Conferences

Registration is Now Open!

Fall 2026 Georgia GMIS Conference Brochure (pdf) 

Dear GA GMIS Members and Colleagues,

It is my pleasure to invite you to the 2026 Fall GA GMIS Conference, taking place October 18–22, 2026, at the Gas South Convention Center and The Westin Atlanta Gwinnett in Duluth, Georgia.

This conference marks an exciting milestone for GA GMIS as we gather in a new location for the first time! Duluth offers a vibrant atmosphere, outstanding restaurants, entertainment, and attractions, making it an ideal setting to learn, collaborate, and reconnect with colleagues from across Georgia.

Our conference theme, “Georgia Grown. Technology Driven.“, celebrates two things that define our organization: our deep Georgia roots and our commitment to advancing technology in local and state government. Just as Georgia’s renowned peaches, peanuts, and blueberries represent growth, resilience, and innovation across our state, our members continue cultivating new ideas, strengthening partnerships, and delivering technology solutions that improve government services for the citizens we serve.

This conference is especially meaningful as we welcome the newest Certified Georgia Chief Information Officer (CGCIO) cohort to their first in-person conference. The relationships formed through GA GMIS often become just as valuable as the curriculum itself, and we look forward to introducing our newest leaders to the collaboration, mentorship, and professional network that make GA GMIS so unique.

At GA GMIS, we remain committed to growing the next generation of public-sector technology leaders. Through programs such as CGCIO, LGCIO, Geek Trak, and Network Trak, we continue investing in professional development at every stage of an IT leader’s career. Whether you are beginning your leadership journey, expanding your technical expertise, or mentoring others, GA GMIS provides opportunities to learn, connect, and grow together.

This conference offers two specialized training tracks designed to meet attendees at different experience levels. For attendees with Microsoft Intune experience, Geek Trak: Microsoft Intune and Autopilot provides more advanced, hands-on training focused on device enrollment and modern device management. Network Trak: Networking Foundations is perfect for those who are new to networking or want to strengthen their understanding of the basics. Whether you’re building new skills or expanding your existing knowledge, these sessions offer practical training you can take back to your organization.

Of course, the conference is about more than education. It is an opportunity to reconnect with longtime colleagues, build new relationships, recognize the accomplishments of our members, and spend time with the vendor partners whose continued support helps make our conferences successful year after year.

On behalf of the GA GMIS Board of Directors, thank you for your continued commitment to our organization and to public sector technology. We look forward to welcoming you to Duluth as we celebrate another outstanding conference and continue growing together as technology leaders across Georgia.

Safe travels, and I look forward to seeing you in October!

Sincerely,

Jaime Montalvo
President, Georgia GMIS

Register NOW for the Fall Conference

Conference Registration Information

Early Bird Conference Fee Will Run From August 18 ‐ September 14, 2026

Regular Conference Fee Will Run From September 15 ‐ October 6, 2026

*Anyone bringing a guest or spouse must request and pay for a banquet ticket prior to their arrival at the conference.

How to Register

There are two ways to register.
1. Register online and pay with a credit card or
2. Complete the fillable form available on the registration home page, email a copy to chambers.eckles@uga.edu, wait to receive an invoice, then print a copy of the invoice and mail with your check to the address listed on the invoice.

Register early to reserve your spot.

Conference Schedule

Sunday, October 18

• Half‐day Sessions – CGCIO, Geek Trak, and Network Trak:
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

[Please note Geek Trak and Network Trak registrations are capped at 25 participants.]

Monday, October 19 Professional Business Casual Attire (No jeans)

LGCIO Leadership Education Session – Strategic Planning and Project Management

• General Session – Welcome: 8:30 AM – 8:40 AM
• Full‐day Sessions – CGCIO / LGCIO, Geek Trak, and Network Trak: 8:45 AM – 12 Noon, and 1:00 PM – 4:15 PM
• The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Session: 4:15 PM – 5:45 PM

Tuesday, October 20 Professional Business Casual Attire (No jeans)

LGCIO Technical Education Sessions – The State of Cybersecurity in 2026: Threats, Trends, and What Comes Next; Building an AI-Powered Cybersecurity Monitoring System on a Budget; ADA & Public Website Accessibility Compliance Checklist; Google Workspace for Microsoft 365 Administrators

• General Session – Announcements: 8:30 AM – 8:40 AM
• Full‐day Sessions – CGCIO / LGCIO, Geek Trak, and Network Trak: 8:45 AM – 12 Noon, and 1:00 PM – 4:45 PM

Wednesday, October 21

• Half‐day Session – CGCIO: 8:45 AM – 11:30 AM
• Half‐day Session – Geek Trak: 8:45 AM – 11:30 AM
• Half‐day Session – Network Trak: 8:45 AM – 11:30 AM
• Half‐day session – Enrichment: Mental Fitness for Technology Leaders: Decision Fatigue, Avoiding Burnout, Managing Crises Calmly, Time Management – 8:45 AM – 11:30 AM
• Sponsor Giveaways: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
• Shirtsleeve Session – On Your Own: 12:30 PM – 5:00 PM
• Dinner Banquet & LGCIO Certificate Presentations – Professional Business Attire

Thursday, October 22

• Business Meeting 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

To Register online and pay by credit card (preferred):

• Click here to register online
• Step 1:
  • Create new user profile. ***When creating a new user profile you may receive a message that a user name already exists in the new system which was migrated from the old system. If you receive this message you will have an opportunity to request a new password.***
  • Important for creating a new user profile:
    • Please DO NOT create a new user profile if you have previously attended CVIOG or other UGA Public Service and Outreach events.
    • ***Please note GA GMIS will share participant names and contact information with all conference exhibitors.***
    • Each registered participant must have a unique email address. The same email address cannot be used for multiple registrants.
    • In the Address and Telephone section, be sure to select the correct ‘Type’ (e.g. ‘Office’) from the drop down selections.
    • In the Employment Information section, enter at minimum your Employer and Job Title.
    • Optionally enter demographic information.
    • Select your preferred Marketing Opt in and Privacy options, and click the boxes to indicate that you have read and understand the privacy policies.
• Step 2:
  • Once you are logged in, select ‘Cert Trak’, ‘Geek Trak’ or ‘LGCIO’. You can preview the session schedule for each track by clicking ‘Session selection information’ under each option.
  • Let us know if you’re a first‐time attendee and fill in any specific accommodation requests.
  • Confirm cart and click ‘Pay and Register’.
  • Enter credit card information.
  • Your conference sessions will be automatically selected based on the track you chose (either Geek Trak or LGCIO). ***Your sessions are not confirmed until after you have entered your credit card information.***

To Register by mail and pay by check:

Complete the attached fillable form, email a copy to chambers.eckles@uga.edu, wait to receive an invoice, then print a copy of the invoice and mail with your check to the address listed on the invoice.

After Registering:

You will receive several emails which will be directed to the email address you provided when registering/setting up
your user profile. The sender name on the emails will be no-reply-outreach@uga.edu.

1. (Applicable to new users only) New Account notification; password action required (Subject line: Vice President for Public Service and Outreach New Account) ‐ This email is being sent because you set up a new user account in the registration system. The email will include a link that you must click on in order to choose a password for future access. Please take immediate action upon receipt of this notice.
2. Enrollment confirmation (Subject line: Carl Vinson Institute of Government Enrollment Notification for ‘Your Name’) ‐ This email provides verification that your enrollment has been received and processed.
3. Confirmation (Subject line: Carl Vinson Institute of Government Confirmation) ‐ This email provides details of the course you enrolled in, including the cancellation policy.

Hotel Information

The Westin Atlanta Gwinnett
6450 Sugarloaf Parkway
Duluth, GA 30097
1-888-236-2427 | 770-709-6322

When making your reservation, please provide the group code GMIGMIG and that you are with the
Georgia Government Management Information Sciences (Georgia GMIS) conference to get the
special rate of $229 (plus $5 state hotel/motel fee and applicable taxes) per night.

All reservations can be made online at:
https://app.marriott.com/reslink?id=1771001129693&key=GRP&app=resvlink

Check-in: 4:00 PM
Check-out: 11:00 AM

A block of rooms will be held at the hotel until September 16, 2026, or until all rooms have been reserved, whichever comes first. After this date, the hotel will make reservations at the prevailing room rate based on availability.

HOTEL PARKING

Self-parking is discounted at $15.00 per day for overnight and transient / day guests. Valet parking is discounted at $25.00 per day.

Please remember to bring your tax exempt forms!