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October 22, 2026Episode 24741 min
Stop Testing Your Recovery for Success — University of Wyoming, Grand Valley State & Commvault
A recovery test that only checks for success can’t prove much. Neither can a leader who only says “trust me.” The University of Wyoming is rolling out an AI platform for faculty, staff, and students, and owned up when one of the trainings went too fast. Grand Valley State’s IT team runs on values that spell ACT, and Miloš Topić is now on record to finish his leadership book sometime in 2027. And Commvault’s Jared Whitehurst thinks a lot of recovery tests are checking for the wrong thing. I sat down with Amy McLaughlin, Miloš, and Jared at EDUCAUSE 2026 in Denver to talk about all of it. And yes, we also get into ResOps, the minimal viable campus, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, why the network comes first, and my first time wearing a cowboy hat on camera (courtesy of Jared). Timestamps 0:00 A cowboy hat for the home of the Cowboys 3:55 Why the University of Wyoming told everyone AI was coming before picking a tool 7:55 "I have now four witnesses": Miloš goes on record about his book 10:25 Who has the authority to say "we're recovering"? 13:15 Have the hard conversations before the emergency, not after 16:10 What happened right before that play? A car-ride lesson in accountability 20:10 Your backups are green. "But can you prove that it's clean?" 22:40 Why being nice isn't enough if you don't deliver 23:55 The AI training went too fast. Amy's going back to say so 26:50 Why GVSU’s IT values spell ACT: accountability, collaboration, trust 29:45 Practice vs. perform: why Jared says teams should rehearse their recoveries Connect with the Guests 💼 Amy McLaughlin, Vice President of IT & CIO, University of Wyoming: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amymcl/ 💼 Miloš Topić, Vice President for IT & Chief Digital Officer, Grand Valley State: https://www.linkedin.com/in/topicm/ 💼 Jared Whitehurst, Director of Sales, Commvault: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-whitehurst/ Connect with Me 📬 Newsletter: https://techtables.com/ 🎙️ Podcast: https://www.techtables.com/episodes/ 😃 Guests: https://www.techtables.com/guests/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/ 💼 Powered by Info-Tech Research Group, Verizon, Carahsoft, & NinjaOne 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-public-sector-show-by-techtables/id1661752549 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0bFQBsDwKJkdNk2qENkhNL?si=0436c0c2ebca488e
October 20, 2026Episode 24630 min
Government Doesn’t Have to Be Slow and Risk-Averse — Ramsey County, MN
For the past decade, Ramsey County’s CIO, Chetan Ganatra, has been trying to prove that government doesn’t have to be slow and risk-averse, first at the state and now at the county. It started with a 2017 Star Tribune series on abuse complaints in senior care and his parents living alone in India. When he arrived at the county four and a half years ago, at least 7 to 10 escalations hit his inbox every day. The systems are about the same today. The inbox isn’t. I talked with Chetan about all of it. And yes, we also get into the first team, why the state felt like a vaccine lab, what he gets out of the GOVIT Leadership Summit & Symposium, and more! Timestamps 0:00 Government doesn't have to be slow 5:20 Why Chetan joined government 9:30 State lab vs. county front line 12:15 Breaking down IT silos 13:30 Minnesotans and hard conversations 15:20 Service teams, not tech teams 16:20 Measuring the culture shift 20:20 Accountability isn’t a dirty word 21:10 Air cover and psychological safety 22:50 Numbers only tell part of the story 24:30 Why go to GOVIT? Connect with the Guests 💼 Chetan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ganatrachetan/ Connect with Me 📬 Newsletter: https://techtables.com/ 🎙️ Podcast: https://www.techtables.com/episodes/ 😃 Guests: https://www.techtables.com/guests/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/ 💼 Powered By Info-Tech Research Group, Verizon, Carahsoft, & NinjaOne 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-public-sector-show-by-techtables/id1661752549 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0bFQBsDwKJkdNk2qENkhNL?si=0436c0c2ebca488e
October 5, 2026Episode 24528 min
John O'Brien (CEO of EDUCAUSE) on AI slop, the future of the CIO, and skipping the messy middle
Recorded on-site at EDUCAUSE 2026 in Denver, inside the Info-Tech Research Group booth, this episode brings together John O'Brien (President & CEO, EDUCAUSE) and Mark Roman (Managing Partner, Education, Info-Tech Research Group). John has led EDUCAUSE since 2015, and Mark was a CIO for a long time before working with colleges and universities around the world. John and Mark dig into where people still matter when the answers come from machines. John raises a question that could reshape higher ed: if human connection becomes the premium experience, who gets access to it, and who is left with only automated alternatives? Mark makes the case that a CIO who sees across the whole institution could rise to COO, and the conversation lands on the messy middle of learning that AI lets students skip. Timestamps (00:00) Intro to John O'Brien and Mark Roman (02:55) College Isn't About the Knowledge (05:50) Moving Up Bloom's Taxonomy (10:40) Earning a Seat at the Table (11:40) Skipping the Messy Middle (14:20) The Future of the CIO (17:05) The AI Slop Divide (18:50) What John Is Proudest Of (21:00) From Young Professional to Board Chair (25:30) An Appeal to Kindness (25:45) Promoted, Still Doing the Old Job (26:35) Start With Values Connect with the Guests 💼 John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnobrienphd/ 💼 Mark's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markromanlinkedin/ Connect with Me 🌐 Full episode & transcript: https://podcast.techtables.com/educause-john-obrien-ai-slop/ 📬 Newsletter: https://techtables.com/ 🎙️ Podcast: https://podcast.techtables.com/ 🤝 Community: https://techtables.com/communities-local-government 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/ 💼 Powered By Info-Tech Research Group, Verizon, Carahsoft, & NinjaOne https://podcast.techtables.com/sponsors/ 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-public-sector-show-by-techtables/id1661752549 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0bFQBsDwKJkdNk2qENkhNL?si=0436c0c2ebca488e
September 28, 2026Episode 24440 min
#244: Orange County, NC — The AI Idea That Built a Tax Calculator in 1 Day
In this episode , Rob Reynolds (CIO, Orange County, North Carolina) talks about coming from a big Navy family. His dad served in Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs), the unit Rob calls the first Navy SEALs, and in the '60s his team was first out to the space capsules to get the astronauts out. Rob followed his dad into the Navy, then spent about 30 years in IT, including 2 turns as a CISO. Rob shares what happens when you give people the tools, from the AI sandbox behind a staffer's tax calculator idea, to users trained to flag the message that looks like it came from Rob, to a $10M ARPA broadband buildout that has people calling Rob to say thank you. Orange County also placed #8 in its population category (150,000–249,999) in the 2026 Digital Counties Survey from the Center for Digital Government and NACo, recognition Rob credits to his team's work modernizing county services. Timestamps 0:00 A Commodore VIC-20 at age 12, then 2x CISO, now county CIO 1:24 His dad's UDT team got astronauts out of Gemini-era capsules 11:36 An OpenAI Teams subscription, branded as the county's AI Innovation Lab 13:44 Copilot Chat for every county user, and learning circles next 17:04 The AI tax calculator: a former tax staffer's idea, live in 1 day 25:33 When "Rob" asks for gift cards, users know to raise their hand 26:36 An annual cyber survey, timed to October, sets the quarterly training 28:19 Even when AI is battling AI, it all goes back to people 31:31 Short training, no jargon, and CISA lunch-and-learns for staff 32:29 The $10M ARPA broadband buildout reaching about 6,000 unserved homes 33:52 The calls Rob gets from families whose kids can now do classes online 36:52 Why Rob still remembers the names of people who pulled him up Connect with the Guests 💼 Rob's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robreyn/ Connect with Me 🌐 Episode page: https://podcast.techtables.com/orange-county-nc-the-ai-idea-that-built-a-tax-calculator-in-1-day/ 📬 Newsletter: https://techtables.com/ 🎙️ Podcast: https://podcast.techtables.com/ 🤝 Community: https://techtables.com/communities-local-government 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/ 💼 Powered By Info-Tech Research Group, Verizon, Carahsoft, & NinjaOne https://podcast.techtables.com/sponsors/ 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-public-sector-show-by-techtables/id1661752549 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0bFQBsDwKJkdNk2qENkhNL?si=0436c0c2ebca488e
July 28, 2025Episode 21054 min
#210: Maricopa County's AI Teams Save 100s of Hours (Plus AZ's Child Safety 30-Year Data Strategy & Building AI for Service-First Gov.)
#210: Maricopa County's AI Teams Save 100s of Hours (Plus AZ's Child Safety 30-Year Data Strategy & Building AI for Service-First Gov.) Brought to you by: SentinelOne —Learn how SentinelOne empowers this state to stay secure. Verizon Frontline — The advanced network that keeps first responders connected when it matters most. Carahsoft —The Trusted Public Sector IT Solutions Provider™, supports government agencies and education/healthcare markets. Contact your Carahsoft rep today to access special discount pricing exclusively through the TechTables + Carahsoft partnership! Featuring: Aaron Judy , Chief of Innovation and Emerging Technologies, Maricopa County Steven Hintze , Chief Data and Product Officer, Arizona Department of Child Safety Kyle Patel , Lead Product and Engineering, Polimorphic What You’ll Learn: How to build working AI prototypes in 10 minutes that impress stakeholders and scale to production (like Maricopa County's animal contact tracing system) Why 30 years of unstructured government data delivers better AI results than traditional structured approaches—and how to leverage it The proven framework that helped one county identify 100+ AI use cases across 55+ agencies and avoid the "SQL query disguised as AI" trap How AI can recover 100s of hours worth of staff time by eliminating repetitive tasks while improving citizen experience The composable architecture strategy that lets you completely rebuild your AI stack within 30 days of production release without losing momentum Timestamps ( 06:00 ) Why 30 Years of Unstructured Data Beats Clean Databases ( 10:00 ) Beyond Press 1 Press 2: True AI Automation vs. Labor Shifting ( 13:00 ) The 10-Minute Prototype That Impressed Animal Care Directors ( 18:00 ) What Vendors Get Wrong: Extracting vs. Creating Value for Government ( 22:00 ) AI as Therapy: Validating Difficult Caseworker Decisions ( 30:00 ) The Mom Test in Government: Solving Real vs. Requested Problems ( 34:00 ) Innovation Roadshows: Getting 55 Agencies to Embrace Emerging Tech ( 37:00 ) Future Vision: Decentralized Identity and 24/7 Government ( 42:00 ) Amazon-Level Service: Building Public Trust Through Better Technology ( 47:00 ) Failing Fast with Grace: Building Psychological Safety for Innovation Connect 🤝 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/ 🐦 Connect on Twitter: https://x.com/thejoetoste 🏛️ Follow on LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/ 📽️ Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@techtables Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways you can connect with TechTables: 1. 📬 The TechTables Newsletter: Join our thriving community of senior technology leaders by subscribing to the TechTables Newsletter. Gain early access to the latest episodes, industry insights, and exclusive event updates. Join now: https://www.techtables.com/ 2. 🤝 The Collaboratory: The Exclusive Peer Network for Senior Technology Leaders in Public Sector, nationwide. The Collaboratory is a 100% Public Sector, Vendor-Free Private Community where you can connect, share strategies, and drive innovation alongside peers through monthly virtual meetings and our annual national event. CXOs Only Join Now: The Collaboratory: https://www.techtables.com/collaboratory 3. 🤝 The Better Together Series: a virtual podcast series where TechTables partners with leading CXOs and vendor partners for candid conversations that showcase real-world solutions, spark innovation, and drive industry action. Email me at joe@techtables.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com
March 20, 2020Episode 117 min
Ep.01 Why VR Leaders are Laser-Focused on the Enterprise and Industrial Manufacturing with Jake Rubin, Founder & CEO at HaptX
***Live from CES 2020 in Las Vegas! A big thank you to our brand partners who keep this podcast free to the listener: Nagarro is a leading provider of digital government services, partnering with state, local, and federal clients on some of their most strategic technology projects. Nagarro offers expertise in Digital Services, Legacy Modernization, Case Management, Data & AI, Service Desk, Cyber Security, and more. To learn more, check out www.nagarro.com . Today on The Public Sector Show by TechTables, about the importance of haptic feedback in virtual reality (VR) and scaling up hardware startups. You'll learn how HaptX is revolutionizing human-machine interaction using VR as the ultimate immersion technology. Connect with Jake: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarubin/ Timestamps (ps: if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, head to Spotify & follow The Public Sector Show by TechTables to take advantage of the timestamps below and the direct Q&A chat with the TechTables Team!) (00:00) Introduction (01:01) The enterprise market (03:23) Opportunities in industrial manufacturing (04:00) VR training for building motor skills (06:00) HaptX's vision for full-body immersive VR experiences (07:13) Challenges of scaling up manufacturing for hardware startups (08:28) Use cases for HaptX in the medical field (10:04) Jake Rubin's fascination with VR technology (12:02) - Challenges of scaling up the engineering and manufacturing teams Whenever you're ready, here is one way I can help you: → Join the TechTables+ Community Today Sign up here for TechTables+ https://www.techtables.com/signup Check out new episodes at https://www.techtables.com/ Sign up for Behind the Mic by TechTables: ⭐️ New Podcast Episodes Every Tuesday & Thursday are delivered right to your inbox. ⭐️ Every Saturday morning, you'll get 3 Interesting Learnings: from Mission-Driven Leadership to Cloud, AI to Cybersecurity, Workforce Challenges, and more- never miss insights from peers and vendor partners across the public sector. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com
February 2, 2024Episode 135 min
Ep.167 Mastering Accountability: 4-Step Guide for CIOs to Boost Team Performance & Minimize Burnout with Brendan Wovchko, Chief Technology Officer Ramsey Solutions
I'm excited to share an exclusive interview with Brendan Wovchko, Chief Technology Officer at Ramsey Solutions, a $250 million organization. Brendan leads Ramsey's 250+ person technology organization, overseeing engineering, product, and software teams. I sat down with Brendan, who has deep insight gleaned from years of startup to leading large-scale teams, to explore the topic of "Mastering Accountability." One insight that struck me is Brendan's definition of accountability itself: "Accountability is the repeated pattern of verifying that expectations are turning into results." Throughout our interview, Brendan shares tactical advice to drive accountability on both an individual and organizational level. You’ll find immense value in hearing how Ramsey Solutions creates an ownership culture. 📬 Subscribe to the newsletter In this engaging episode, you’ll discover: 00:30 - Leadership is like a never-ending pie contest. 05:25 - Brendan's path from software engineer to CTO and the self-improvement CTO journey 07:02 - Essential leadership books that shaped Brendan's leadership approach 14:03 - The dual need for business and engineering knowledge in technology leaders 17:18 - Transitioning from startup to managing large teams and the importance of accountability 19:30 - The 4-step guide to setting expectations for CIOs to minimize team burnout 21:12 - Avoiding "ious" expectations for better team communication and performance 23:09 - Understanding the DISC profile dynamics within tech leadership 25:38 - Brendan's personal evolution into a high-performing leader and his definition of accountability 29:24 - Visualizing expectations and understanding the need for prioritization in leadership 31:52 - A breakdown of the four leadership archetypes and the importance of self-assessment 34:59 - Strategies to elicit honest feedback from your team and improve credibility Become a better leader at https://www.ramseysolutions.com/business/entreleadership ps: What's been your single biggest challenge regarding accountability—whether holding yourself or others on your team accountable? I'd love for you to reply back and share your biggest challenge regarding accountability Mark your calendars for the 2024 Phoenix Live Podcast Tour April 1st-3rd, 2024 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Learn more here: https://www.techtables.com/2024-phoenix-live-podcast-tour Before we get into this week’s podcast, I wanted to give a special shout-out to TechTables podcast sponsors: SentinelOne , Verizon , and SAP. SentinelOne's AI-powered security platform to break down silos and protect this state's entire enterprise with real-time data and control. With seamless updates and overhead reduction securing 15,000+ endpoints across 25 agencies, SentinelOne partners to protect critical assets across states and agencies. Learn how SentinelOne empowers this state to stay secure. Verizon Frontline. The advanced network for first responders on the front lines. It’s your mission. It’s your Verizon. More than 35,000 agencies rely on Verizon Frontline and its mission-critical solutions. Check out the solutions built for first responders. Overwhelmed by Digital Transformation? Here's How One City Keeps Pace in the Digital Age. Provide residents and city employees with an even better, happier life through digital transformation. Download the Case Study Now ⭐️ Leave a Review If you enjoy listening to the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and let us know who you want to see next on the podcast in your review. Thanks! You can also Tweet us on @thejoetoste and tell us what lessons you learned from the episode so we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏🙏 🔗 Connect with TechTables LinkedIn TechTables https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/ LinkedIn - Connect with Joe! https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/ Twitter https://twitter.com/thejoetoste Follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/techtablespodcast/ Website https://www.techtables.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com
May 7, 2025Episode 20126 min
#201: UHCL's NASA Partnership + UT System's Enterprise AI Strategy [EDUCAUSE 2024]
#201: UHCL's NASA Partnership + UT System's Enterprise AI Strategy [EDUCAUSE 2024] Brought to you by: SentinelOne —Learn how SentinelOne empowers this state to stay secure. Verizon Frontline — The advanced network that keeps first responders connected when it matters most. Carahsoft —The Trusted Public Sector IT Solutions Provider™, supports government agencies and education/healthcare markets. Contact your Carahsoft rep today to access special discount pricing exclusively through the TechTables + Carahsoft partnership! Featuring: - Dr. LeeBrian Gaskins , Senior Associate Vice President of IT/CIO at University of Houston-Clear Lake - William Huang , Deputy CIO, University of Texas System What You’ll Learn: Student-Centered Innovation in Higher Ed UT System declared 2024 as "the year of the student," implementing the 25-year-old Archer Center Fellows program that brings 30-40 undergraduate, graduate, and medical students to Washington D.C. for leadership development The UT System's 12-week summer internship program provides students with 9 hours weekly of professional development alongside functional work in IT, business, accounting, and legal areas UHCL prioritizes graduate education growth through collaborative approaches with other Houston institutions, rejecting the "zero-sum game" mentality in student recruitment to create shared student success Enterprise AI Implementation Strategy UT Health Houston formalized a major partnership with OpenAI to provide advanced AI tools for medical students and clinical faculty, representing one of several mission-specific AI implementations UT System has deployed a multi-node private AI cluster at their shared data center for all 14 institutions to develop business use cases, creating a secure on-premises AI environment UHCL is developing 24/7 AI tutoring systems that help students identify knowledge gaps before exams and using AI analytics to mine historical student data for previously unrecognized improvement opportunities Cross-Campus Collaboration Framework The UT System achieves economies of scale by site-licensing Microsoft tools for all 256,000 students, faculty, staff and clinicians across its 14 institutions UHCL collaborates with neighboring Houston campuses to create consistent experiences for faculty who teach across multiple institutions and share licensing resources Regional partnerships between campuses with similar demographics (like Hispanic-serving institutions) enable targeted technology solutions for specific student populations Space & AI Educational Innovation UHCL was established through direct partnership with NASA, whose director requested graduate education facilities near the space center 50 years ago The university houses NASA archives through the Space Act and maintains strong aerospace engineering and space exploration business programs UT San Antonio and UT Health San Antonio jointly created one of the first programs combining a medical degree with a master's in AI, featuring three years of medical education, one year of AI focus, and a capstone integration year Timestamps 01:37 - William Huang's background and DJ experience 02:00 - 2024: "The Year of the Student" and Archer Center Fellows 04:42 - Enterprise AI Strategy across UT System 07:58 - UHCL's AI Policy and Student Success Applications 10:53 - Balancing System-Wide Initiatives Across 14 UT Institutions 12:00 - Regional Collaboration Between Houston Area Campuses 16:24 - UHCL's NASA Connection and Aerospace Focus 19:25 - How AI Will Transform Digital Transformation Connect 🤝 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/ 🐦 Connect on Twitter: https://x.com/thejoetoste 🏛️ Follow on LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/ 📽️ Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@techtables Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways you can connect with TechTables: 1. 📬 The TechTables Newsletter: Join our thriving community of senior technology leaders by subscribing to the TechTables Newsletter. Gain early access to the latest episodes, industry insights, and exclusive event updates. Join now: https://www.techtables.com/ 2. 🤝 The Collaboratory: The Exclusive Peer Network for Senior Technology Leaders in Public Sector, nationwide. The Collaboratory is a 100% Public Sector, Vendor-Free Private Community where you can connect, share strategies, and drive innovation alongside peers through monthly virtual meetings and our annual national event. CXOs Only Join Now: The Collaboratory: https://www.techtables.com/collaboratory 3. 🤝 The Better Together Series: a virtual podcast series where TechTables partners with leading CXOs and vendor partners for candid conversations that showcase real-world solutions, spark innovation, and drive industry action. Email me at joe@techtables.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com
June 27, 2025Episode 20434 min
#204: Why Texas DMV Chose $6M in Planning Over $150M (Plus TDLR's 25-Program Modernization)
#204: Why Texas DMV Chose $6M in Planning Over $150M (Plus TDLR's 25-Program Modernization) [Houston 2024] Brought to you by: SentinelOne —Learn how SentinelOne empowers this state to stay secure. Verizon Frontline — The advanced network that keeps first responders connected when it matters most. Carahsoft —The Trusted Public Sector IT Solutions Provider™, supports government agencies and education/healthcare markets. Contact your Carahsoft rep today to access special discount pricing exclusively through the TechTables + Carahsoft partnership! Featuring: Wendy Barron , CIO, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Courtney Arbour , Executive Director, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) What You’ll Learn: How choosing $6 million in planning funds over $150 million in immediate funding can lead to better modernization outcomes at Texas DMV The strategic approach to consolidating 25+ programs and 8 legacy licensing systems at TDLR into a unified platform How Texas DMV interfaces with 254 counties through 500+ Tax Assessor Collector offices and plans to streamline manual processes using RPA The innovative use of regulatory authority to combat human trafficking through emergency facility closures and cross-agency data sharing Why building relationships with vendor communities and stakeholder feedback loops drives successful transformation in government Timestamps ( 03:00 ) Why Licensing is Workforce Development: Career Transition Strategy ( 05:00 ) $6M vs $150M: How DMV Chose Planning Over Quick Implementation ( 08:00 ) 25+ Programs, 8 Legacy Systems: TDLR's Consolidation Strategy ( 11:00 ) Solving the "Page 10 Error": RPA for 500+ County Tax Offices ( 16:00 ) 35 Facilities Closed: Using Tech Authority to Combat Human Trafficking ( 18:00 ) Multi-State CIO Networks: Learning from Florida, California, Arizona ( 21:00 ) Innovation Sources: Vendor Partnerships and Stakeholder Feedback Loops ( 25:00 ) 2025 Execution Plan: Balancing Quick Wins with Long-Term Vision ( 27:00 ) New York's Planning Failures: Expensive Lessons for Texas Modernization Connect 🤝 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/ 🐦 Connect on Twitter: https://x.com/thejoetoste 🏛️ Follow on LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/ 📽️ Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@techtables Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways you can connect with TechTables: 1. 📬 The TechTables Newsletter: Join our thriving community of senior technology leaders by subscribing to the TechTables Newsletter. Gain early access to the latest episodes, industry insights, and exclusive event updates. Join now: https://www.techtables.com/ 2. 🤝 The Collaboratory: The Exclusive Peer Network for Senior Technology Leaders in Public Sector, nationwide. The Collaboratory is a 100% Public Sector, Vendor-Free Private Community where you can connect, share strategies, and drive innovation alongside peers through monthly virtual meetings and our annual national event. CXOs Only Join Now: The Collaboratory: https://www.techtables.com/collaboratory 3. 🤝 The Better Together Series: a virtual podcast series where TechTables partners with leading CXOs and vendor partners for candid conversations that showcase real-world solutions, spark innovation, and drive industry action. Email me at joe@techtables.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com
March 13, 2025Episode 19731 min
#197: LSU's $7.5M Student-Powered SOC + NJIT's Life-Saving Analytics + Illinois' Creative Data Applications Powered by Splunk [EDUCAUSE 2024]
#197: LSU's $7.5M Student-Powered SOC + NJIT's Life-Saving Analytics + Illinois' Creative Data Applications Powered by Splunk [EDUCAUSE 2024] Brought to you by: SentinelOne —Learn how SentinelOne empowers this state to stay secure. Verizon Frontline — The advanced network that keeps first responders connected when it matters most. Carahsoft —The Trusted Public Sector IT Solutions Provider™, supports government agencies and education/healthcare markets. Contact your Carahsoft rep today to access special discount pricing exclusively through the TechTables + Carahsoft partnership! Featuring: Craig Woolley , Chief Information Officer at Louisiana State University (LSU) Kim Milford , Chief Information Security Officer at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Ed Wozencroft , VP for Digital Strategy and CIO at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Mary Lou Prevost , Group Vice President | US | State, Local Government and Education at Splunk What You’ll Learn: Student-Powered SOC: A Revolutionary Education & Security Model How LSU created a scalable "student-powered" SOC model that provides real-world cybersecurity experience while enhancing institutional protection The unique public-private partnership with Techstream that enables 24/7 security operations while students work regular business hours State-level buy-in with $7.5 million in recurring funding that has expanded the model to over 20 institutions across Louisiana Developing the Next Generation of Cybersecurity Professionals How the model creates a direct pipeline to industry with the first cohort of students all receiving job offers before graduation The critical "six-week" timeline from student hiring to SOC frontline deployment, meeting the urgent need for cyber talent Why both LSU and NJIT open their programs to students of all backgrounds, not just IT or cybersecurity majors Expanding Data Analytics Beyond Security University of Illinois' creative applications of Splunk beyond security - from analyzing email marketing performance to library resource utilization How IT data helped locate a student in crisis at NJIT, demonstrating the life-saving potential of security analytics platforms The power of data visualization in communicating cybersecurity threats to government officials and securing institutional buy-in Building Consensus in Decentralized Universities The patient, collaborative approach to cybersecurity policy development with faculty at LSU through regular committee meetings University of Illinois' strategy of absorbing security costs centrally rather than charging departments to ensure wider adoption How cross-institutional partnerships amplify security capabilities through shared threat intelligence Timestamps ( 00:00:00 ) Intro ( 00:00:58 ) Meet the innovators: HigherEd leaders transforming cybersecurity ( 00:02:00 ) LSU's game-changing SOC model: Where university security meets workforce development ( 00:05:40 ) Addressing the 2.3 million cyber job gap: "We have to solve this talent challenge" ( 00:07:40 ) NJIT's bold vision: Expanding the student SOC model across New Jersey's institutions ( 00:11:00 ) Beyond security: University of Illinois transforms email analytics and library services ( 00:16:15 ) Data saves lives: How network analytics prevented a campus tragedy at 2AM ( 00:22:50 ) "All three have job offers already": The remarkable ROI of student-powered security Connect 🤝 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/ 🐦 Connect on Twitter: https://x.com/thejoetoste 🏛️ Follow on LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/ 📽️ Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@techtables Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways you can connect with TechTables: 1. 📬 The TechTables Newsletter: Join our thriving community of senior technology leaders by subscribing to the TechTables Newsletter. Gain early access to the latest episodes, industry insights, and exclusive event updates. Join now: https://www.techtables.com/ 2. 🤝 The Collaboratory: The Exclusive Peer Network for Senior Technology Leaders in Public Sector, nationwide. The Collaboratory is a 100% Public Sector, Vendor-Free Private Community where you can connect, share strategies, and drive innovation alongside peers through monthly virtual meetings and our annual national event. CXOs Only Join Now: The Collaboratory: https://www.techtables.com/collaboratory 3. 🤝 The Better Together Series: a virtual podcast series where TechTables partners with leading CXOs and vendor partners for candid conversations that showcase real-world solutions, spark innovation, and drive industry action. Email me at joe@techtables.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
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