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Session Description:
Successful multiagency projects rely on strong governance frameworks that promote coordination, accountability, and streamlined decision-making. This session will explore best practices for structuring governance models that enhance collaboration, incorporate innovation, and drive successful project outcomes.

• Build governance structures that align multiagency goals and responsibilities
• Improve cross-agency communication to reduce inefficiencies and delays
• Strengthen accountability and oversight to enhance project transparency
• Leverage technology and innovation to support governance without adding complexity

Catherine Califano

Deputy Secretary for Business Operations, Department of General Services, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Sarah Shaffer

Chief Information Officer, General Government Delivery Center, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Barry Williams

Director of Planning and Management, Office of Comptroller Operations, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Service providers play a pivotal role in helping governments reimagine customer experience to meet modern citizen expectations. By applying advanced technologies, data-driven insights, and design thinking, they empower public agencies to deliver seamless and user-centric services.

This session will share expertise from leading service providers on how to transform the customer experience in the public sector.

• Explore cutting-edge tools and technologies that streamline and enhance service delivery
• Learn how data and analytics can drive personalization and improve customer interactions
• Discover proven approaches for aligning public services with evolving citizen expectations
• Understand how to create scalable, sustainable improvements in customer experience outcomes

As a global pioneer in digital transformation, Estonia has set its sights on becoming the world’s leader in data and AI integration. This session examines how the nation’s forward-thinking strategies are reshaping its economy, society, and global competitiveness.This session will explore Estonia’s policies, infrastructure advancements, and investments in the data economy, while highlighting its commitment to ethical, transparent, and citizen-focused data usage. You’ll uncover actionable insights on leveraging AI to innovate business models, enhance governance, and transform daily life.

• Discover how Estonia is achieving a leading share of the global data economy.
• Analyze real-world examples of AI disrupting traditional systems and processes.
• Explore strategies to integrate innovation while safeguarding privacy and trust.
• Learn how to replicate Estonia’s model to enhance your organization’s competitiveness.

State agencies face growing pressures to adapt quickly in an ever-changing landscape. This session will equip you with strategies to strengthen resilience through cross-agency partnerships, digital transformation, and forward-thinking leadership, ensuring your agency delivers high-quality services no matter the challenge.

Key Discussion Points:

• Adapt to evolving circumstances by fostering innovative leadership at all levels.
• Bolster resilience through effective cross-agency collaboration and resource sharing.
• Drive digital transformation to modernize operations and service delivery.
• Maintain excellence in public services during times of economic or societal uncertainty.

Jacqueline Harris

Chief Information Technology Officer, Philadelphia Parking Authority

Dr. Joe Perez

Senior Systems Specialist, Department of Health and Human Services, State of North Carolina

Chris Devlin Moderator

Vice President for SAP State, Local and Higher Education, SAP

In a world overflowing with data, why are so many public sector leaders still making decisions in the dark? This keynote challenges government professionals to confront the gap between data potential and data practice, and it offers a clear, actionable path to becoming truly data-driven in service to their communities.

The participant / attendee will:

• Pinpoint the root causes behind the gap between data abundance and actual usage, and discover how to close it for smarter, faster decisions
• Recognize how to leverage both qualitative data and quantitative data in driving business decision-making
• Identify the three types of cognitive biases in big data and how they’re the enemy of opportunity
• Define the five best practices for driving business decisions with data along with the key words for each one (look, link, listen, leverage, and learn)

As cyber threats grow in sophistication, organizations must evolve beyond traditional security measures. A resilient cybersecurity strategy requires adaptability, proactive threat management, and seamless coordination across teams. This session will explore how to strengthen security posture in an ever-changing digital landscape.

• Improve threat detection and response with AI-driven security solutions
• Strengthen cyber resilience through zero-trust frameworks and continuous monitoring
• Adapt to evolving risks by integrating threat intelligence into security operations
• Enhance collaboration across public and private sectors to mitigate large-scale cyber threats
• Learn from real-world examples of organizations successfully navigating modern cybersecurity challenges

Paul Burton

Director of Information Technology, Pennsylvania Treasury

Christopher Allwein

Cyber Intelligence Manager, Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation

LTC Christine Pierce

Director of Cyber Operations, PA National Guard

Derek Fisher

Director of the Cyber Defense and Information Assurance Program, Temple University

Matthew Monroe

Solutions Consultant, Palo Alto

Daniel Shetterly Moderator

Director of Enterprise Sales, Comcast Business

Roundtable 1: AI + Mobile Service Management: Transforming Citizens & Employee Experiences Facilitated by: John Gambaro, Vice President, State Local Government & Education, Freshworks Inc.

Roundtable 2: Real Success Stories in AI Facilitated by: Michael Chappell, Industry Leader, Appian

Roundtable 3: Unleashing the Monsters: Tackling State Government Data Challenge-A Roundtable Adventure Facilitated by: Ankit Jain, Sr., Solutions Engineer, Cribl and Ryan Morris, President, Blackwood

Roundtable 4: Fighting AI with AI – Cybersecurity for Public Sector Facilitated by: John Trotman, AWS

Roundtable 5: Reimagining ERP for Agility and Efficiency Facilitated by: Chris Devlin, Vice President for SAP State, Local and Higher Education, SAP

Roundtable 6: Equitable Communication: Multilingual Access for LEP Constituents Facilitated by: Fatema Rezai, Transperfect

Roundtable 7: Cloud Migration for Government IT Modernization Facilitated by: Tony Allegrati, Regional Cloud Systems Engineer, Fortinet

Roundtable 8: Resilience is the New Cybersecurity Imperative Facilitated by: Absolute

Public trust is fragile and modern services must be designed to meet people where they are. This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can modernize intentionally, and build credibility through inclusive delivery.

• Empowering an inclusive design team
• Increase public confidence by designing services around the customer experience
• The “Open Kitchen Approach” and the importance of transparency
• Advancing accessibility and equity by removing friction

Every citcitizen interaction with government is now measured against the best digital experiences in the private sector. Agencies weighed down by fragmented systems, siloed data, and decades of technical debt risk losing trust if they don’t evolve. Success in the decade ahead will depend on reshaping how data is collected, managed, and organized to improve transparency, compliance, and citizen outcomes.

This session will explore how state and local leaders can:

• Centralize data collection, management, and storage to strengthen visibility across IT and security environments
• Balance compliance and growth with smart data tiering that reduces cost while ensuring accessibility
• Streamline strategies so small teams can achieve big outcomes
• Optimize costs for the future, recognizing that the tools that got us to 2025 won’t get us to 2030
• Adopt shared services models that allow state agencies and counties to scale resources and collaboration

Zero Trust is reshaping how government agencies protect systems, data, and users in a rapidly evolving threat landscape. This session will explore how you can apply new approaches to verify access continuously and reduce risk across your digital infrastructure.

• Redefine trust by eliminating default access and verifying every connection
• Implement Zero Trust architecture across legacy and modern environments
• Overcome operational and cultural hurdles to adoption
• Improve real-time threat detection and response using Zero Trust principles
• Align your Zero Trust roadmap with federal and state mandates
  

Public trust depends on transparency, but achieving it requires more than just compliance— it demands a customer-first mindset. By integrating business goals with IT strategies and embracing agile principles, public sector organizations can build systems that serve both internal needs and public expectations.

This session will explore how Washington State is applying customer-driven approaches to enhance transparency, ensuring that technology, policy, and service delivery align with the needs of residents.

• Differentiate your agency in the public sector by adopting private-sector best practices
• Align business goals with IT strategies to create more transparent and efficient services
• Apply agile principles to improve responsiveness and accountability
• Learn how the Public Disclosure Commission embeds transparency into every decision and initiative

Improving public services requires a dedicated strategy that prioritizes accessibility, efficiency, and responsiveness. Better Services PHL, established by Executive Order 2-24, is a key initiative that equips City staff with the tools and frameworks to enhance resident-facing services. This session will explore how you can apply a structured service improvement approach to create more effective, user-friendly, and equitable government services.

• Apply a service improvement framework that integrates resident and front-line staff input
• Enhance inter-agency collaboration to streamline service delivery and reduce inefficiencies
• Leverage data and feedback loops to continuously refine and optimize public services
• Build a culture of service excellence that prioritizes accessibility and user experience

Kelsey Hubbell

Communications, Outreach, and Engagement Manager, Office of the Chief Administrator, City of Philadelphia

Andrew Buss

Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Office of the Chief Administrator, City of Philadelphia

Danita Reese

Executive Director, PHL Service Design Studio, Office of the Chief Administrator, City of Philadelphia

Hannah Louie

Director of Project Delivery, Office of the Chief Administrator, City of Philadelphia

Digital transformation in government must prioritize the needs of the people it serves—both citizens and state employees—ensuring accessibility, efficiency, and ease of use. By adopting human-centered design principles and reducing bureaucratic inefficiencies, agencies can create seamless, intuitive digital services that enhance public trust and engagement. This panel will explore practical strategies for cutting red tape, standardizing processes, and leveraging user feedback to drive meaningful transformation.

Discussion Points:

• Integrating user feedback into digital service design to ensure solutions truly meet public needs.
• Balancing innovation with accessibility and inclusivity to modernize government services equitably.
• Overcoming internal barriers to adopt a user-first digital transformation approach
• Real-world success stories of government agencies simplifying digital processes, improving efficiency, and enhancing the citizen experience.

Joseph Squillace

Assistant Teaching Professor, Cybersecurity Department, Pennsylvania State University

Eric Locke

Director of Payable Services, Office of the Budget, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Jacqueline Harris

Chief Information Technology Officer, Philadelphia Parking Authority

John Gambaro

Vice President, State Local Government & Education, Freshworks Inc.

Brian Boshart Moderator

SVP & General Manager, SAP Services, SAP

As Pennsylvania’s new Deputy Secretary of Procurement, Frank McNally brings a fresh perspective to one of government’s most powerful tools: how we buy, build, and partner. In this keynote, he shares his vision for transforming public procurement into a strategic force that drives innovation, ensures fiscal responsibility, and expands access to opportunity for businesses of all sizes.
This session will explore how smarter procurement practices can:

• Empower government leaders to deliver faster, fairer, and more future-ready services
• Enable agencies to partner with innovative vendors, to include non-traditional entities and companies of all sizes and backgrounds
• Embrace process improvement, transparency, and user-centered design to build a more efficient and agile procurement function
• Support a robust and vibrant supplier ecosystem aligned with public priorities

In an era of constant change and evolving challenges, building a resilient and innovative workforce is crucial for the success of public service organizations. Strengthening adaptability and fostering creativity ensure teams can effectively serve communities and respond to dynamic demands.

This session will explore strategies to empower your workforce with the skills, mindset, and tools needed to thrive in a rapidly changing environment.

• Strengthen resilience by embedding adaptability and continuous learning into organizational culture
• Foster innovation through collaboration and creative problem-solving approaches
• Leverage technology and data to enhance workforce engagement and productivity
• Adapt leadership strategies to inspire and equip teams for future challenges

Jenna A. Reedy

Chief of Staff, Executive Department, Susquehanna Regional Transportation Authority

Tara Woody

Manager for Strategic Initiatives, Office of the Chief Administrator, City of Philadelphia

Bill Greeves Moderator

Industry Executive Advisor, SAP