Dec 12-14, 2023 • St. Paul RiverCentre

2023 OPEN CALL FOR PRESENTATION PROPOSALS

We invite you to share your knowledge and expertise at the 42nd annual – 2023 GOVIT Symposium! Fusion Learning Partners is requesting vendor neutral* presentation proposals for sessions in a wide range of topic areas. Please review each section of the Call for Presentations carefully before submitting. The online submission form will take 15 to 20 minutes to complete. You do not need to have a fully fleshed out presentation to submit a proposal, but you should give enough information for the reader to understand the larger goals of the session and what makes it unique and relevant to our audience.

The deadline for submitting proposals has past.

We encourage you to check back next year.

Proposals that are incomplete or received after the deadline are accepted by invitation only.

*Vendor neutral sessions are educational in nature and do not focus on or promote a particular platform, software, system, product or service.

If you are a consultant and/or private sector company, your proposal will have a higher chance of being selected if
you include a government co-presenter and thoughtfully incorporate government experiences into your session proposal.

If you are a vendor and want to guarantee a speaking opportunity, there are a limited number of sponsorships available.
Find out more in the 2023 Sponsor/Exhibitor Prospectus, or contact Chris Kohn at ckohn@fusionlp.org or 952-885-7602.

Conference Background

Celebrating 42 years, the Government IT (GOVIT) Symposium is one of the longest-running government technology conferences in the nation. A key reason for the Symposium’s longevity is its reputation for being a high-quality learning and relationship-building event. The GOVIT Symposium addresses critical and timely issues for a multi-function, multi-sector government audience through dynamic content and access to cutting edge professional resources.

The GOVIT Symposium is committed to continuing to provide an excellent experience for our anticipated 900+ attendees and 70+ private sector partners that support and participate in this event year after year. The success of the conference relies on engaging and informative presentations from professionals who represent diverse backgrounds, settings and positions. If you want to showcase a particular area of expertise, now is your chance!

The 2023 GOVIT Symposium will be held December 12th – 14th at the St. Paul RiverCentre with sessions and attendee engagement opportunities.

Attendance

The GOVIT Symposium brings together IT and IT partner leaders and professionals from across the spectrum of government agencies and systems, along with their private and civic sector partners.

Attendees come from:
● State Agencies          ● Cities and Counties          ● Federal & Regional Agencies
● Higher Education          ● Nonprofits          ● IT Companies

Positions include:

Analysts & Programmers
Application Developers
Architects & Engineers
Business Analysts & Managers
City/County Managers
Chief Information Officer
Chief Technology Officer
Chief Information Security Officer
Commissioners & Deputy Commissioners
Controllers & Finance Directors
Database Administrators & Developers
Department Heads & Directors
IT/IS Directors & Staff
MIS Directors & Staff
Network Administrators & Engineers
Procurement Managers
Project & Product Managers
Quality Analysts
Security Engineers & Analysts
Systems Engineers & Analysts
Technical Support/Help Desk
Telecom Managers & Staff
Web/Communication Managers

The proposal will take 15 to 20 minutes to complete. You do not need to have a fully fleshed out presentation to submit a proposal, but you should give enough information for the reader to understand the larger goals of the session and what makes it unique and relevant to our audience.

The GOVIT Symposium is seeking session proposals that reflect sound, adult learning principles that reflect best practices. To deliver exceptional learning experiences, preference may be given to proposals that feature an interactive presentation style, supports the conference’s purpose and theme, highlights engagement, and delivers an effective mix of the following:

Content:

  • Reflect innovative, cutting-edge content, and evidence-based practice
  • Explore issues important to a mixed audience of GOVIT professionals
  • Present a compelling case with evidence supported by research or data

Instructional design:

  • Stimulate and provoke discussion, audience engagement, and outcome-focused design
  • Facilitate knowledge transfer and development of new competencies and “take-aways”
  • Use methods that draw out relevant past knowledge and experiences

Thoughtful consideration of the audience:

  • Target audience represents diverse functions, cultures, settings and geographies
  • Provide approaches for diverse types of learners
  • Demonstrate relevance of lessons through “real-life” case studies and best-practices

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR COMMERCIAL COMPANIES/ORGANIZATIONS:

Breakout sessions at the GOVIT Symposium are learning experiences and are noncommercial. Under no circumstances should a presentation be used for direct promotion of a speaker’s product, service, or other self-interest. If you are a consultant and/or private sector company, your proposal will have a higher chance of being selected if you include a government co-presenter and thoughtfully incorporate government experiences into your session proposal.

If you are a vendor and want to present at the Symposium, there are a limited number of sponsorship opportunities available that guarantee you a session. Find out more in the 2023 Sponsor/Exhibitor Prospectus, or contact Chris Kohn at ckhon@fusionlp.org or 952-885-7602.

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

7:30 Registration Opens (Upper Level Concourse)
8:00 – 9:00 Breakfast food & beverage available in the concourse
9:00 to 12:00 1/2 day Pre-Conference Training Sessions (or part 1 of full day)
1200 to 1:00 Lunch Break
1:00 to 4:00 ½ day Pre-Conference Training Sessions (or part 2 of full day)
11:00 – 11:15 Break
11:15 – 12:15 Concurrent Sessions
12:15 – 1:00 Lunch Break/Community Forum Discussions
1:00 – 1:30 pm Plenary Session
1:30 – 1:45 Break
1:45 – 2:45 pm Concurrent Sessions
2:45 – 3:00 pm Break
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm Informal programming
3:30 – 3:45 pm Break
3:45 pm – 4:15 pm Plenary Session
4:30 pm Virtual tradeshow closes

 

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Time In-person
7:30 Registration & GOVIT Hub Opens (Lower Level Rotunda & Exhibit Hall A)
7:30 – 8:30 Continental breakfast & beverages available (Exhibit Hall A)
8:15 – 8:30 Welcome & Opening Comments (Exhibit Hall B)
8:30 – 9:15 Keynote (Exhibit Hall B)
9:15 – 9:45 GOVIT Hub open time & transition to 3rd floor for breakout sessions
9:45 – 10:45 60 minute breakout sessions (Upper Level Concourse)
10:45 – 11:00 Break (coffee/tea/water stations in upper level concourse)
11:00 – 12:00 60 minute breakout sessions (Upper Level Concourse)
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch and sponsored plenary session (Exhibit Hall B)
1:00 – 2:30

GOVIT Hub (Exhibit Hall A)

  • Exhibits plus byte-sized learning opportunities Fireside chats
  • Experience Lab
  • Golden GovIT Showcase
  • Quiet conversations or relax in the lounge areas
2:30 – 3:15 Symposium Slam (Exhibit Hall B) Dessert Slam!
3:15 -3:30 Break/Transition to Upper Level Concourse
3:30 – 4:30 60 minute breakout sessions (Upper Level Concourse)
3:45 pm – 4:15 pm Plenary Session
4:00 pm Virtual tradeshow closes

 

Thursday, December 14, 2023

Time In-person
7:30 Registration & GOVIT Hub Opens ((Lower Level Rotunda & Exhibit Hall A)
7:30 to 8:30 Continental breakfast & beverages available (Exhibit Hall A)
8:15 to 8:30 Welcome & Opening Comments (Exhibit Hall B)
8:30 – 9:15 Keynote (Exhibit Hall B)
9:15 – 9:45 GOVIT Hub open time & transition to 3rd floor for breakout sessions
9:45 – 10:45 60 minute breakout sessions (Upper Level Concourse)
10:45 – 11:00 Break (coffee/tea/water stations in upper level concourse)
11:00 – 12:00 60 minute breakout sessions (Upper Level Concourse)
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch, speaker & Golden GOVIT Awards (Exhibit Hall B)
1:00 – 2:30

GOVIT Hub (Exhibit Hall A)

  • Exhibits plus byte-sized learning opportunities Fireside chats
  • Experience Lab
  • Quiet conversations or relax in the lounge areas
2:30 – 3:45

Closing (Exhibit Hall A & B)

2:30 — 3:00 – sponsored plenary
3:00 – 3:30 – silent auction ends & reception

3:30 – 3:45 – closing comments & pick up items

Adult learners usually prefer to engage in self-directed learning. The GOVIT Symposium seeks to offer a variety of learning formats with a range of instructional methods that give attendees more control over setting priorities and choosing the right content, materials, and methods that match their learning styles and objectives.

 

Formats:

  • Solutions-driven workshop (3 hour or 6 hour pre-conference or modulated over the course of the conference) – Information-intensive sessions aimed to provide tactical knowledge and actionable next steps. Built to explore issues in greater depth, workshops allow attendees to experiment with new modes of thinking and formulate the application of presented strategies to address relevant issues through small group exercises and discussion. These workshops are highly interactive and incorporate a variety of presentation methods to engage attendees, including: mini lectures, large and small group discussions, individual and group exercises, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. Attendees should leave with practical application ideas and a list of tools and resources.
  • Tech-based learning lab (3 hour or 6 hour pre-conference or modulated over the course of the conference) – Computer or technology-based sessions that allow participants to learn about a software program or application through a combination of presentation/instruction and hands-on exercises.
  • Panel discussion (60 minute session) – Interviewer/interviewee-style sessions featuring a moderator to facilitate the discussion/ask questions, and 3-4 panelists representing diverse points of view to share/demonstrate experiences, information and best practices with the audience. Opening remarks/presentation by the moderator followed by moderator-driver question and answers (determined in advance) with at least 10-15 minutes audience question and answer session to conclude the session.
  • Case studies (60 minute session) – A case study session includes a presentation/analysis by one or two presenters of a real-life situation or scenario that addresses a dilemma, conflict, or problem. The audience is asked to consider the scenario either individually or in small groups, with at least 10-15 minutes audience question and answer session to conclude the session.
  • Lecture/Formal presentation (60 minute session)One or two co-presenters speaking, supported by presentation slides. Highly didactic session with minimal attendee participation. This format is best used to convey a large amount of content with minimal interaction. Presentation should include 10-15 minutes for Q&A
  • Interactive Presentation (60 minute session) -– One or two co-presenters speaking and supported by presentation slides. Highly interactive session with varied opportunities for attendees to participate, discuss topics, and interact with one another to digest the information – and offer their own experiences.

As you reflect on your proposal, please consider topics that support the Symposium’s focus on collaboration, innovation, and service that fit into the following topic tracks. While proposals may address more than one area, you will be asked to select one which is the best fit. Some examples of topics are listed after each track. Examples of specific topics within each track are NOT exhaustive – other topics that fit within the subject areas are welcome.

 

Digital Government

  • Automated services
  • Digitization/Big Data/Open data
  • User experience/User design
  • Design Thinking/Human-Centered Design
  • Accessibility
  • Citizen Communication/Engagement
  • Advanced marketing technique

Innovation, Insights & Trends

  • Cognitive Technologies/AI/Machine Learning
  • Virtual/augmented reality
  • Blockchain
  • Collaboration/Shared Services
  • Internet of Things
  • Autonomous Vehicles
  • Advanced connectivity options
  • Modernization

Security/IT Operations

  • Security Plans & Policies
  • IT Threat Landscape
  • DevSecOps
  • Security Tools
  • Ransomware
  • Procurement Rules/Policies
  • Governance Structures
  • Records Management
  • Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery
  • Data – rights, compliance & obligation
  • Hardware & Infrastructure

People & Leadership Skills

  • Communication Skills
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Developing Business Acumen
  • Managing Change
  • Leadership Development
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Building Your Brand
  • Career Paths
  • Recruitment and retention strategies
  • Strategic planning/IT Leadership
  • Remote working and/or supervising teams remotely

Product & Project Skills

  • Office 365 /Share Point
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Windows
  • Application/Software Development
  • Agile/Scrum
  • Project Management/Process Improvement
  • GIS

All proposals must be submitted using the GOVIT Symposium online proposal form. Upon submitting a proposal, you will receive an automatic confirmation for your records if it was submitted successfully.

Plan your submission in advance. We suggest that you first collect your thoughts for your proposal. Collect contact information and biographies from your co-presenters before beginning the form. Session proposals require clear and concise titles, a persuasive learning outcomes-focused description, three action-oriented learning outcomes that answer the question “upon completion of this session, participants will be able to…” and an explanation how the presentation will engage the audience. The following is the order and type of questions asked on the online proposal submission form:

  • Format
  • Title (character limit applies)
  • Session Description (character limit applies) You do not need to have a fully fleshed out description, but we are looking for a sharp vision and point of view.
  • How the Presentation will Engage the Audience
  • Suggested Track
  • Presentation Specifics (Target Audience, Level of Prior Knowledge, Learning Outcomes, etc.)
  • Primary Presenter Name, Position, Organization, Address, Email and Social Media
  • Previous Speaking Experience (optional upload of video)
  • Primary Presenter Bio (character limit applies)
  • Additional Presenters Questions – (List each Co-Presenters Names, Positions, Organizations, and Emails)
  • Presentation Accessibility
  • Comments/Questions
  •  

Fusion is dedicated to diversity in its staff, volunteers, presenters, and audiences – including full participation in, committees, content, programs, and decision-making.

Accessibility Requirements

Federal and State law require that public conference information systems, venues, tools and content be accessible to people with disabilities. In addition, Fusion Learning Partners is committed to ensuring the GOVIT Symposium is accessible to a diverse audience.

    1. What do you know about the accessibility implications of your chosen topic? Here are a couple of resources to help get you started: mn.gov/mnit/accessibility, or email: MNITAccessibility@state.mn.us.
    2. How will you present your session in a way that is accessible (slides, videos, etc.) to everyone who attends? NOTE: All electronic files provided to Fusion for attendees are required to be accessible. Visit the State of Minnesota’s accessible documents page for training and other resources.
We seek to create a premiere event for the GOVIT field, and therefore priority will be given to those sessions that meet the following criteria:

Timely Does the topic address a current or emerging concern?

Relevant How significant is the topic to the theme and purpose of the conference?

Clarity Is the proposal clear and understandable?

Engaging – Is the session designed to engage the audience?

Vendor Neutral –Proposals will not be selected that promote a particular vendor platform, technology, product or service.

Proposals must be submitted via the online submission form. Proposals sent by email will not be considered. Presenters may submit more than one submission.

The online submission form closes on Friday, June 30th at 4:00 p.m. CST. Incomplete and/or late proposal submissions are accepted by invitation only.

The person listed as the lead presenter will be automatically notified of receipt by an email sent to the address that you provide. If you do not receive such a notification, please contact Senior Program and Event Manager, Sam Alley at salley@fusionlp.org  to confirm that your proposal was received.

Submission of a proposal does not guarantee inclusion in the program.  Fusion Learning Partners reserves the right to work with presenters to revise presentation titles, reassign the identified topic area and edit session descriptions for promotional and program publication purposes.

How are proposals reviewed/accepted?

The GOVIT Symposium Steering Committee with diverse representation of GOVIT settings and functions will meet to review, rate and prioritize ALL proposals to determine which ones will be selected for the 2023 Symposium.

When are proposals selected?

Final selections will be made by Mid-July. Confirmation letters will be sent to selected lead presenters at this time.  Signed confirmation letters will be due back to Fusion Learning Partners two weeks after the date of notification.

Session scheduling

The Committee will advise on scheduling selected sessions. Sessions will be scheduled to minimize topic overlap and maximize available meeting space. Some presenters may be asked to repeat their sessions. Sessions will be scheduled for the following timeslots:

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

9:45 – 10:45 60 minute breakout sessions (Upper Level Concourse)
11:00 – 12:00 60 minute breakout sessions (Upper Level Concourse)
3:30 – 4:30 60 minute breakout sessions (Upper Level Concourse)

Thursday, December 14, 2023

9:45 – 10:45 60 minute breakout sessions (Upper Level Concourse)
11:00 – 12:00 60 minute breakout sessions (Upper Level Concourse)

Post-event (4 to 6 months after)

  • Upon speaker permission, some sessions may be recorded and made available after the conference
  • All recorded content available to registered attendees of live event.
  • Packaged recordings available for purchase to those who didn’t register for live event.
  • Meet-up sessions could continue and/or follow-up sessions of select sessions.

Presenter honorarium

For each 60 minute proposal selected, one presenter/moderator/facilitator will receive a complimentary registration for the day of the conference. For 3.5 or 7 hour pre-conference/conference sessions,  a limited number of paid honorariums are available at a rate of $100 per presentation hour. No additional compensation is available. All presenters will be required to register prior to the event using an online registration system.

Cancellations

Once a session has been accepted and listed online, cancellation imposes a serious burden. Please do not submit a proposal if you are uncertain that you will be able to fulfill your obligation to organize and conduct the session.

Friday, June 30th at 4:00 p.m. CST – deadline to submit online proposal form

Mid-July – proposals selected and lead presenters notified

2 weeks after selected notifications sent out – signed presenter agreement forms due

Late August – all presenter & session information due

Mid-September – attendee and presenter registration open

November 15th – Presentation Power Point slide deck and handouts due

November 30th – Final room assignments/schedule changes sent to lead presenters

December 12-14 – 2023 GOVIT Symposium

You must submit your proposal using the online submission form. Proposals sent by email will not be considered. When you submit your proposal, you will be automatically notified of receipt by an email sent to the address that you provide. If you do not receive such a notification, please contact Senior Program and Event Planner, Sam Alley (salley@fusionlp.org)  to confirm that your proposal was received. You will be able to return to the proposal to edit it until the submission deadline on June 30th at 4:00 p.m. CST. Information on how to do so will be included in the automated email.

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.

2023 Steering Committee

  • Alex Hepp, City of Hopkins
  • Chad Kummerow, Microsoft
  • Dave Andrews, Minnesota State Services for the Blind - DEED
  • Jay Wyant, Minnesota IT Services
  • Jim Hall, Hallmentum
  • Matt Bailey, IBM
  • Lisa Meredith, Minnesota Counties Computer Cooperative
  • Melissa Reeder, League of Minnesota Cities
  • Joel Pingel, Google
  • Sarah Mixdorf, Google
  • Sue Wallace, Quantico Source
  • Nash Pherson, Microsoft
  • Jennifer Marik, Amazon Web Services- WWPS
  • Amy Middendorf, Morrison County
  • Adam Larson, Washington County
  • Jaime Wascalus, City of St. Paul
  • Amy Kretsch-Ward, Fortinet
  • Lee Jones, Salesforce
  • John Gamades, Orangeball Creative