GOVIT Leadership Summit & Symposium Logo

November 19-21, 2024
JW Marriott Mall of America, Bloomington, MN

Combining two reputable, legacy events into one new national premier event!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

This was by far the most needed and awesome IT Symposium. The success stories, the common cause, and just to take a time to think about who we serve and to hear from leaders was amazing and very motivating.

All times are listed in Central Time Zone.

Join us for the 2024 Leadership Summit!

7:30 Registration Opens
8:00 – 9:00 Continental Breakfast
9:00 – 9:10

Welcome and Overview

  • Alan Shark, Executive Director, PTI
  • Amy Cheney, CIO, Bloomington, MN, Fusion LP  Board member (Host City)
  • Joel Pingel, Head of Government and Education, Central West Region, Google Public Sector
9:10 – 10:00

AI Leadership: How to Lead Your Organization in the Emerging AI Landscape

This discussion will build on the premise that all tech leaders go through three stages with AI. They experiment with it, attend conferences, read articles (Discover), they lay groundwork with policies, guiderails, training (Build), and then they put it to work with prototypes, chatbots, LLM implementations (Peak). We will explore the AI landscape in state government and local government, and dive into the “drive for AI” that CIOs need to get ahead of to be effective leaders in AI, not followers.

Moderator: Dr. Jonathan Reichental

Panelists:

  • Doug Robinson, Executive Director, NASCIO
  • Alan Shark, Executive Director, PTI
  • Joel Pingel, Head of Government and Education, Central West Region, Google Public Sector
  • Invited, check back soon!

 

10:00 – 10:15 Break
10:15 – 11:00

Building and Maintaining a Thriving IT Organizational Culture: Lessons Learned

The successful IT organization is one that effectively meets its goals and maintains its values. Key factors that contribute to this success include having a strategic focus, effective leadership that listens and leads, an environment of trust, accountability within the IT organization, accountability and transparency with IT partners, and an environment that values and nurtures IT staff. During this discussion, we will build on these success factors and more as we explore what makes for a thriving IT culture.

Moderator: Adam Frumkin, CIO, Franklin County, Ohio and Chair, PTI Leadership Council

Panelist:

  • Chris Chirgwin, CIO, Santa Barbara County, CA
  • Andrew Buss, Deputy CIO, City/County of Philadelphia
  • Scott Conn, CIO, City of Mesa, AZ
  • Vanetta Pledger, CIO, Alexandria, VAA
11:00 – 11:15 Break
11:15 – 12:00

The Emerging Threat Landscape: Strategies to Build Strong Cybersecurity Defenses

The current threat intensive cyber security environment is here to stay and will continue to evolve as the criminals acquire new tools and techniques. This interactive panel & audience discussion will offer innovative and thought-provoking ideas to move beyond where we are now with cyber defenses, and resources that can be leveraged. During this discussion, our panel of experts will discuss the current threat landscape, what is next, and how we can prepare.

Moderator: Barry Condrey, Director of Technology Services, PTI
Panelist:

  • Rita Reynolds, CIO, National Association of Counties
  • Eric Brown, CISO, Twin Cities Metropolitan Council
  • Invited, Center for Internet Security, MS-ISAC
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch – Is Professional Development on Your Agenda? Why Not? (8 minutes)
1:00 – 1:15 Break
1:15 – 1:55

Breakout Hot Topic Discussions

  • Opportunities and Challenges for emerging leaders
  • Customer relationship: Moving to a partner from an order taker
  • Managing in a (still) hybrid environment. What’s working, what’s not – challenges and solutions
  • Cybersecurity trends and pressures and human asset challenges
  • AI: Adopter, fence-sitter or something else? Where is your organization?
  • The value of technology strategic roadmapping: Establishing priorities and identifying resources
2:00 – 2:45

Audience Discussion – Hot Topic Key Priorities

Roundtable facilitators will report to the audience the key takeaways from their respective discussion with audience input.

Facilitator: Barry Condrey, Director of Technology Services, PTI

2:45 – 3:00 Break
3:00 – 4:00

Making an Impact: Opportunities and Challenges for the Government IT Profession

Working in public sector IT has many challenges and, yes, rewards! This panel discussion will explore how government IT is changing with the times and building an environment that provides for growth in staff technical skills and professional development. We will explore how agencies are exploring skill-based hiring and other approaches to attract new talent and the impact AI will have on the IT workforce: The opportunities that AI brings to the organization, the impact of AI on the IT workforce, and the skills needed to take advantage of the power that AI provides.

Moderator: Sue Wallace, Strategic Communications and Outreach Manager, City of Minneapolis, MN

Panelist:

  • Adam Larson, CIO/Director of Information Technology, Washington County, MN
  • Darryl Polk, CTO, Riverside County, CA
  • Ron Holifield, CEO, SGR
4:00 – 5:00 Welcome Reception

 

All times are listed in Central Time Zone.

7:00 – 4:00 Registration Open  
7:00 – 8:00 Breakfast

VIP Breakfast – The Power of State and Local Government Collaboration

Welcome and Overview

  • Doug Robinson, Executive Director, National Association of State CIOs (NASCIO)
  • Kenneth N. Wilson, County Administrator, Franklin County, Ohio
  • Tarek Tomes, Commissioner of Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) and the State of Minnesota’s CIO (Invited)
8:30 – 8:45 Welcome & Opening Comments  
8:45 – 9:30

Keynote: Thriving in Your IT Role as New Technologies Emerge

In this keynote, Dr. Jonathan Reichental will share his personal experiences adapting to rapid changes as a technology leader in both the public and private sectors. He’ll discuss how he worked with his teams to address challenges and succeeded as new technologies emerged. In addition, Reichental will share his thoughts on how IT professionals in the public sector can think about the changes ahead that will invariably come as a consequence of digital transformation and artificial intelligence. Practical steps will be shared that attendees can use when they return to their respective agencies.

Speaker: Dr. Jonathan Reichental

 
9:30 – 9:45 Break  
9:45 – 10:30 Breakout sessions 2-Hour Deep Dive or Hands-On Training
10:30 – 11:00 Break
11:00 – 11:45 Breakout sessions
11:45 – 1:00 Lunch & Symposium Slam  
1:00 – 1:30 Break  
1:30 – 2:15 Breakout sessions  
2:15 – 2:30 Break  
2:30 – 3:00 Fireside Chats  
3:00 – 3:15 Break  
3:15 – 4:00 Breakout sessions  
4:00 – 5:00 Happy Hour  

All times are listed in Central Time Zone.

7:30 – 12:00 Registration Open  
7:30 – 8:30 Continental breakfast PTI Community Breakfast
8:30 – 8:45 Welcome & Opening Comments  
8:45 – 9:30

The Technology Doesn’t Matter: Prioritizing People in Government IT Business Alignment

This general session panel discussion will explore the human side of IT, our Symposium theme, with the idea that the most important component of any technology initiative is people, and how you build an environment of trust, transparency and professional growth that leads to success – for the individual, for the project, the organization and the services we deliver.

Facilitator:
Rachel Lockett, Author and Symposium Emcee

Panelists:

  • Chetan Ganatra, CIO, Ramsey County, MN
  • Jaime Wascalus, Director and CIO, Office of Technology and Communications, City of St. Paul, MN
 
9:30 – 9:45 Break  
9:45 – 10:30 Breakout sessions 2-Hour Deep Dive or Hands-On Training
10:30 – 11:00 Break
11:00 – 11:45 Breakout sessions
11:45 – 1:00 Lunch, Awards & Closing Plenary Session  

About Fusion Learning Partners

From learning opportunities and events to organizational development and collaborative initiatives, Fusion exists to strengthen and transform the communities where we work, live, and thrive.

Because Innovation Begins with Learning.

2024 Steering Committee

  • Jay Wyant, Minnesota IT Services
  • Melissa Reeder, League of Minnesota Cities
  • Sue Wallace, Quantico Consulting
  • Amy Middendorf, Morrison County
  • Adam Larson, Washington County
  • John Gamades, OrangeBall Creative
  • Amy Kretsch-Ward, Fortinet
  • Alex Hepp, City of Hopkins
  • Dave Andrews, Minnesota State Services for the Blind
  • Jim Hall, Hallmentum
  • Lisa Meredith, Minnesota Counties Computer Cooperative
  • Derek Engelking, City of Saint Paul
  • Tia Kropf Beringer, State of Wisconsin
  • Tim Herman, Online Business Systems and Minnesota Infraguard
  • Chetan Ganatra, Ramsey County
  • Patty Hartwig, LOGIS
  • Rebecca Dennis, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
  • Matt Bailey, IBM
  • Sarah Mixdorf, Google