Raheem Beyah is the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Known for his collaborative leadership and commitment to mentorship, he serves as the Institute’s chief academic officer, overseeing all academic units and guiding academic and budgetary priorities.

A native Atlantan and a graduate of the Atlanta Public Schools system, Beyah earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 1998, and his master’s and Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Georgia Tech in 1999 and 2003, respectively.

Previously, he served as Dean of the College of Engineering and Southern Company Chair from 2021 to 2025. Under his leadership, the College strengthened its national and global reputation for innovation, research excellence, and student success, earning top‑10 national rankings across every engineering discipline. He is a cybersecurity expert and co‑leads the Georgia Tech Cyber‑Physical Security Lab, and is the co‑founder of Fortiphyd Logic Inc., an industrial cybersecurity company. Beyah is a Fellow of IEEE, an ACM Distinguished Scientist, and a lifetime member of the National Society of Black Engineers.

“I make state government information and services digitally available, usable, and accessible to people.”

Nikhil Deshpande is the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer for the Georgia Technology Authority, where he leads the Office of Digital Services and the Office of Artificial Intelligence, overseeing Georgia’s enterprise AI strategy.

He established the state’s AI program and launched the Horizons Innovation Lab to responsibly pilot and scale emerging technologies across agencies. Under his leadership, Georgia implemented enterprise Drupal statewide and advanced digital accessibility standards to WCAG 2.1 AA.

Previously, Nikhil worked in digital media and served as adjunct faculty at the Savannah College of Art and Design, teaching Human Computer Interaction and User Experience courses. He serves on the board of the Drupal Association and was named one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 Under 40. He holds master’s degrees from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and SCAD.

Jonathan Fozard serves as Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer at Florida State University, where he provides strategic leadership for the university’s technology enterprise in support of teaching, learning, research, student success and public service. 

In this role, Fozard oversees a broad technology portfolio that includes academic, research, support and administrative technology services across FSU. He also leads the Northwest Regional Data Center, the State Data Center of Florida and Florida Virtual Campus. Together, these operations support Florida State’s students, faculty, staff, researchers, global study centers and numerous statewide agencies through secure, reliable and innovative technology services. 

Since joining FSU, Fozard has led efforts to align technology strategy with the university’s academic and research priorities. He guided the development of FSU’s RISE 2030 technology strategy and expanded access to artificial intelligence tools and resources, strengthened cybersecurity capabilities, enhanced technology support for research, modernized digital learning services and grown technology-focused student internship opportunities that help prepare the next generation of technology leaders. 

In 2026, Fozard testified before the U.S. House of Representatives on the role higher education must play in building an AI-ready America. His testimony highlighted Florida State’s leadership in AI literacy, workforce readiness, research innovation, and the responsible adoption of emerging technologies across disciplines. 

Fozard also serves on Florida’s Government Technology Modernization Council after being appointed to a four-year term. The council advises state leaders on identity management, cybersecurity standards, cloud modernization, data governance, and the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence. He also serves on national higher education CIO advisory boards for Microsoft and Dell and chairs the Finance Committee for Florida LambdaRail. 

Fozard was named the 2026 Florida Large Enterprise ORBIE CIO Award winner for his leadership, innovation and commitment to workforce development. He was also recognized by CDO Magazine as one of the leading technology executives impacting higher education and was named a Gartner Eye on Innovation Top Innovator Finalist. 

Before joining Florida State, he held senior technology, finance and operations positions at George Washington University, the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. 

He holds a Master of Business Administration and completed doctoral coursework in higher education administration and policy studies at Oklahoma State University. 

Tim Kelly is the 66th mayor of Chattanooga. He grew up in Chattanooga and attended undergraduate school at Columbia University. Upon return to Chattanooga, Kelly expanded his family’s automotive dealership and launched several successful ventures of his own, including co-founding Chattanooga’s professional soccer club. He later earned his MBA from Emory University. Kelly has always been active in the community, serving on boards for multiple nonprofits and even teaching as an adjunct professor at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. Since being elected mayor in April 2021, he has made great strides on his vision to create One Chattanooga – a city where every resident has the opportunity to thrive and prosper.

Dr. Michael Owens is a visionary public servant, cybersecurity expert, and decorated veteran, currently serving as the inaugural Mayor of the City of Mableton, Georgia. Elected in April 2023, Mayor Owens made history by becoming the city’s first mayor following its modern incorporation.

With a career spanning over 25 years, Mayor Owens is a nationally recognized leader in cybersecurity, technology innovation, and public sector transformation. He has served in leadership roles across the military, global corporations, startups, and nonprofit organizations.

Daniel Rickenmann is the 71st Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina. He is an innovative entrepreneur and a dedicated public servant with a passion for improving the quality of life for all in the Palmetto State’s Capital City.

As he enters his second term, Mayor Daniel Rickenmann remains committed to advancing the priorities that have defined his leadership. He will continue expanding housing options, strengthening public safety through innovative programs, and enhancing customer service across city operations. Building on the momentum of cleaner, more vibrant neighborhoods and renewed pride in Columbia’s public spaces, he plans to further invest in parks, green spaces, and environmental sustainability, particularly along the riverfront. With a proven record of supporting economic growth, improving infrastructure, and championing a family-friendly and business-friendly culture, Mayor Rickenmann is dedicated to ensuring Columbia’s continued progress and quality of life for all who call the Capital City home.

Rickenmann’s political career began in 2002 when he was elected to the Columbia City Council. During his 14 years of service, he was a strong advocate for fiscal responsibility, public safety, and infrastructure improvements. He played an important role in revitalizing downtown Columbia, supporting affordable housing efforts, and championing local small businesses.

As Mayor, Rickenmann represents the City of Columbia as a member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, where he serves in a leadership role as a Trustee. He also serves as Chair of the Mayor’s Alliance to End Childhood Hunger and is an active member of the Accelerator for America Advisory Council, America Is All In Leaders Circle, and the Climate Mayors Steering Committee.

Rickenmann has been widely recognized for his leadership. He ranked number two on the Post and Courier Power List in 2023 and 2024, and was named one of Columbia’s 50 Most Influential in 2023, 2024, and 2025 by Columbia Business Monthly. He was also selected for The State Newspaper’s Top 20 Under 40. Fortune Magazine recognized him as one of six Green Leaders in a red state. He was handpicked by the American Swiss Foundation to attend the Young Leaders Conference in Zurich, Switzerland, and in 2022 he was selected to participate in the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative alongside 40 mayors from around the world.

Outside of public service, Rickenmann has built a successful career as an entrepreneur in the restaurant industry, renewable energy development, and spirits production. Shortly after graduating from college, he opened Birds on a Wire, his first restaurant in Columbia. In 2009 he launched a renewable energy company focused on innovative approaches to powering communities. More recently, he co-founded Forbidden Bourbon, a Kentucky-based spirits company known for having the first female master distiller.

Raised in Spartanburg, Rickenmann is a first-generation American who was raised by a single mother. He moved to Columbia to attend the University of South Carolina, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1992.

Rickenmann is dedicated to making Columbia a place his fellow residents and his own family are proud to call home. He is married to Dr. Laura Rickenmann, a local pediatrician, and they have two daughters, Carlyle and Ellie, along with two dogs, Lulu and Quila. At the end of the day, Mayor Rickenmann is working to make Columbia a place his daughters want to live, work, and raise a family.

Throughout his 20-year career with the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, Justin has evolved from a teenage volunteer police explorer into a key architect of the agency’s modern operational landscape. His early career was marked by excellence in criminal investigations, including a meritorious service award from the U.S. Secret Service for his work on complex financial crimes. He led some of the agency’s most harrowing and intricate cases. His background in managing sensitive, high-profile investigations provided him with a profound understanding of the critical need for precision and accountability in law enforcement, a perspective that continues to inform his vision for agency-wide innovation.

Justin is a relentless advocate for innovation and continuous process improvement, consistently leveraging technology to solve complex public safety challenges. Today, he is at the forefront of the digital frontier, having authored the agency’s pioneering policy on Artificial Intelligence. By integrating responsible AI and streamlining digital workflows, Justin continues to drive the agency toward a future where data and technology maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of law enforcement operations.

Charles Elliott is a Senior Research Engineering Lead, Google Public Sector  leading initiatives that transform education through the power of technology, particularly generative AI. Building on a successful consulting career focused on Big Data, Analytics, and AI, Charles now leverages his extensive expertise to guide educational institutions and ed-tech companies in realizing the potential of personalized learning at scale. With over 15 years of experience, he specializes in bridging cutting-edge cloud solutions with the specific needs of the education and research sectors. As a trusted advisor, he empowers organizations to enhance learning experiences, improve accessibility, and drive measurable educational outcomes. His work spans early childhood education, machine learning applications, and strategic cloud implementation, with a focus on leveraging generative AI to unlock new possibilities in transforming public sector organizations.

Kyle Lanahan serves as the Director of State, Local Government, and Education at Google Public Sector. With 15 years of dedicated experience in the SLED space—including his previous role as Regional Vice President at Palo Alto Networks—Kyle is a trusted partner to public sector leaders. He focuses on driving innovation and digital transformation by leveraging artificial intelligence to modernize government services, accelerate breakthrough research, and elevate educational outcomes.

Beyond his professional leadership at Google, Kyle is an active member of the advisory boards for Tech Impact and The First Tee of Philadelphia. In these capacities, he applies his professional background to foster youth empowerment, drive technological innovation, and support workforce development initiatives throughout the community.