanding - about being heard by and instantly connected to government. At the same time, governments are recognizing the many benefits of actively encouraging citizen engagement via tools such as social media, open data, mobile apps, and smarter websites. This session provides a glimpse into the future of open and participatory government.

Rick Collins, Practice Director – Public Safety & Justice, U.S. & Canada, Enterprise Solutions, Unisys

The Impact of Broadband in Mississippi

Windsor IV & V

As the Internet continues its transformation from a web of information to a web of connected people and things, the bar has been raised for designing infrastructure that is up to the task so that no one is left behind. Broadband, wireless, unified access, digital learning and public safety present both challenges and unprecedented opportunities. This session focuses on game-changing innovations and advances underway in Mississippi.

Roberto Gallardo, Ph.D., Associate Extension Professor & Leader, Intelligent Community Institute, Mississippi State University Extension

Collaboration Innovation Nation

Winston Ballroom

The process of turning ideas into reality is often messy, sometimes daunting, and most always difficult. It requires grit and determination, as well as imagination, innovation, planning, and collaboration. But with all the focus on collaboration how do we continue to respect individuality? This fast-paced session looks at how to a foster the best in every team member by leveraging the uniqueness they bring to the table.

Mark Allen, Chief Information Officer, Department of Human Services, State of Mississippi

Reshma Khatkhate, Program Administrator Senior, Division of Field Operations, Department of Human Services, State of Mississippi

Jennifer Wentworth, Associate Commissioner, Agency Support, Department of Revenue, State of Mississippi

Sponsor Briefing

Surrey Ballroom

(Industry sponsors only.) This informal discussion is hosted by Dr. Craig Orgeron, Executive Director, Department of Information Technology Services, State of Mississippi. The focus will be on strategies, priorities, opportunities and the procurement process.

Break

Windsor Ballroom Lobby

General Session - The Future of the IT Workforce

Windsor Ballroom

The IT landscape is dramatically changing – the technologies we use, the people we work with, and the way we deliver services are transforming at a pace previously unforeseen. This panel discussion will talk about the current make-up of the multigenerational workforce, how generations can collaborate to solve IT problems, and strategies for building the workforce of the future.

Moderator:

Amy Whitten, JD, The Whitten Group, P.A.

Panelists:

Mark Bengel, Chief Information Officer, Department of Finance and Administration, State of Tennessee

Susan McDaniel, Director of Information Technology, St. Dominic Hospital

Billy Sims, Vice President, Human Resources, Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company

Executive Reception

Windsor Ballroom Lobby

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

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