Name: Washington Digital Government Summit 2024
Start: 2024-11-14T08:00
Location: Greater Tacoma Convention Center

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

This year marks the 25th Annual Washington Digital Government Summit, offering a unique opportunity for state and local government IT leaders in Washington to experience the power of collaboration and innovation. The Summit brings together government professionals and industry partners to share ideas and insights on how technology can transform the government experience, making it more efficient, transparent, and responsive for all. I hope you’ll join us!

- Bill Kehoe, Director and State Chief Information Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington

Speakers

Ralph Johnson

State Chief Information Security Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington  

As Washington State’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Ralph Johnson is responsible for establishing and leading the strategic direction of cybersecurity for Washington State and advising the state CIO and agency leaders on key cyber issues.
Ralph oversees the Office of Cybersecurity and its team of cybersecurity experts who detect, block, and respond to cyber threats. The office also works to prevent and mitigate future risks through proactive steps to continually strengthen the state’s security posture.
Since 2005, Ralph has held several positions as CISO. He supported the Los Angeles Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune through his position as CISO of NantMedia Holdings LLC. He also has served as CISO of LA and King counties. In King County, he held a dual role as King County’s Privacy Officer. His breadth of knowledge as a Holistic Information Security Practitioner (HISP) and with over 28 years of experience in Information Technology provides a foundation of excellence in managing risk.

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.

Sean McSpaden

Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Sean McSpaden is an executive level information technology professional with over 30 years of experience in the private, non-profit, and public sectors. His background includes the start-up and management of several small businesses and he has served on the Board of Directors or in Executive Director positions for several 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations. Sean’s public service experience includes progressively responsible positions as an IT analyst, and in statewide coordination, management and leadership positions within the Executive and Legislative branches of Oregon state government. From June 2008 to September 2013, served as the state of Oregon’s Deputy State Chief Information Officer.
Throughout his 25-year tenure in Oregon state government, Sean and the teams he has led have received several state, regional and national recognitions and awards. In addition, Sean has represented the state of Oregon on numerous state, regional and national project steering committees, task forces, governing boards, committees, commissions and associations, and has presented on various topics at local, state, regional, national, and international meetings and conferences.
Sean earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree and Certificate of Public Management from the Willamette University, Atkinson Graduate School of Management. Sean is an ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and holds a PMI Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Sean also holds a Secret level clearance granted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Jordan Burris

Vice President and General Manager, Public Sector, Socure  

Jordan Burris is a trailblazer in government innovation and digital trust, leveraging over 15 years of experience to transform public sector technology and pioneer cutting-edge solutions. As Vice President & General Manager of Public Sector at Socure, Jordan is driven by a profound commitment to identity inclusion and fairness. In this role, he steers the operations and strategic direction of the business, while seamlessly integrating dynamic teams in strategy, customer success, sales, business development, legal, and compliance to redefine how identity verification technologies enable digital service delivery. 
Prior to Socure, Jordan was the Chief of Staff to the U.S. Chief Information Officer at the White House, where he led transformative technology and cybersecurity efforts across two Presidential administrations. He was a key architect of initiatives that modernized federal IT infrastructure, reimagined cybersecurity, and advanced digital identity solutions, all while overseeing the Federal Government’s multi-billion dollar technology budget. 
As a prominent voice in technology, Jordan serves on the boards of the Identity Theft Resource Center and the Kantara Initiative, actively advancing efforts in identity compromise mitigation and digital identity standards. A certified CISSP and CRISC practitioner, and a proud graduate of Pennsylvania State University, Jordan is on a mission to shape a safer, more inclusive digital future. 

Megan Clarke

Chief Information Officer, King County Information Technology, King County

Megan Clarke is a change maker. As a transformational CIO, consultant, and speaker she has an accomplished and versatile resume. She has made her mark innovatively transforming the technology footprint of organizations that include the GRAMMYs, The OSCARS, and Stanford University’s GSB. Fusing innovation, collaboration, and creative problem-solving, she aligns technology landscapes with business missions, generating successful outcomes for her partners. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Megan champions adolescent and teenage girls in STEM through her volunteer work and affiliations. She is also the visionary behind LOSERS FOR LIFE, a program she created with the goal to reduce the number of women diagnosed annually with heart disease by proactively addressing one of the primary risk-factors of weight.

Bill Kehoe

Director and State Chief Information Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington

Bill Kehoe joined WaTech as the Director and State CIO for Washington on August 2, 2021. He joins us from Los Angeles County in California where he has served as the Chief Information Officer since 2017.
While at Los Angeles County, he managed enterprise security, information management, enterprise architecture and technology consulting services for 37 county departments. He also advised the Board of Supervisors and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) regarding enterprise technology strategy, policy, and governance.
He has a long history of managing information technology departments in local and state governments, including over 15 years in Washington state agencies and counties. Before working as CIO for Los Angeles County, he held the Chief Information Officer and Information Department Director for King County from 2010-2017 and served as the first Chief Information Officer for the Department of Licensing from 2002-2010.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Gonzaga University and a project management certificate from the University of Washington. He has also completed Lean Six Sigma training.

Rob Lloyd

Chief Technology Officer, City of Seattle

Rob Lloyd is the Chief Technology Officer for the City of Seattle, WA, overseeing a $290 million technology portfolio and leading a team of over 650 employees. Seattle, the 17th largest U.S. city, operates with a $7.4 billion budget, employing more than 13,000 staff across 84 square miles next to the Puget Sound.
Previously, Rob was the Deputy City Manager for Transportation, Aviation, and Technology in San Jose, CA, the 12th largest U.S. city, where he managed a $1.5 billion portfolio with over 1,000 employees, serving as Chief Information Officer for six years prior to the role.
With over 20 years of experience in technology, government, and utilities across California, Arizona, Oregon, and Colorado, Rob has led teams that have earned over 40 national honors for customer engagement, operational excellence, and innovation. He has been named along
nation’s GovTech 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers (twice), StateScoop City Executive of the Year (three times), ORBIEs Awards CIO of the Year for Silicon Valley, Phoenix Business Journal 40 Under 40, and is a Cybersecurity Genius Fellow grant recipient, among other honors.

Rob Sauerwalt

Vice President, Customer Success Leader, IBM Public Market 

Rob Sauerwalt is the Vice President of Customer Success for the Public and Federal Market at IBM. The mission of the Customer Success community is to help clients adopt and transition to the cloud, catalyze widespread adoption of IBM Cloud in the market, and elevate the cloud acumen of other IBMers, with client engagement roles. Customer Success Managers bridge the gap between traditional sales, technical sales, architects and evangelist, bringing clarity to clients about their optimal path forward in cloud.
He has an offering management background. Over his 21 year career with IBM, he has incubated emerging technologies to deliver cloud solutions, next generation platforms, compositional application architectures, and service oriented delivery models.
Rob has received the IBM Chairman’s Award for Excellence as a founding member of the IBM BladeCenter program and spent a year as the IBM Industry Fellow at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Prior to joining IBM, Rob spent 10 years in the information technology distribution industry.

Sabra Schneider

Chief Information Officer, City of Bellevue

Sabra Schneider serves as the Chief Information Officer for the City of Bellevue. Bellevue is an award -winning digital city, placing in the top three of the Center for Digital Government’s annual digital cities survey for the past five years. Ms. Schneider has spent more than 20 years innovating in government roles at the intersections of technology, policy, data, communications, engagement, and transparency. Sabra was honored to win a 2023 Seattle CIO Orbie Award in the Large Corporate Category. Sabra holds a BA from the University of California, Santa Cruz and an executive master’s in public administration from the University of Washington.

Nick Stowe

State Chief Technology Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington

Nick Stowe joined WaTech as the state’s Chief Enterprise Architect on June 1, 2021, where he’s responsible for the enterprise architecture program, the open data program and several key state initiatives including the resident identity management initiative and the enterprise cloud computing program.
Nick has served in many IT roles during his career. Prior to joining WaTech, he was the Chief Information Officer for the Employment Security Department. Before ESD, he was the CIO at the Department of Commerce and also worked as a consultant with Booz Allen. Nick also served in the military providing architecture and technology management support to the Army and the National Guard.
Nick earned his undergraduate degree in Engineering Management from Lafayette College and has a graduate certificate in Chief Information Officer (CIO) competencies from Carnegie Mellon University.
Nick and his wife Trista – who met in an online video game and still play together – have a two-year-old daughter. He is passionate about environmental sustainability, gamification and augmented reality.
His personal motto: “Do the thing.”

Chief Information Officer, Department of Ecology, State of Washington 

Scott West serves as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the Washington State Department of Ecology, where his leadership has catalyzed significant advancements in digital transformation. Prior, Scott partnered with agencies and staff at WaTech to finalize the State of Washingtons Shared Microsoft 365 Tenant and pioneering the funding for the enterprise cloud highway with Mark Quimby. Scott has been instrumental in fostering a tech-forward, environmentally conscious operational framework.
His career is marked by a profound commitment to innovation, notably through his advocacy for Artificial Intelligence. His expertise has made him a prominent voice at conferences, shedding light on AI's transformative impact on IT and business landscapes alike.
Prior to his public service, Scott's tenure in the private sector was distinguished by his development of modern applications that revolutionized procurement processes and streamlined accounting operations, underscoring his capability to blend technology with functional efficiency seamlessly.
Scott's is a graduate of the University of Washington and holds a master’s degree in business which has assisted in enriching his technological and environmental endeavors.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Scott is a horror novelist, weaving tales that explore the depths of human emotion and the darker facets of nature. His literary work adds a creative dimension to his persona, revealing his ability to navigate complex narratives.
An avid enthusiast of home automation, Scott's personal life mirrors his professional passion for technology. His continuous experimentation with smart home technologies exemplifies his belief in technology's power to enhance and simplify everyday life.

View Speakers

Agenda

Thursday, November 14
8:00 am Pacific	Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area 3rd Level Lobby
9:00 am Pacific	Opening Remarks Ballroom A/B/C Bill Kehoe, Director and State Chief Information Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Megan Clarke, Chief Information Officer, King County Information Technology, King County Rob Lloyd, Chief Technology Officer, City of Seattle
9:15 am Pacific	Keynote – Leading the AI Revolution: IT's New Role in Global Public Sector Innovation Ballroom A/B/C 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 Pacific	Networking Break in the Exhibit Area 3rd Level Lobby
10:45 am Pacific	Concurrent Sessions The Art of the Possible: AI in Action Meeting Room 316 Adopting AI technologies to enhance operational efficiency is quickly becoming the norm. Streamlining processes, optimizing resource allocation, and delivering better services to the community are no longer a “nice to have”, but a “must have”. This session examines pilot use cases, strategies, and key considerations for leading AI initiatives that drive innovation, improve decision-making, and ultimately transform public service delivery for the better. Moderator: Brian Cohen, Vice President, Center for Digital Education Kai-Matthias Dickman, AI & ML Specialist Solutions Architect, Amazon Web Service Rob Sauerwalt, Vice President, Customer Success, Public Sector, IBM Sabra Schneider, Chief Information Officer, City of Bellevue Nick Stowe, State Chief Technology Officer, Washington Technology Services, State of Washington Scott West, Chief Information Officer, Department of Ecology, State of Washington Transforming Constituent Engagement and Access Meeting Room 315 Washington is revolutionizing resident access to government services by breaking down silos and creating a user-friendly, unified portal. This session explores strategies for enhancing constituent engagement, including streamlined identity and access management, responsible data practices to build public trust, and leveraging GIS. Join us to learn how these innovations are making government more accessible, equitable, and efficient for all residents. Moderator: Sean McSpaden, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government Jordan Burris, Vice President and General Manager, Public Sector, Socure David Constantino, Sr. Principal Solutions Architect, GTS Viggo Forde, Chief Information Officer & Director of IT, Snohomish County Katy Ruckle, State Chief Privacy Officer, WA Technology Solutions, State of Washington Wendy Wickstrom, Web and User Experience Manager, Computing Services, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Demystifying Zero Trust: Educating for Cybersecurity Culture Change Meeting Room 317 As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, adopting a Zero Trust framework is crucial for government. This session focuses on what Zero Trust really means, why it is necessary, and how to educate your workforce to embrace this culture shift. From threat vectors to tools like multi-factor authentication and Security Service Edge (SSE), we’ll explore the strategies and best practices needed to make Zero Trust a reality. Uncover how to build a cybersecurity education program that demystifies Zero Trust, fosters employee buy-in, and embeds security into your organization's culture for long-term success. Moderator: Ralph Johnson, State Chief Information Security Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Zack Ashliman, Solution Architect, Network Services Division, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Andrew Johnson, Solution Architect, Network Services Division, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Stronger Together: The Critical Role of State and Local Collaboration Meeting Room 318 In an increasingly connected world facing exponential challenges, collaboration among state and local government is vital to delivering robust constituent services and ensuring public safety. In this session we will explore how government agencies are working together on key issues like emergency response, digital equity, infrastructure, and more. Bill Kehoe, Director and State Chief Information Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Zack Hudgins, Privacy Manager, Office of Privacy and Data Protection, WaTach-Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Joanne Markert, State Geographic Information Officer, Architecture and Innovation, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington
11:45 am Pacific	Lunch Ballroom A/B/C
12:45 pm Pacific	Bits and Bytes Ballroom A/B/C
1:05 pm Pacific	Short Break Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.
1:20 pm Pacific	Concurrent Sessions With Great Data Comes Great Responsibility Meeting Room 316 Government is increasingly data rich, but effectively harnessing it remains a challenge. Considerations around sharing, privacy, analytics, transparency, and ethical and responsible use of data to build public trust must be prioritized! This session explores key strategies for successfully navigating today’s complex data landscape. Kris L. Schaffer, Director of Technology Strategy, Lumen Irene Vidyanti, PhD, M.Eng, State Chief Data Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Workforce, Workplace, Work Tools Meeting Room 315 As government IT evolves, building a workforce equipped for the future is essential. Modern training platforms, digital tools, and targeted programs can empower employees, bridge skills gaps, and ensure your workforce is prepared to meet the challenges ahead. Join us to learn best practices for creating a balanced, future-ready team that can drive innovation and operational success. Chris Lamb, Program Manager, Enterprise Cloud Computing Program / Architecture & Innovation Division, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Third-Party Risk Management Essentials Meeting Room 317 In today's interconnected business landscape, third-party risk management is essential to protect your organization from potential disruptions, financial losses, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage stemming from inadequate oversight of third-party relationships. This session explores strategies for identifying and addressing vulnerabilities within licensing, contracts, and products and will equip you with tools to effectively manage relationships to ensure the security and stability of your organization's future. Moderator: Brian Cohen, Vice President, Center for Digital Education Kim Hort, Deputy CISO for Policy & Program Management, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners Meeting Room 318 Bill Kehoe, Director and State Chief Information Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Megan Clarke, Chief Information Officer, King County Information Technology, King County Rob Lloyd, Chief Technology Officer, City of Seattle
2:20 pm Pacific	Networking Break in the Exhibit Area 3rd Level Lobby
2:40 pm Pacific	General Session – The State of AI in GovTech: Exploring the Future Ballroom A/B/C Presented by the Center for Public Sector AI, this keynote presentation delves into the present status of Artificial Intelligence in the GovTech sector, offering a detailed examination of AI's applications within state and local governments. We will explore AI's potential future paths in GovTech, highlighting emerging trends and discussing how technology and policy leaders can prepare for AI's impact on service delivery. We will address starting points for AI implementation, stressing the importance of collaboration, ethical considerations, and equitable technology access. This forward-looking talk will equip attendees with a thorough understanding of AI's trajectory in GovTech, providing practical insights to effectively leverage AI for public sector innovation and advancement. Sean McSpaden, Senior Fellow, The Centers for Digital Government and Public Sector AI
3:35 pm Pacific	Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area 3rd Level Lobby Network with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event exhibitors.
4:10 pm Pacific	End of Conference Conference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change.

Greater Tacoma Convention Center

1500 Commerce Street
Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 830-6601

Get Directions To
Greater Tacoma Convention Center

Advisory Board

Government Representatives

Ginger Armbruster
Chief Privacy Officer
Seattle Information Technology
City of Seattle

Jerry Britcher
Chief Information Officer
Health Care Authority
State of Washington

Bryce Carlen
Chief Information Officer
Department of Revenue
State of Washington

Megan Clarke
Chief Information Officer
Department of Information Technology
King County

Soumam Debgupta
Assistant Secretary / Chief Technology Innovation Officer
Department of Social & Health Services
State of Washington

Junee Dizon
Infrastructure Manager
City of Olympia

Viggo Forde
Chief Information Officer & Director of IT
Snohomish County

Heidi Geathers
Senior Assistant Director of Administrative Services
Department of Revenue
State of Washington

Callie Goldsby
Chief Information Officer
Department of Health
State of Washington

Ralph Johnson
Chief Information Security Officer
Washington Technology Solutions
State of Washington

Shalini Joshi
Chief Information Officer
Office of Financial Management
State of Washington

Bill Kehoe
Director and State Chief Information Officer
Washington Technology Solutions
State of Washington

Rob Lloyd
Chief Technology Officer
City of Seattle

Jim Loter
Deputy Chief Technology Officer
City of Seattle

Amy Pearson
Chief of Staff
Washington Technology Solutions
State of Washington

Mark Quimby
Deputy Director for Technology Operations
Washington Technology Solutions
State of Washington

Katy Ruckle
State Chief Privacy Officer
Washington Technology Solutions
State of Washington

Sabra Schneider
Chief Information Officer
City of Bellevue

Greg Tudor
Chief Information Officer
Recreation & Conservation Office
State of Washington

Scott West
Chief Information Officer
Department of Ecology
State of Washington

Industry Representatives

Danielle Hinz
Executive Government Advisor
Amazon Web Services

Bill Olson
Senior Account Manager
Lumen

Elise Sivilay
Technology Sales Leader
IBM

Chul Yim
Sales Director
SLED West
Socure

Made Possible by Our Corporate Sponsors

Registration Information / Contact Us

Event Date: November 14, 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:

Tabbie Pegoda
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 932-1411
E-mail: tpegoda@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

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Washington Digital Government Summit 2024

Overview

A message from our Keynote Speaker

Speakers

Ralph Johnson

State Chief Information Security Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington

Sharon Gai

Keynote Speaker and Author

Sean McSpaden

Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Jordan Burris

Vice President and General Manager, Public Sector, Socure

Megan Clarke

Chief Information Officer, King County Information Technology, King County

Bill Kehoe

Director and State Chief Information Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington

Rob Lloyd

Chief Technology Officer, City of Seattle

Rob Sauerwalt

Vice President, Customer Success Leader, IBM Public Market

Sabra Schneider

Chief Information Officer, City of Bellevue

Nick Stowe

State Chief Technology Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington

Scott West

Chief Information Officer, Department of Ecology, State of Washington

Agenda

Thursday, November 14

8:00 am Pacific

Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

3rd Level Lobby

9:00 am Pacific

Opening Remarks

Ballroom A/B/C

9:15 am Pacific

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

Ballroom A/B/C

10:15 am Pacific

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

3rd Level Lobby

10:45 am Pacific

Concurrent Sessions

The Art of the Possible: AI in Action

Meeting Room 316

Transforming Constituent Engagement and Access

Meeting Room 315

Demystifying Zero Trust: Educating for Cybersecurity Culture Change

Meeting Room 317

Stronger Together: The Critical Role of State and Local Collaboration

Meeting Room 318

11:45 am Pacific

Lunch

Ballroom A/B/C

12:45 pm Pacific

Bits and Bytes

Ballroom A/B/C

1:05 pm Pacific

Short Break

1:20 pm Pacific

Concurrent Sessions

With Great Data Comes Great Responsibility

Meeting Room 316

Workforce, Workplace, Work Tools

Meeting Room 315

Third-Party Risk Management Essentials

Meeting Room 317

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Meeting Room 318

2:20 pm Pacific

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

3rd Level Lobby

2:40 pm Pacific

General Session – The State of AI in GovTech: Exploring the Future

Ballroom A/B/C

3:35 pm Pacific

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

3rd Level Lobby

4:10 pm Pacific

End of Conference

Greater Tacoma Convention Center

State Chief Information Security Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington  

Vice President and General Manager, Public Sector, Socure  

Vice President, Customer Success Leader, IBM Public Market 

Chief Information Officer, Department of Ecology, State of Washington 