Austin J. Franklin

Austin J. Franklin is a renowned keynote speaker, author, and leadership expert. He is also the CEO & Co-founder of Good-Natured Life. Austin has worked with executives across industries, from healthcare to government, and his work has taken him to some of the world's biggest stages, including a keynote at the Billion Dollar Roundtable Summit, a gathering of Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies. Austin is a sought-after voice for those aiming to elevate leadership, transform culture, and drive sustained success.

I am a VoIP engineer with multiple years of experience working on multiple Asterisks products. I started out as a hobbyist, and later moved on to helping multiple businesses across several states leverage this type of solution.

Bio here

Jamie Wood serves as the NCDIT Director of Customer Experience and works closely with customer stakeholders and leads efforts to improve customer satisfaction and support experiences. She has a strong background in enterprise operations and process improvement. She studied Industrial Engineering and Human Factors at Clemson University and continued to hone process skills while working with General Electric. Prior to joining the state, she worked as a Product Manager for enterprise software development companies. 

Samuel is a Systems Architect in the Technology Infrastructure Lab at the Friday Institute where he supports the team in all matters of cybersecurity with the purpose of improving the security posture at PSUs and Community Colleges throughout North Carolina. He serves as a leader in maintaining awareness of emerging threats, identifying new security technologies, and interfacing with various vendors used by those educational institutions. In addition, he has had a faculty appointment in the Department of Computer Science at NC State since 2005, where he teaches a variety of cybersecurity courses.

 

Shannon Tufts

Bio here.

 

 

 

Billy Hylton

In his 20+ year career, Billy has served organizations ranging from marketing agencies and tech startups to universities and state government. His integrated background in digital technologies, design, and marketing helps Billy connect with diverse partners to solve complex problems and deliver user-focused solutions. Billy has completed a ten-month Government CIO course at UNC-Chapel Hill and executive education courses on 21st century leadership and digital transformation in government at Harvard Kennedy School. Billy has served as IT Director for the PTP (Permitting Transformation Program) at DEQ since March 2022. In May, 2025, he moved into the role of Interim CIO of DEQ. 

 

 

City of Winston-Salem

Union County Government

 

 

Denise Davis

Denise Davis serves as the Technology Services Officer (TSO) for the City of Charlotte’s Innovation & Technology Department, a centralized organization supporting all 23 city departments. In her role, she leads the Enterprise Project Management Office (EPMO), Work Intake, and Communications teams—bringing structure, strategy, and storytelling together to deliver impactful technology with clarity and purpose. With a career spanning Fortune 100 companies to fast-paced startups, Denise has always centered her work on one constant: people. Her approach to leadership is rooted in connection, trust, and customer-centricity, ensuring that technology not only functions but truly serves. Denise’s own career shifted the day she stopped asking, “What’s missing?” and instead asked, “What can I bring to the role?” That mindset unlocked her authentic advantage: focusing inward to define her version of success and lead from a place of meaning. Today, she champions a vision of technology where operational excellence and human potential go hand in hand because in her words, technology only matters when it empowers the people who surround it. 

 

 

Ted Norris

Bio here.

 

 

Amy Gauldin

Bio here.

 

 

Jodie Razdrh

Jodie Razdrh is an accomplished IT professional with 28 years of experience, including 20 years dedicated to local government.  Over the past 7 years, Jodie has successfully built the Buncombe County IT Project Management Office.  She has led dozens of complex projects while managing cross-functional teams and stakeholder expectations to ensure successful outcomes. As the manager of the PMO division of IT, Jodie has established governance frameworks, optimized IT project portfolios, and aligned delivery with business strategy. Jodie is passionate about bridging the gap between technology and operations to drive innovation, efficiency, and long-term value. Jodie looks forward to sharing her extensive experience and insights, highlighting the importance of effective project management and strategic alignment in IT. 

 

 

Greg Marrow

Greg Marrow, CIO for Durham County Government, is a seasoned public sector CIO with over 35 years of technology experience leading technology transformation. As the architect behind Durham County’s nationally recognized digital initiatives, Greg brings firsthand expertise in modernizing IT operations and deploying Generative AI solutions that serve both employees and citizens.

 

 

Jon Amelio

I have been a CTO, CIO/Director of IT in the public sector for over 10 years and the public sector for another 10+ years;    BS in Information Science,  MBA and CGCIO.

 

 

Jarrette Dineen

Jarrette Dineen is a seasoned technology leader with over 15 years of dedicated experience within North Carolina's public education sector. He currently serves as the Director of IT Security and Project Management for Guilford County Schools and Cyber Electromagnetic Warfare Officer in the NC Army National Guard.

 

 

Eric Grau

Eric Grau is an accomplished IT Director with 20 years of experience, including 12 years in local government. With a strong background in software development, data analytics, and project management, Eric excels in leading teams and driving innovation.  In his current role, Eric has led teams in responding to natural disasters, such as Hurricane Helene and COVID-19, has successfully managed the department through major projects such as the migration from .ORG to .GOV domains, and has established a robust IT governance framework across the County Government.  His Master's in Public Administration further supports his commitment to effective public service. Eric looks forward to sharing his leadership insights and experiences at the conference.

 

 

Lee Clark

Network Systems Analyst at Asheboro City Schools with 28 years of IT experience.

 

 

Joseph P. Smith

Joseph P. Smith is a Certified Government Chief Information Officer (CGCIO) and dedicated municipal IT professional with a strong background in both technology and public administration. Known for bridging gaps between departments and translating complex challenges into practical solutions, Joseph is committed to the philosophy that technology should make life better for everyone. He approaches his work with a spirit of public service, using his expertise to streamline processes, foster collaboration, and deliver secure, accessible, and efficient services to his community. Joseph brings a people-first mindset to every project, believing that the most impactful innovations are those that serve and empower others. Outside of work, Joseph is an avid learner and lifelong education advocate. He enjoys classic literature, music, and retro gaming, and spends his free time tracking weather as a SKYWARN spotter. Joseph is also a devoted animal lover, caring for several rescue cats. He believes in kindness, curiosity, and making the world a little better every day, whether through technology, caring for animals, or everyday actions.

 

 

Christine Weber

Bio here.

 

 

Chris Quinn

Chris Quinn is a seasoned Systems Engineer with over two decades of IT experience, including eight years in local government. His diverse background spans the non-profit and corporate sectors. Currently, Chris is pursuing a Master of Public Administration at Western Carolina University.  In his role as Senior Network Engineer for Buncombe County, Chris has been integral to numerous large-scale IT projects. His responsibilities include maintaining the county's network infrastructure, with notable achievements such as replacing the Network Core infrastructure, implementing datacenter failover, deploying VMware NSX, and Clearpass WiredNAC. Presently, he is designing an SD-WAN infrastructure to provide  secure network connectivity for fire station alerting across 34 sites, utilizing Cradlepoint SecureConnect SASE with redundant cellular and Starlink uplinks.

 

 

Charles Mumpower

Charles Mumpower is an experienced technology practitioner with over 30 years of leadership in custom application development, data management, and business intelligence. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Data Quality at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, where he leads strategic data initiatives to support student achievement and operational excellence. Dr. Mumpower holds a BSBA, MBA, EdS, and an EdD, and is passionate about using data to drive equity, innovation, and continuous improvement in public education. His expertise spans enterprise data architecture, governance, and analytics, with a proven track record of building high-performing teams and delivering measurable impact.

 

 

Matthew Stewart

Matthew Stewart lead XenTegra's TeamX and is an accomplished cybersecurity expert who has over 20 years of experience in information security leadership including the heavily regulated energy sector and bio-pharmaceutical industries. During his career he has been involved in the development of several security startups, managed a 24x7 security operation center for a global MSSP, led incident response engagements for countless organizational breaches, and is a collegiate instructor for courses on multiple information security disciplines. Additionally he has held security leadership roles at TherapeuticsMD, MiMedx Inc, Duquesne Light, American Eagle Outfitters, Vigilant Minds, Robert Morris University, and the University of Pittsburgh. Mr. Stewart has a Master of Science in Information Security and Assurance, a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Security, and an Associate of Applied Science in Computer Forensics. He also holds several industry leading certifications including a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), GIAC Certified Intrusion Analyst (GCIA), and GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH) and is a SANS Mentor.

 

 

Robert Wooley

Robert is a Senior Enterprise Architect, where he has dedicated the past four years to the State and Local, Education (SLED) sector within Workday. With over 20 years within SLED both as a practitioner and presales resource, Robert brings a deep understanding of its unique challenges and opportunities.  Before joining Workday, he played a pivotal role at IBM, contributing to the development of their innovative Learning Experience Platform (Your Learning), which leveraged artificial intelligence and machine learning to build career and personal development plans for Education and State agencies. Robert holds a Master's in Business from Charleston Southern University, further enhancing his ability to bridge technological solutions with strategic business objectives.

 

 

 

James Harris

James Harris is a Senior Manager within Workday's Strategy and Value Consulting Practice, where he helps government stakeholders to understand and achieve the value and benefits of Workday. James has over 27 years of experience helping public sector, non-profit and higher education institutions as both as a public sector finance professional and a management consultant, where he has helped organizations harness the capabilities of enterprise business technology.  James specializes in leading organizations in strategic planning and visioning, administrative process transformation and organizational change management. As a public sector professional, James has worked for various organizations, including King County, WA, Alameda County, CA, City and County of San Francisco, Village of Oak Park, IL and the University of Chicago. As a Management Consultant, James has worked for leading professional services companies, including KPMG, Accenture, Grant Thornton and the Government Finance Officers Association.  James resides in the Chicagoland area with his wife, two adolescent children and his Beagle, Simba. James holds a Master of Science Degree from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of California at Berkeley.

 

 

Scott Raba

Scott Raba is a Field Solutions Architect with Barracuda Networks. He has worked in the IT/Cybersecurity fields for the past 13 years and has been with Barracuda for the past 4 years. He covers the East Coast and assists the sales team by providing technical overviews and product demonstrations to partners and customers. His areas of focus are Email Security, Data Protection, and XDR.

 

 

Ander Hoaglund

With fourteen years of experience in information security, this accomplished engineer has safeguarded enterprise data and advanced the security posture of more than 50 higher education institutions. An expert in both cloud and traditional infrastructures, they bring deep knowledge in threat detection, mitigation, and management. Recognized for building effective cross-department partnerships, they align technical strategy with institutional priorities to strengthen resilience and support mission-driven outcomes.

 

 

Sean Gunter

Sean Gunter is a technology strategist and business development leader with extensive experience in public sector and carrier markets. He has helped organizations deploy advanced connectivity solutions leveraging Peplink’s SpeedFusion technology, Starlink integration, and multi-carrier partnerships. Sean brings a unique perspective shaped by a career spanning wireless, wireline, value added reseller, project management, and now OEM. Known for bridging technical expertise with practical outcomes, Sean advises IT leaders on building resilient, manageable networks that perform under pressure.

 

 

Keith Manthey

As BlueAlly's Field CTO, Keith drives the company’s modern data center offerings, focusing on AI, High-Performance Computing (HPC), and data-heavy workloads. With leadership experience at Equifax, Capital One, ChoicePoint, and EMC+Dell, he has a proven track record in accelerating complex IT solutions. Keith's passion for data and innovation is reflected in his seven Equifax patents and his role in building low-latency, high-performance systems. At BlueAlly, he’s dedicated to helping clients modernize their data centers and explore transformative AI and HPC strategies. Keith holds degrees from Virginia Tech and the University of Georgia.

 

 

Eric Gillett

Born and raised in upstate New York, Eric spent his childhood competing in multiple sports from baseball to basketball, wrestling, and football.  Influenced by his grandfather and driven by his competitive nature, Eric enlisted in the United States Navy after high school where he served as a communications radioman and special teams’ member.  After 8 years of service, Eric remained connected to the military through his defense roles at Harris RFCD and Cisco Systems while also earning a bachelor’s degree in cyber security.  Eric’s determination led him to earn dual CCIE’s in route switch and data center, and later, NSE 7 certifications in enterprise firewall, cloud security and OT Technology.  Eric currently is a Senior Sales Engineer at Fortinet with 25 years of Cyber Security Experience. He is passionate and focused on providing secure by design solutions to North Carolina.

 

 

Jason Smith

Jason Smith is the Manager of Consulting Services for Internetwork Engineering, a Presidio Company, with over 15 years of experience in IT & IT Security, including finance, retail, and aerospace and defense.

 

 

Marlin McFate

Marlin McFate serves as Public Sector Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer for Cohesity, bringing more than 25+ years of engineering, leadership and technology experience leading long-term technical initiatives. In his role as Public Sector CTO/CISO, he explores emerging technologies, and recommends strategies, through research and collaboration with business and technology leaders across the company and public sector organizations. He is the strategic and supportive voice for customers, partners and team members, ensures successful secure solution delivery and advises on the direction of Cohesity’s research and development of its ML/AI powered data security and management solutions. An engaged leader, Marlin is an Army veteran and an experienced technologist focused on mission success.

 

 

Benjamin Gent

Benjamin Gent is an architect and engineer with over 20 years of experience designing and deploying complex data center, cloud, and networking solutions. He has worked across enterprise, SLED, and federal environments, holding roles in professional services, global engineering, and pre-sales. Currently a Business Architect at NWN, Benjamin specializes in enterprise networking, storage, compute, and data center solutions, supporting top-performing sales teams with technical design, scoping, and delivery.  His career spans from cloud architecture at Tribune Media (Nexstar) & Revlon, professional consulting at Riverbed, and nearly two decades of hands-on expertise in virtualization, storage, disaster recovery, and SD-WAN. Ben has been with NWN for almost 6 years.  Known for bridging technical depth with business outcomes, Benjamin has guided organizations through critical migrations, large-scale deployments, and customer success challenges, consistently delivering measurable results.