Building a Cost-Conscious Culture for Modern Government IT

Muralidhar Kadambala

Deputy Executive Officer, IT Department, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, State of California

Muralidhar Kadambala is Deputy Executive Officer, Enterprise Information Management at Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, CA. He is an industry thought-leader and public speaker at various industry conferences including Oracle AI World, Los Angeles Digital Government Summit 2025 and others.

Shyam Kumar

Shyam Kumar, CloudNuro Corp

Shyam Kumar is the Founder and CEO of CloudNuro Corp, a Chicago-based AI-driven Unified FinOps platform that helps organizations gain visibility, governance, and accountability across cloud, SaaS, and AI Adoption Management and Spending. A recognized technology leader and member of the Forbes Business Development Council, Shyam founded CloudNuro to help enterprises and public-sector agencies optimize technology investments through AI and automation. He works closely with public sector customers to apply FinOps best practices that improve transparency, strengthen security and compliance, and ensure technology delivers measurable value. CloudNuro is the winner of the Chicago Innovation Awards 2025. Shyam is a FinOps-certified professional and industry thought leader.

Anthony L. McPhearson

Anthony L. McPhearson is an award-winning technology executive, Chief Information Officer for DuPage County, board member, executive advisor, and President of McPhearson Group with more than 20 years of experience leading enterprise technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation initiatives. He helps public- and private-sector organizations modernize operations, strengthen resilience, accelerate innovation, and achieve measurable business outcomes.

As Chief Information Officer for DuPage County, one of Illinois’ largest counties serving nearly one million residents, Anthony leads enterprise technology strategy and operations supporting more than 2,400 employees, elected officials, public safety agencies, and partner organizations. He oversees cybersecurity, infrastructure, enterprise applications, digital services, GIS, telecommunications, public safety technology, and innovation programs that support critical government services.

Under his leadership, DuPage County has advanced cloud transformation, AI governance and workforce training, digital service enhancements, public safety technology modernization, accessibility improvements, and enterprise cybersecurity initiatives. He is known for building high-performing teams, fostering strategic partnerships, and aligning technology investments with organizational priorities.

Sean McSpaden — Moderator

Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Sean McSpaden is an executive level information technology professional with over 30 years of experience in the private, non-profit, and public sectors. His background includes the start-up and management of several small businesses and he has served on the Board of Directors or in Executive Director positions for several 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations. Sean’s public service experience includes progressively responsible positions as an IT analyst, and in statewide coordination, management and leadership positions within the Executive and Legislative branches of Oregon state government.

From June 2008 to September 2013, Sean served as the state of Oregon’s Deputy State Chief Information Officer. Since 2013, Sean has served as a Principal Legislative IT Analyst with the Oregon Legislative Fiscal Office and as the Committee Administrator for Oregon’s Joint Legislative Committee on Information Management and Technology. In addition, Sean serves as a member Oregon’s Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and as Oregon’s representative to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Taskforce on Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Privacy.