CIVIC Tech Leadership Institute

Tony Sauerhoff is the Executive Director, State Chief Information Officer, and the Chief AI and Innovation Officer. He leads statewide efforts to advance the secure and responsible adoption of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. In this role, he drives technology modernization, risk management, and public-sector service delivery, while supporting enterprise cybersecurity strategy, innovation, and cross-agency coordination across one of the nation’s largest and most complex state environments.

With more than 30 years of experience in IT and cybersecurity across the public and private sectors, Tony has held senior leadership roles with the U.S. Department of Defense and the federal judiciary, and previously served as Chief Information Security Officer for the State of Texas.

Tony currently serves as President of the GovRAMP Board of Directors, where he helps guide national strategy for secure, consistent, and risk-based cloud adoption across state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, strengthening collaboration between the public sector and cloud service providers nationwide.

He began his career as a communications specialist in the U.S. Air Force. Tony holds a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity from Champlain College, a Master of Science in Information Security and Privacy from The University of Texas at Austin, and maintains CISSP and GSLC cybersecurity certifications.

John Hoffman serves as the Chief Technology Officer for DIR and the Deputy Chief Information Officer for the State of Texas. John joined the DIR team in 2010 and has held various roles within the agency in network and security. He is responsible for comprehensive strategic planning for the state's technology efforts. John and the CTO team also ensure strategic development of contracts and services which DIR offers including application management, innovation, and emerging technology implementation. As CTO John leads DIR’s Technology Guidance and Innovation functions to guide state agencies’ policies and practices for the effective, efficient use and management of state IT resources. John brings over 30 years of experience in the technology sector.  John holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri and a Master of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University.

Mark Leavenworth is the IRM Education and Outreach Coordinator at the Texas Department of Information Resources, where he helps connect government professionals with the training, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed. He serves as DIR’s lead coordinator for major annual conferences, including DIR Discover and the e-Records Conference, and helps coordinate the ELITE leadership development program in partnership with the Governor’s Center for Management Development. Mark also chairs the State Agency Coordinating Committee’s Training and Development Subcommittee, bringing together learning and development leaders from across state government to share ideas, strengthen collaboration, and build a stronger workforce for the future.

Jennie Hoelscher serves as General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer of DIR. In this role, she oversees DIR’s legal functions and provides thoughtful counsel regarding agency strategy and direction, procurement and contracting, rulemaking, legislative matters, policy advice and development, and employment matters. She leads a team of attorneys and staff in the Office of General Counsel that provide critical and impactful advice to the agency on all legal matters. Prior to joining DIR, Jennie was Chief of the Opinion Division with the Office of the Texas Attorney General, providing legal counsel to state agencies and lawmakers on a wide variety of legal issues. She also served as a Briefing Attorney to the Texas Supreme Court. Jennie holds a law degree from The University of Texas and did her undergraduate work at Baylor University.

Pamela is currently responsible for leading the Governor’s Center for Management Development – a 40-year-old program created to provide professional development for managers and leaders at all levels of the state government to improve individual and organizational effectiveness.

Previously, Pamela oversaw the executive MBA program at The University of Texas at Dallas, Naveen Jindal School of Management. She has led and coordinated international study tours to over 20 countries.

Prior to this position, Pamela served as a vice president, senior business development director at Atkins, an international civil engineering firm. She has over 25 years of business experience managing large domestic and international projects; directing strategic pursuits and winning multi-million-dollar projects; developing, instructing, and sponsoring a nationally recognized marketing and business development training program and managing multiple international toll collection system projects in Argentina, Chile, China and Panama.

Pamela received an undergraduate degree in civil engineering from the University of Tennessee, an executive MBA and a masters of science degree in international management studies from The University of Texas at Dallas.

Endi Silva is the Chief Experience Officer. She coordinates and promotes DIR customer experience activities and establishes DIR brand and outreach strategies. She started her state government career as a research specialist with the Texas Senate Research Center before joining the DIR team as a policy analyst in 2013.  She was previously DIR's Director of Technology Planning, Policy, and Governance. Born and raised in El Paso, TX, Endi graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Texas at El Paso with degrees in Theater Arts and History.

Trent Thurman is a seasoned higher education leader and educator with a passion for shaping the future of undergraduate, graduate, and executive education. Currently serving as the Assistant Dean and Director of Executive Education at the prestigious LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, Trent is dedicated to empowering individuals to become exceptional public leaders.

In this role, Trent leads the Executive Master's in Public Leadership (EMPL) degree program and oversees the Governor's Center for Management Development, where he drives innovation and excellence in executive education through a combination of custom and open enrollment programs for public sector and non-profit leaders.

As an award-winning lecturer, Trent has taught undergraduate, graduate, and executive students in the areas of organizational behavior, leadership, and global business. His dynamic teaching style has earned honors from the McCombs Undergraduate Business Council, the Canfield Business Honors program, the Texas Asian Business Students Association, and the MS in Technology Commercialization program.

Trent's influence extends beyond the classroom through his leadership of graduate-level global seminars to diverse regions around the world. Trent has led more than 30 global study tours to Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and the Middle East.

Prior to his current role at the LBJ School, Trent led the professional MBA portfolio at the McCombs School of Business for nine years, where he successfully propelled the program to the #6 ranking in the U.S. News & World Report's part-time programs category, the highest ranking in program history. He also directed McCombs’ pioneering master's program in Technology Commercialization (MSTC) for nearly five years. Trent has also held leadership positions at the business schools at the University of Tennessee and the Georgia Institute of Technology. 

Recognized for his contributions to the campus community, Trent was awarded the President's Outstanding Service Award from the University of Texas and the Student Services Excellence Award from the McCombs School of Business. 

Beyond his professional achievements, Trent actively engages in the community, having served as president of the Austin chapter of the University of Tennessee Alumni Association, a board member of the Trail Conservancy, the educational advisory board for Galvanize Austin, and the SXSW EDU Launch Advisory Council. Trent previously served as President of the Memphis, Tennessee chapter of the University of Tennessee National Alumni Association and was later elected to the National Board of Governors. Trent is also an advisor to Safely, Inc., an Austin, Texas-based start-up. 

Marie Cohan is the Statewide Digital Accessibility Officer for the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR). In this role, she leads the statewide digital accessibility program ensuring state agencies, institutions of higher education, and local governments have the resources and training needed to provide accessible technology to all Texans. For over 20 years, Marie’s experience includes leading large IT and financial projects, providing management consulting services for both the private and public sectors, and co-founding two Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) consulting firms.

Marie holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Management Information Systems from the University of Texas. She holds the following professional certifications: Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC), and university certificates in Change Leadership and Business Analysis.

Neil is the State Chief Data Officer for State of Texas at the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR). In this role, he collaborates with state agencies and institutions of higher education to enhance data governance, ensure data integrity, and promote data sharing across government. He is responsible for developing statewide data policies, standards, and best practices while driving initiatives to improve data management and utilization. 

With over 30 years of experience in information technology, Neil brings expertise in strategic planning, performance management, and project portfolio management. Since joining the Texas public sector in 2007, he has held leadership roles at the Texas Department of Agriculture and the Health and Human Services System, including Director of the Project Management Office and Director of Program Performance Management. 

Before his public service career, Neil worked as a Data Analyst and Business Analyst in the private sector in both the U.S. and the United Kingdom. Neil holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems, is a graduate of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs Executive Leadership for Information Technology Excellence (ELITE) program, and is a certified Project Management Professional.

David Tucker is the Director of Strategic Digital Services (SDS).  He’s worked at DIR for nine years, and in public sector IT for eighteen years, as a business analyst, project manager, technical trainer, program manager, vendor manager, and director. His certifications have included Project Management Professional (PMP,) Certified Scrum Master (CSM,) Information Technology Infrastructure Library Foundation Certification (ITIL,) and Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM.)  

As SDS Director, Dave’s team is responsible for supporting public sector agencies and institutes of higher education with digital transformation, upskilling, automation, and learning about emerging technologies such as AI and intelligent automation.

Meredith Noel is the Director of Applied AI in the Chief AI and Innovation Office at DIR.  The AI Division focuses on assisting public entities with using generative AI technologies, promoting AI technologies to improve government efficiency, supporting an AI educational outreach program, and reporting on statewide AI activities.

Meredith joined DIR in 2016 as a Project Manager in the Project Management Office.  In 2019, she transferred to the Office of the Chief Information Security Officer as a Cybersecurity Program Manager and received a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certification.  

Prior to DIR, Meredith worked for the Texas Department of Agriculture for 11 years in the Food and Nutrition and IT Divisions.

Meredith was born and raised in south Louisiana and has a bachelor’s degree in Business Systems, Analysis and Technology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Amy N. Kelley is the Chief Information Officer at DIR. From May 2018 until January 2025, she served as CIO and acting Chief Information Security Officer for COAERS, the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System, providing retirement, disability, and death benefits to nearly 20,000 City of Austin employees, retirees, and beneficiaries. Before that, she spent a decade as CIO for the City of Bee Cave and managed information systems at ONR, a health care company. A University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business graduate, Kelley also serves on the board of SIM Austin, the local chapter of the Society for Information Management.

Eileen is a recognized global leadership consultant and organizational psychologist specializing in organizational health and effectiveness through education, consulting, facilitation, and executive coaching. She has extensive practical experience in the field of global communications, global leadership and cultural competency development. throughout North America, Europe, Australia, Africa, and Asia.

Eileen fosters productive relationships for organizations and strengthens employee commitment to ensure greater levels of collective impact. As a recognized professional speaker, corporate educator, executive coach, and award-winning author of "The Naked Manager, How to build open relationships at work", her programs are thought-provoking, results-oriented, entertaining, and inspirational. She has also written, "The Agile Business Leader, The Four Roles of Successful Leaders" (translated into Chinese) and “Where Noah Went Wrong, seven sink or swim lessons for leaders.” All of her books focus on being responsive, adaptive, and inclusive in an era filled with confusion, contradictions, and corruption.

Clients seek out Eileen because she has mastered the art of identifying the root of organizational issues and has implemented strategies that allow leaders, teams, and entire organizations to become more effective.

Eileen is widely regarded as one of the thought leaders in international facilitation, as well as being a co-founder and Chair Emeritus of the International Institute for Facilitation.

Lisa Jammer is the Chief People and Culture Officer at DIR. In this role, she leads the vision, strategy, development, and execution of talent and culture management programs to advance the agency’s mission, vision, and core value statements. She has more than 20 years of human resources experience with 14 of those spent in Texas state government. She successfully completed the Governor’s Executive Development Program in 2021. Prior to state service, Lisa served in a variety of human resource, treasury, and accounting roles with Indeed, Waste Management, Continental Airlines, and the University of Houston. 

Lisa has a Master of Science in Human Resource Development from the University of Houston, Bachelor of Science in Business Management. She has successfully earned the PHR and SHRM-CP designations

Lisa Massock serves as the Chief Procurement Officer at DIR. As the Chief Procurement Officer, she oversees the procurement and contracting functions for DIR. She has over 20 years of experience in procurement and contracting for state, federal programs, and non-profit entities. Lisa has been with the State of Texas for 18 years in various roles throughout the contract cycle. 

Lisa holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Utah and a Masters of Business Administration from Concordia University.

Craig Myers holds a B.A. from DePauw University and multiple certifications, including Project Management Professional (PMP), Scrum Master, ITIL Foundations, Business Analysis, and Software Quality Engineering.

As Director of the Project Management Office at the State of Texas Department of Information Resources, Craig has coordinated agency-wide initiatives, aligning projects with strategic objectives and integrating methodologies such as Agile, DevOps, and ITIL into organizational culture. 

Previously, Craig held senior roles at International Paper/Temple Inland Inc., where he led product development and operations teams through complex transitions, managed high-profile projects, and implemented innovative project portfolio management systems. Craig Myers began his career as a consultant, developing user documentation and conducting software training for ERP implementations.

Jonathan King serves as the Assistant Director of Texas Cyber Command’s Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (ISAO). He helps synchronize the activities of the Cyber Practice, Stakeholder, and Innovation Centers with the goal of building the ISAO into a trusted statewide hub for collaboration—connecting public- and private-sector partners, expanding the exchange of timely and actionable cyber-threat information, and reducing cyber risk across Texas.

King brings more than 15 years of public-service experience spanning cybersecurity, emergency management, policy implementation, and program development. He has led statewide cybersecurity response and strategic-planning initiatives involving incident response, threat research, digital forensics, regional security operations centers, and the Texas Volunteer Incident Response Team. He also developed statewide cyber-response strategies, supported national exercises, and authored Texas’ inaugural Cybersecurity Emergency Support Function Annex.

Earlier in his career, King served with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, coordinating planning during more than 30 State Operations Center activations and working with approximately 40 agencies supporting statewide disaster response. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Administration and Planning, cum laude, from the University of North Texas.

Stuart Smith is the Chief Information Security Officer and Assistant Chief Information Officer of the fast-growing City of Leander, a municipality in the Austin metropolitan area with a population of almost 100,000 residents. In this dual role, he is responsible for day-to-day management of the city’s information technology department and for direction, implementation, and oversight of the city’s information security program. Stuart has worked at the City of Leander since February 2016 (then a population of 40,000), when he accepted a role as the city’s second ever information technology employee after 13 years of employment with schools in the University of Texas system. Stuart has worked over the last ten years to bring modern technology solutions to the City of Leander and address the unique challenges of a fast growing municipality where technology budget and staffing haven’t always matched the need.

Stuart is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Government Chief Information Officer (CGCIO), and has earned a Master of Science degree in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance. He also possesses certification as a Master Peace Officer from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and is a commissioned peace officer.