Speakers

Dr. Brian Gardner is the Interim Chief Information Officer for the City of Dallas. Dr. Brian joined the city in 2017 to develop IT Risk Management and Regulatory Compliance programs. Since taking on the role, he has implemented a risk-based framework for cybersecurity strategy to assess and mature the City’s security capabilities, assure regulatory compliance, and mitigate enterprise-wide technology and business risk. In addition, implementing the City’s first Cyber Fusion Center and Security Operation Center.

Dr. Brian’s cybersecurity industry experience extends from global financial services, national healthcare services, and Big Four consulting before entering public service. Dr. Brian holds a Bachelor’s degree in Forensic Accounting, a Master’s in Information Security Management,

and a PhD in Information Technology, Security and Assurance. As well as research and publication on Disaster Recovery, Dr. Brian holds certifications in Cloud Security and Privacy.

He is a founding member of the Coalition of City CISOs. The group is dedicated to bringing municipal leaders and cybersecurity professionals together to advance municipal cybersecurity.

Dr. Brian and his family reside in the DFW area with their six children. He and his wife actively foster children from the region in hopes to provide them a better start. Over the past seven years they have fostered over 20 kids of all ages from infant to teenagers. In addition, Dr. Brian helps with the Dallas ISD P-TECH program and actively assists with guidance for students around the IT Security field.

Alyssa Zeutzius is the Deputy Chief Cyber Officer for Policy for New York State. Established by Governor Kathy Hochul in July 2022, the Office of the Chief Cyber Officer oversees statewide cyber threat assessment, mitigation, and response efforts and leads cross-agency efforts to protect New York from cyber threats. In her role, Alyssa guides cybersecurity policy across New York State working closely with State agencies, local governments, and regional partners to ensure the security and resilience of the State’s critical infrastructure. Alyssa is also the Chair of New York State’s Cybersecurity Grant Planning Committee for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program.  

Previously, Alyssa worked for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency supporting the federal government’s vulnerability response operations and coordinated vulnerability disclosure process. Prior to that role, she was a Senior Cyber Policy Analyst for New York City Cyber Command. Alyssa holds a M.S. in Information Security Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University and a B.A. in Political Economy from Tulane University.

Zack Hudgins, who represented the 11th Legislative District in Washington state’s House of Representatives for 18 years, works for the Office of Privacy and Data Protection as a privacy manager. He brings deep legislative experience doing outreach with local governments to the office.

Zack earned his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 1990, and a Master of Jurisprudence, M.J. degree, from the University of Washington Gates School of Law in 2018. Aside from his work in the Legislature, Zack’s experience includes being a consultant/manager for various congressional campaigns, working for Amazon.com as a project manager and working as a program manager for Excell Data Corporation assigned at Microsoft.

Zack has been involved at the nexus of IT and public policy for many years. He recently served on both the Technology Services Board, and the Legislative Services Committee which oversee and guide Executive Branch and Legislative Branch IT policy. His interests include open data, cybersecurity, successful project management and privacy.

Chris Teale is a technology reporter for Route Fifty, part of the Government Executive Media Group. He reports on state and local governments' use of technology, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, internet connectivity, social media and modernization. Teale was previously a technology reporter for Morning Consult, covered smart cities for Industry Dive and had spells in local news in Northern Virginia. He is a graduate of the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom and has lived in the Washington, D.C., area for more than a decade.