Overview

May 19

The Center for Digital Government is excited to announce it will be holding a webinar on digital equity and how it affects governments across the nation. Join us on May 19^th at 11am PT/2pm ET to hear our expert speakers dive into the best practices state governments are using to make online services equitable for everyone and bridge the digital divide. On this webinar, we will discuss:

The people, policy and technical issues that drive digital equity initiatives
The hurdles governments face to push digital capabilities deeper into their communities
The successes on the horizon for governments who press for digital equity

Speakers

Fred Brittain

Chief Information Officer, Maine

Fred Brittain is the Chief Information Officer for the State of Maine. He was appointed CIO for the State in April 2019 after 25 years with the University of Maine System. His most recent position with the University System was as Associate CIO, with prior roles at the University of Maine at Farmington including Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of Information Technology. Throughout his career, Fred has developed a focus on aligning organizational technology strategies and service delivery, development and execution of strategic plans, and maturing organizational cultures through a focus on partnerships. Fred has long been engaged in developing future leaders through providing opportunities for growth, as well as engaging in formal and informal mentorship. He has served as president on multiple non-profit boards providing support and programming for children and under-served populations.

Michael Leahy

Secretary of Information Technology, MD Department of Information Technology

Mike Leahy is the CIO for the State of Maryland and is responsible for information technology, data processing, telecommunications, and systems procurement, planning, and management for the Executive Branch of State government. He is also a practicing attorney with over 20 years of experience in land use/zoning, technology development and transfer, structured finance, and administrative and privacy law in the medical, telecommunications and software fields. Former roles include founder of Ex Os, LLC, a company developing software market-based solutions to privacy and information tracking issues as well as former counsel to the University of Maryland Professional Schools (Medicine, Pharmacy, Dental) for Intellectual Property, Licensing and Technology Transfer, a former member of the Anne Arundel County Board of Education, and a former member of the Maryland Transportation Authority Board and member of the Finance Committee. His other experiences include working as an executive at the University of Maryland Medical Biotechnology Institute, Maryland National Bank, Koch Industries, Velox Communications and C1 Venture Partners, as an attorney at the Federal Trade Commission and as Policy and Legal Advisor to the County Executive of Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

Udaya Patnaik

Director, Office of Digital Innovation

Udaya Patnaik is the Director of the California Office of Digital Innovation. ODI is focused on transforming state government services using the power of technology, research, and design. ODI is pioneering new ways to improve the performance, accessibility and relevance of digital resources and programs to help increase equity for all Californians. Prior to joining the State of California, Udaya co-founded Jump Associates, a strategy and innovation consulting firm focused on driving large-scale growth and impact for corporations, non-profits and government agencies across 15+ verticals. He also worked in rural infrastructure development. Udaya sits on the board of Just Human Productions, a non-profit that creates media to raise awareness and build collaboration around issues of health disparity, and the International Advisory Board of Fundación Chile, an organization dedicated to economic development and innovation in Santiago.

Teri Takai — Moderator

Vice President, e.Republic

Teri Takai is the Co-Executive Director of the Center for Digital Government, a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. She worked for Ford Motor Company for 30 years in global application development and information technology strategic planning. From Ford, she moved to EDS in support of General Motors. A long-time interest in public service led her to the government sector, first as CIO of the State of Michigan, then as CIO of the State of California, and subsequently the CIO of the U.S. Department of Defense, the first woman appointed to this role. She then served as the CIO for Meridian Health Plan. She is a member of several industry advisory boards.

Webinar

Digital Equity: How State Governments Can Bridge the Gap for a Better Future