CivStart's State of GovTech 2026: Keynotes by Katie Savage and Francesca Ioffreda

CivStart's Upcoming State of GovTech Summit

CivStart has announced an exciting keynote lineup for its highly anticipated seventh annual national summit, State of GovTech 2026, scheduled for September 9-10 at the Silver Spring Civic Building in Montgomery County, Maryland. This event is set to gather a diverse group of government leaders, technology entrepreneurs, and investors to discuss innovations in the public sector.

Keynote Lineup

Katie Savage, the Secretary and Chief Information Officer of the Maryland Department of Information Technology, will be delivering a keynote address on the summit's second day. Leading Maryland's technology strategy, she oversees vital aspects such as cybersecurity operations and digital services across state agencies. Her insights will provide attendees with a clear understanding of how her state is addressing modern technological challenges.

Opening the second day is Francesca Ioffreda, the Chief Innovation Officer for Maryland. She will share insights on innovation practices within state and local government, shedding light on the steps Maryland is taking towards technology modernization, the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and enhancing service delivery for citizens.

Ron Holifield, an esteemed leader in local government, will open the summit on the first day. Known for his influential voice in public sector talent and leadership enhancement, Holifield is expected to set a compelling tone for the two-day event, focusing on innovation and the practical realities faced by city and county leaders in their roles.

Alongside these keynotes, the summit features a GovTech Investor Keynote, with insights from notable investors such as Tom Spengler from SOVRA, Rachel Stern from GovTech Ventures, and Jeff Cook, Managing Director at Shea Company. This panel will explore the current trends in government technology investments and the dynamics influencing funding decisions.

A Dynamic Program Focusing on Action

Unlike traditional conferences where attendees leave with merely a folder of slides, State of GovTech aims to equip participants with actionable insights and decisions. As Nick Lyell, Co-Founder and COO of CivStart, emphasizes, "We built this one so people go home with decisions." The summit features working sessions where attendees can develop AI use policies, participate in live cybersecurity breach simulations, and tackle on-the-ground challenges within their own jurisdictions alongside peers.

The summit is anticipated to attract between 200 to 300 attendees, evenly split between public sector leaders such as CIOs and IT directors, and entrepreneurs, investors, and industry practitioners who support them in their endeavors.

Registration is complimentary for government employees, underlining CivStart’s commitment to fostering collaboration within the public sector.

For additional information, including a detailed agenda and a full list of speakers, interested parties can visit civstart.com/sogt26.

About CivStart

CivStart is dedicated to creating technology tools that assist government leaders in navigating complexity with clarity. Their flagship tool, Clarity, is a free application designed to aid state and local government leaders in defining challenges and connecting with peers to make informed decisions.

To learn more about CivStart and their initiatives, visit civstart.com.