Sharkbytes.net

Season 6: Episode 9: The New Reality: When Technology Leadership Becomes Change Management

A conversation with Rolland Kornblau, Director of Technology, City of San Bernardino

With over 27 years of experience in education and local government, Rolland Kornblau shares his motivation for contributing a chapter in PTI’s new book, CIO Leadership for Cities and Counties – Emerging Trends and Practices, Revised Third Edition. You will learn what led to change management becoming one of the key areas of leadership for the modern CIO. 

Season 6: Episode 8: Accessibility in the Digital and AI Age

A conversation with Don Torrez, principal of Torrez Solutions, and Co-host Mary Frances Coryell, Chief Revenue Officer at CITIBOT.

Don has dedicated his expertise to helping organizations build inclusive digital experiences that are accessible to all. ADA compliance is more than a regulation – millions of people depend on it. He has spent the last two decades building meaningful partnerships that move the needle—from expanding multimillion-dollar revenue programs to launching AI-powered tools that support thousands of local governments. Learn how Don arrived at where he i...

Season 6: Episode 7: Inside “CIO Leadership for Cities and Counties” new book!

A conversation with Darryl Polk, Director of Education, Public Technology Institute (PTI), with Alan Shark.

Originally recorded in May 2026 as part of PTI’s Professional Development Series, which can be found on PTI’s YouTube Channel, Darryl and Alan discuss the background of how this book came to be, including the launch of the first edition, which PTI published in 2009. Today, 17 years later, the Third Edition is here. You will learn, this is more between the covers and the impact it has had on t...

Season 6, Episode 6: Tech Leadership – Balancing People and Technology

A conversation with Angie Wright, CGCIO, Chief Technology Officer at City of Beaumont, Texas, with Co-host Mary Frances Coryell, Chief Revenue Officer, CITIBOT.

Angie Wright has been with the City of Beaumont, Texas, for nearly 15 years, with the last 3.5 years serving as Chief Technology Officer. From a sales associate role at RadioShack, she moved up the network admin chain, then toward tech leadership positions of increasing responsibility. Angie is a nationally recognized tech leader known for her practical approach to technology, commitment to staff development, an...

Season 6: Episode 5: AI, Organizational Leadership, and the Water Sector: The Power, Peril, and Potential of AI for Emerging Leaders

A conversation with Alan Shark and Google’s NotebookLM.

Why AI matters now in the water sector. In an Emerging Leaders Workshop held a few days ago in Washington, DC, sponsored by the Water and Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association (WWEMA), Dr. Alan R. Shark led a session, “AI, Organizational Leadership, and the Water Sector: The Power, Peril, and Potential of AI for Emerging Leaders. He spoke about why AI matters now in the water sector and the...

Season 6: Episode 4: Overcoming AI Paralysis and the Dangers of Shadow AI

A conversation with Alan Shark and Google’s NotebookLM.

In a recent interview with AI Data Press, Dr. Shark discusses the growing tension between institutional caution and the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence. He argues that public sector leaders are suffering from governance paralysis, remaining stagnant while waiting for flawless regulations. This hesitation leads to the rise of "shadow AI," where employees use unapproved tools independently, inadvertently creating security and privacy risks. To combat this, Shark suggests that organizations must prioritize AI literacy and en...

Season 6: Episode 3: An Innovator in Practice – from AI accountability to improving citizen communications.

A conversation with Mike Dawisha, CIO of Genesee County (MI), with Co-host Mary Frances Coryell, Chief Revenue Officer, CITIBOT.

Mike Dawisha is a seasoned IT professional leader who is action-oriented and an innovator in practice. He inspires his staff to be innovators themselves and is someone with a shared vision that is what is most needed now in Genesee County. In this episode, we explore many of the issues he faces and his biggest concern about AI and accountability.

Season 6: Episode 2: : Leading Change: How Chief Digital & Innovation Officers Are Reshaping Public Service

A conversation with Crosby Burns, Chief Digital and Innovation Officer, County of Marin (CA), with Co-host Mary Frances Coryell, Chief Revenue Officer, CITIBOT.

A relatively new position, Crosby shares how he is navigating the path forward, making Marin County a model of excellence through it digital services. For over a decade, before coming to Marin County, Crosby has straddled both the public and private sectors, building on his impressive experience viewing the world through the lens of customer ex...

Season 6: Episode 1: AI and the Student Paradox, AI Agent, NotebookLM Explains  

A conversation with Alan Shark and Google’s NotebookLM

We begin Season Six with a demonstration of the powerful and inventive AI Agent, NotebookLM. The “student paradox” can be explained as follows: While private and public employers increasingly demand candidates with strong proficiency in AI, higher education institutions often view these same skills as academic dishonesty. NotebookLM was designed as an experimental AI-powered research and note-taking too. Listen, as you will be simply amazed by what it can do! It is a podcast w...

Season 5: Episode 17: Predictions for 2026 and AI

A conversation with Alan Shark and cohost Mary Frances Coryell, Chief Revenue Officer at CITIBOT

In this concluding episode of Season 5, Alan shares his predictions for 2026, primarily about AI, and Mary Frances discusses changes she has witnessed firsthand in the adoption of AI in state and local government. Together, they discuss what we might expect in 2026.

Season 5: Episode 16: Pharr Out Tech Leadership with Passion and Vision

A conversation with Jose Peña, Innovation & Technology Director, City of Pharr, TX

In this episode, we feature Jose Peña, Innovation & Technology Director for the City of Pharr, Texas, cohosted by Mary Frances Coryell, Chief Revenue Officer at CITIBOT. Joe has done some fantastic things at the City of Pharr, which is nothing less than inspiring. He is a true leader and indeed not your typical city CIO!

Season 5: Episode 15: A Thoughtful Approach to Tech Leadership

A conversation with Jeff Scheetz, CGCIO, CISM, Chief Information Officer, City of Avondale, Arizona

In this episode, we feature Mary Frances Coryell from CITIBOT as our co-host. Jeff Scheetz is a well-known and highly regarded tech leader who has served as the CIO of Avondale for over eight years. Join us as we learn how Jeff has led his city into digital transformation, including the adoption of AI. 

Season 5: Episode 14: A Thoughtful Approach to Tech Leadership

A conversation with Joe Rivera, Director, Information Services & Telecommunication Administration, City of Laredo, Texas

Having started in the private sector, Joe has demonstrated a steady progression in tech leadership and, more importantly, a track record of success. Join us as we discuss local tech and the numerous challenges that confront today’s tech leaders. In this episode, we feature Mary Frances Coryell from CITIBOT as our co-host. 

Season 5: Episode 13: Three Buckets of Concern – The Perils of Federal Data Curation

A conversation with Denice Ross, Senior Fellow at the Federation of American Scientists and former U.S. Chief Data Scientist.

Denice was invited to be a guest lecturer on the current state of data risks in an increasingly polarized environment for Alan’s recent MPA class. She was so well-received and did an excellent job of spelling out what appears to be the current state of data (and research) at the federal level, which is being presented here. Join us for a fas...

Season 5: Episode 12: Policy, AI, and Cybersecurity - Inseparable

A conversation with Erica Shoemate, consultant, motivational speaker, and head of the EN Strategy Group.

Erica is a Tech Policy Leader with extensive knowledge in cutting-edge technologies like Generative AI and AdTech. Today, she is a consultant, motivational speaker, and more, and heads the EN Strategy Group. Erica has helped organizations dismantle ineffective policies and build people-centered solutions in tech, leadership, and equity. Erica previously served as a National Security Leader and Analyst at the FBI and across the U.S. Intelligence Community. In 2017, as d...

Season 5: Episode 11: State and Local Cybersecurity and Digital Risk: Strategies for Success in the Current Policy Environment

A Special rebroadcast from the National Academy of Public Administration, webcast featuring Bobbie Stempfley, Jeff Greene, and Traci Doaks

First aired on September 3 as a NAPA event, we present the audio portion here, given its timeliness and importance. 

As state and local governments face increasingly sophisticated cyber threats and rising digital risk, navigating the current policy and resource environment demands coordinated strategy, strong public-private partnerships, and adaptable governance models. Join Academy Fellow and...

Season 5: Episode 10: Looking Back to Moving Forward – A Vision for Future Public Sector Tech Leadership

A conversation with Darry Polk, Director of Education, Public Technology Institute

After 36 years of public service, Darryl has assumed a new and highly influential role as Director of Education for the Public Technology Institute. Darryl began his career as a 911 police dispatcher. Having worked for the police department for some 20 years, he saw an opening for the CIO position. He thought he’d never get the position – and has never looked back. Most recently, he was the CTO for Riv...

Season 5: Episode 9: The Intersection of Cybersecurity and AI

A conversation with Dr. Elizabeth Di Bene, Chief Information Security Officer, Loudoun County, VA.

Elizabeth has demonstrated a deep understanding of cybersecurity, network security, and information security, honed over the 20 years at CACI International Inc., the U.S. Department of Justice, and the United States Marine Corps. Today, she serves as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for one of the fastest-growing counties in the U.S., Loudoun County. She is nationally recognized for her expertise in cybersecurity. As if this were not enough, she...

Season 5 Episode 8: GovRamp Five Years Later – Its Mission Has Never Been More Critical

A conversation with Leah McGrath, Executive Director of GovRamp.

Leah McGrath, recipient of the 2025 Federal 100 Award from GovExec, has served as the executive director of GovRamp (formerly StateRamp) for just over five years, and she last appeared on Sharkbytes.Net in early 2021. Much has changed since then, as the demand for cybersecurity and now AI cloud-based systems demands greater scrutiny and understanding, especially when it comes to making purchasing decisions. The discussion will highlight the significance of the name change an...

Season 5: Episode 7: Special Edition: Ensuring the Future of Federal Data

A Special rebroadcast from the National Academy of Public Administration, webcast featuring Joel Gurin, Denice Ross, Dr. Steven Pierson, and Meeta Anand.

The federal government's massive data collections, a critical national resource, are under attack from the Trump administration. Federal agencies have already removed thousands of web pages and datasets following the president’s directives on DEI, climate change, and “gender ideology,” and other data collections may be altered to align with political agendas.

While dozens of organizations have success...

Season 5: Episode 6: The Marriage of AI and Cybersecurity – Opportunities and Challenges Abound

A conversation with Micki Boland, Lead Technologist, Check Point Software Technologies, Office of the CTO.

Starting with a military career that solidified her interest in information technology, Micki Boland is a self-proclaimed global cybersecurity warrior. She is a security architect with Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. She has over 20 years of experience in ICT and security system engineering, design, and architecture with the United States Army, Sprint, Nortel Networks, and Avaya. Micki focuses on helping enterprise customers, SIs, MSPs, and Telcos re...

Season 5: Episode 5: Training AI Models with Neurodivergent Human Talent

A conversation with Peter Kant, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Enabled Intelligence.

Having served as an executive at one of the leading tech innovation institutes, SRI International, Pete identified a gap in how AI models were being trained – and thus an opportunity. Without high-quality data inputs, AI models, including LLMs, will underperform or worse. That’s why Enabled Intelligence’s focus has been on ensuring the data used to train and fine-tune AI models is expertly and precisely annotated. What makes their approach unique is the...

Season 5: Episode 4: AI’s Impact on Organizational Boundaries and People Through a Qualitative Lens

A conversation with Dr. Sarah Wittman, Assistant Professor of Management at George Mason University’s Costello College of Business.

Artificial intelligence impacts all facets of modern life, particularly knowledge acquisition and assimilation, organizational behavior, and the growing relationship between humans and machines. This mind-opening discussion touches all the bases and more.

Dr. Whitman holds a PhD in Organizational Behavior, a Master’s degree in Communication and Politics from George Washington University, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from S...

Season 5: Episode 3: The Story of the Red Hen, Building a Culture of Innovation

A conversation with Scott Conn CGCIO, CIO of the City of Mesa

There is a reason why the City of Mesa has won 7 technology-related awards in just one year and is rated number 5 in the nation as a Digital City. Indeed, Scott Conn has something to crow about! He is an exceptional leader, motivator, and innovator. He has been a highly successful tech leader in both the private as well as public sectors and may have found his ideal position at Mesa...

2025 Tech Forecast for State and Local IT: All Aboard the AI Train and More Tech Adventures

A special webinar-turned-podcast features the executive directors of NASCIO and PTI. Now in its fourth year, Doug Robinson and Alan Shark once again share their views based on their organization’s research. To view this as a webinar see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fURO8VSP-c

2025 Tech Forecast for State and Local IT: All Aboard the AI Train and More Tech Adventures

A special webinar-turned-podcast features the executive directors of NASCIO and PTI. Now in its fourth year, Doug Robinson and Alan Shark once again share their views based on their organization’s research. To view this as the webinar see: https://www.nascio.org/resource-center/resources/2025-tech-forecast-for-state-and-local-it-all-aboard-the-ai-train-and-more-tech-adventures/

Season 5: Episode 1: GovTech Vision 2025: Innovating the Future of Public Sector Technology

A special webinar-turned podcast, hosted by CitiBot. This episode explores the pivotal trends shaping urban environments through AI and other digital advancements.

·      Bratton Riley, CITIBOT CEO and co-founder

·      Mark Wheeler, Former Philadelphia CIO and GIO

·      Ron Holifield, Co-Founder, Civic Marketplace

·      Alan Shark, Executive Director, PTI

Season 4: Episode 33: The City & County 2025 Tech Outlook

As with previous years, Dr. Alan Shark shares his views about what to look for in 2025. This podcast’s content is based on a commentary he wrote for State Tech Magazine, see: https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2024/12/12-trends-watch-2025-city-and-county-outlook

This episode borrows from an informative webinar where PTI held a Part 2 as part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Jamil Niazi, Director Of Information Technology, City of Stockton CA; Elizabeth Di Bene, CISO, Loudoun County VA; William Mann, CGCIO™, CISO, Borough of West Chester PA. Moderated by Dr. Alan Shark.

This episode borrows from an informative webinar where PTI kicks off Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Panelists include:

Nikki Milburn, CISO, Franklin County, Ohio

Ryon Saenz, Deputy Director, Information Technology Services, Alexandria, Virginia

Samantha Sendrowski, Director of IT Administration, City of Worcester, Massachusetts

A Conversation with Brooke Smith, NIGP-CPP, MIS, MMC, UCC, City Recorder, Murray City Corporation

Recently, Brooke has embraced AI technology to update City Policy, prepare new RFPs and bids, and streamline operations. She is dedicated to training other procurement and government employees on the ethical and responsible use of AI. Brooke's mission is to equip government professionals with AI and Cooperative procurement knowledge to reduce tedious tasks, enhance efficiency, and improve public sector effectiveness through innovation and education.

With over a decade of experience in public administration and policy, Brooke Smith oversees Purchasing...

A conversation with Mark Hampton, Ph.D., Executive Education Advisor, Amazon Web Services 

As an Executive Education Advisor, Mark works with higher education executives and line-of-business leaders to understand how cloud technologies can enable digital transformation efforts, particularly around the effective use of data and analytics. Prior to joining AWS, Mark served for 30 years as an administrator at six different institutions of higher education, ranging from a small private liberal arts college to several large research universities with academic medical centers, holding faculty rank at three such institutions. Throughout his career in higher education, Mark ha...

A conversation with James Farrell, CIO, Village of Bolingbrook, IL, with co-host Mary Frances Coryell, Chief Revenue Officer, Citibot.

James Farrell has lived and worked in Bolingbrook for nearly 20 years and has been instrumental in modernizing digital services for the village. Serving as CIO for five years, he now sees things differently. Conversely, his peers and citizens view him in a new way—recognizing the confluence of personal power coupled with position power. James is a people person who happens to enjoy fixing things and serves as an inspiration for all. 

Season 4: Episode 27: A Sure Bet, Reducing 200 IT Projects into Three Slots

A conversation with Bob Leek, CIO of Clark County NV, with co-host Mary Frances Coryell, Chief Revenue Officer, for CITIBOT.

(This Sharkbytes.Net episode is co-hosted with Mary Frances, Chief Revenue Officer , CITIBOT)

Bob Leek is the CIO of Clark County, Nevada. He started out as the deputy CIO in 2021 and soon became the CIO when the former CIO retired. Leek leads a team of some 200 workers, with a mission to drive innovation to efficiently deliver cost-effective, robust...

A conversation with Robert Newell, PhDCS, CGCIO is the CIO, City of Ardmore, OK

With hurricane and tornado seasons increasing in duration and intensity, Robert Newell shares his story of a recent set of tornados that hit his city. How he responded to some unprecedented incidents is remarkable and a story we can all learn from. New to the mitigation strategies was the use of artificial intelligence. This is also a true story of leadership and the need for succession strategies. Robert is a graduate of PTI's CGCIO program and holds a PhD in Computer Sc...

Season 4: Episode 25: AI and Chatbots – Beyond Scripted Response

A conversation with Bratton Riley, co-founder and CEO of CITIBOT

Bratton first appeared on Sharkbytes.Net in September 2020, when machine learning ruled the industry. Today, with AI on the rise, CITIBOT is now an industry leader. Learn how much has changed since then and how AI is playing a safe and meaningful role. As the son of longtime Charleston Mayor Joe Riley, Bratton was brought up in a family committed to public service. To this day Bratton continues in the family tradition as a civic an...

A conversation with Dr. Alan Shark, author of Artificial Intelligence-A Primer for State and Local Government: Everything You Need to Know Since Yesterday.”

In this episode, we go behind the scenes of DR. Alan Shark’s new book, “Artificial Intelligence – A Primer for State and Local Government: Everything You Need to Know Since Yesterday. You will discover the significance of the Octopus on the cover. Unlike traditional books, this book relies on AI technology for the cover, outlining, editing, formatting, grammar, and all cartoon illustrations. Hint: There are chapters and an octopus has 8 limbs.

See or...

A conversation with Dr. Stephanie Deitrick, Chief Data Officer, City of Tempe, AZ, and Nick Stowe, Chief Technology Officer, Washington State.

This special episode is a re-broadcast from The American Society for Public Administration’s (ASPA) Section on Science & Technology Interest Group (STTIG) “Lunch and Learn Webinar Series, that took place on January 24th. It is offered here given its enthusiastic reception and insightful discussion on AI and State and Local Government. 

A conversation with Jamie Wasculus, CIO, Saint Paul, MN; Jon Eichten, Deputy Commissioner, MNIT, MN; Barry Condrey, former CIO, Chesterfield County, VA; Shawn Riley, former CIO State of North Dakota.

This special episode was recorded from the closing session at the PTI Fusion Learning Partners Annual IT Symposium, December 14, Saint Paul MN. Listen to what this expert group has to say about the issues they are facing in 2024 and beyond. This panel discussion was so well received we felt it was worth repeating.

A conversation with Stacey Mansker-Young, former Deputy CIO, City of Chicago

Always the innovator and strategist, Stacey Mansker-Young served as deputy CIO for the City of Chicago for some 22 years before leaving for the well-respected consulting firm, Plante Moran. Stacey has witnessed monumental change during her tenure at the City of Chicago, serving under at least 5 CIOs. Now Stacey has entered a new phase where she draws her past experience and wisdom to help current tech managers improve their capabilities in the public sector.