Mika J. Cross is a widely acclaimed workplace expert, speaker, strategist and innovator specializing in interdisciplinary expertise among the areas of innovative global workplace initiatives, culture change, strategic communications, knowledge management, next generation/future workplace predictions, performance/talent management, employee/labor relations, diversity, inclusion and employee engagement. Her career in public service includes assignments throughout the United States Intelligence Community and she is a veteran of the Unites States Army, having served as both an enlisted soldier and commissioned officer.

Mika is highly regarded as a thought leader for transformational workplace practices and is regularly featured as a professional speaker. Known as a Federal Workplace Expert, she is regularly featured on the nationally broadcast TV show, Government Matters. On behalf of the White House and the National Security Council, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) invited Mika to contribute to the “Workforce of 2020” strategy session to create a new business model for vetting future Federal employees into positions of national security. Mika now serves as Vice Chair of the Governance and Innovation, Community of Change for the Senior Executives Association (SEA.)

During her work as a President’s Management Council (PMC) Interagency Fellow at OPM, she led government-wide projects affecting culture and process change. Her work in transformation initiatives resulted in winning numerous awards- the most recent being USDA named on the Forbes 500 Best American Workplace rankings in March 2015.

As the Public Information Officer for Digital Communication at the Philadelphia Water Department, Paul leads the digital team in developing a strategy and a long-term vision for Philadelphia Water Department’s digital communications. A part of the Public Affairs division, the digital team advocates for the customer by bringing user-centered design to digital projects. In three years, Paul has built a team, led the alignment of the PWD social media channels, convened a group of internal advocates, completed a web style guide to be used across 30+ digital properties, and established content standards to further align PWD’s digital work. Paul has a Bachelor of Arts from West Virginia University and a Certificate in Historic Preservation from Bucks County Community College.

Paul began working for the water department as an early member of the outreach team for Green City, Clean Waters. Philadelphia’s Green City, Clean Waters program reduces combined sewer overflow primarily using Green Stormwater Infrastructure. Paul's background in communications, construction, and historic preservation matched well with the multi-faceted approach to solving Philadelphia’s stormwater problem. Innovating in a municipal environment requires an ability see the value in existing systems and a creative approach to problem-solving. Paul’s love for Philadelphia drives him to provide valuable resources to the City and its residents.

Shelly began her government career with the City of Euless in 1981 as a police records clerk, advancing to Records Supervisor where she remained until the city’s first IT Department was established. Upon moving to IT she quickly established herself as a valuable trainer to employees and expanded her knowledge to include graphic design work, as well as web design and development. She has been with the City of Hurst since 2013, first as the city’s part-time webmaster and then promoted to Customer Service Technologies Administrator. This role encompasses web, mobile, social media and customer service technologies. Shelly holds a Bachelor of Science in Management with and IT concentration.

Doug Nick is the Assistant Communications Director for Customer Outreach for the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). This means he has the pleasure of talking with groups like ours about the customer service improvements being made by the Motor Vehicle Division.

Doug joined ADOT in 2016, but has worked for the State of Arizona in similar positions since 2003. He has also worked for several elected officials, and in a misspent youth was a radio newsman in Phoenix.

He’s an Arizona native, and he and his wife Gail live in Gilbert. They have two children and three grandchildren all of whom – thankfully – live nearby.

Stephen Schatz is the director of communications for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. In this executive capacity, Schatz directs and manages the agency’s digital and print branding, communications and marketing initiatives and operations, including its seasonal magazine, news releases, mass electronic mailers, social media channels as well as its video and web properties.

Schatz has over a dozen years of communications, media, policy and political experience. He served on Capitol Hill and the campaign trail, worked for the White House as well as other top-notch trade associations in the D.C. area.

Schatz resides in Columbia, Maryland with his wife and four children.

Britney Smith has served as the Public Information and Communications Manager with Leon County since 2015. In this position, Britney is responsible for clear, effective communication of public information especially as it relates to disaster preparedness and planning. Her background includes developing public information campaigns during Hurricanes Hermine, Irma, and Nate. Britney studied Business and received an M.B.A. with a concentration in Marketing from Florida A&M University.

A Bay Area native, Anh Tran attended DeAnza College, Saint Mary's College of California, and San Jose State University. Her experiences working with the City of San Jose started in 2006 when she was appointed Youth Commissioner. She currently works for the City of San Jose’s Office of the City Clerk as a Deputy City Clerk. Anh earned her Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation in September 2017. As an advocate for civic participation, she has a passion for digital engagement, public affairs, community development, and cultural advocacy. Anh is very active in many local community organizations such as the Vietnamese American Roundtable, Bay Area Asian Pacific American Legislative Staffers Association, and various political campaigns.

Mitch Weiss is a Professor of Management Practice in the Entrepreneurial Management unit at the Harvard Business School. He created and teaches the school's course on Public Entrepreneurship—on public leaders and private entrepreneurs who invent a difference in the world. He also teaches The Entrepreneurial Manager in the first year of the MBA Program. His research interests in addition include digital transformation, peer production, and innovation ecosystems. He was a 2015 recipient of the Apgar Award for Innovation in Teaching and a Greenhill Award recipient for 2015-2016. He helped build the Young American Leaders Program at Harvard Business School and is a senior advisor to the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. Mitch's Public Entrepreneurship course has been referenced in The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and other outlets.

Prior to joining HBS in 2014, Mitch was Chief of Staff and a partner to Boston’s Mayor Thomas Menino. Mitch helped shape New Urban Mechanics, Boston’s municipal innovation strategy, and make it a model for peer-produced government and change. He also championed Boston’s Innovation District as a regional platform for entrepreneurship and growth.

Mitch contributed to Boston’s educational reform agenda, including its District-Charter compact. He led speechwriting for the Mayor’s Inaugural and State of the City addresses. In April 2013, he guided the Mayor’s Office response to the Marathon Bombings and played a key role in starting One Fund Boston.

Mitch has presented on government innovation at 10 Downing Street and the World Bank. He was recognized by the Boston Business Journal as one of Boston’s “Top 40 under 40” and by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce as one of Boston’s “Ten Outstanding Young Leaders.”

From 2006 to 2009, Mitch was the first Executive Director of the Tobin Project, a catalyst for transformative research in the social sciences. Prior to his roles in the public and social sectors, Mitch worked at Merrill Lynch & Co. where he focused primarily on mergers and acquisitions for many well-recognized food companies.

Mitch holds an A.B. with Honors in Economics from Harvard University and a Master in Business Administration from Harvard Business School, where he was a George Baker Scholar.

Mark currently serves as CEO of Granicus, the leading provider of cloud-based government software solutions. Prior to Granicus and since 2010, Mark served as Chief Strategy and Development Officer as well as President, Technology Services, for Altisource, a public real estate and mortgage technology and services company. Before joining Altisource, he served as President of Digi-Net Technologies, Inc., an early pioneer in marketing analytics software-as-a-service solutions. Mark also co-founded Xevo, Inc., a leading provider of service provisioning technologies to application service providers, where he held the position of Chief Operating Officer. Mark began his career with Bain & Company as a consultant. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from James Madison University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University.

A Silicon Valley technologist with roots in engineering and a rich history in high growth companies of all sizes. His business and technology perspectives have been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, on CBS Radio, and on National Public Radio.

Dave manages Granicus Europe. His experienced team supports 150 major UK and European public bodies to connect, inform, and engage over 10 million citizens. Dave is an experienced digital transformation consultant and specialises in the application of digital engagement and communication technologies which empower change in the public sector. He is passionate about helping governments build safer, sustainable, healthy and connected communities. Having spent over 20 years working with the UK’s leading public sector organisations, Dave combines his deeply technical background with extensive knowledge of digital communications to help governments better serve their audience.

Bonnye started her digital communications career at The Atlantic and National Journal magazines in Washington, D.C developing multi-channel partner opportunities. She then served as the Development Outreach and Communications Specialist for the United States Agency for International Development Rural Development Mission for Asia, based in Bangkok, Thailand, promoting awareness of development assistance activities throughout 19 countries in the region.

At MTV EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking), a Viacom corporate social responsibility program, Bonnye led media amplification efforts as the Communications and Public Relations Manager to increase global attention of the organization’s on-air, on-the-ground and online initiatives to help communities avoid instances of human trafficking and exploitation.

Following her role as Director of Product Marketing for POLITICO, Bonnye joined Granicus where she now manages a team of digital engagement professionals that develop and execute comprehensive outreach initiatives for public sector organizations to drive audiences from awareness to action with important government programs.

Bonnye received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Mass Communications and New Media at Texas State University.

Laurel leads the Product Management team, which is focused on bringing software to market that helps the public sector connect with citizens. Laurel has held a variety of product roles at ING DIRECT / Capital One 360, the largest online bank in the U.S. Laurel holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Byron has over 17 years of experience working with government agencies, including special districts. At Granicus, he helps state and local governments streamline their legislative management processes to create greater efficiencies. He also previously specialized in creating training solutions for the public and educational sectors. He has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Central Florida.