The Forum Welcomes More than 300 Attendees at the 40th Annual Meeting
(Albany, NY – September 30, 2026) – The NYS Forum held its 40th Annual Meeting on September 30th, welcoming more than 300 government and corporate members for an opportunity to connect, hear from technology leaders, and learn about the Forum’s accomplishments and plans for the year ahead. Executive Director Fran Reiter kicked off the meeting by providing an overview of The Forum’s accomplishments and successes over the past program year. Fran highlighted the continued strengthening of relationships between government and corporate members, as well as the success of the Forum’s many workgroups and programs, including the Artificial Intelligence Workgroup and The NYS Forum Training Academy, among other initiatives. Fran also highlighted the significant participation and engagement by members throughout the year, emphasizing the many opportunities for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and professional development as the Forum begins its 40th year. Attendees also heard from Jim Bell, Chairman of the NYS Forum Board of Directors and Director of Senate Technology Services. Jim discussed the benefits of Forum membership, the organization’s continued growth and direction, and the important role members play in supporting the health and success of the Forum. During his remarks, Jim announced that he will be stepping down as Chairman of the NYS Forum Board of Directors, passing the torch to Glen Kaatz, Chief Information Officer at NYSERDA. Jim reflected on his time leading the organization and expressed his confidence in Glen as he assumes his new role. The Forum extends its sincere appreciation to Jim for his leadership, dedication, and many contributions to the organization. Glen Kaatz then addressed attendees and announced that members would hear a brief recorded message from Jenson Jacob, who is stepping into the role of Acting Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the New York State Office of Information Technology Services. In his message to the Forum, Jenson shared his enthusiasm for taking on the new role and his commitment to working with the Forum and its members. The event welcomed its first keynote speaker, Tito Panicker, NYS Chief Technology Officer of the NYS Office of Information Technology Services, who provided an overview of the current state of New York technology and ITS’ future priorities. Tito highlighted the strength of New York’s IT operations, ongoing modernization efforts, cybersecurity initiatives, the responsible use of artificial intelligence, and efforts to deliver technology services faster and more effectively to agencies and New Yorkers. He also outlined the CTO’s focus on operational resilience, future-proofing technology, developer velocity, empowering the workforce, and cultural transformation. Tito also recognized the importance of the public/private partnership between New York State and the Forum, highlighting the value of collaboration, training, and the sharing of best practices. Following Tito’s presentation, attendees viewed a video presentation highlighting the accomplishments and activities of the Forum’s workgroups over the past year, as well as plans and priorities for the coming program year. The event concluded with the second keynote speaker, Albert Pulido, New York State Deputy Secretary for Finance & Technology, who discussed the current technology landscape in New York State and shared his perspective on the state’s ongoing efforts and future priorities to strengthen technology and innovation for the benefit of all New Yorkers. Thank you to all of our members who attended the 40th Annual Meeting and contributed to the Forum throughout the past year. Your participation and engagement are vital to the continued success of The NYS Forum and ensure that our programs remain relevant, high-quality, and member-driven. |
