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!
We are excited to host the 2024 West Virginia Digital Government Summit! This Summit provides an opportunity for West Virginia to demonstrate its commitment to progress and innovation while fostering connections with like-minded individuals and organizations. It's an opportunity to learn from others, share knowledge, and collectively work towards building a better future for the state and its constituents. I hope you’ll join us as we work together to continue the push towards digital transformation to modernize and improve constituent services while increasing efficiencies within government operations.
– Heather Abbott, Chief Information Officer, Department of Administration, Office of Technology, State of West Virginia
Tuesday, October 22 |
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8:00 am Eastern |
Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit AreaElk River Atrium / Grand Ballroom Pre-Function |
9:00 am Eastern |
Opening RemarksGrand Ballroom CHeather Abbott, Chief Information Officer, Office of Technology, State of West Virginia |
9:15 am Eastern |
Keynote – Transform Adversity into Advantage: How to Conquer Life's HurdlesGrand Ballroom CThe world has become more difficult, and the challenges are bigger than ever. Adopting a “new normal mindset” is necessary to empower your team to navigate the challenges and opportunities through a contextual model to overcome adversity. How will you manage uncertainty? Is your team ready to embrace change? This session will provide a powerful and interactive message of resilience and perseverance that will inspire you to see change as an opportunity for growth. John Register, Inspirational and Motivational Speaker, Author, and Two-Time Paralympic Silver Medalist |
10:15 am Eastern |
Networking Break in the Exhibit AreaElk River Atrium / Grand Ballroom Pre-Function |
10:45 am Eastern |
Concurrent SessionsBlueprint for AI Strategies: Implementation for Future ImpactGrand Ballroom BAs AI becomes the backbone of modern government operations, understanding how to harness its power is a game-changer. Are you ready to lead your agency into the future by unlocking the full potential of AI? This session dives into the essentials of preparing your agency for AI implementation by discovering practical strategies for integrating AI into your existing frameworks. Moderator: Sean McSpaden, Government Technology Senior Fellow Corey Foster, Chief Technology Officer, Sr. System Administrator, West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office Hilary Gibson, Instructional Designer, Online Education and Certification, Marshall University Yueming Wu, Ph.D., Director, West Virginia Department of Transportation, Information Technology Division, State of West Virginia Tackling the Black Hole of DataGrand Ballroom AFeeling overwhelmed by data classification and governance? It can often seem like a black hole, consuming time and resources without clear results. It’s time to overcome these challenges and make your strategy more effective and resource-efficient! This session will introduce the essential building blocks for effective data management and explore AI-based tools and machine-learning techniques that can streamline data sorting and tagging. We'll discuss practical strategies like the 80/20 rule, which focuses on efficiently managing data, motivating teams to clean up data, and partnering with vendors to find the best tools. Moderator: Jessica Byerly, National Conference Director, Government Technology Amy F. Evans, Deputy IT Director, City of Beckley Brian Morgan, Vice President for Institutional Research and Planning and Chief Data Officer at Marshall University Lori Tarr, Deputy Chief Privacy Office, West Virginia State Privacy Office Cybersecurity Costs: Navigating the Financial ImpactGrand Ballroom DCybersecurity costs and the financial impact of data breaches are significant concerns for all organizations. However, proactive measures can be taken to lower protection costs and reduce risks. What are the current and future cost trends you need to understand? What are the implications of potential breaches? This session covers how to approach the expenses associated with risk assessment, annual security procurement, financial reporting and managing your digital footprint. Moderator: Jody Ogle, Supervisory Cybersecurity Advisor, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Timothy W. Conzett, Assistant Superintendent, Office of Data Management and Information Systems, West Virginia Department of Education Jon Cutler, Associate Chief Information Officer, Chief Information Security Officer, Information Technology, Marshall University Jeremy Wolfe, Deputy Director / Risk Manager, West Virginia Board of Risk and Insurance Management |
11:45 am Eastern |
LunchGrand Ballroom C |
12:45 pm Eastern |
Bits and Bytes: Workforce Development in West Virginia's Digital EconomyGrand Ballroom CLearn more about efforts to train and upskill the state's workforce to meet tech industry market demand. We will discuss strategic partnerships, employer relationships, curricular/content adaptability, and funding/incentives. Crucially, we will explore why filling local and regional tech roles with WV residents is so important for the social and economic livelihood of the state. Casey Patterson, Program Director of NewForce, Generation West Virginia |
1:05 pm Eastern |
Short BreakPlease proceed to the concurrent sessions. |
1:15 pm Eastern |
Concurrent SessionsAI in Action: Revolutionizing Government Operations through AutomationGrand Ballroom AAI is not just a tool - it's a transformative force in the public sector, capable of automating processes and significantly boosting efficiency. Let’s explore the real-world applications of AI and discover how to leverage it for automation in government operations! This session will highlight the practical applications of AI within government operations, showcasing how it can revolutionize service delivery, streamline workflows, and improve decision-making. Moderator: David Tackett, Election Security Advisor. Region 3, Cybersecurity, and Infrastructure Security Agency Jeremy Azevedo, Chief Development Officer, West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office Reddy Bollineni, Director, Strategy and Growth, 22nd Century Technologies Dr. Erika Klose, Director PK-12 Academic Support, West Virginia Department of Education Sergio Ortega, Business Development Lead, AIML/Generative AI, Amazon Web Services Jessica L. Sell, Vice President of Congressional Affairs & Community Outreach, ROC Guarding the Underdogs: Protecting Small Agencies from Cyber ThreatsGrand Ballroom DLocal governments are at high risk of cyber-attacks but often lack sufficient cybersecurity funds. This makes it crucial for these agencies to stay vigilant and fully utilize the resources available to them. This session will provide real-world examples of the impact of cyber threats on smaller agencies and highlight key lessons learned. You'll discover how to engage local employees, conduct practical risk assessments in collaboration with Homeland Security, and leverage resources from the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) to strengthen your cybersecurity posture. Moderator: Sean McSpaden, Government Technology Senior Fellow Lee Ayers, Director of Technology, Office of the West Virginia Attorney General Rex Edward Crouser II, Assistant Treasurer of IT, Chief Information Officer, West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office Jody Ogle, Supervisory Cybersecurity Advisor, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Wesley Withrow, Senior Client Partner, Cybersecurity Solutions, Verizon Navigating WVOT Services (A Discussion for WV State Agencies who use WVOT Services)Grand Ballroom EJoin senior leadership from the West Virginia Office of Technology (WVOT) for a discussion specifically for state agencies using WVOT services. This session will provide insights into the services, procedures, and best practices from a user’s perspective, helping agency representatives streamline their technology needs and navigate the available tools effectively. This session is for SLED members only. Tom Allen, Info Systems Manager III, West Virginia Department of Administration Leroy Amos, Interim Chief Information Security Officer, West Virginia Department of Administration James Dixon, Director of Staff Development, West Virginia Department of Administration Donald Patterson, Chief Operations Officer, West Virginia Department of Administration Meghan Shears, Chief Financial Officer, West Virginia Department of Administration Josh Tinnel, Interim Director of Network Infrastructure, West Virginia Department of Administration Jeff Whitman, Director of Info Services, West Virginia Department of Administration Exclusive Briefing for Industry PartnersGrand Ballroom BHosted by: Heather Abbott, Chief Information Officer, Office of Technology, State of West Virginia |
2:15 pm Eastern |
Networking Break in the Exhibit AreaElk River Atrium / Grand Ballroom Pre-Function |
2:45 pm Eastern |
General Session – The State of AI in GovTech: Exploring the Future and Charting the CourseGrand Ballroom CPresented 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, Center for Digital Government/Center for Public Sector AI |
3:45 pm Eastern |
Networking Reception in the Exhibit AreaElk River Atrium / Grand Ballroom Pre-FunctionNetwork with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event exhibitors. |
4:15 pm Eastern |
End of ConferenceConference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change. |
200 Civic Center Drive
Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 345-1500
Heather Abbott
Chief Information Officer
Department of Administration, Office of Technology
State of West Virginia
Leroy Amos
Interim Chief Information Security Officer
Department of Administration, Office of Technology
State of West Virginia
Lee Ayers
Director of Technology
Office of the Attorney General
WV Office of the Attorney General
Chris Behre
Info Systems Manager
Homeland Security
WV State Police
Sam Calvert
Director of Administration
Department of Arts, Culture and History
State of West Virginia
Tim Conzett
Assistant Superintendent, Office of Data Management & Information Systems
Department of Education
WV Dept of Education
Rex Crouser
Chief Information Officer
State Treasurer's Office
State of West Virginia
Jon Cutler
Chief Information Security Officer
Marshall University
Marshall University
James Dixon
Director of Staff Development
Department of Administration, Office of Technology
State of West Virginia
Hussein Elkhansa
Chief Technology Officer
Information Technology Division and Performance Management Division, Department of Transportation
State of West Virginia
Corey Foster
Chief Technology Officer
Secretary of State
State of West Virginia
Jamie Hoffman
Economic Development Rep
Department of Commerce
State of West Virginia
Andy Malinoski
Public Information Specialist III
Department of Commerce, Development Office
State of West Virginia
Susan Martino
Special Project Coordinator
WV County
County Commissioners' Association of WV
John NIlles
Acting Chief Technology Officer
Department of Environmental Protection
State of West Virginia
Jonathan O'Quinn
IT Director
West Virginia Lottery
State of West Virginia
Melanie A. Pagliaro
Executive Director
WV County
County Commissioners' Association of WV
Sue Painter
Executive Director
Board of Registered Nurses
State of West Virginia
Jodie Penrod
Chief Information Officer
Marshall University
Marshall University
Meghan Shears
Chief Financial Officer
Department of Administration, Office of Technology
State of West Virginia
Cindy Smith
Deputy Chief Information Officer
Department of Administration, Office of Technology
State of West Virginia
Ashley Summitt
Chief Privacy Officer
State Privacy Office
State of West Virginia
Josh Tinnel
Interim Director of Network Infrastructure
Department of Administration, Office of Technology
State of West Virginia
Kwasi Toombs
IT Director
Department of Revenue
State of West Virginia
Steven White
Executive Director
West Virginia Network
Jeff Whitman
Director of Info Services
Office of Technology
WV Dept of Administration
Anthony Roppa
Senior Manager
Amazon Web Services
Open to Public Sector only.
Registration - Free
If you represent a Private Sector organization and are interested in Sponsorship Opportunities, please contact Heather Earney.
For registration and general assistance contact:
Sherri Tidwell
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 932-1382
E-mail: stidwell@erepublic.com
For assistance or questions concerning Sponsor Logos or Logistics please contact:
Mireya Gaton
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 296-2617
E-Mail: mgaton@govtech.com
Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact:
Heather Earney
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 932-1339
E-mail: heather.earney@erepublic.com