Amy Bontrager focuses on the intersection of AI, people and public institutions. Her work sits between the White House and the General Services Administration (GSA), where policy direction, technology implementation, and strategy come together. As technology evolves rapidly, Amy is focused on two priorities: how institutions build and sustain trust, and whether the workforce inside them has what it needs to innovate and deliver.
Amy has led high-impact initiatives spanning the nonprofit sector to the White House. She founded SpouseForce with Blue Star Families, an initiative that provided military spouses with training and experience pathways into high-demand technology careers aligned with the realities of military life. She also served as the Director of the White House Leadership Development Program, where she built a strong community of over 100 committed executive leaders across government.
Angella Carlisle is a Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) Manager, leading the security compliance and audit function, for Guidewire Software, Inc. Over her 20+ year career in the cybersecurity field, she has implemented and managed numerous security compliance initiatives across the healthcare, banking, insurance, and technology sectors. She holds CISSP, CRISC, CHSP, and CDPSE certifications, is an ISSA senior member, and is co-founder and Vice-President of the Central Alabama Women in Cybersecurity (WiCys) affiliate.
Beyond her professional roles, Angella is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion within the tech industry. She frequently volunteers her time mentoring emerging professionals and speaks on topics related to governance, risk, and compliance (GRC), as well as career development in cybersecurity. Her commitment to fostering the next generation of security leaders is a testament to her belief in building a stronger, more inclusive cybersecurity and tech landscape.
Brian McCoun is IBM’s Technology Sales Leader for State, Local, and Education in Alabama. He works closely with public sector organizations to align artificial intelligence initiatives with long‑term technology and business strategies, helping clients modernize operations and drive meaningful outcomes.
Cassandra Brown is an Information Security and Identity Access Management professional with 15+ years of experience across the banking and software industries. She specializes in IT compliance, risk management, and identity governance, with expertise in SOC, PCI, and ISO security frameworks.
Currently a Senior Security Risk & Compliance Analyst, Cassandra leads audit coordination, supports customer security initiatives, and drives process improvements through automation and GRC tools. She is known for strengthening security posture, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
Dr. Christopher S. Davis is the Director of Learning at MPF LLC and serves federal clients including the Department of War, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Commerce. His personal research agenda focuses on data-driven educational futurism, drawing on his background in psychometrics, big data analytics, and RWE (real-world evidence) to create unique research instruments and derive conclusions about the development of learners on difficult-to-measure constructs. Dr. Davis’s work has been influential in the development of multiple federal policies and initiatives around learning, training, and education, and he has directly shaped numerous federal curriculum projects. His recent public-facing work includes multiple white papers and thought pieces about the influence of generative AI on the development of learners and the evolution of the AI-enhanced workforce.
Darby Westfall is the Founder of Leapfrog Systems Consulting and a 25-year veteran in data and systems architecture. She advises Birmingham business executives on practical AI transformation, from workforce strategy to AI-driven operations, with a focus on clear controls and measurable outcomes. As a former VP of Business Intelligence and Data Analytics, Darby specializes in translating AI complexity into decisions executives can act on.
Julie Stuckey is the Director, Digital Strategy and Advancement at BCD Travel, focused on how AI-enabled travel technology is positioned, communicated, and adopted in real-world workflows. She partners cross-functionally to translate product capabilities into clear value propositions for customers, all to improve traveler experience and support global travel programs. Julie leads program AI security assessments and internal readiness efforts, working with product and solution owners to develop consistent, credible responses to customer questions related to AI use, data privacy, and risk controls. Through her involvement with GBTA, industry speaking engagements, and mentoring, Julie contributes to conversations on AI adoption, workforce readiness, and the responsible introduction of emerging technologies.
Lakeidra Smith is the Founder and CEO of The Cyber Consultant, LLC, a cybersecurity education and strategic advisory firm, and the bestselling author of Cyber Curiosity: A Beginner's Guide to Cybersecurity. She specializes in translating complex security and AI risk concepts for non-technical executives and board-level leaders, helping organizations build the leadership literacy needed to govern emerging technology responsibly.
Over the course of her career, Lakeidra has designed and delivered cybersecurity curriculum on a national scale, developing programs for Fortune 500 companies and government agencies, while reaching more than 5,000 learners. Her work sits at the intersection of human behavior, organizational risk, and technology governance. She brings that perspective to every room she enters, from the classroom to the boardroom.
Lori Medders is the Manager of Workplace Productivity & Collaboration at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. In this role, she leads efforts to support and optimize collaboration and meeting technologies, including Microsoft 365 and Copilot, to enable effective and ethical use across the organization. She works closely with cross‑functional IT teams to advance artificial intelligence initiatives aligned with long‑term business and technology strategy. Lori brings a practical, enterprise-focused perspective on responsible AI adoption, productivity, and governance.
Michael Jordan has taught philosophy for 26 years and currently teaches at San José State University, where he specializes in applied ethics. He has been involved with the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl since 2002, when he coached his first team, and has since worked with middle school, high school, and collegiate programs. Over the course of his longstanding involvement, he served for ten years as the IEB California Regional Representative, five years as Chair of the IEB Rules Committee, and currently serves as Chair of the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl.
Mike Thomas is the Head of Customer Engineering for Google Public Sector US Central State, Local, and Higher Education. He has served the public sector for 6 years. Mike leads teams of technical experts dedicated to driving secure cloud adoption and digital transformation for government and educational institutions. By bridging the gap between executive strategy and complex architecture, he partners with public sector leaders to navigate modernization and unlock the full value of Google Cloud.
Sherry Barnes is the Director of IT Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) at Diversified Energy and accomplished CISA-certified cybersecurity and risk management leader with 20+ years of experience driving governance, risk, and compliance programs across financial services, global corporations, defense contractors, and research organizations.
With a career spanning both Fortune 500 companies and privately owned entities, Sherry has excelled in information and cybersecurity, demonstrating her capacity to lead transformative initiatives. Sherry's skills in Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) implementation are instrumental in ensuring the stability and security of organizations.
In addition to her professional achievements, Sherry is the founding member of the Central Alabama Affiliate for Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) and currently serves as President. Serving in this role highlights her dedication to advancing information and cybersecurity professionals within the community.
