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Keynote Speakers

Mobile and Social: Technology on the Move
Two major trends are driving tremendous change across all sectors of the economy: mobile technology and social media. In his keynote presentation, Jon Gordon will examine the explosive growth of mobile computing/ communications technology and social networks such as Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus. He’ll explore the impact of these trends on how we live and work and take a look at how government is adapting to these new realities. Questions to be addressed include: Where is social media heading? How is it changing the news business and government? How mobile will we go, and is the PC dead? 

About Jon Gordon
Jon Gordon is responsible for social media, audience engagement and mobile news content for MPR News.  He joined Minnesota Public Radio in 1983 as an 18-year-old intern at KRSW in Worthington, MN. Since then, he has worn many hats as assistant/associate producer, reporter and host while working at MPR stations in Bemidji, St. Peter and St. Paul.

In 1997, Gordon left St. Paul for San Francisco, California, to pursue technology reporting for Minnesota Public Radio. As host and producer of Future Tense, a nationally syndicated program, his job was to remain alert of the rapidly changing technological world, and to present the most important and interesting information in a simple, straightforward manner. Gordon's work has been recognized by the Associated Press, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, The Northwest Broadcast News Association, and UCLA's Anderson School of Business.

Thursday Morning Keynote: Carolyn Parnell Chief Information Officer, State of Minnesota

Maximizing State IT
In her Thursday Morning Keynote Address, State CIO, Carolyn Parnell, will share a vision for State IT in the coming months and years. Questions to be addressed include:

• Now that the executive branch has consolidated, how are we planning for the future?
• What benefits can come from the new organization?
• What does it mean for IT employees, for state government, and for Minnesota citizens?

Parnell will discuss where we are in the planning process and how the current changes can maximize our strengths and efficiencies, and open the door to exciting e-government technologies for Minnesota’s state government IT. Hear how State IT is all about people serving people, how consolidation sets a firm foundation for government reforms that depend on technology, and how the changes will help us preserve our IT knowledge base during the retirement-boom of the coming years.

About Carolyn Parnell
A technology leader for more than 25 years, Carolyn Parnell has been appointed by Governor Dayton to serve as CIO for the State of Minnesota. Among her leadership roles as State CIO, she is the commissioner of the Office of Enterprise Technology.Prior to joining the Governor’s Cabinet, Parnell was the Chief Operating Officer for Information Technology Services for the Minnesota System of Colleges and Universities (MnSCU), the fifth-largest system of two-and-four year colleges and universities in the nation.