Keynote

Harry Spence

Day One

Brian Grayek

Frank Petrus

Mary Pittman

Day Two

Susan Akey

John Blyskal

Scott Reese

Joyce Rose

Angelo Serra

Day Three

Maureen Brown

Eugene Costa

Nancy DeRoberts-Moore

Richard Grayson

Kevin King

Mike Latham

Charles (Kip) Levinsky

Day Four

Peter Andersen

Joseph Finnegan

John Fraser

Jack Green

Nicholas Harmon

Leonard Higgins

Beth Holmgren

Leon Saunders

Harry Spence

In November of 2001, Harry Spence was appointed Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Social Services, the State agency charged with the care and protection of children, providing a wide variety of family programs. Currently, Commissioner Spence is leading the Department on a course to define the core practice values that underlie its practice of Child Welfare and to align its philosophy and structures with those values. In charting this course, the Department is attempting to bring the logic of “family-centered” practice to each aspect of its work. This requires a fundamental rethinking of basic work processes and organization. The process Mr. Spence envisions will build on the Department’s long-standing and developing tradition of family-centered practice, but in its comprehensiveness and coherence, it will result in innovations in practice that will fundamentally revise the way Child Welfare work is done, not only in Massachusetts, but potentially across the nation. Mr. Spence has served as Assistant Secretary for Children, Youth and Families under the Executive Office of Health and Human Services while in his position as Commissioner.

Mr. Spence formerly served as Deputy Chancellor for Operations for the New York City Public Schools, the nation’s largest school system; Receiver for the bankrupt city of Chelsea, Massachusetts; Lecturer in Public Policy at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard; Court-Appointed Receiver of the Boston Housing Authority, which became a model for public housing intervention across the nation; and Executive Director of the Cambridge Housing Authority. He has also worked in private real estate development and practiced law.

He received a J.D. in 1974 from Harvard Law School and a B.A. from Harvard College in 1969. The father of three children, Mr. Spence lives in Boston.

Contact e-mail: harry.spence@state.ma.us

Brian Grayek

Brian Grayek is a Principal Consultant for Computer Associates with more than 24 years of experience in computer technology, networks, and security. During his career, Mr. Grayek has given presentations worldwide and interacted with security professionals from most of the Fortune 100 companies in the United States. Mr. Grayek has been the architect of many secured networks, started several organization's security groups from the ground up, has been responsible for establishing security policies for personnel as well as IT, and has been operationally responsible for all the network, computer, and security operations for a global organization. Mr. Grayek currently offers his expertise and consulting to CA customers and other audiences on issues of electronic, computer, and physical security. He was one of two keynote speakers presenting at the White House Town Hall meeting regarding the proposal for the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace and also has been a keynote speaker for the Electronic Cybercrime Task Force. He has given presentations to ISSA chapters, Infragard, and other security organizations around the country.

Mr. Grayek also acts in a consulting role to the Office of the CTO in areas of security, wireless, on-demand computing, Linux, and web services. He is a CISSP, a current member of ISSA, certified in ITIL, holds the Certification of Homeland Security¾CHS-III, and is highly regarded for his security expertise in the industry.

Contact e-mail: brian.grayek@ca.com

Frank Petrus

Frank Petrus is a Vice President with the Center for the Support of Families and has 37 years of experience working in and as a consultant to public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and professional associations. His experience includes Child Welfare, community-based children and family services collaboratives, education, juvenile justice, runaway and homeless youth services, children and youth mental health services, domestic violence, drug and alcohol prevention and treatment services, and the application of information technology to human services. He has extensive experience in the administration and management of government and nonprofit human services and public safety agencies.

As a consultant and in executive-level positions in county and State government, Mr. Petrus has been in a leadership role in the development, assessment, and implementation of major children, youth, and family services policies. He was an advisor to the Federal government in the original development of both Child Welfare and runaway and homeless youth policies and regulations. He has drafted policy and position papers for State and county governments and professional associations and has played roles that have influenced both State and Federal legislation. He has also worked on Child Welfare court improvement projects in several States. He has provided leadership for Child Welfare best practices projects in 12 States and the District of Columbia, and SACWIS planning and quality assurance efforts in 13 States.

Contact e-mail: fpetrus@csfmail.org

Mary Pittman

Mary Pittman came to Motorola in 1986 with a background in engineering (University of Illinois) and business (University of Chicago). She held various positions in Motorola relating to business operations, marketing, and system design. In 1997, Mary assumed the role of Marketing Manager for the Radio Systems Division. This organization is involved in specifying and bringing to market wireless solutions for Government and Enterprise Mobility customers. Ms. Pittman participates in the public safety industry Project 25 process on behalf of Motorola and is an industry-recognized Subject Matter Expert on wireless public safety communications.

Contact e-mail: mary.pittman@motorola.com

Susan Akey

Susan Akey joined SITC in November 2004, as a senior member of their technical staff. Prior to joining SITC, Ms. Akey was with the State of Oregon, Department of Human Services (DHS) for more than 9 years. While at DHS, Ms. Akey managed several large projects and groups, including FACIS, Oregon’s first version of SACWIS. Before working for the State of Oregon, Susan was cofounder of a small software development company. Ms. Akey’s career began in Hampton, Virginia, programming database and C3I systems for DOD contractors on NASA and U.S. Air Force projects. Ms. Akey received her bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Old Dominion University. She has been certified as a PMP by the Project Management Institute since 1999.

Contact e-mail: akey@systemsandsoftware.org

John Blyskal

Mr. Blyskal has participated in the development of large-scale, software intensive systems for more than 20 years, contributing as a developer, lead designer, technical manager, and software process improvement specialist. He has had direct experience across all phases of the software development lifecycle.

As a Principal Member of the Technical Staff at the Systems and Software Consortium, Inc. (SSCI), Mr. Blyskal has led efforts to establish the definition, implementation, and transfer of evolutionary-based software development processes to SSCI members and clients. He was a key contributor to defining the Evolutionary Spiral, Managed Evolutionary Development, and Evolutionary Rapid Development Processes, as well as a study in Reducing Cycle Time. Prior to joining SSCI, Mr. Blyskal worked as a senior software developer and technical manager for large-scale systems at Science Applications International Corporation and Computer Sciences Corporation. He led software teams producing turnkey systems within the C³, Air Traffic Control, and related domains.

Mr. Blyskal received a B.S.E.E from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and an M.S. from George Washington University. He is a member of the IEEE and held the position of Authorized Lead Assessor for the CBA IPI in the SEI Appraiser Program.

Contact e-mail: blyskal@systemsandsoftware.org

Scott Reese

After serving 5 years as a financial worker determining eligibility for multiple programs, Scott Reese crossed into the IT realm in 1996 to support the implementation of the new eligibility system, ACES. He has a broad understanding of the business of Human Services as well as the technologies and processes that support it. Currently the Web Development Manager for the Information Technology Division, he manages development of Java, .NET, as well as open source applications on projects of varying scales and complexities. Over the last 4 years, they have converted a significant portion of the ACES legacy COBOL/IMS system to a Java/DB2 architecture with a web-based interface. Mr. Reese also oversees the development and maintenance of Washington's online application for assistance and numerous other Internet and Intranet applications.

Contact e-mail: reesesa@dshs.wa.gov

Joyce Rose

As project director, Joyce Rose managed the application development, the technical port from client-server to Java/web-based and, the Statewide implementation of the Wisconsin Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (eWiSACWIS). This responsibility included vendor contract and deliverable management with all project activities being delivered on time, on budget, and with quality. Currently, 4,000 Statewide child protective service caseworkers are using eWiSACWIS, which is an automated Child Welfare case management information system.

Ms. Rose brings strong leadership, innovation, technical knowledge. and an understanding of the customer’s business needs in facilitating the successful development and implementation of this large project. Along with her 30 years of experience in the information technology and systems implementation field, Ms. Rose is also a certified golf teaching professional.

Contact e-mail: rosejm@dhfs.state.wi.us

Angelo Serra

Angelo Serra has been in information technology in both the private and public sectors. His private sector work includes both marketing research and financial services. Mr. Serra transferred to the public arena approximately 11 years ago and has managed software development groups in the transportation and human services departments. Currently, he is coleading the Ohio SACWIS project, focusing on the technology aspects of the project.

Besides his work on SACWIS, Mr. Serra is active in the IT community in central Ohio. He recently has been on the board of directors for the Central Ohio Java Users Group, teaches at a local college during the summers, and participates in a number of other technology user groups. Outside of work, Mr. Serra lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife Julie and sons Giovanni and Dominic. He enjoys a healthy love of computing both at work and at home (though his wife wouldn't necessarily agree...). This love is exceeded only by his love of family and hockey.

Contact e-mail: serraa@state.oh.us

Maureen Brown

Mary Maureen Brown (D.P.A. University of Georgia) specializes in the use of information-based technologies for reengineering operations to improve service delivery throughout all levels of government. Her service activities focus on the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of advanced technologies to enhance organizational operations. Ms. Brown’s research publications in the area of technological innovations have appeared in Public Performance & Management Review, Public Administration Review, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Administration & Society, and State and Local Government Review.

Contact e-mail: brown@iogmail.iog.unc.edu

Eugene Costa

Mr. Costa has more than 28 years of experience providing consulting services in technology adaptation and financial analysis. He has a broad knowledge of integrated financial accounting systems, telecommunications technologies, network systems, and internal controls assessment. His range of experience includes the following:

n Specialization in electronic payment system design and testing, and in technical development of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) systems, requirements definition, design, acceptance testing and implementation

n Developing test guides and training

n Project management

n Experience with numerous industry leaders and government program officials

n System design and alternatives, impacts, and implementation strategies

n Author of a number of reports on the design of electronic funds transfer-based systems

Contact e-mail: eugenecosta@maximus.com

Nancy DeRoberts-Moore

Nancy DeRoberts-Moore has spent her professional career in the public sector with the last 15 years in the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). In ODJFS’ Office of Children and Families, Ms. DeRoberts-Moore has worked on both child care and Child Welfare initiatives with the last 6 years focused on Child Welfare automation.

Ms. DeRoberts-Moore currently serves as a Bureau Chief in the Office of Children and Families and is the Business Project Manager for Ohio’s SACWIS. Ohio’s SACWIS supports the delivery of Child Welfare services in a State-supervised, county-administered environment with approximately 6,000 public and private agency users across Ohio’s 88 counties.

Contact e-mail: derobn@odjfs.state.oh.us

Richard Grayson

Rich Grayson has been involved in application development since the mid 1970s, and for the last 12 years, has been a manager of application development analyst/programmers. Development platforms have ranged from mainframes to client/server to web with a scope ranging from small office to large enterprise applications. In the spring of 2002, Mr. Grayson became the technical manager and deputy project manager for the ORCA system development and implementation. As the ORCA project was coming to an end, Alaska DHSS under went an IT reorganization that placed all IT staff under a single umbrella. Mr. Grayson was promoted to his current position as the manager of the Business Applications staff for the Department.

Contact e-mail: richard_grayson@health.state.ak.us

Kevin King

Kevin King is a Deloitte Consulting Principal who leads the Firm’s Health & Human Services National Practice. In this role, he oversees all of Deloitte Consulting’s Heath & Human Services projects. Mr. King also serves as Deloitte Consulting’s Public Sector Regional Industry Leader for the Central Region of the U.S. Kevin has more than 21 years of experience with large-scale systems design, development, and implementation projects for large State welfare departments. His management qualifications are the result of a series of progressively larger roles in project management. He has directly managed the Deloitte Consulting IV-A projects in Ohio, Florida, Indiana, and Los Angeles, and has had significant management responsibility on other projects in two large States, New York and Pennsylvania.

Many projects that Kevin has managed are large-scale systems that automate the major programs—WIC, TANF, Food Stamps, and Medicaid. In some States, the systems include JOBS, Foster Care, Transitional Child Care, Refugee Assistance, General Assistance, General Relief, Energy Assistance, and Electronic Benefit Transfer, as well as other State-specific public assistance programs. In particular, the LEADER project, which automates IV-A eligibility for the citizens of Los Angeles, is among the largest client-server application implementations in the world.

Throughout his career, Mr. King has developed significant experience in the systems development life cycle, including requirements gathering, application design, application development, programming, and system implementation and support. Mr. King’s technical background includes programming, database design, project implementation, data conversion, and computer operations. He also has significant experience in subcontractor relationships and user training.

Contact e-mail: keking@deloitte.com

Michael Latham

As a senior Project Manager for the State of Ohio SACWIS project, Mr. Latham is responsible for the delivery of the Ohio SACWIS project and contract. The project includes all aspects and phases of the SACWIS environment for the State of Ohio. These include project management, change management, requirements validation, design, development, testing, pilot operations, and Statewide rollout. The project will replace seven existing county-based Child Welfare systems, as well as a central State system used for statistical and Federal reporting. The new SACWIS system will support 88 counties and over 6,000 Child Welfare related workers throughout the State.

Mr. Latham has more than 29 years of information services experience and 16 years of project management experience. For the past 12 years, he has focused on public sector applications as well as State Child Welfare SACWIS implementations. He is currently the project manager for the State of Ohio SACWIS project and has served as the Deputy Project Manager, and later as the Project Manager, for the Indiana ICWIS project. He was also the Technology & Development Manager for the Maine Automated Child Welfare Information System (MACWIS) project.

Contact e-mail: mlatham@drc.com

Charles (Kip) Levinsky

Mr. Levinsky has more than 20 years of project management, systems integration, and software development and experience. During the 12 past years with CGI-AMS, he has worked as Project Manager for a variety of government clients, including the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services; California Department of Child Support Services; California State Franchise Tax Board; California Department of Health and Human Services; Utah State Tax Commission; and the United States Internal Revenue Service. His areas of expertise include SACWIS, Child Support, and Tax and revenue collections systems.

Contact e-mail: charles.levinsky@cgi-ams.com

Peter Andersen

Peter Andersen has more than 30 years of experience in the information technology and security industry, working with multiple network infrastructures, computing systems and technologies. He has been listed in Who's Who on three occasions and, during his tenure as the Chief Technologist for the U.S. Department of the Treasury, was cited by NIST and GSA as a subject matter expert in Internet and Internet security. Mr. Andersen is currently an Enterprise Architect in the Worldwide Security Practice of Unisys where he provides consulting and IT architecture design services for a variety of Federal, State, and commercial customers.

Contact e-mail: peter.andersen@unisys.com

Joseph Finnegan

Joe Finnegan is a 5-year veteran of the Child Welfare IT trenches, leading a current team of 20 developers and help-desk staff in support of Iowa’s 900 child protective and service field staff. Prior to his move to Child Welfare, Mr. Finnegan spent 12 years in Iowa’s Child Support Recovery program area, first as a field caseworker and later as a project manager in DHS’s central office. Mr. Finnegan was one of the initial Iowa staff to work on Iowa’s compliance with the Family Support Act requirements of 1995 and 1998, assisting Iowa in becoming one of the earlier States to pass the Federal certification requirements. Mr. Finnegan’s most recent achievement is obtaining ACF SACWIS approval for Iowa.

Contact e-mail: jfinneg@dhs.state.ia.us

John Fraser

John Fraser has been with Cognos for 3 years. As Director of Public Sector Business Partners, he is responsible for building solutions and relationships with key systems integrators in the State, Local, and Federal sectors. Prior to Cognos, Mr. Fraser has worked for more than 23 years with other high-tech software firms and consulting companies.

Contact e-mail: John.Fraser@Cognos.com

Jack Green

Jack Green is the SACWIS director for the State of Utah. In addition, he serves as Finance Director for the Division of Child and Family Services. As a graduate of Brigham Young University with a masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, Mr. Green has had a varied career in Federal and State government and private industry. He has been with Utah’s Department of Human Services since 1989, initially as Director of the Office of Liability Management, and since 1994, in the Division of Child and Family Services. He was asked to assume the responsibility for the SACWIS project in 1998. Development of the project began in 1995. Operations were phased in and became fully operational in 2000. His experience includes CFO for a grocery chain, controller for the U.S. General Accountability Office, and varied business management positions with the U.S. Forest Service. He has been involved most of his career in developing new systems (mostly accounting) and working with IT staff to improve efficiency of business practices. He is the father of seven and grandfather of 27+.

Contact e-mail: jackgreen@utah.gov

Nicholas Harmon

Nick Harmon is responsible for business development and sales at Harmony Information Systems, Inc. (HarmonyIS). Before coming to HarmonyIS, Mr. Harmon worked for several defense and law enforcement Federal contractors. He has extensive knowledge of computer security and information assurance, having previously been a Naval Intelligence Officer; Deputy Director of the Department of Defense’s Information Assurance Technology Analysis Center (IATAC); and developer of policy and procedures for the deployment of a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), which included electronic prescriptions.

Mr. Harmon received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington. Mr. Harmon has been with HarmonyIS since 1998.

Contact e-mail: nharmon@harmonyis.com

Leonard Higgins

Leonard Higgins is a native Oregonian who began his career managing commercial construction projects in the private sector, and he has spent the last 25 years in Oregon State government as an auditor, budget and policy analyst, and IT manager. He served in the Legislative Fiscal Office as an analyst and staff for the Joint Ways & Means Committee. He managed IT projects at Department of Revenue and Secretary of State such as implementing electronic filing of State income tax returns, replacing Oregon’s legacy business registration system with a web-services application, and technical components of the Oregon Central Voter Registration Project. Most recently as SACWIS Project Manager at Department of Human Services, Mr. Higgins has led efforts to define and charter the new Oregon SACWIS Project, and will manage replacement of the multiple legacy Child Welfare applications with a single Federally compliant system.

Contact e-mail: leonard.g.higgins@state.or.us

Beth Holmgren

Beth Holmgren is the SACWIS Project Director for the Minnesota Department of Human Services. She has been with the Department since 1989 and has been involved in the State’s SACWIS effort since the planning stage in 1993, serving as Project Director since 1994. Before that, she managed the social services data and reporting unit at MN-DHS.

Minnesota’s SACWIS was developed in house and implemented in partnership with the State’s 87 county social service agencies.

Ms. Holmgren’s career in information technology began at Control Data Corporation, where she was a systems analyst, a senior consultant for database development, and a product line manager.

Contact e-mail: beth.holmgren@state.mn.us

Leon Saunders

Leon Saunders is the Administrator, Management Information Systems, for the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families. Mr. Saunders has worked in the MIS Unit at DCYF for more than 18 years and has been involved in all phases of SACWIS design, development, and implementation. Mr. Saunders has a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Rhode Island.

Contact e-mail: leon.saunders@dcyf.ri.gov