Summit Theme
Critical Digital Infrastructure
Two days exploring the technologies, policies, infrastructure, and partnerships shaping the future of state and local government.
Where States Stop Waiting and Start Deciding
Two Days. One Working Framework.
Day 1 frames CDI as infrastructure and makes the fiscal case for investment. Day 2 turns the framework into adoption pathways through policy, procurement, sandboxes, and state-level coordination.
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 · LITE Center, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Day 1 — Building the Framework
Day 1 establishes the foundation for Critical Digital Infrastructure by bringing together public leaders, policymakers, technology builders, ecosystem leaders, and infrastructure providers to examine how emerging technologies move from ideas and policy into real-world implementation.
8:00 AM
Doors Open | Registration & Coffee
Attendee check-in, coffee, and early networking.
9:00 AM
Louisiana Welcome
Opening Address
Dr. Ramesh Kolluru — President, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Dr. Kumer Das — Vice President for Research and Innovation, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Dr. Henry Chu — Professor, Center for Advanced Computer Studies, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Chris Kimmel — CIO, Informatics Research Institute, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
9:15 AM
CDI | Critical Digital Infrastructure
Host Address
A framing of Critical Digital Infrastructure and the technologies, policies, systems, and partnerships shaping the next generation of public infrastructure.
Michael A. Fèsi II — Founder/Host, StateChain Summit
9:35 AM
Quick Signal
2-Minute Perspective
A focused perspective to help frame the state-level conversation ahead.
Anastasia Dellaccio — Executive Director, The Digital Chamber State Network
9:40 AM
Louisiana Innovation
Keynote
A look at Louisiana's approach to innovation, emerging technologies, and creating pathways from new ideas to economic opportunity and implementation.
Josh Fleig — Chief Innovation Officer, Louisiana Economic Development / LA.IO
10:05 AM
This Is How We Do It | Ecosystem Builders
Panel
How do ideas move from entrepreneurs and emerging technologies into pilots, partnerships, companies, investment, and real economic activity? Louisiana ecosystem leaders discuss what it takes to build the environment where innovation can actually grow.
Moderator: Alicia Garza — CEO, Garza Group
Destin Ortego — Executive Director, Opportunity Machine
Paul Barrial — Chief Operating Officer, GeauxScale
David Smith — Executive Director, Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program
Christy Alley Zeringue — President & CEO, COLAB
10:40 AM
Morning Networking Break
10:55 AM
State Digital Task Force
Panel
State legislative leaders discuss how their states are approaching emerging technology, digital assets, public policy, and the frameworks needed to move responsibly from exploration toward adoption.
Moderator: Anastasia Dellaccio — Executive Director, The Digital Chamber State Network
Sen. Michael Fesi — Louisiana State Senate
Sen. Darius Brown — Delaware State Senate
Additional state leader to be announced.
11:35 AM
Building Digital Infrastructure in Quincy
One-on-One Fireside
A real-world municipal perspective on how local leaders can approach digital infrastructure, innovation, governance, and implementation at the community level.
Interviewer: Henry Hays — Partner, Sparkhound
Ian Cain — Co-Founder, QUBIC Labs · Former City Councilor, City of Quincy, Massachusetts
11:57 AM
Lunch | Come Get You Some Gumbo
Catered by Off The Hook. Networking and lunch featuring a little Louisiana hospitality.
12:50 PM
Rapid Solutions | Block 1
Eight Minutes. One Problem. One Solution.
A fast-moving series of practical presentations focused on real problems, emerging solutions, government applications, infrastructure, and implementation.
Alex Hardee | Obney.ai — Lead, Don't Follow: Building AI Capability Across Government Organizations
James Hess | Unknown Cyber — Unknown Cyber Threats
John Backiel | Stratofied — Elevating Higher Education
Patrick Dunstone | Stabletown — Advancing Counties and Cities into Stabletowns
Jared Smith | Parish — Build a Solver Box and Retain Your Data
1:40 PM
Emerging Technologies Through Art & Assets
Presentation
An experiential look at the intersection of emerging technology, art, assets, ownership, and new forms of digital interaction.
Arthur Boisfontaine — CEO, Chère
Michelle Breaux — Lead Innovation Strategist, Chère
2:15 PM
Rules of the Road | Federal & State Digital Asset Policy
Panel
A practical discussion about the evolving policy, regulatory, compliance, and infrastructure environment surrounding digital assets and how greater clarity can support responsible adoption.
Moderator: Noah Herman — Chief Strategy Officer, Frame
Michael Postupak — Senior Manager, Blockchain Association
Joseph Ciccolo — Founder & President, BitAML
Mark Dempsey — Founder & CEO, Crypto Regulatory Solutions
Mark Gaal — Head of U.S. Public Sector Sales, Chainlink Labs
2:50 PM
Afternoon Networking Break
3:00 PM
From Pilot to Contracts | GovTech Adoption
Panel
Pilots are easy to announce. Adoption is harder. This conversation examines what it takes to move emerging technology from experimentation into procurement, contracts, implementation, and sustained government use.
Moderator: Wayne Marcel — Regional Director, Blubird
John Belitsky — Founder & CEO, Hashfire
Alexander McGee — Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, Balcony
Anthony Howell — Director & Overseas Representative, Government of Bermuda
Jason Frye — Government Relations Executive, Terrapin
3:39 PM
One Door, Fifty States | State Policy Networking
Address
A look at how ideas, policy frameworks, partnerships, and proven models can move across state lines and through national networks of state leaders.
Daniel Erspamer — CEO, Pelican Institute for Public Policy
4:06 PM
Rapid Solutions | Block 2
From Infrastructure to Implementation
Five rapid presentations spanning public policy, energy, payments, financial infrastructure, and new models for state and community innovation.
Joseph Visconti | Delilah — Public Policy Connection
Rick Harlow | NovaSpark Energy — Renewable Energy Power Generation
John Belitsky | Hashfire — Vendor Payment Intelligence
Michael A. Fèsi II | StatePay — New Revenue for States
Garrett Hartley | ReCLAIM ENERGY USA — Energy Optimization for Residents
4:50 PM
Day 1 Program Concludes
The conversation continues at Opportunity Machine.
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
StateChain After Hours
Opportunity Machine | Downtown Lafayette
An evening networking social bringing together Summit speakers, attendees, public leaders, technology builders, partners, and members of Louisiana's innovation ecosystem.
Working Sessions
If you would like a working session with any speaker, please contact us at event@statechainsummit.org.
What We're Building
Built Around Outputs, Not Just Sessions
11-Category CDI Framework
A framework covering the 11 categories of Critical Digital Infrastructure — finance, custodial operations, identity, AI, data, compute, sensors, physical operations, workflow, cybersecurity, and workforce — states will use to evaluate, fund, and build.
Sandbox Scoping Memos
Working tracks will produce practical one-page scoping memos that help states and providers move from conversation to implementation.
Agenda subject to change.