REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

Spring 2025 Georgia GMIS Conference

May 4-8, 2025

Columbus Convention and Trade Center
Columbus, Georgia

Georigia GMIS Fall 2025 Conference Booklet (pdf) (4MB)

I am excited to share with you information about the upcoming Georgia GMIS Spring Conference to be held in Columbus, Georgia from May 4 – 8, 2025.

The theme for this year’s conference is “Hitting Curveballs: Adapting to IT Challenges”. How do you handle a shift from the norm in your organization? Change is constant but sometimes sudden, and it forces you to pivot to a different idea or way of thinking. How do you handle the emergence of everything AI? How do you hit the curveball and adapt to all the challenges with IT?

So, we decided to throw some curveballs of our own. First, we are having Geek Trak teach on GIS for the first time. The topic is Advancing Local Government GIS: Practical Solutions, Emerging Technologies, and Strategic Insights and will be taught by Chris Rice and Chandler White. The course will focus on the latest technology including using AI with GIS.

Next for Cert Trak we will be giving a certificate for passing a test on Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals (SC 900T00) which also includes the exam voucher. This course is only three days so you will not need to be there Sunday, and the Board has decided to cover the extra cost for this certification. Monday and Tuesday will be instruction, and Wednesday will be the exam on your own within the required proctored setting.

The leadership class on Monday will focus on Public Sector Ethics so be ready for some lively discussions.

Lastly, we changed the format of the Awards ceremony so we will have a reception and Awards on Tuesday evening, a little earlier than usual, and then dinner on your own. Wednesday evening, we will be going to a baseball game featuring the Columbus Clingstones (Braves AA team) in their newly renovated stadium.

So please mark your calendar for these important dates and plan to attend the conference. Not only will it equip you with knowledge, valuable insights and expertise, but it will also allow you to build lasting connections with fellow IT professionals from various local and state government agencies across Georgia.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to Georgia GMIS. Together, we can make the “Georgia GMIS Spring Conference 2025” a resounding success and contribute to the advancement of IT management in local and state government agencies in Georgia.

Looking forward to seeing you all in Columbus!

Warm regards,

Jamie Pownall
President, Georgia GMIS

Conference Schedule

Sunday, May 4

• Half‐day Session – CGCIO and Geek Trak: Advancing Local Government GIS: Practical Solutions, Emerging Technologies, and Strategic Insights 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

[Please note Geek Trak registration is capped at 30 participants.]

Monday, May 5 Professional Business Casual Attire (No jeans)

LGCIO Leadership Education Session – Ethics for Public Servants and Cert Trak: Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals (SC-900T00)

• General Session – Welcome 8:30 AM – 8:40 AM

• Full‐day Sessions – CGCIO / LGCIO, Cert Trak and Geek 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

[Please note Cert Trak registration is capped at 30 participants.]

Tuesday, May 6 Professional Business Casual Attire (No jeans)

LGCIO Technical Education Sessions – Tactical Planning for IT Professionals during Incident Response and Disaster Recovery Situations; Hitting IT Out of the Park: Top Tech Trends, Generative AI, and Mission Value of IT

• General Session – Announcements 8:30 AM – 8:40 AM

• Full‐day Sessions – CGCIO / LGCIO, Cert Trak, and Geek Trak 8:45 AM – 12 Noon, and 1:00 PM – 4:45 PM

• NEW THIS SPRING! Georgia GMIS Certificate & Awards Reception Professional Business Attire

Wednesday, May 7

Enrichment Sessions – TBD

• Half‐day Session – CGCIO 8:45 AM – 11:30 AM

• Half‐day Session – Cert Trak (Exam on your own) 8:45 AM – 11:30 AM

• Half‐day Session – Geek Trak 8:45 AM – 11:30 AM

• Half‐day session – Enrichment 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

• NEW THIS SPRING! Join Georgia GMIS for an afternoon at the ballpark –
Birmingham Barons @ Columbus Clingstones

Thursday, May 8

• Annual Business Meeting 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Early Bird Conference Fee Will Run From March 10 – April 6, 2025
LGCIO Conference Registration Fee (Includes One Baseball Ticket).…………………………………………..$400.00
Cert Trak Conference Registration Fee (Includes One Baseball Ticket).……………………………………….$500.00
Geek Trak Conference Registration Fee (Includes One Baseball Ticket)……………………………………….$500.00

Regular Conference Fee Will Run From April 7 – April 25, 2025
LGCIO Conference Registration Fee (Includes One Baseball Ticket).……………………………..……………$500.00
Data Trak Conference Registration Fee (Includes One Baseball Ticket)………………………………………..$600.00
Geek Trak Conference Registration Fee (Includes One Baseball Ticket)………………………………….….…$600.00
Guest Ticket (Includes Tuesday Reception and Baseball Ticket).…………….……………………………………$60.00*
*Anyone bringing a guest or spouse must request and pay for a guest ticket prior to their arrival at the conference.

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 tiffanysmith@uga.edu, print and mail a copy with the check
payment to the address listed on the form.

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

Columbus Marriott
800 Front Ave
Columbus, GA 31901
(706) 324-1800

When making your reservation, please mention you are with the
Georgia Government Management Information Sciences (Georgia GMIS) conference to get the special rate of $169 (plus $5 state hotel/motel fee and applicable taxes) per night.

All reservations can be made by calling (706) 324-1800 or 1-800-455-9261 or online at this link. Be sure to reference the group code AGMAGMA. If booking online you must enter a timeframe within the dates of the block 5/3-5/8 to apply the group code.

Check-in: 3:00 PM
Check-out: 12:00 PM

A block of rooms will be held at the hotel until April 9, 2025, 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 at the Marriott is $15 per night. Please note, overnight guests are strongly encouraged to leave their vehicle parked at the hotel. All sessions will be held within a short walking distance from the hotel into the Convention & Trade Center. Should you choose to move your car from the hotel to the Convention & Trade Center, additional parking fees may apply.

Please remember to bring your tax exempt forms!