Kristie has over 25 years of experience as a practitioner, student, and scholar in human resource management and holds the SPHR and SHRM-CP certifications. She teaches at the Jones College of Business at MTSU, where she focuses on applied, practical learning for both undergraduate and graduate students. Kristie earned her Ph.D. in business administration from the University of Tennessee and is an award-winning reviewer and scholar with publications in top journals. Her primary research interests include employee branding, turnover, and innovative teaching. She’s a past-president and Fellow of the Association for Business Simulation and Experiential Learning (ABSEL) and the Southeast Case Research Association (SECRA). Kristie is a member of RUTHERFORD Cable, the Middle Tennessee Society for Human Resource Management, and several academic organizations. She volunteers regularly with the Invention Convention, Tennessee DECA, and her church.  

Robby Bayless is the manager of the Enterprise Vulnerability, Application, and Cloud Security team at the State of Tennessee, Strategic Technology Solutions (STS). Robby’s team is responsible for providing vulnerability scanning for Enterprise servers, reviewing or performing application security assessments, and implementing cloud security strategies.
Robby has spent 15 years as part of Tennessee government with a focus on IT security, starting with Information Systems Audit in the Comptroller’s Office before moving to STS and joining the vulnerability management and application security team, which he eventually came to lead. Robby and his team have are responsible for the continued maturity of the STS vulnerability management program, starting with manual scanning of individual devices and excel tracking sheets and moving to a fully automated process and a governance tool to track vulnerabilities across agencies, applications, and the responsible parties for each patch.
In his free time Robby is an avid gamer, a mediocre carpenter, and enjoys making short films. The most likely place in Nashville you’ll see him is at the Belcourt for a midnight movie.

Jim Bryson became commissioner of Finance and Administration on June 15, 2022, after joining Gov. Bill Lee's administration in May 2019 as deputy commissioner for Parks and Conservation in the Department of Environment and Conservation, where he was responsible for Tennessee State Parks, Tennessee Division of Archaeology, Tennessee Division of Natural Areas, Partnerships and Development, Recreation Education Services, Administration, Facilities Management, Interpretive Programs, and Marketing.
Jim is founder and president of 20/20 Research Inc., a market research consulting, project management and technology firm based in Nashville. He served three terms as international president of the Qualitative Research Consultants Association, supporting skills, abilities and competencies that help companies better understand customers' needs.  
Jim also served as state senator representing Williamson County from 2003 to 2007.
Jim is Past President of The Sycamore Institute, an independent, nonpartisan public policy research center focused on Tennessee issues. He is also a member of the Nashville Downtown Rotary Club and the Brentwood Methodist Church in Brentwood. Jim earned his bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and received a Masters in Business Administration from Vanderbilt. He and his wife, Carol, a Greeneville native, have four children and two grandchildren.

Meet Mike Connors, a seasoned tech innovator with over 22 years in the Public Sector. Beyond his proven track record in delivering projects on time and within budget, Mike is a dynamic leader who injects energy into teams, fostering robust relationships. His approach goes beyond the conventional, embracing innovative methods like team-building adventures such as goat yoga. A catalyst for turning visions into reality, Mike's leadership style is marked by creativity and a dedication to results. Beyond the tech realm, he is a devoted family man who finds solace in spending quality time with his loved ones. Mike Connors is more than a speaker; he's an experience poised to inspire and captivate audiences at any tech conference, bringing a unique blend of innovation, enthusiasm, and dynamic leadership to the stage.

Christy has over 28 years of experience in the ECM/Content Services industry and 15+ years with KnowledgeLake. A former customer herself, Christy is currently the VP of Strategic Accounts for KnowledgeLake.  Christy's passion has been empowering customers to leverage KnowledgeLake products for maximum efficiency. Her combined expertise in customer needs, technical solutions, and strategic vision makes her an invaluable asset to KnowledgeLake customers.

Emily Gibson is the Executive Director of Enterprise Governance and Administration for the State of Tennessee's Strategic Technology Solutions where she is responsible for the behind-the-scenes operations of Tennessee’s enterprise IT organization, including Business Operations (contracts and procurement), Technology Business Management, IT Planning and Governance, IT Communications, and Enterprise IT Asset Management. Emily has more than 26 years in public service experience and is dedicated to fostering efficient, transparent, and ethical administrative practices for her customers and teammates.
Prior to her role at STS, she served as the Deputy Commissioner for Administration and the Director of Budget and Fiscal Services for the Tennessee Department of Correction. She also served as an Administrator at the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole and was a Senior Research Analyst and an Investigator with the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury.
Emily received her Ph.D. from Carolina University in leadership and organizational development. She received a master’s in sociology and a bachelor’s in criminal justice administration from Middle Tennessee State University. She grew up in Houston, Texas and currently lives in Columbia, Tennessee.

Hugh Hale currently serves as Chief Information Officer for the State of Tennessee, Division of TennCare.  He has been in this position for the past nine years. Prior to joining TennCare, he was with Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY), the largest not-for-profit home and community-based health care organization in the country, where he served as Chief Information Officer.  Hugh has over 40 years of Healthcare Information Systems leadership experience.  Hugh’s prior work also includes Executive roles with the IBM Corporation and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, including its subsidiary, Shared Health.

Adam C. Jarvis serves as Chief of Staff at the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration, a role he assumed in October 2024. In this capacity, Adam leads cross-functional coordination across the department, guiding strategic initiatives that enhance organizational operations and drive improvements essential to delivering on the agency’s mission.
He provides executive oversight for the department’s internal operations and administrative services, including human resources, talent development, and enterprise support functions. Adam also collaborates closely with the department’s internal audit, budget, and fiscal leadership to align operations with strategic goals and ensure accountability and efficiency.
Before becoming Chief of Staff, Adam was the department’s Assistant Commissioner of Administration. His return to state government followed his role as Client Account Manager for Deloitte’s Tennessee Account—one of the firm’s largest and most complex public-sector engagements—where he led client relationship strategy and delivery coordination.
Adam brings over a decade of experience in public sector transformation, with deep expertise in shared services and enterprise operations. He is passionate about building collaborative teams and leading efforts that improve government service delivery. Known for his hands-on and candid leadership style, Adam specializes in designing and executing cross-agency initiatives that promote transparency, performance, and innovation.
Earlier in his career, Adam served as Deputy Director of the Office of Customer Focused Government (CFG), where he led initiatives in performance management, strategic planning, and the development of metrics-driven shared service relationships.
An active member of his community, Adam currently serves on the Board of Directors for the McNeilly Center for Children and the Leadership Tennessee NEXT Advisory Council. He is also a volunteer with Team Rubicon, supporting disaster response efforts across the country.
Adam was a founding member of Young Professionals in Government, where he served as President and CEO for three years. In 2018, he was honored by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce as an Emerging Leader in Government and Public Sector.
A proud Tennessee native, Adam holds a degree in public health from East Tennessee State University. He resides in Middle Tennessee with his family.

Andy Kidd currently serves as the Deputy Commissioner of Fiscal and Administrative Services for the State of Tennessee’s Department of Disability and Aging. He earned both his Bachelor’s of Management and Master’s of Business Administration from East Tennessee State University. He then attended Nashville School of Law, where he earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence. He began his service at the State of Tennessee in 2012 and prior to his appointment as Deputy Commissioner, he worked for the Department of Finance and Administration as the Director of Business Operations, and in the Department of General Services as the Director of Sourcing.  He is married to his wife Alex, and they have three children and two dogs.

Lauren Lamberth has served the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General for over 19 years. Currently, she is Special Counsel to the Chief Deputy. In this role, she coordinates with the Treasurer’s Office, Strategic Technology Solutions, and the Comptroller’s Office to help state agencies navigate data privacy laws, including counseling in the event of a data breach. She also advises on effective AI governance, ensuring ethical and responsible AI use and deployment. Additionally, she facilitates the appointment and payment of outside counsel, reviews all rules and expert contracts prior to final approval, coordinates Information Governance, serves as Public Records Coordinator, and oversees the Office's external reporting.
Lauren received her Juris Doctor from the College of William and Mary, where she met her amazing husband. She is a proud Hoya, graduating from Georgetown University, where she was a record-breaking varsity swimmer. In her free time, she enjoys running and RVing with her family.

A 20-year veteran of state government, Christin Lotz serves as the director of the Office of Evidence and Impact in the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration. Her previous state government roles include working as the Department of Revenue’s research director and in the Policy Office for former Governor Bill Haslam. She also served as an appointee to the federal Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building.  Throughout her career, Christin has been heavily involved in public policy-making and implementation, legislative affairs, and analytical research.
In her current role, Christin is focused on using data to inform decision makers to ensure the state invests in programs that work for Tennesseans. Christin has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Tennessee at Martin and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Nashville School of Law.

John McLearran brings 25 years of passion and expertise to his role as Creative Director and Web Administrator for the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging. John believes that thoughtful design and accessible technology can transform lives, and he's committed to breaking down digital barriers for all Tennesseans. Drawing on his deep understanding of both creative communication and technical implementation, John constantly explores innovative approaches to accessibility challenges. He envisions a Tennessee where digital spaces are universally designed and inherently inclusive.

Amie Nephew works as the Director of Accessibility for the Tennessee Board of Regents, where she supports efforts to improve digital accessibility across the state’s higher education institutions. With an emphasis on training and compliance, Amie contributes to creating a more inclusive environment for all learners.
In her role, Amie helps content managers learn best practices for digital accessibility, facilitates training programs and workshops, and assists in monitoring institutional compliance. She also evaluates websites and social media platforms to help ensure they meet accessibility standards.
Amie holds a Master of Education in Instructional Design, which has provided a strong foundation for her work in creating accessible learning experiences. She is also a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies through the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP), reflecting her ongoing commitment to improving accessibility.
With a strong belief in equal access for all, Amie is passionate about advocating for accessibility initiatives and working with others to promote a culture of inclusion in education across Tennessee.

Zach Patton is the chief editor of the Content Studio at e.Republic and Government Technology. He has been covering the public sector for nearly 20 years. Until 2019, he was the executive editor of Governing magazine, where he also had served as a staff writer for more than a decade.

Technology Coordinator, City of Clarksville

Dirk Protonentis is the Technology Coordinator for the City of Clarksville.  He oversees the City’s datacenters, evaluates new technologies, and manages vendor relationships. He has been with the City of Clarksville in various network and security roles for 24 years, and has more than 30 years of IT experience. 

Sabatini graduated from Berklee College of Music before earning his JD at Pepperdine University. He began his career at Arista Records and spent nearly two decades as an attorney at Capitol Records, Warner Bros. Records and private law firms. Sabatini most recently served as the head of business and legal affairs at Global Music Rights. He is currently based in Nashville.

Jonathan serves as the National Director of State Strategy at Fortinet. Prior to joining Fortinet, Jonathan served the State of North Carolina in various appointed leadership positions for two separate Governor’s administrations.
Most recently, Jonathan served as the Chief Operating Officer of the NC Department of Information Technology. As COO, Jonathan ran all aspects of operations within the department and its nearly $1.2billion budget as well as the state’s $1.5 billion Statewide IT Procurement Office. He managed the Legal Division, Chief Procurement Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Legislative Affairs, Human Resources, Communications and Facilities.
Jonathan began his service to the department when he was appointed to be the General Counsel. In that role, he managed the Department ‘s legal department, with a focus on complex IT contract negotiations and legislative affairs. He also wrote the legal structure for the State’s Office of Broadband and Digital Opportunity which is set to distribute over $2billion in state and federal funds.
Prior to joining DIT, Jonathan spent over a decade with the NC Department of Justice where he was a Special Deputy Attorney General representing various state agencies including DIT where he served as legal counsel to the Statewide IT Procurement Office negotiating IT contracts for all state agencies.
Jonathan is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, in Chapel Hill and the North Carolina Central School of Law. He is a self-proclaimed rabid fan of Carolina Basketball and a lifelong Tar Heel.

Teri Takai is Chief Programs Officer, a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. She worked for Ford Motor Company for 30 years in global application development and information technology strategic planning. From Ford, she moved to EDS in support of General Motors. A long-time interest in public service led her to the government sector, first as CIO of the State of Michigan, then as CIO of the State of California and, subsequently, the CIO of the U.S. Department of Defense, the first woman appointed to this role. She then served as the CIO for Meridian Health Plan.
Teri is a member of several industry advisory boards. She has won numerous awards including Governing magazine’s Public Official of the Year, CIO Magazine’s CIO Hall of Fame, Government Technology magazine’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers, the Women in Defense Excellence in Leadership Award and the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.

Bob Williams is the Assistant Commissioner and Executive Director of the Vehicle & Asset Management Division of the Tennessee Department of General Services. As the Assistant Commissioner, Williams leads the team that oversees Tennessee’s fleet operations, maintains oversight of the Federal LESO and GSA programs, and manages all State asset disposal operations excluding real estate.
Since joining the State of Tennessee in 2014, Williams has made significant strides in improving the efficiency of the State’s fleet of over 7,000 vehicles. During his tenure, he merged three divisions into one, thereby reducing annual recurring expenses by $600,000. Williams reorganized the sales operations into a virtual marketplace, cross-trained personnel for better customer support, changed the operation to be 80 percent paperless, and established new operating protocols that reduced throughput delivery time by 40 percent. He has led the division to a consistent customer satisfaction rating of over 95 percent. He recently rightsized past heavy truck specs to achieve a four-year projected savings of over $3M.
Before joining the State, Williams spent nearly 14 years working in commercial fleet management, where he had direct responsibility for sales, operations, P &L, logistics, capital expenditures, fleet maintenance, and personnel, and another six years working in commercial construction, procurement, planning, and logistics. He has a private pilot certificate and a Class A CDL license.
Williams served as the National Conference of State Fleet Administrators (NCSFA) president from 2016-2018, and his division received NCSFA’s Fleet Excellence Award in 2019. He studied mechanical engineering at MTSU and organizational leadership at Lipscomb University. Williams is also a graduate of LEAD Tennessee and Tennessee Government Executive Institute.

Roger Waynick serves as the Director Artificial Intelligence & Innovation in Strategic Technology Solutions (STS) for Tennessee State Government. Roger’s focus in this role is developing and supporting the State’s overall strategy as it relates to Artificial Intelligence (AI), including governance, training, and adoption. Prior to joining STS Roger served in the Office of Customer Focused Government (CFG). At CFG Roger was a project manager responsible for planning, directing, and implementing major enterprise-wide cross-functional projects and directing funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Prior to joining the State of Tennessee, Roger worked for DXC Technology (formerly Hewlett-Packard) in their public sector division. He also serves as the Board Chair for the Tennessee Nature Academy, a local charter school focused on outdoor education. Roger holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Lipscomb University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.