Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Opening Remarks

Kristin Darby, Chief Information Officer, Department of Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions, State of Tennessee

Keynote – The Future of AI

How can your organization harness the power of artificial intelligence without sacrificing ethics, trust, or long-term value? Together we will explore how industries are evolving with generative and applied AI while spotlighting real-world case studies that move beyond the hype. Founder and Chief AI Officer at AI Leadership Institute, Noelle Russell, offers a clear, actionable framework to scale AI responsibly, mitigating bias, protecting privacy, and fostering innovation that complements human ingenuity. Discover how to translate excitement into execution and ensure your AI investments drive meaningful, sustainable growth.

Noelle Russell, Leading AI Innovator and Practitioner, Founder and Chief AI Officer at AI Leadership Institute

Sponsored by: CGI

General Session – Mission-Critical: The Role of IT in Statewide Disaster Response

IT professionals serve as "digital first responders" during catastrophic weather events, providing the technical agility and mission-critical infrastructure required to power life-saving operations. By examining Cross-Agency Collaboration as a Lifeline, we will discuss how diverse state and local divisions move beyond their daily silos to act as a unified force, utilizing Centralized Crisis Communication to offload emergency dispatchers and Real-Time Data Systems to maintain clinical interventions for vulnerable populations in isolated facilities. The session highlights the critical coordination required to restore damaged infrastructure and maintain networks under extreme pressure, offering actionable lessons in technical resilience and inter-departmental cooperation to build a more responsive and prepared state.

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Refuel and reconnect over premium refreshments courtesy of Recharge Break Sponsor: Red Hat, Inc.

Concurrent Sessions

Cultivating an AI-Ready Culture

Before plugging in the tools, organizations must reanalyze their fundamental processes. This session explores the essential change management exercises required to shift organizational mindsets and prepare for a digital-first future. We will discuss the strategic necessity of auditing legacy workflows and how to stand up a Business Process Management team to define exactly what problems need solving before applying automation. By focusing on a "problem-first" rather than a "tool-first" approach, leaders will learn how to build a scalable foundation that ensures AI implementation drives meaningful results rather than just automating existing inefficiencies.

The Corridor of Tomorrow: Scaling Smart Hubs and Operational Tech

As municipalities transition from traditional infrastructure to data-driven ecosystems, the integration of Operational Technology (OT) has become the cornerstone of regional connectivity. This session provides a deep dive into the Smart Hub concept, exploring how interconnected corridors are transforming the way cities manage mobility, public safety, and resource allocation. We move beyond the buzzwords to examine the specific hardware requirements, such as edge computing nodes, multi-sensor arrays, and high-speed fiber backbones, necessary to support a modern and tech-enabled region.

The Blueprint for High-Quality Data Ecosystems

Before an organization can effectively leverage advanced automation or intelligent systems, it must first secure and understand the data that fuels them. This session explores the critical prerequisites for digital readiness, focusing on the transition from fragmented data silos to a governed, high-quality data ecosystem. We will discuss the strategic necessity of data discovery and mapping, identifying where sensitive information lives and ensuring it is properly classified before new technologies are integrated into the environment.

Defending Against Autonomous Digital Threats

In 2026, the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity has moved from theory to a high-stakes "arms race." As government agencies integrate AI to improve service delivery, adversaries are simultaneously leveraging Agentic AI - autonomous systems capable of scanning vulnerabilities, chaining exploits, and executing destructive attacks at a velocity that exceeds human response times. This session provides a critical briefing for government leaders on the current threat landscape and the strategic shifts required to maintain digital sovereignty.

Lunch

General Session – The Digital Front Door: Navigating the ADA Title II Final Rule

The clock is ticking on the Department of Justice’s new federal mandate for digital accessibility. For Tennessee state and local governments, "accessible" is no longer a suggestion—it is a strictly defined technical requirement with looming legal deadlines. This session provides a practical roadmap for public officials, IT leads, and ADA coordinators to bring their digital presence into compliance.

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

Concurrent Sessions

Optimizing the Workforce for a New Era

Emerging technologies are transforming the public sector workforce by streamlining operations, enhancing decision-making, and redefining job roles. As government agencies adopt new tools and automation, the challenge lies in balancing technological innovation with workforce optimization. How can IT leaders ensure a smooth transition, empower employees with new skills, and foster effective collaboration? This session will delve into strategies for seamlessly integrating emerging technologies into government operations while cultivating a culture that is resilient.

Beyond the Prompt: Skills for Using Generative AI Effectively

Generative AI has opened the door to new levels of productivity, creativity, and decision-making—but only if you know how to use it well. This session is designed to help public-sector professionals build the skills needed to get the most from AI tools. We’ll explore the art and science of crafting effective prompts, strategies for checking and verifying outputs, and best practices for integrating AI into daily workflows responsibly. Join us for an engaging session that demystifies GenAI and helps you become a more confident, competent user.

How IT Serves as the Invisible Backbone for Major Events

When massive events draw global crowds, a region's digital infrastructure faces an ultimate stress test. This session explores the critical IT elements required to manage high-density gatherings, moving beyond standard planning to discuss the challenges of scaling connectivity for international media and safeguarding the infrastructure supporting major stadiums and urban corridors. Participants will learn how IT serves as the "invisible backbone"—ensuring that despite unprecedented demand, large-scale events remain secure, connected, and operationally resilient.

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Refuel and reconnect over premium refreshments courtesy of Recharge Break Sponsor: Red Hat, Inc.

General Session – The Future Frontier: Realizing Tennessee’s Quantum Leap

Following Governor Lee’s State of the State address, which committed $20 million to establish Tennessee as a national leader in quantum computing, this session explores the strategic roadmap for the "Tennessee Quantum Initiative." We will examine how this state-level investment is transforming the regional economy by fostering a "quantum-ready" workforce through cutting-edge research hubs and academic partnerships. Join us to learn how Tennessee is leveraging its unique scientific infrastructure—from state-of-the-art laboratory breakthroughs to interdisciplinary training programs—to solve the nation’s most complex problems and secure its position as the primary catalyst for the next generation of technological innovation.

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

Network with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event sponsors.

End of Conference

Conference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change.