Save the date for the highly anticipated 2025 Ohio Innovation Summit set to take place on Wednesday, July 16 at The Ohio State University Fawcett Center. 

This event is in partnership with State of Ohio leadership.

As the premier conference dedicated to exploring innovation and technology, this event serves as a pivotal platform for fostering collaboration and driving progress across the public and private sectors.

The day will include panels and sessions with leaders and organizations at the forefront of Ohio’s innovation landscape including:

• Cabinet Directors
• Legislative Leaders
• Governor’s Administration
• Local Government Officials
• America’s Top Tech Companies

The state’s Innovation Summit will focus on:

• Citizen Experience
• State of AI
• Legislative Perspectives on Technology
• Broadband
• Procurement Best Practices
• IT Modernization with the State CIO

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with state leaders and peers to discuss and plan for Ohio’s current and future technology goals and priorities.  

Be sure to save the date and stay tuned for further details on registration and agenda highlights. Registration will open soon.  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                    February 15, 2024

Ohio Innovation and Technology Association Commends Lt. Governor Jon Husted for Pioneering AI Toolkit for Ohio Schools

COLUMBUS, OHIO - The Ohio Innovation and Technology Association (OITA), the state’s premier trade group for the tech-economy, extends its heartfelt commendations to Lt. Governor Jon Husted and the administration for spearheading the development of a groundbreaking AI Toolkit tailored specifically for Ohio schools.

Bobby Kovey, President of the OITA, expressed deep appreciation for the initiative, highlighting its significance in positioning Ohio as a frontrunner in technological education and innovation. Kovey emphasized the pivotal role the AI Toolkit will play in empowering Ohioans to engage with artificial intelligence knowledgeably and responsibly, fostering a culture of ethical AI implementation across various sectors.

“The Ohio Innovation and Technology Association applauds Lt. Governor Husted and the administration for developing the most robust set of tools and resources in the nation that provide foundational guidance for artificial intelligence,” stated Bobby Kovey. “The AI toolkit will help Ohioans who are wanting to learn about AI and use it for good in a safe and ethical manner. Lt. Governor Husted has made it a priority to ensure educators, families, students, and policymakers are equipped for the future with this developing technology.”

As Ohio continues to embrace technological advancements, the AI Toolkit stands as a testament to Lt. Governor Husted’s unwavering commitment to equipping Ohioans with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in an increasingly digitized world. By providing educators, families, students, and policymakers with comprehensive resources and guidance, the toolkit will catalyze innovation and pave the way for a more inclusive and prosperous future for all Ohioans.

OITA’s membership comprises some of the world’s most prominent and advanced tech organizations, positioning them at the forefront of new technologies utilized in both the public and private sectors. Through collaboration and collective efforts, OITA remains dedicated to fostering an ecosystem that promotes technological excellence, ethical innovation, and economic growth across the state.

For more information about the Ohio Innovation and Technology Association, please visit www.ohioita.org. For the AI Toolkit visit: https://innovateohio.gov/aitoolkit/ai-toolkit.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                

December 2, 2024

CyberOhio Summit Coming to Columbus on December 5

Columbus, OH – The state of Ohio’s official cybersecurity summit, hosted by the Ohio Innovation and Technology Association (OITA) in partnership with the Office of CyberOhio, will take place in person on Thursday, December 5, at the Athletic Club of Columbus from 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

The 2024 CyberOhio Summit will bring together leaders from the public and private sectors to collaborate on tackling Ohio’s most pressing cybersecurity challenges. This daylong event will feature expert panels, networking opportunities, and discussions on critical topics shaping Ohio’s cybersecurity landscape.

“This summit brings together the brightest minds in cybersecurity, government, and business to discuss solutions and share best practices,” said Jennifer Flatter, Executive Director of OITA. “Attendees will gain critical insights into protecting Ohio’s digital infrastructure and shaping the future of cybersecurity in the state.”

The day will begin with remarks from Kirk Herath, Cybersecurity Strategic Advisor to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Chair of CyberOhio, at 9:15 a.m., followed by a full lineup of engaging sessions:

Summit Agenda Highlights

8:30 a.m. – Registration & Networking

9:00 a.m. – Welcome from OITA

9:15 a.m. – Remarks by Kirk Herath, Cybersecurity Strategic Advisor, Office of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, and Chair, CyberOhio

9:30 a.m. – Incident Response Panel
Moderator: Dave Daniel, VP of Security & Infrastructure, Nationwide, and CyberOhio Board Member
Panelists:

• Craig Baker, Program Administrator, Ohio Cyber Reserve
• Johnny Collins, Managing Director – Cyber Threat Management, KPMG
• Pete Renneker, Managing Director, Cyber, Deloitte
• Wesley Withrow, Senior Client Partner-Solutions, Verizon

10:30 a.m. – Coffee & Networking Break

10:45 a.m. – Collective Defense Models
Moderator: Spence Witten, Vice President of Cybersecurity Consulting, 38North, and CyberOhio Board Member
Panelists:

• Enrique Alvarez, Public Sector Advisor, Office of the CISO, Google Cloud
• Robert Fulk, CIO, Office of the Indiana Secretary of State
• J. Marc Hopkins, Chief Technology Officer, Southwest Ohio Computer Association
• Mike Renshaw, Director of Security Specialists, Lumen SLED

11:45 a.m. – Lunch & Networking Break

12:00 p.m. – Quantum for Cyber Presentation by IBM

12:15 p.m. – Legislative Perspectives on Technology & Investments
Representative Melanie Miller, Ohio House of Representatives

12:45 p.m. – Local Government Priorities Panel
Moderator: Lexie Meade, Deputy Director, CyberOhio
Panelists:

• April Beachy, Director of Technology, Tuscarawas County
• Will Chambers, Systems Engineer II, Ohio SLED, Fortinet
• Peter Kobak, Associate Director, Ohio Persistent Cyber Improvement, Ohio Cyber Range Institute, University of Cincinnati
• Mark Stout, IT Director, Hocking County

1:45 p.m. – Coffee & Networking Break

2:00 p.m. – Critical Infrastructure Panel
Moderator: The Honorable Frank LaRose, Ohio Secretary of State
Panelists:

• Kimberly Jones, Director of Cybersecurity, NiSource
• Kristen Lowery, Vice President & Chief Security Officer, AEP, and CyberOhio Advisory Board Member
• Richard Maier, Special Agent, WMD Coordinator/Special Events, FBI Cincinnati
• Greg Niese, Director of Information Technology, Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives and Buckeye Power

3:00 p.m. – Ohio's Transformation Showcase & What's Next
Moderator: Katrina Flory, State CIO, State of Ohio
Panelists:

• Sugumar Balasubramanian, CIO, Ohio Department of Taxation
• Remard Colston, InnovateOhio Platform Administrator, State of Ohio
• Nathan Huskey, CIO, Ohio Department of Health
• Jasmine Ramaradjou, CIO, Ohio Department of Public Safety

A Day of Collaboration and Insights

“The CyberOhio Summit is a vital opportunity for cybersecurity professionals, government leaders, and innovators to come together, share their experiences, and work toward building a stronger future for Ohio,” said Bobby Kovey, President of OITA. “We look forward to a day of collaboration and impactful dialogue.”

For registration and details, visit www.ohioita.org.

About OITA

The Ohio Innovation and Technology Association (OITA) is an independent, non-profit and non-partisan statewide organization of Ohio’s technology-driven companies and industry professionals operating at the intersection of business, technology, and public policy.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                

November 30, 2023

CyberOhio Summit Coming to Columbus Next Week

Columbus, OH–The state of Ohio’s trade group for tech and innovation will hold an in-person summit in Columbus on Wednesday, December 6 at the Athletic Club of Columbus from 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. The 2023 CyberOhio Summit is a partnership effort with the Office of CyberOhio and the Ohio Innovation and Technology Association (OITA).

The CyberOhio Summit brings together businesses, citizens, and government to explore cybersecurity initiatives, build upon each other’s diverse knowledge, and tackle cybersecurity challenges.

“OITA is excited to present the CyberOhio Summit with the Office of CyberOhio.  The summit will explore protecting systems from digital attacks while sharing best practices, exchanging ideas, and making connections with experts and leaders,” said Jennifer Flatter, Executive Director of OITA.

The summit will feature many who shape Ohio's cybersecurity policy including Lt. Governor Jon Husted, Kirk Herath, Cybersecurity Strategic Advisor to Governor DeWine and Holly Drake, Ohio's Chief Information Security Officer, and Katrina Flory, State of Ohio CIO who will moderate a session that includes Matt Damschroder, Director, the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services, Patricia Harris, Commissioner, the Ohio Department of Taxation, and Kathleen Madden, Director, Ohio Department of Administrative Services.

The summit agenda includes:

9:30 a.m. Registration & Networking

10:00 a.m. Welcome from OITA

10:10 a.m. Remarks from Lt. Governor Jon Husted

10:25 a.m. Data Breach Investigations Report by Verizon

10:40 a.m. Cyber Landscape and Best Practice with Deloitte

10:55 a.m. Executive Perspectives with the State of Ohio CISO with Holly Drake

11:15 a.m. Local Government Challenges

Moderator: Dr. Richard Harknett, Co-Director of the Ohio Cyber Range Institute, and Chair of the Center for Cyber Strategy and Policy at the University of Cincinnati

Panelists: Frank Antenucci, County Deputy Administrator & CISO, Geauga County; Vinod Brahmapuram, Senior Director of Security, Lumen; Jill Davidson, County Auditor, Athens County; Jill Schiller, County Treasurer, Hamilton County; Andy Smarra, County Treasurer, Union County

12:00 p.m. Lunch and Networking

12:15 p.m. Priorities of CyberOhio with Kirk Herath, Cybersecurity Strategic Advisor to Governor DeWine

12:30 p.m. Private Sector Priorities

Moderator: Maria Thompson, Executive Government Advisor, Cybersecurity, AWS

Panelists: Tony DeAngelo, CISO, Encova Insurance; Allen Perk, Former President & CEO, XLN Systems; Joe Rogan, VP of Technology, Tire Discounters

1:15 p.m. Critical Infrastructure Focus

Moderator: Pat Tiberi, President and CEO, Ohio Business Roundtable

Panelists: Amber Buening, SVP, Security Outreach Director, Huntington Bank; Jim Richberg, Head of Cyber Policy & Global Field CISO, Fortinet; Todd Ware, President and CEO, Energy Cooperative

2:15 p.m. OIT and Cabinet Agency Perspectives

Moderator: Katrina Flory, CIO, State of Ohio

Panelists: Matt Damschroder, Director, the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services; Patricia Harris, Commissioner, the Ohio Department of Taxation; Kathleen Madden, Director, Ohio Department of Administrative Services

Bobby Kovey, President of OITA, views the CyberOhio Summit as a great opportunity for government and members of the business and technology community to voice their challenges to one another and develop solutions.

“The OITA met with and listened to government and private sector leaders across the state.  Cybersecurity is top of mind with all of them.  The OITA has a special role to play, being the trade group for Ohio’s silicon heartland.  With the leadership of the governor, lieutenant governor and the CyberOhio team, we are able to partner with the state leaders and host this important event focused on cyber to better protect our public and private institutions,” Kovey said. 

Registration and details can be found at www.ohioita.org.

About OITA

The Ohio Innovation and Technology Association (OITA) is an independent, non-profit and non-partisan statewide organization of Ohio’s technology-driven companies and industry professionals operating at the intersection of business, technology, and public policy.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                May 1, 2024

CONTACT: Jennifer Flatter

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937.417.5269

Ohio Innovation and Technology Association Appointed to Lt. Governor's AI in Education Coalition

COLUMBUS, OH – The Ohio Innovation and Technology Association (OITA) is proud to announce its appointment to the Lt. Governor's AI in Education Coalition. This coalition, led by Lt. Governor Jon Husted, aims to harness the power of artificial intelligence to transform education in Ohio, preparing students and the workforce for a technologically advanced future.

"We are excited to join Ohio’s AI in Education Coalition and work together to shape the future of education in Ohio," said Bobby Kovey, President of OITA. "Our expertise will be invaluable as we explore the opportunities that artificial intelligence offers for Ohio’s students and workforce."

As a member of this coalition, OITA will play a pivotal role in developing a state-level strategy for AI in education. The coalition's kickoff meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 14th, at the Ohio Department of Public Safety. During this meeting, members will discuss the purpose and goals of the coalition, review the current uses and potential benefits of AI in education, and hear from Lt. Governor Husted on his vision to make Ohio the most AI-ready state in the nation.

"We look forward to collaborating with other experts and stakeholders to make Ohio a leader in AI education," added Kovey. "The insights and ideas shared during our meetings will be crucial to the success of the coalition and the future of AI in Ohio's educational landscape."

About OITA

The Ohio Innovation and Technology Association (OITA) is the state’s leading trade group for technology and innovation. OITA is dedicated to fostering technological advancements, supporting innovation, and advocating for the tech industry in Ohio.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                

July 19, 2023

Ohio Innovation Summit Coming to Columbus Next Week

Columbus, OH–The state of Ohio’s trade group for tech and innovation will hold an in-person summit in Columbus on Tuesday, July 25 at the Athletic Club of Columbus from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. The 2023 Innovation Summit is a partnership effort with the Office of InnovateOhio, the Office of Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and the Ohio Innovation and Technology Association (OITA).

The summit will offer a special opportunity to explore innovation and technology that brings together the public and private sectors.

“We expect to have an engaging dialogue on a variety of topics, and we look forward to having business and government leaders from across Ohio at the summit to network and gain new insight into innovation and technology.  It is a great opportunity to hear from leaders and organizations on Ohio’s innovation landscape and future,” said Jennifer Flatter, Executive Director of OITA.

The summit will feature an address from Lt. Governor Jon Husted at 9:15 a.m.  Husted will also moderate the 9:30 a.m. session, “Artificial Intelligence: Preparing Ohio’s Leaders for the AI Impact.”

The summit includes five sessions:

9:30 a.m. Artificial Intelligence: Preparing Ohio’s Leaders for the AI Impact

Moderator: Lt. Governor Jon Husted, Director, InnovateOhio

Panelists: Chris Hein, Director of Customer Engineering for Public Sector/SLED, Google, Deiva Ramachandran, Ph.D., Partner, Generative AI-Automation Practice Leader, Healthcare, Life Sciences, State and Local Government, IBM, Fred Miskawi, Vice President and US AI Leader, CGI, Ayanna Howard, Ph.D., Dean, The Ohio State University College of Engineering, Rehgan Avon, Co-founder & CEO, AlignAI

10:45 a.m. Attracting Innovation and Investment in Ohio

Moderator: Andrew Deye, VP Strategy, JobsOhio

Panelists: Kamran Ali, Vice President of Transmission Planning and Analysis, AEP, Ryan Hays, Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer, the University of Cincinnati, Mark Patton, EVP & General Manager, One Columbus/Columbus Partnership

12:30 p.m. Innovating the Citizen Experience Workshop: Goals for Ohio

Speakers: Dwight Crum, Deputy Director, InnovateOhio, Dan Balistierri, Director, Service Transformation, KPMG, Stephen Dunne, Domain Specialist for CX and Citizen Engagement, Verizon, Greg Smith, SVP, Experience, g2o

2:15 p.m. Tech Talent Gap: Meeting the Marketplace Demand

Moderator: Eric Leach, Deputy Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation

Panelists: Jennifer Oddo, Vice President, Division of Workforce Education and Innovation at Youngstown State University and President, Youngstown State University Research Foundation, Dave Enzerra, Executive in Residence, Lakeland Community College, Tom Harris, Senior Vice President, Consulting, CGI

3:15 p.m. Government Leaders Outline their Challenges

Moderator: Bobby Kovey, President, OITA

Panelists: Matt Damschroeder, Director, the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services, Patricia Harris, Commissioner, the Ohio Department of Taxation, Sherry Maxfield, Director, the Ohio Department of Commerce, Lydia Mihalik, Director, the Ohio Department of Development, Dan Dean, County Commissioner, Fayette County, Tim Bubb, County Commissioner, Licking County

Bobby Kovey, President of OITA, views the Innovation Summit as a great opportunity for government and members of the business and technology community to voice their challenges to one another and develop solutions.

“The OITA has a special role to play, being the trade group for Ohio’s silicon heartland.  We have the ability and duty to convene leaders from the state and local governments to speak directly with bold innovators and problem solvers from the tech community.  It’s all about how to improve Ohio and how to improve life for Ohioans,” Kovey said. 

Registration and details can be found at www.ohioita.org.

About OITA

The Ohio Innovation and Technology Association (OITA) is an independent, non-profit and non-partisan statewide organization of Ohio’s technology-driven companies and industry professionals operating at the intersection of business, technology, and public policy.

Save the date for the the highly anticipated 2024 Ohio Innovation Summit set to take place on Tuesday, June 18 at the Athletic Club of Columbus.

This event, like the State’s Cyber Summit, will be in partnership with State of Ohio leadership.

As the premier conference dedicated to exploring innovation and technology, this event serves as a pivotal platform for fostering collaboration and driving progress across the public and private sectors.

The day will include panels and other sessions with leaders and organizations at the forefront of Ohio’s innovation landscape including:

• Lt. Governor Jon Husted
• State OIT leadership
• InnovateOhio team members
• Cabinet directors, and 
• Legislative leaders focused on our technology needs.  

The state’s Innovation Summit will focus on:

• Modernizing government services
• AI opportunities
• Funding the future of innovation
• Cyber
• State and local government tech priorities

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with state leaders and peers to discuss and plan for Ohio’s current and future technology goals and priorities.  

Be sure to save the date and stay tuned for further details on registration and agenda highlights. Registration will open soon.