Name: New York Digital Government Summit 2026
Start: 2026-09-22T08:00
Location: Albany Capital Center

Overview

The New York 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.

Winners of the 2026 Best of New York Awards will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 22 at the New York Digital Government Summit in Albany. Please submit your nominations here. Nomination closes on Friday, August 7, 2026.

A message from our Keynote Speaker

Speakers

Dru Rai

Chief Information Officer and Director, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York 

Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Dru Rai as New York State Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Director of the Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) in October 2023. 
In this position, Dru is responsible for leading New York’s ongoing digital transformation, enhancing the state’s cyber posture to defend New York against evolving cyberthreats, and working with Executive Branch agencies to create digital interactions between state government and residents that are simple, seamless and straightforward.    
A highly skilled leader with more than 30 years of experience in Digital Product Management, Information Technology and eCommerce, Dru most recently served as Chief Digital and Information Officer of Quaker Houghton Company. He previously served as Global CIO for the Ball Corporation, DuPont Coatings and GE Advanced Material (a Division of GE) and began his career at Ernst & Young. 
Dru also led and volunteered as CIO for Goodwill Industries International and the American Cancer Society, helping each organization set and execute their digital strategies, and make significant technology operational improvements. 
Dru earned an MBA from the University of Connecticut and a Bachelor of Technology from GB Pant University in India.

Phil Hansen

Artist, Speaker, Author and Innovator

Referred to by his fans as “the Artist for the People”, Phil Hansen is an internationally recognized multimedia artist, speaker, author, and innovator -- at the forefront of bringing art to a wider audience. Crashing irreverently through conventional boundaries, Phil works at the intersection of traditional art, electronic media, offbeat materials, and interactive experiences. His meta-art, with its process-focused videos (sometimes including destruction), powerfully demonstrates to millions that art is action, not just result. Hansen's work also extends deeply into traditional media with features on the Discovery Channel, Good Morning America, the Rachael Ray Show, Last Call with Carson Daly, Glamour and many more. Many influential clients, including the Grammy Awards, Disney, Skype, Mazda, and the Rockefeller Foundation, seek out his work.
For the tens of millions who have seen Phil’s art on TV and online, it’s hard to imagine his artistic journey. His journey nearly came to an end when a tremor developed in his drawing hand. In exploring new ways to create art, Phil discovered that by embracing his shake. Limitations could become the passageway to creativity. His inspirational story was first shared on the TED stage to a standing ovation. It reached a global audience, with PBS, BBC, and CBC among its broadcasters. Now, Phil’s ability to draw parallels to the business setting has won him followers among industry and business leaders. This has led to invitations to speak at the TED conference, Adobe MAX Creativity Conference, World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, and the Million Dollar Round Table. Phil’s message of self-reinvention and the power of transforming adversity into opportunity translates well across audiences. This is regardless of the industry. His message inspires, motivates and re-energizes the creative spirit in us all.” - Ford Motor Company
“We need to first be limited in order to become limitless.” - Phil Hansen

Jason Adolf

Vice President, Global Public Sector Vertical, Appian 

Jason Adolf is a recognized leader in digital transformation and government modernization, currently serving as Vice President of Global Public Sector at Appian. With over two decades of experience in technical strategy, business development, and process automation, Jason has played a pivotal role in driving innovation across federal civilian agencies, defense, healthcare, and international markets
At Appian, he leads global public sector initiatives, sha.ping go-to-market strategies and ensuring client success. His expertise in enterprise adoption, process efficiency, and solution architecture has been instrumental in delivering complex government programs.
Prior to Appian, Jason held senior leadership roles at Serco, SRA International, and other industry leaders, managing large teams and overseeing the deployment of complex IT solutions.
Jason is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, recognized as a Washington Exec Public Sector Executive to Watch and an AI Executive to Watch. His thought leadership continues to influence transformation in the public sector.

Andrew Bellinger

Deputy Chief Information Officer, Office of the New York State Attorney General

Andrew is a high-impact IT leader with over 25 years of experience leading transformational teams across government, academia, and healthcare. Currently the Deputy CIO for the New York State Office of the Attorney General, Andrew directs a multidisciplinary organization of professionals, overseeing Infrastructure Operations, Security Operations and Enterprise Applications.

Nathan Cain

Major Accounts Solutions Architect, Qualys

Nathan Cain is a cybersecurity and systems engineering leader with over 20 years of experience protecting federal, defense and state networks. He currently serves as Major Accounts Solutions Architect, Public Sector at Qualys, where he advises major federal and state agencies on vulnerability management, compliance, and application security, aligning solutions with standards like FISMA, NIST, and HIPAA. His background includes senior cybersecurity engineering roles supporting the U.S. Navy and NAVSEA (ASSETT, Turbo Federal), deep expertise as a vulnerability management subject matter expert (ASM Research, ICS Nett), and systems architecture work with the US Marine’s Cyber Command. His career traces back to information assurance roles in the Department of the Navy, including postings in Japan and at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, where he led compliance, vulnerability management, and cyber workforce programs under DoD 8500/8570 frameworks.

Bill Carter

Director of SLED Capture, Public Sector, Fortinet

Bill Carter is a dynamic cybersecurity leader with a passion for securing the digital world and educating others on the evolving threat landscape. Currently serving as a public sector cybersecurity strategist at Fortinet, Bill previously protected Ohio’s 12 million citizens as the Chief Information Security Officer for the Department of Commerce and Deputy Chief Information Security Officer for the State, overseeing security strategies across 80+ agencies.
With a career spanning additional roles as Field CTO, Senior Systems Engineer, and Technical Consultant, he brings deep expertise in cybersecurity strategy, infrastructure, and risk management.
A hands-on technologist and sought-after public speaker, Bill holds a master’s degree in Cybersecurity and multiple industry certifications, including CISSP, SecurityX, and all MITRE credentials. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Cybersecurity, and an active member of the Ohio Cyber Reserve and the FBI’s InfraGard. Beyond his professional pursuits, Bill is dedicated to philanthropy in serving as CEO for an80,000-person strong non-profit organization.

Chief Information Security Officer, Education Department, State of New York

Marlowe Cochran has been working in the IT field for over three decades, with over two of those decades in information security roles. He has worked in a multitude of sectors from government to health care. In his current role at the New York State Department of Education, he is the Chief Information Security Officer. Marlowe collaborates with internal and external stakeholders regarding security best practices in modernization of technology, data sharing, and risk assessment/management. This includes information/cyber security, incident response, business continuity, the development of policies/procedures, and the governance and risk posture of systems and data.

Grace Dillon

Deputy Commissioner for Technology, Gaming and Public Integrity, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York

Murali Gandhirjan

Director, Regulated Industries CTO, Snowflake

Murali Gandhirajan is Global Regulated Industries CTO at Snowflake, leading data, analytics, and AI strategy for healthcare, life sciences, public sector and Manufacturing organizations. With a strong background in modern data platforms and applied AI, he has consistently defined and executed strategies that deliver measurable business and mission outcomes across regulated industries. A recognized thought leader, Murali partners with executives and technical teams to build next-generation data and AI platforms that enable secure data sharing, business insights, and responsible AI at scale. He is committed to advancing better health, scientific innovation, and citizen services by harnessing the full potential of Snowflake’s Data Cloud and AI capabilities.

Robinson Hernandez

Deputy Commissioner for Shared Services, Office of General Services, State of New York 

As the OGS Deputy Commissioner for Shared Services, Robinson Hernandez is responsible for administering the delivery of critical services to state agencies, local governments, and the public, leading a complex portfolio that includes the Media Services Center, the Procurement Services Group, and the Business Services Center. As a member of the Commissioner’s Cabinet, he translates the agency’s Strategic Plan into specific objectives, streamlining the organizational framework of this unified division to advance the agency’s mission.
Robinson has more than 25 years of experience working at the intersection of business and government. Before joining OGS, he worked at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), where he set the strategic vision for their innovation program in power generation and energy storage. There, he guided research and development initiatives, ensuring the program aligned with New York State’s ambitious clean energy goals.
Previously, he worked with Company Ventures, launching the Urban Tech Hub, a one-of-a-kind private-public partnership and ecosystem that supports businesses seeking to address New York City’s most pressing urban challenges. Robinson also served as an Executive Director in the Mayor’s Office and as Deputy Commissioner of Small Business Services for NYC, where he led a mayoral task force on regulatory reform and economic development, changing how the City of New York interacts with small business owners. Throughout his career, he has held several roles within NYC government, including serving as Special Advisor to the Commissioner of the Department of Buildings and as a Senior Project Manager at the Mayor’s Office of Industrial and Manufacturing Businesses.
Robinson received his BS from Boston College and a master’s degree in urban planning from New York University.

Mark Israel

Deputy Chief Information Officer, Medicaid and NY State of Health, Department of Health, State of New York

Mark Israel is a deputy chief information officer within New York State’s Office of Health Insurance Programs (OHIP) and has systems oversight for Medicaid Eligibility and Client Management (MECM) and NY State of Health (NYSOH). He is helping lead New York state’s continuing Medicaid eligibility modernization that will deliver modernized technology and business processes in a consumer-centric and simplified Medicaid delivery model. Mark has been a technology executive in the financial services industry for over twenty years followed by over eight years of serving New York’s public sector. Mark holds degrees in political science, business administration, and law.

Mathan Jebaraj

Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York

Matt Jebaraj is the Deputy Chief of Staff for NYS ITS, bringing 25+ years of strategic leadership and IT director and oversight experience to NYS. Prior to that, Matt led complex IT initiatives as ITS Deputy Chief Strategy Officer, Executive Director of ITS Portfolio Office and the Director for ITS Workforce, Public Service & Housing Portfolios. A former private sector leader at GE Energy and Ford Motor Company, and Deputy CIO for the NYS Education Department, Matt specializes in delivering large-scale, complex technology products and initiatives. He was an active mentor with the Project Management Institute (PMI). Matt is also a frequent moderator and panelist at GovTech leadership forums, and is passionate about bringing industry experts together to share collaborative strategies and ideas.

Suzanne Lazar

Implementation Lead, OCM Dedicated Team, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York

Suzanne Lazar - Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) Dedicated Team, NYS Office of Information Technology Services
With more than 25 years spanning both public and private sector roles, Suzanne brings deep expertise in IT Business and Systems Analysis, Project Management, and leadership to every initiative she undertakes.
Suzanne is currently with the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) Dedicated Team where she leads IT, Analysis, QA, and implementation-related efforts on behalf of NYS ITS.  Her tenure with ITS been defined by meaningful impact across a wide range of agencies – most notably the NYS Office of Mental Health where she provided sustained business analysis and IT support. 
Across her ITS career Suzanne has built and managed teams’ agency-wide, overseen enterprise and client agency initiatives, guided the implementation of new systems and applications, served as an advisor for the IES program, and regularly contributes as a Mentor in the ITS Mentoring Program.
Suzanne is an active member of the NYS Forum and currently serves as a co-chair for the Business Analysis and Business Architecture Workgroup since 2019.  She also serves on the Advisory Board for the NY IT Leadership Forum and NY Digital Government Summit, reflecting her ongoing commitment to advancing technology leadership across New York State.Suzanne holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Economics from SUNY Empire State College and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Emerging Technologies. 

Deputy Commissioner for Technology, Parks, APA, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York

Jeff Nuding

Deputy Commissioner for Technology, DCJS and Public Safety Agencies, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York

Jeff Nuding was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Technology (Public Safety) in 2024. Jeff fulfilled significant roles in IT Executive Management since IT Transformation began, serving as Executive Director of both the Revenue, Finance and Public Integrity and Public Safety Portfolios since November 2020. Jeff previously served as Service Director for Project Management Shared Services and Deputy Chief Portfolio Officer within the Chief Portfolio Office (CPO) from October 2018 until November 2020, and prior to that as Project Management Office (PMO) Director for the Public Safety Portfolio. Jeff has more than 35 years of information technology (IT) experience, with more than 20 years as an expert level Consultant Project Manager, Portfolio Manager, and PMO Director. Jeff first achieved Project Management Institute (PMI) PM Professional (PMP) certification in 2001 (6 times recertified), presenting at PMI Congresses in 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2012. Jeff retired from the NY Army National Guard as a Sergeant Major (E9) following a 35-year career, including a combat deployment to Iraq with the 42nd Infantry Division as a First Sergeant.

Balakrishnan Prabhakaran, PhD

Empire Innovation Professor and Director, AI Plus Institute, University at Albany 

Professor Balakrishnan Prabhakaran is the Director of the AI Plus Institute and an Empire Innovation Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University at Albany.
Dr. Prabhakaran served as program director for the National Science Foundation’s Human-Centered Computing Program in the Information and Intelligent Systems Division from 2019 to 2023 and as "theme lead" for the NSF AI Institute on Human-AI Interaction.

Fran Reiter

Executive Director, New York State Forum

Following an early career in theater and film production and a 15-year career as a marketing executive in the television industry, Fran Reiter served as NYC Deputy Mayor for Planning and Community Relations and, subsequently, for Economic Development and Planning during Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s first term. Her many accomplishments include authoring and overseeing the implementation of the Lower Manhattan Revitalization Plan, negotiating the citywide Adult Use Rezoning and the community agreement that led to the first Williamsburg rezoning, and leading the restructuring of the NYC Division of AIDS Services.
Fran left government service to run Mayor Giuliani’s successful 1997 re-election campaign then returned to the private sector, serving as President and CEO of the NYC Convention and Visitors Bureau (now NYC & Company) and Executive Director of the Joseph Papp Public Theater/NY Shakespeare Festival. In 2003, she was a founding partner of lobbying firm Reiter/Begun Associates which merged with J. Adams Consulting in 2011, creating the Reiter Giuliani Group, LLC, now RG Group. With 40 years of private and public sector expertise, Fran provides government relations, strategic advisement, and lobbying services to a diverse array of businesses and non-profit organizations.
At the request of Governor Andrew Cuomo, Fran returned to public service in November 2012 to serve as Executive Deputy Director of State Operations, overseeing all state agency operations and the realization of the Governor’s major enterprise-wide initiatives, including the implementation of the Office of Information Technology Services, the Business Service Center, and the eLicensing program.
Fran returned to RG Group in September 2014 to head the firm’s Albany office. In early 2021, she retired from RG Group and established Reiter Consulting, LLC, providing strategic advisement to businesses and organizations doing or seeking to do business with New York City and State government. In April 2023, Fran became the Executive Director of The NYS Forum.
Fran has been an adjunct professor at New York University and the Baruch College School of Public Affairs. Additionally, she has been a guest lecturer at NYU, the New School for Social Research, and Columbia University.
Fran is a native New Yorker and holds a B.S. in Public Affairs from the City University of New York.

Jesse Roberts

Principal Solutions Architect, Amazon Web Services

Jesse Roberts is an AWS Principal Solutions Architect with 27 years’ experience as an engineer, analyst, architect and executive. At Amazon Web Services, Jesse serves as the Lead Solutions Architect for their State, Local Government and Education business in the eastern United States where he is enthusiastic about leveraging cloud technology to help address some of the biggest challenges of government and education. Prior to AWS, he worked for 21 years at Boeing and General Electric in various system and data architecture leadership roles after which he joined Maximus becoming their Vice President of IT Architecture. Jesse has a passion for leveraging technology and design thinking to help solve complex problems. Outside of IT, Jesse is a co-founder of the Rensselaer Repair Café and serves on the Board of Trustees for both Woodland Hill Montessori School and the Arts Center of the Capital Region. He mentors formerly incarcerated students in coding and technology as well as lectures on various topics through the Justice Through Code project at Columbia University.

James Sammons

Associate Commissioner, Data Analytics, Office of General Services, State of New York

Carrie Smith

Chief Technology and Innovation Strategist, Dell Technologies  

Carrie is known for her out of the box creative thinking, problem solving skills, being an advocate for customer success and driving sales to enable Cities and States to operate more efficiently. As a Breast Cancer Survivor, she never shy’s away from a challenge and focuses on the specific goals of the agencies to provide holistic solutions to prove Dell is the best Technology Partner in the business.     

Maria Thompson

Public Sector Executive Strategist, Wiz 

Maria S. Thompson is the Public Sector Executive Strategist for Wiz. In this role, she brings over 20 years of experience in information technology, strategic planning, computer network defense, and risk management. Prior to her role with Wiz, Maria served as the State and Local Government Executive Government Advisor for Amazon Web Services (AWS), and was North Carolina’s first State Chief Risk and Security Officer. She is also a military veteran having served 20 years in the United States Marine Corps.

Steve Troxel

ASG Field Chief Technology Officer, SHI International Corp

Steve Troxel is a Field CTO at SHI International Corp, advising public sector and commercial organizations across the U.S. With over 25 years of experience in IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and enterprise strategy, he has held executive roles including interim CTO for the Arizona Department of Education and VP of Technology for a national payment card processor. His work bridges public policy, operational execution, and long-term technology planning.

Rob Vasquez

Senior Solutions Engineer, T-Mobile

Rob Vasquez is a Senior Solutions Engineer with over 17 years of experience delivering secure, mission-critical wireless solutions for government and public sector organizations. At T-Mobile, he partners with agencies to translate complex operational requirements into scalable, resilient connectivity strategies that enhance efficiency and support mission success.
He collaborates closely with cross-functional teams spanning sales, engineering, and product to architect and implement solutions that meet rigorous standards for security, reliability, and performance. Recognized for his ability to navigate complexity, align diverse stakeholders, and execute at scale, he consistently drives impactful outcomes in high-stakes environments.
He is passionate about advancing government connectivity through innovation, clear communication, and trusted partnerships. His focus remains on expanding leadership influence, shaping strategic direction, and delivering sustained value across the public sector.

Tuesday, September 22
8:30 am Eastern	Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area
9:15 am Eastern	Opening and Welcome Remarks Dru Rai, Chief Information Officer and Director, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York
9:30 am Eastern	Keynote- EMBRACE THE SHAKE: Transforming Limitations into Opportunities Success, especially in today’s fast-changing business environment, depends on our ability to make creativity and innovation a continuous process. Leaders want to know how their teams can rise above any challenge and succeed no matter what comes their way. Whether the goal is to embrace change, overcome obstacles, sustain growth, or take your success to the next level, leaders and teams want to learn how to “Embrace the Shake.” The term “Embrace the Shake” is coined from artist Phil Hansen’s personal story of transformation. After developing a career-ending tremor in his drawing hand, Phil embraced his “shake” both physically and metaphorically by redefining his limitation as an impetus for creativity. Phil not only restored his artistic abilities, but he also became a much more creative and innovative artist than ever before. Phil’s powerful message of finding creativity within limitations will inspire you to stop looking outside and start looking within for the resources that can transform your challenges into opportunities for success. Phil Hansen, Artist, Speaker, Author and Innovator
10:30 am Eastern	General Session – Turning Challenges into Opportunities: Building New York’s Digital Future Every agency is facing unprecedented change—from AI and cybersecurity to workforce shortages, aging infrastructure, evolving resident expectations, and increasing demands for transparency and accountability. This executive discussion brings together state and industry leaders to examine the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, identity, cloud, data, and public trust. Rather than focusing on technology alone, panelists will explore how agencies can responsibly adopt innovation while managing risk, preparing their workforce, and delivering measurable outcomes for New Yorkers. Moderator: Grace Dillon, Deputy Commissioner for Technology, Gaming and Public Integrity, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York
11:00 am Eastern	Networking Break in the Exhibit Area
11:30 am Eastern	Concurrent Sessions Responsible AI: From Pilot to Production Artificial intelligence is moving from experimentation to enterprise adoption across government. But successful implementation requires more than selecting the right technology—it demands strong governance, thoughtful risk management, high-quality data, and a clear strategy for responsible adoption. How can agencies move beyond pilot projects while maintaining transparency, accountability, and public trust? Join this session to hear practical lessons learned from government leaders as they discuss governance frameworks, model selection, guardrails, human oversight, and strategies for scaling AI responsibly across the enterprise. Moderator: Mathan Jebaraj, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York Roslyn Watrobski, Deputy Commissioner for Strategic Engagement, Division of Human Rights, State of New York Modern Government Starts with Trusted Data Data is the foundation of modern government. From improving resident services and informing policy decisions to strengthening cybersecurity and enabling digital transformation, agencies depend on trusted, accessible, and well-governed data to achieve their missions. As agencies continue to modernize, how can they transform fragmented data into a trusted enterprise asset that powers better decisions, stronger collaboration, and future innovation? This session explores practical strategies for building and sustaining a modern data ecosystem that supports today's operational needs while preparing organizations for tomorrow's opportunities. Moderator: James Sammons, Associate Commissioner, Data Analytics, Office of General Services, State of New York Murali Gandhirjan, Director, Regulated Industries CTO, Snowflake Balakrishnan Prabhakaran, PhD, Empire Innovation Professor and Director, AI Plus Institute, University at Albany Carrie Smith, Chief Technology and Innovation Strategist, Dell Technologies Making Innovation Count: Measuring Value and Driving Better Outcomes Innovation is no longer measured by the number of technologies an agency deploys—it's measured by the outcomes it delivers. As governments invest in digital transformation, agency leaders must balance innovation with accountability, ensuring new technologies improve operations, strengthen public trust, and deliver measurable value. This session explores how organizations are evaluating emerging technologies, prioritizing investments, measuring return on investment, and scaling successful initiatives across the enterprise. Moderator: Suzanne Lazar, Implementation Lead, OCM Dedicated Team, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York Jason Adolf, Vice President, Global Public Sector Vertical, Appian Nathan Cain, Major Accounts Solutions Architect, Qualys Building the Workforce of Tomorrow: Leading Through Change Technology is transforming the way government works—but lasting transformation begins with people. As agencies modernize operations, adopt new technologies, and respond to evolving workforce expectations, leaders must build organizations that are adaptable, collaborative, and prepared for continuous change. This session explores the human side of digital transformation, focusing on strategies for building a future-ready workforce equipped with the skills, mindset, and culture needed to thrive in a rapidly changing environment. Moderator: Andrew Bellinger, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Office of the New York State Attorney General, State of New York Fran Reiter, Executive Director, The New York State Forum Steve Troxel, ASG Field Chief Technology Officer, SHI International Corp
12:30 pm Eastern	Lunch
1:30 pm Eastern	Short Break Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.
1:40 pm Eastern	Concurrent Sessions Modernizing Government Infrastructure: Building the Foundation for What’s Next Modern government depends on resilient, secure, and scalable infrastructure to deliver reliable services, support emerging technologies, and meet growing constituent expectations. As agencies modernize legacy environments, they face important decisions about cloud adoption, hybrid architectures, data center strategies, connectivity, and long-term technology investments. This session brings together government and industry leaders to explore practical approaches to building the infrastructure that powers digital government. Moderator: Mark Israel, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Medicaid and NY State of Health, Department of Health, State of New York Lane Hunt, Director, Department of Information Technology Services, Orange County Government Arne Louison, Deputy Commissioner for Technology, Parks, APA, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York Prasad Oruganti, Technical Director, OHIP, Department of Health, State of New York Jesse Roberts, Principal Solutions Architect, Amazon Web Services Maria Thompson, Public Sector Executive Strategist, Wiz Identity, Trust and Cybersecurity: Securing the Future of Government As government becomes increasingly digital, identity has emerged as the new security perimeter. Protecting users, devices, applications, and data require more than traditional cybersecurity—it demands a comprehensive approach built on Zero Trust principles, proactive risk management, and a resilient security strategy. This session explores how government organizations are strengthening their security posture while supporting modernization, cloud adoption, and digital service delivery. Moderator: Marlowe Cochran, Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Education, State of New York Solon Boomer-Jenks, Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Labor, State of New York Bill Carter, Director of SLED Capture, Public Sector, Fortinet From Procurement to Possibility: Modernizing Government Acquisition Innovation moves quickly—but procurement often struggles to keep pace. As government agencies modernize technology, adopt cloud services, and explore emerging solutions, procurement is evolving from a transactional function into a strategic enabler of digital transformation. How can agencies modernize procurement to accelerate innovation while maintaining transparency, accountability, and public trust? In this session, government and industry leaders will share practical strategies, lessons learned, and emerging approaches for building procurement processes that enable innovation while meeting the unique requirements of the public sector. Moderator: Jeff Nuding, Deputy Commissioner for Technology, DCJS and Public Safety Agencies, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York Robinson Hernandez, Deputy Commissioner for Shared Services, Office of General Services, State of New York Rob Vasquez, Senior Solutions Engineer, T-Mobile Accessibility by Design: Building Better Digital Government Meeting accessibility standards is no longer the finish line—it's the foundation. As agencies continue to modernize digital services, how can they embed accessibility into planning, procurement, design, development, and service delivery from the start? Join this session to hear practical strategies, lessons learned, and real-world examples of how agencies are making accessibility part of everyday operations to improve the resident experience, reduce rework, and build more inclusive digital services. Moderator: Matthew Mimura, WebNY Operations Lead and Chief Technology Officer Platform Services, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York Erdem Zengin, Information Technology Specialist, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York
1:40 pm Eastern	Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners Hosted by: Dru Rai, Chief Information Officer and Director, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York
2:40 pm Eastern	Networking Break in the Exhibit Area
3:05 pm Eastern	General Session – 25 Years of Digital Government ‘The Eras Tour’: How Technology, Policy and Public Service Evolved – and What Comes Next 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 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. Zach Patton, Chief Editor, Content Studio, Government Technology
3:40 pm Eastern	The Best of New York Awards Be ready to celebrate with the New York Government Technology community as we recognize the amazing technology and service work done for the people across the state. Hosted by: Dru Rai, Chief Information Officer and Director, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York
4:05 pm Eastern	Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area
4:35 pm Eastern	End of Summit Conference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change

Albany Capital Center

55 Eagle Street
Albany, NY 12207
518-487-2155

Get Directions To
Albany Capital Center

Advisory Board

Government Representatives

Patrick Alderson
Chief Information Officer
Division of Information Services
Albany County

Michael Allen
Deputy Commissioner for Technology, DOL
Office of Information Technology Services
State of New York

Jim Bell
Director Senate Technology Services
New York State Senate
State of New York

Andrew Bellinger
Deputy Chief Information Officer
Office of the New York State Attorney General
State of New York

Solon Boomer-Jenks
Chief Information Security Officer
Department of Labor
State of New York

Colin Brady
Chief Information Officer and Deputy Comptroller
New York State Office of the State Comptroller
State of New York

Marlowe Cochran
Chief Information Security Officer
Education Department
State of New York

Chris DeSain
Chief Information Security Officer
Office of Information Technology Services
State of New York

Grace Dillon
Deputy Commissioner for Technology
Office of Information Technology Services
State of New York

Drew Hanchett
Chief Health Information Officer
New York Department of Health
State of New York

Lane Hunt
Director, Systems Integration
Department of Information Technology Services
Orange County

Mark Israel
Deputy Chief Information Officer
New York Department of Health
State of New York

Jenson Jacob
Executive Deputy Chief Information Officer
Office of Information Technology Services
State of New York

Mathan Jebaraj
Deputy Chief of Staff, Chief of Staff Office
Office of Information Technology Services
State of New York

Rick Johnson
Director, Information Technology
St Lawrence County

Greg Johnson
Deputy Chief Information Officer
Information Technology Services
Orange County Government

Remington Jones
Digital Information Officer
Office of Information Technology Services
State of New York

Suzanne Lazar
Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) Dedicated Support
Office of Information Technology Services
State of New York

Valerie Lubanko
Deputy Chief General Counsel
Office of Information Technology Services
State of New York

Glenn Marchi
Chief Information Officer and Commissioner
Department of Information Technology Services
Orange County

Jacob Morrison
Deputy Commissioner
Office of Central & Information Services
Dutchess County Government

Jeff Nuding
Deputy Commissioner for Technology
Office of Information Technology Services
State of New York

Dru Rai
Chief Information Officer and Director of the Office of Information Technology Services
Office of Information Technology Services
State of New York

Scott Reif
Chief Communication Officer
Office of Information Technology Services
State of New York

Fran Reiter
Executive Director
NYS Forum
State of New York

Scott Rogler
Chief Information Security Officer
Office of Temporary & Disability Assistant
State of New York

James Sammons
Associate Commissioner, Data Analytics
Office of General Services
State of New York

Varun Sehgal
Chief Information Officer
Office of the New York State Attorney General
State of New York

Ben Spear
Chief Information Security Officer
New York Board of Elections
State of New York

Michael St John
Chief Information Officer
State Education Department
State of New York

Marcy Stevens
Chief General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer
Office of Information Technology Services
State of New York

Industry Representatives

Dorianne Blanchard
Director
KPMG

Vic Falconieri
Account Executive, New York Public Sector
Snowflake

Erica Feeley
Named Account Manager
Salesforce

Hannah Frey
Managing Director, State of New York
IBM

Wendy Gavert
Account Manager
Fortinet, Inc

Mike Halpern
Account Executive
Amazon Web Services

Max Hammond
Account Executive
Qualys

Melanie Meeson
Account Executive
Dell Technologies

Charles O'Shea
Eastern Regional Executive
State Government Strategy
T-Mobile for Government

Mark Sokoloff
Senior Account Manager
HP Inc.

Maria Thompson
Public Sector Executive Strategist
Wiz

Steve Troxel
ASG Field Chief Technology Officer
SHI

Dan Vincent
Account Executive, Northeast SLED
Appian

Michael Vooris
Account Technology Strategist
Microsoft

Made Possible by Our Corporate Sponsors

Registration Information / Contact Us

Event Date: September 22, 2026

Open to Public Sector only.

Registration - Free

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:

Lee Vang
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 932-1407
E-mail:lvang@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
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New York Digital Government Summit 2026

Overview

A message from our Keynote Speaker

Speakers

Dru Rai

Chief Information Officer and Director, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York

Phil Hansen

Artist, Speaker, Author and Innovator

Jason Adolf

Vice President, Global Public Sector Vertical, Appian

Andrew Bellinger

Deputy Chief Information Officer, Office of the New York State Attorney General

Nathan Cain

Major Accounts Solutions Architect, Qualys

Bill Carter

Director of SLED Capture, Public Sector, Fortinet

Marlowe Cochran

Chief Information Security Officer, Education Department, State of New York

Grace Dillon

Deputy Commissioner for Technology, Gaming and Public Integrity, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York

Murali Gandhirjan

Director, Regulated Industries CTO, Snowflake

Robinson Hernandez

Deputy Commissioner for Shared Services, Office of General Services, State of New York

Mark Israel

Deputy Chief Information Officer, Medicaid and NY State of Health, Department of Health, State of New York

Mathan Jebaraj

Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York

Suzanne Lazar

Implementation Lead, OCM Dedicated Team, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York

Arne Louison

Deputy Commissioner for Technology, Parks, APA, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York

Jeff Nuding

Deputy Commissioner for Technology, DCJS and Public Safety Agencies, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York

Balakrishnan Prabhakaran, PhD

Empire Innovation Professor and Director, AI Plus Institute, University at Albany

Fran Reiter

Executive Director, New York State Forum

Jesse Roberts

Principal Solutions Architect, Amazon Web Services

James Sammons

Associate Commissioner, Data Analytics, Office of General Services, State of New York

Carrie Smith

Chief Technology and Innovation Strategist, Dell Technologies

Maria Thompson

Public Sector Executive Strategist, Wiz

Steve Troxel

ASG Field Chief Technology Officer, SHI International Corp

Rob Vasquez

Senior Solutions Engineer, T-Mobile

Agenda

Tuesday, September 22

8:30 am Eastern

Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

9:15 am Eastern

Opening and Welcome Remarks

9:30 am Eastern

Keynote- EMBRACE THE SHAKE: Transforming Limitations into Opportunities

10:30 am Eastern

General Session – Turning Challenges into Opportunities: Building New York’s Digital Future

11:00 am Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

11:30 am Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

Responsible AI: From Pilot to Production

Modern Government Starts with Trusted Data

Making Innovation Count: Measuring Value and Driving Better Outcomes

Building the Workforce of Tomorrow: Leading Through Change

12:30 pm Eastern

Lunch

1:30 pm Eastern

Short Break

1:40 pm Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

Modernizing Government Infrastructure: Building the Foundation for What’s Next

Identity, Trust and Cybersecurity: Securing the Future of Government

From Procurement to Possibility: Modernizing Government Acquisition

Accessibility by Design: Building Better Digital Government

1:40 pm Eastern

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Chief Information Officer and Director, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York 

Vice President, Global Public Sector Vertical, Appian 

Deputy Commissioner for Shared Services, Office of General Services, State of New York 

Balakrishnan Prabhakaran, PhD

Empire Innovation Professor and Director, AI Plus Institute, University at Albany 

Chief Technology and Innovation Strategist, Dell Technologies  

Public Sector Executive Strategist, Wiz 