BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Western Regional Innovation & Technology Alliance - ECPv6.17.3.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.writa.us X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Western Regional Innovation & Technology Alliance REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Phoenix BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20250101T000000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Los_Angeles BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20250309T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20251102T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20260308T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20261101T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20270314T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20271107T090000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Chicago BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20250309T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20251102T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20260308T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20261101T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20270314T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20271107T070000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260121T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260121T134500 DTSTAMP:20260120T205848Z CREATED:20260120T205846Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260120T205848Z UID:2390-1769000400-1769003100@www.writa.us SUMMARY:WRITA Website & Introduction DESCRIPTION:Join us for a short Zoom webinar introducing the new WRITA website and member platform. We will walk through key updates\, including account access\, profile setup\, member resources\, and forums\, and explain how the site supports WRITA’s strategic goals. This session is also your chance to see what is live now\, what is still being refined\, and how to share feedback to help us continue improving the experience for all members. URL:https://www.writa.us/event/writa-website-introduction/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260225T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260225T140000 DTSTAMP:20260202T181826Z CREATED:20260202T180517Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260202T181826Z UID:2475-1772024400-1772028000@www.writa.us SUMMARY:Next-Generation Disaster Recovery: Architecture\, Automation\, and Resilience DESCRIPTION:Downtime is no longer a hypothetical risk. Ransomware\, cloud outages\, infrastructure failures\, and human error are now routine realities for today’s IT environments. The organizations that recover fastest aren’t just the ones with backups\, they’re the ones that have engineered resilience into their architecture from the start.Join ANM + WRITA for a technical webinar focused on designing layered\, cyber-resilient recovery strategies that integrate data protection\, network architecture\, disaster recovery orchestration\, and modern security frameworks. \n\n\n\nWhat You’ll Learn: \n\n\n\nKey building blocks for true resilience and rapid recovery\, including: \n\n\n\n\nSecure Data Protection across on-prem and cloud with immutable\, ransomware-resistant backups\n\n\n\nNetwork Resilience through high-availability design and automated failover\n\n\n\nDisaster Recovery Orchestration with application-aware runbooks and defined RTO/RPO targets\n\n\n\nCyber-Resilient Architecture aligned to NIST and Zero Trust principles\n\n\n\nContinuous Improvement through ongoing assessments and resilience roadmapping\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker:David AbbottDirector\, Data Center and Cloud | ANM \n\n\n\nSpeaker Bio:David Abbott is the Director of Data Center and Cloud at ANM\, where he leads strategies that help clients modernize infrastructure and optimize cloud performance. With extensive experience in data center architecture\, hybrid cloud solutions\, and IT transformation\, David focuses on delivering scalable\, secure\, and efficient technology environments that drive business outcomes. \n\n\n\nContact Information:Email: David.Abbott@anm.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbottmtn/ URL:https://www.writa.us/event/next-generation-disaster-recovery-architecture-automation-and-resilience/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260426T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260428T170000 DTSTAMP:20260320T200903Z CREATED:20251014T031052Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260320T200903Z UID:666-1777190400-1777395600@www.writa.us SUMMARY:2026 WRITA Spring Conference & Exhibition DESCRIPTION:🌄 Trailhead: A Two-Part Journey in Government IT Innovation\nThe Western Regional Innovation and Technology Alliance (WRITA) Spring Conference continues the momentum of the WRITA Fall Summit\, transforming collaborative ideas into tangible outcomes that strengthen the region’s public-sector technology community. \nThis gathering brings together city\, county\, and state IT leaders\, IT staff\, innovators\, and partners from across the western states to share strategies\, advance initiatives\, and turn forward-thinking concepts into measurable results. \nThe program features interactive sessions\, peer discussions\, and leadership panels focused on innovation\, cybersecurity\, data management\, and workforce development. Participants will leave inspired and equipped with practical solutions to drive meaningful progress within their organizations. \nThe WRITA Spring Conference is where collaboration deepens\, innovation accelerates\, and the western region turns vision into action. \nFor registration and additional event information\, please check out the event page. \n\n  URL:https://www.writa.us/event/2026-writa-spring-conference/ ORGANIZER;CN="Western Regional Innovation and Technology Alliance":MAILTO:events@writa.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260826T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260826T160000 DTSTAMP:20260715T224352Z CREATED:20260713T220008Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260715T224352Z UID:4207-1787734800-1787760000@www.writa.us SUMMARY:Foundations of IT Leadership Certificate DESCRIPTION:The Foundations of Information Technology Leadership certificate program provides the essential knowledge\, skills\, and abilities to succeed in the transition from technical roles to leadership positions in the public sector information technology profession. Developed with Local Government IT executives and PTI staff\, this certificate program provides IT managers with the professional skills necessary to support and manage technology operations for local government organizations effectively. \n\n\n\nJoin us on Wednesday\, August 26\, 2026\, for an instructor-led\, live virtual Foundations of IT Leadership class. The interactive\, one-day experience covers seven core modules focused on critical leadership skills for public-sector IT professionals. Participants will engage in real-time discussion\, Q&A\, and peer learning\, and will leave with practical tools to lead teams\, navigate change\, and make sound decisions. At the end of the session\, participants will earn a certificate of completion.  \n\n\n\nRegister below to secure your spot! For more information about the course\, visit pti.org.    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMember Pricing (WRITA/PTI Stacked Members)Exclusive member tuition of $1\,750 provides a $500 savings on this live\, instructor-led certificate program. Advance your public sector IT leadership skills while taking advantage of your WRITA/PTI membership benefits.$1\,750\n\n\n\nNon-Member Pricing Tuition is $2\,250 and includes the full-day live virtual Foundations of IT Leadership certificate program\, interactive instruction\, course materials\, and a certificate of completion. Join public sector IT professionals from across the country as you build the leadership skills needed to succeed.$2\,250 URL:https://www.writa.us/event/foundations-of-it-leadership-certificate/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260901T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260903T170000 DTSTAMP:20260831T145718Z CREATED:20260623T213733Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260831T145718Z UID:4119-1788249600-1788454800@www.writa.us SUMMARY:2026 WRITA Fall Summit DESCRIPTION:Join Your Colleagues in Salt Lake City!After the incredible success of our inaugural WRITA Fall Summit in Lake Tahoe\, we’re excited to invite you to join us for the 2nd Annual WRITA Fall Summit\, taking place September 1-3\, 2026\, in beautiful Salt Lake City\, Utah.Dates & LocationSeptember 1 – 3\, 2026Little America Hotel\, Salt Lake City\, UT \n\n\n\nRegister Now!Last year’s Summit brought together technology leaders from across the Western region for meaningful conversations\, practical learning\, and valuable peer connections. Attendees left with new ideas\, new relationships\, and actionable strategies they could immediately bring back to their organizations.This year\, we’re building on that momentum with an expanded program focused on collaboration\, innovation\, and leadership. Register\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n WRITA Fall Summit\n \n \n At-a-Glance Schedule\n \n \n September 1–3 · Salt Lake City\, Utah\n \n \n \n \n \n Tuesday\, September 1\n \n \n \n 8:00am – 2:00pm\n \n \n \n Executive Strategy Session\n \n \n \n \n \n 2:30pm – 4:30pm\n \n \n \n \n \n Berké Brown – WRITA Vision and Values Session\n \n \n \n \n Description\n \n \n The people who keep our systems running are also the people who shape our culture. WRITA is a community of human beings building something together across state lines.\n \n \n In this interactive Values & Vision Workshop\, we step back from the day-to-day to name who we are: the vision we’re building toward\, the values that hold us together\, and the shared language that carries them into every agency\, every team\, and every room. It’s a working session where the full membership shapes WRITA’s identity out loud and leaves with a common language to carry it forward.\n \n \n Human-centered leadership begins with one simple question: who are we\, together? Let’s answer it—as one WRITA.\n \n \n \n \n Berké Brown\n Location: Arizona (First Floor)\n \n \n \n \n \n 4:30pm – 4:45pm\n \n \n \n BREAK\n \n \n \n \n \n 4:45pm – 5:30pm\n \n \n \n Board Meeting\n Location: Wasatch (Second Floor)\n \n \n \n \n \n 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm\n \n \n \n Chairman’s Reception Appetizers & Drinks\n Location: East Terrace\, Uintah & Sawtooth (Second Floor)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, September 2\n \n \n \n 7:30 am – 9:00 am\n \n \n \n Registration & Breakfast\n Location: Arizona & Idaho\n \n \n \n \n \n 9:00 am – 10:30 am\n \n \n \n Keynote Address #1 – Dr. Alan Shark\n \n Non-Artificial Technology Leadership – Where Humans Still Count\n Location: Ballroom A\n \n \n \n \n \n 10:30 am – 10:45 am\n \n \n \n BREAK\n \n \n \n \n \n 10:45 am – 11:45 am\n \n \n \n \n \n Before the Clock Strikes 25: Thwarting Frontier AI and Autonomous Insider Threats in Government Infrastructure\n \n \n \n \n Description\n \n \n Before the Clock Strikes 25: Thwarting Frontier AI and Autonomous Insider Threats in Government Infrastructure\n \n \n Key Takeaways\n \n \n \n Decode the 25-Minute Attack Window: Understand the exact architecture of an AI-driven attack chain and how threat actors weaponize compromised internal LLMs to map infrastructure and locate sensitive data stores.\n \n \n Re-evaluate Zero Trust for Autonomous Agents: Learn how to adapt identity access management models to defend against synthetic/deepfake employee profiles and rogue or exploited autonomous AI agents.\n \n \n Implement “AI by Design” Practices: Gain a practical roadmap for mapping and auditing data pathways in public sector applications\, ensuring sensitive state data cannot be poisoned\, leaked\, or exfiltrated through unauthorized AI interactions.\n \n \n \n \n Speaker Info\n \n \n Fadi Fadhil\n Location: Ballroom A\n \n \n \n \n Fadi Fadhil\n Location: Ballroom A\n \n \n \n \n \n 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm\n \n \n \n Lunch\n \n \n Location: Arizona\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 1:15 pm – 2:15 pm\n \n \n \n \n \n Reliable Communications for Government: From Copper to Cloud\n \n \n \n \n Description\n \n \n Reliable Communications for Government: From Copper to Cloud\n \n \n Key Takeaways\n \n \n \n How to skip a formal RFP using cooperative contracts like OMNIA Partners and Sourcewell\, and how to confirm your agency is eligible.\n \n \n A supplier-neutral framework for evaluating communications options on reliability\, redundancy\, simple administration\, and adoption.\n \n \n How to build connectivity redundancy with SD-WAN and options like Starlink\, even where fiber does not reach.\n \n \n A phased adoption model (Crawl\, Walk\, Run) with real municipal examples across public works\, permitting\, community services\, and public safety.\n \n \n For agencies on Microsoft Teams\, how to add voice without upgrading licensing or taking on the burden of native Teams Phone.\n \n \n \n \n Speaker Info\n \n \n Eric Fritts • Ellie Becker\n Location: Ballroom A\n \n \n \n \n Eric Fritts • Ellie Becker\n Location: Ballroom A\n \n \n \n \n \n 2:15 pm – 2:30 pm\n \n \n \n BREAK\n \n \n \n \n \n 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm\n \n \n \n \n \n Goodbye Silos\, Hello Service: Resident 360 Transformation Journey\n \n \n \n \n Description\n \n \n Goodbye Silos\, Hello Service: Resident 360 Transformation Journey\n \n \n Key Takeaways\n \n \n \n How Resident 360 and Business Owner 360 strategies can improve Citizen experience while leveraging existing government investments.\n \n \n How personas and life events can become the organizing framework for digital government modernization.\n \n \n Lessons learned in governance\, stakeholder alignment\, and cross-agency collaboration.\n \n \n How records intelligence\, digital trust\, AI governance\, and identity orchestration support future-ready government services.\n \n \n \n \n Speaker Info\n \n \n Ed Therriault • Duane Oertell\n Location: Ballroom A\n \n \n \n \n Ed Therriault • Duane Oertell\n Location: Ballroom A\n \n \n \n \n \n 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm\n \n \n \n Special Dinner A Unique Evening Out at Salt Lake City\n Location: Sunday’s Best\, 505 S Gale St. Salt Lake City\, UT 84101\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday\, September 3\n \n \n \n 7:30 am – 8:30 am\n \n \n \n Breakfast Keynote – Barry Condrey\n \n 25 Years of Digital Government – How Technology\, Policy and Public Service Evolved\, and What Comes Next\n Location: Foyer A\n \n \n \n \n \n 8:30 am – 9:30 am\n \n \n \n \n \n Bots\, Bureaucrats\, and Bad Guys: How One Agency Used Identity Security to Outsmart AI Powered Attacks\n \n \n \n \n Description\n \n \n Bots\, Bureaucrats\, and Bad Guys: How One Agency Used Identity Security to Outsmart AI Powered Attacks\n \n \n Key Takeaways\n \n \n \n The Perimeter Has Shifted: Modern threat actors are bypassing traditional network firewalls\, making identities\, roles\, and access paths the primary target for cyberattacks.\n \n \n Foundational Human Governance is Critical: Tightening core lifecycle workflows specifically joiner\, mover\, and leaver (JML) processes is the essential first step to minimizing the attack surface.\n \n \n Automation Drives Measurable Risk Reduction: By adopting an identity-first approach to clean up over-permissioned access and automate access reviews\, agencies can prove tangible reductions in security risks.\n \n \n Non-Human Identities (NHIs) are the Next Frontier: With bots\, service accounts\, and AI agents now drastically outnumbering human users\, securing machine identities is no longer optional it is a critical security mandate.\n \n \n Unified Governance via an Agentic Fabric: Implementing an Agentic Fabric allows organizations to discover\, govern\, and continuously right-size access for both human and non-human identities within a unified framework.\n \n \n \n \n Speaker Info\n \n \n Tony Gerberick\n Location: Ballroom A\n \n \n \n \n Tony Gerberick\n Location: Ballroom A\n \n \n \n \n \n 9:30 am – 9:45am\n \n \n \n BREAK\n \n \n \n\n \n 9:45 am – 10:45 am\n \n \n \n \n \n Spoiler Alert: Your AI Strategy Starts with a Phone Call\n \n \n \n \n Description\n \n \n Spoiler Alert: Your AI Strategy Starts with a Phone Call\n \n \n Key Takeaways\n \n \n \n A practical decision framework for identifying where AI should be applied first in local government based on operational need\, not vendor capability lists.\n \n \n Why communications is consistently the highest-ROI entry point for AI adoption in local government\, connecting resident access\, staff efficiency\, and service delivery in one initiative.\n \n \n A live demo of an AI virtual agent handling a real government use case showing exactly what residents experience and what it took to build and deploy it.\n \n \n How to move the elevators\, alarms\, and emergency phones still running on copper onto a compliant modern POTS replacement\, the way the county did.\n \n \n How to evaluate AI tools against public sector constraints: budget cycles\, compliance requirements\, procurement pathways\, and limited IT staff capacity.\n \n \n \n \n Speaker Info\n \n \n Kasey Nelson • Greg Joy\n Location: Ballroom A\n \n \n \n \n Kasey Nelson • Greg Joy\n Location: Ballroom A\n \n \n \n \n \n 10:45 am – 11:30 am\n \n \n \n Members ONLY Wrap-up Meeting\n Location: Ballroom A\n \n \n \n \n \n 11:30am\n \n \n \n Hotel Checkout\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Blueprint-inspired\, page-safe embed · Click session titles for details URL:https://www.writa.us/event/2026-writa-fall-summit/ LOCATION:Little America Hotel – Salt Lake City\, 500 South Main Street\, Salt Lake City\, Utah\, 84101\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260916T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260916T170000 DTSTAMP:20260722T172639Z CREATED:20260722T172635Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260722T172639Z UID:4238-1789545600-1789578000@www.writa.us SUMMARY:CGCIO™ – Certified Government Chief Information Officer DESCRIPTION:The CGCIO™ Certification Program is a 12-month course that lays the foundation for assessing and addressing some of the most critical issues facing IT leadership in the public sector. \n\n\n\nProgram Description\n\n\n\nThis nationally recognized program equips government technology professionals with the requisite tools to improve and demonstrate your leadership skills to best manage your organization.Public sector CIOs and IT directors are facing increasing challenges and responsibilities in the era of new governance. As the lines between traditional functional services and departments begin to blur\, the IT leadership is charged with: \n\n\n\n\nManaging the constantly expanding role for IT within your government\n\n\n\nProtecting your government against ever-increasing security threats\n\n\n\nKeeping up with the feverish pace of new technology.\n\n\n\n\nThe purpose of this program is to equip leaders with the requisite tools to manage and improve their organizational technology assets. During the course of the program\, we will address these major topics: \n\n\n\n\nThe Future CIO Leader\n\n\n\nEmotional Intelligence\n\n\n\nTime Management\n\n\n\nLeadership & Inter-personal Communication\n\n\n\nOrganizational Assessment & Effectiveness\n\n\n\nRisk Management\n\n\n\nStaffing/Performance Management\n\n\n\nBudget & KPI Management\n\n\n\nBusiness Relations\n\n\n\nChange Management\n\n\n\nEnterprise Digital Estate Management\n\n\n\nCapstone Presentations and Graduation\n\n\n\n\nEach broad topic will examine specific local government issues and draw on participant experience to provide both theoretical and practical applied knowledge to the challenges. Case studies\, exercises\, and guest speakers will be included. \n\n\n\nStudents are also provided with access to a separate online education platform that provides students with self-paced coursework on Emotional Intelligence\, AI\, Communications and Leadership. \n\n\n\nInstructional Institution\n\n\n\nIn 2008 PTI launched its CGCIO program in partnership with Rutgers University Center for Government Services. At this time\, we worked with similar programs at UNC School of Government and Florida Institute of Government at Florida State University to create a consortium to develop and maintain consistent requirements and courses. PTI serves as the consortium coordinator. \n\n\n\nPrerequisites/Eligibility\n\n\n\nIn order to participate in the program\, PTI requires the following four requisites for the CIO Certification Program:1. Minimum 7 Years of private or public managerial experience in the technology field\, at least 3 years of technology management.*2. Agree by signature to a self-enforced code of ethics.3. Completion of application stating why the applicant wants to enroll in this program\, what he or she brings to the class\, and the students’ expectations.4. Full payment upon acceptance to the program.*Prospective students may petition the program director for waiver of this requirement. Petitions may include a rationale for the request of waiver. \n\n\n\nThis program is geared toward current IT leaders and emerging leaders. URL:https://www.writa.us/event/cgcio-certified-government-chief-information-officer/ END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR