The TechCA Forum was a half-day program focused on innovation and emerging technologies in government. It featured lightning talks, panel discussions, and speeches by California technology professionals.

Current and former state executives discussed the state’s IT landscape and progress on developing digital services for all Californians.

Public and private sector professionals participated in a lively discussion about the fast-changing world of government technology, including important topics related to artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, user-centered design, iterative and continuous improvements, procurement modernization, and more.

Amy Tong
 Secretary, Government Operations Agency

Steve Gordon
Director, Department of Motor Vehicles

Adam Dondro
Director, Office of Technology and Solutions Integration
Agency Information Officer, CHHS

Marybel Batjer
 Partner, California Strategies
Former Secretary, Government Operations Agency

Keely Bosler
Founder and Principal,
Keely MB Strategies
Former Director, California Department of Finance

Chris Cruz
Public Sector CIO, Tanium
Former Chief Deputy CIO, State of California

Tony Fortenberry
 Strategist, Former OSI Deputy Director, Project Director

Jeffery Marino
Deputy Director, California Office of Data and Innovation

John Ohanian
Director, Center for Data Insights and Innovation Office
Chief Data Officer, CHHS

Vidhu Shekhar
Author, Government Strategy Leader, Microsoft

Sadie St. Lawrence
Founder, Women in Data

Michael Wilkening
Founder, Wilkening Strategies,  Former Secretary, CA Health & Human Services Agency

 

Radhika Anand
Partner AI Strategy Lead, Intel

Reymund Dumiao
Director, State and Local, Google

Thank you to our sponsors!

AGENDA

Program Starts at 1 pm

Bill Maile, CEO, TechCA

Welcome

Director Adam Dondro, Office of Technology and Solutions Implementation 

Topic: Opening Remarks

Secretary Amy Tong, Government Operations Agency 

Topic: Governor Newsom’s Executive Order on AI  (1:10 pm)

Chris Cruz, Public Sector CIO, Tanium

Topic: Four Trends in Emerging Technologies (1:25 pm)

Fireside Chat: Jeffrey Marino, Deputy Director, ODI, and Mike Wilkening, Former Gubernatorial Advisor, Former Secretary, CalHHS 

Topic: Emerging Tech and State Government: Scaling capacity across agencies, sustaining a culture of innovation and shifting tactics in a GenAI World.  (1:40 pm)

BREAK

Panel Discussion: John Ohanian, Chief Data Officer, CalHHS and Sadie St. Lawrence, CEO and Founder, Women in Data, Moderated by Former OSI Deputy Director Tony Fortenberry

Topic: Data professionals, diversity and governance (2:25 pm)

Reymund Dumlao, Director of state and local, Google

Topic: Bold and Responsible AI: What to consider for Safe and Responsible AI Projects and Implementations.  (3 pm)

Radhika Anand, Partner AI Strategy Lead, Intel

Topic: The Changing AI Landscape: Evolution, trends and opportunities for the public sector.   (3:10 pm)

BREAK

State of Collaboration and Innovation: Panel Discussion with Current and Former State Officials: Government Operations Secretary Amy Tong, DMV Director Steve Gordon, California’s first Government Operations Secretary Marybel Batjer and Mike Wilkening, Former Gubernatorial Advisor, Former Secretary, CalHHS, moderated by Keely Bosler, former Director at the California Department of Finance.

Topic: Technology is playing an increasingly important role in our lives and in the delivery of government services. From implementing critical public health programs during a global pandemic to streamlining the process for identifying and delivering services to eligible and vulnerable populations, government is requiring new technology solutions across nearly every aspect of its operations. The accelerated pace of technological innovation also poses both opportunities and challenges for government requiring unprecedented collaboration. In this panel, we will evaluate the current relationship between government and the technology industry, how it has evolved, and where it needs to go to create the best outcomes for the people of California.  (3:15 pm)

Megan Masten, Specialist, Acuity Technical Solutions

Topic: California’s public sector technology industry.  (4 pm)

Vidhu Shekhar, Author, Government  Strategy Leader, Microsoft

Topic: Democratization of AI, with a focus on Generative AI’s role in enhancing government service delivery.  (4:05 pm)

Closing remarks: 4:15 pm

Program Ends at 4:30 pm