Heather serves as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the Texas Workforce Commission. Her 19-year state career includes serving as the Director for Strategic Decision Support at the Health and Human Services Commission; the Project Management Office Director, Deputy CIO and CIO at the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS); Project Manager at the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts; and other roles within DADS, Department of Human Services and Office of the Attorney General.

Throughout her career, Heather has volunteered her time and professional skills to several professional organizations including Project Management Institute (PMI), Austin Chapter (President, Vice President of External Services, and Professional Development Day Director); Executive Women in Texas Government (Vice President/Conference Chair and Communications Director); and State Agency Coordinating Committee, IT Subcommittee (Vice Chair and Chair).

Heather is a PMI-certified Project Management Professional and holds a bachelor’s degree in Latin from Baylor University, a master’s degree in Library and Information Science from The University of Texas at Austin and a Ph.D. in Information Science from The University North Texas.

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Dr. LeeBrian E. Gaskins is the Senior Associate Vice President for Information Technology/Chief Information Officer at the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL). His primary role at UHCL is to oversee the Office of Information Technology, Alfred R. Neumann Library, and Institutional Research

Dr. Gaskins has over 25 years of experience in higher education information technology and is a fellow of the Academy for Innovative Higher Education Leadership, a partnership between Arizona State University and Georgetown University, a Texas Governor’s Executive Development Program graduate, and Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs Executive Leadership for Information Technology Excellence.

Dr. Gaskins holds a Ph.D. in International Business Administration with a concentration in Management of Information Systems from Texas A&M International University. Dr. Gaskins also has an MBA, MA in Technology Education, and a BA in Psychology from West Virginia University. His professional and research interests include information technology governance, compliance and risk management, and technology issues facing higher education from an administrative and academic such as process improvement and technology in pedagogy.

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Cory Wilburn is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business. As CIO, Cory is responsible for all aspects of information technology for McCombs, including technology strategic planning, project execution, and daily operations. His team aligns the organization’s technology resources to support business goals, providing innovative solutions that drive continuous improvement.

Previously, Cory spent eight years serving as the CIO for the Texas General Land Office where his team successfully established IT governance, portfolio management, and digital transformation initiatives.

Cory has twenty-four years of IT experience, including twelve years as a member of senior leadership. During his career he has worked in a wide range of roles that includes software engineering, business and systems analysis, project management, and enterprise architecture. He has a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University in political science and is a recent graduate of the Governor’s Executive Development Program. He serves as a as a technology advisor to non-profit organizations, is the President of Texas Association of State Systems for Computing and Communications (TASSCC) and is a member of the Society for Information Management (SIM), the Texas Association of Government IT Managers (TAG-ITM), and the Austin Innovation Advisory Council.

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Wendy Barron serves as the Chief Information Officer of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), a customer focused agency that provides motor vehicle services, including registration and titling, to the citizens of Texas. As the Department’s technology leader, Wendy is helping to build strategic partnerships across and outside the organization to deliver customer-centric motor vehicle services to TxDMV constituents.

Wendy has managed information technology projects and operations at Texas government organizations for over 20 years. Her prior leadership roles include serving as the Deputy CIO of the TxDMV and leading the Information Technology Divisions of the State Office of Administrative Hearings and the Texas Water Development Board. In the early days of her career, Wendy served in various information technology roles including as a data analyst, systems analyst, and project manager.

Wendy has a BBA in Computer Information Systems and a Master of Public Administration, both from Texas State University. She is also a certified Project Management Professional.

In her off time, Wendy enjoys spending time with her husband and being a mom to her elementary-aged son. She also enjoys the outdoors and helping her family run their cattle ranch in the Texas Hill Country.

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Vanessa Hammler Kenon, Ed.D., serves as the Associate Vice President Technology Compliance and Community Engagement and is responsible for management and leadership of the department’s audit, compliance, risk services, business continuity and emergency management, internal and external community outreach and collaboration, and the department’s developing internship and UTS Classroom to Career Program.

She serves as a key UTS liaison with UTSA students, faculty, and staff. Dr. Kenon serves on several UTSA committees, boards, and task forces, supporting technology, student success, community service, diversity and inclusion, academic research, audit and compliance, the UTSA annual SECC, and community outreach. She also serves as a lecturer in the College of Education and Human Development’s African American Studies program teaching a contemporary course in film, media, and technology.

Dr. Kenon has worked in higher education positions of instruction, leadership and management in both private and public higher education programs for over 26 years with 24 of those years spent managing departments and initiatives directly related to technology. Kenon serves the San Antonio community on several educational boards and committees including service for Trinity University, the Hallmark University System.

Current UTSA projects for Dr. Kenon include working on the expansion of UTS’s role in the support for UTSA internships and the university’s College to Career Program. She is also working with faculty, staff and students on technology enhancements including support of Online Tutoring, and Virtual Reality initiatives. Several of these projects launched as a part of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation iPASS grant project, where Kenon served as the PI and administrator on several projects, including the highly successful Degree Works implementation.

Kenon has presented and facilitated at conferences and events across the globe and has presented for the American Education Research Association (AERA), Microsoft, Texas Association of State Systems for Computing and Communications (TASSCC), The International Higher Education Reform Symposium, The Association for College and University Technology Advancement, The New Media Consortium, The International Society for Educational Planning, Ready Education, Achieving the Dream, and EDUCAUSE. She is also well published in the areas of Workplace Learning and Professional Development, Student Success Technology, and Global Education Collaboration.

Dr. Kenon is a first-generation college graduate and an alumni of Trinity University where she earned bachelor’s degrees in Communications and English. She is also a very proud UTSA alumna where she received her Masters and her Doctorate in Education. She is also a recipient of the 2018 Distinguished Alumni award from the UTSA College of Education Educational Leadership Department.

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Amberle Carter is no newcomer to the expansive world of data. Her professional career began simply by developing systems to provide accessible and reliable data to accomplish work in the most efficient manner. Today, she’s a leader of professional data storytellers, enabling state government agencies to demonstrate the work they accomplish or improve upon through visualizations, as well as data architects and data engineers, maturing the enterprise data architecture and use of clean, reliable data. She is a strategic problem solver with demonstrated proficiency in data management and governance, reporting, strategic planning, and complex project and program management. In her role, she hopes to help people to put data at the center of their mission and apply analytics to enhance strategic and tactical decisions.

Amberle’s current role as of August 2024 is the Data Management Officer, Comptroller of Public Accounts. Prior to that she was the Chief Data and Analytics Officer for the Department of Family and Protective Services, setting policy and strategy at an executive level for data and analytics both for internal and external partners. She has successfully established both a Data and Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence.

Amberle represents the agency at various conferences, on a governing board for the Texas Chief Data and Analytics Officers (CDAO) network, at a national level serving as a chair on the National Chief Data Officer (CDO) Council, and at a global level on the AIM Leaders Council. Her achievements have been recognized and nominated for the 2022 GITEC Emerging Technology Award. She is a graduate of the ELITE (Executive Leadership for Information Technology Excellence) program at the University of Texas at Austin Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs.

Neil Cooke - Board Director

Texas Department of Information Resources, Statewide Chief Data Officer

Term: Expires August 31, 2025

Neil serves as the Statewide Chief Data Officer at the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR). He is responsible for collaborating with agencies and institutions of higher education to enhance data governance and maintain data integrity at a statewide level; creating data policies, standards, and best practices, while also exploring opportunities for data sharing across government.

Neil has over 25 years’ experience in information technology, specifically leveraging data for strategic and operational planning, performance management, and project portfolio management. Before joining DIR, Neil worked in the public sector for 15 years, where he held positions at the Texas Health and Human Services System, including Director of the Project Management Office and Director of Performance Management, and at the Texas Department of Agriculture, as Project Manager. Prior to working at the state, Neil held private sector Data Analyst and Business Analyst roles in the US and the United Kingdom.

David Crain - Board Director

University of Texas System, Associate Vice Chancellor

Term: Expires August 31, 2026

R. David Crain is an Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Information Officer for the University of Texas System. He has been with the University of Texas since 2015. Before his current role as UT System Chief Information Officer he was the Vice President and Chief Information Officer for the University of Texas at Dallas.

Immediately prior to these University of Texas appointments he served as the Chief Information Officer for Southern Illinois University (SIU). He has also served as the Chief Technology Officer for the University of Missouri and the Chief Information Officer for the Missouri House of Representatives.

He has served on the Missouri Enterprise Architecture Committee and the Missouri Information Technology Advisory Board, the MO Statewide Network Consortium, and as a board member for the Lonestar Education and Research Network. Additionally, David has been chairman of the following committees; the State of Missouri’s Customer Relationship Management Committee, the Missouri Information Technology Mentoring Committee, and the University of Missouri Disaster Recover Committee. Additionally, he is a past chairman of the Illinois Partnership to Advance Technology in Higher Education. David holds a Master’s of Science Degree in Information Systems and a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Communications and Political Science. He is also a certified project manager.

As a Higher Education technology leader, David has published articles in Campus Technology, Information Week Education, and CIO Review. He has also been featured as a speaker at numerous technology conferences and in online webinars. His speaking career dates back to high school and college where he won numerous state championships in speech and debate and finished third in the nation in collegiate debate.

David’s career in Information Technology management began in 1995.

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Ed Evans - Board Director

Texas A&M University

Term: Expires August 31, 2025

Ed Evans is the Associate Vice President for Enterprise IT Operations at Texas A&M University. Enterprise IT Operations empowers the digital experience of students, faculty, and staff through services including Instructional Media Services, Open Access Labs, Endpoint Support, and HelpDesk Central. We achieve our goals through a focus on operational credibility and heightening our information security posture on information systems and data center management..

Ed brings diverse experiences to A&M. After several years at Purdue University in a variety of roles, he moved to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi where he served as Senior Associate Vice President for IT and CIO. Ed holds Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University and earned two Master of Science degrees from Purdue University and holds certifications including being a Prosci Certified Change Practioner and trainer. In his free time, he serves as a 4-H leader and is active in his children’s school.

As a believer in the power of interorganizational connection and collaboration, Ed is active in state and national organizations such as TASSCC, SuperComputing, and EDUCAUSE through conference presentations and by holding committee and leadership appointments. In 2020, Ed was recognized as a TrailBlazer “Making a Difference Through Leadership” by TASSCC.

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Jonathan Joshua - Board Director

Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott , Chief Information Security Officer

Term: Expires August 31, 2026

Jonathan is the Chief Information Security Officer for the Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott. He is responsible for protecting the state's critical information systems and data. His experience leading offensive cyber forces in the U.S. Air Force has equipped him with a unique perspective on navigating complex security challenges in a rapidly evolving threat landscape. Prior to joining the Governor's Office, he served as the Deputy Chief Information Security Officer of the Texas Attorney General's Office.

Beyond his professional role, Jonathan is committed to serving the veteran community. As a military veteran himself, he understands the challenges associated with transitioning to civilian life. He is passionate about mentoring and guiding veterans to succeed in their careers.

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Jamie McClanahan - Board Director

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Chief Information Officer/Information Technology Division Director

Term: Expires August 31, 2025

Jamie McClanahan has served as a senior Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Information Technology (IT) Manager for over 10 years, recently served as the Interim IT Division Director/Information Resource Manager (IRM) and was just named the new Chief Information Officer/IT Director for TPWD. Jamie proudly reached her twenty-year milestone at TPWD in June, after getting the opportunity to work within and among many different branches and programs throughout the agency. Jamie started her career with TPWD as an Accountant and over the next 10 years, advanced to management positions in the Financial branch. During that time, she earned her M.B.A in Management Information Systems and accepted a position as a Systems Analyst and continued to advance within the Information Technology branch.

Strategically, she worked with other divisions within TPWD to seek new opportunities to increase business and service delivery to internal and external customers. Additional responsibilities included the oversight and planning of agency technology-based services and systems, providing counsel and advice on business and strategic initiatives related to technology activities. In addition, she oversaw the Agency Technology Governance Committee, which entails managing the agency technology portfolio, strategic planning, and agency compliance with IT policies and guidelines. As a past IT Project Manager, she led or was part of complex vendor and custom development projects, then advanced to manage the IT Project Management Office, and provided oversight on vendor contract management. Staff in her program areas also manage the Data Center contract and all oversight and strategic planning related to technology. During her role as an IT senior manager, she was also assigned to onboard the new Information Security Officer, including temporarily managing the security team responsibilities.

She lives by the agency mission, even away from TPWD, you can find her outside, with family hunting, hiking, camping and fishing on days she is not at work. She is driven to find ways to contribute to TPWD, keeping these amazing resources for her boys and generations to come.

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Diana Sawyers - Board Director

Texas Department of Transportation, ITD-PMO Director

Term: Expires August 31, 2026

Diana serves as the ITD-Project Management Office (PMO) Director at TxDOT. Her 24-year state career includes teaching in juvenile corrections, working as a Project Manager with the US Department of Education grant that hosted the first ever juvenile corrections tri-state consortium for corrections educators, establishing the first Instructional Technology Department within the Education Division at Texas Youth Commission (TYC); spearheading the first PMO for the IT Division at Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD), taking on the role of PMO Director, as well as, serving as Deputy CIO of Projects & Security for TJJD.

Throughout her State career, Diana has volunteered her time and professional skills to the State Agency Coordinating Committee (SAAC), Quality Process Improvement & Innovation subcommittee, and has served as Social Media Committee Chair for TASSCC’s Annual conference for 8+ consecutive years. Diana’s passion for project management outside of State government has also led her to serve as an Adjunct Professor in Project Management for the College of Continuing Education at Austin Community College since 2016.

Diana is a PMI-certified Project Management Professional (PMP) as well as a Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM) and holds a BA degree in English from Baylor University, an MA degree in Literature from Texas State University, and an MS in Instructional Systems [Instructional Design] from Florida State University.

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