Now in its sixth year, COVITS is expected to attract more than 1,000 executives from industry, academia and government. COVITS is hosted by Secretary Newstrom on behalf of Governor Mark R. Warner.
"This year's COVITS Advisory Committee, which consists of corporations, civic organizations and academic institutions, was challenged to plan a program that exceeded the extremely successful event held last year in Roanoke," Newstrom explained.
"I am delighted to announce that the Hampton Roads community and our sponsors and supporting organizations have met that challenge and developed a program rich in content and substance.
"COVITS 2004 boasts a unique blend of national and international thought leaders as well as public sector experts and innovators from business and government," continued Newstrom.
In addition to these respected speakers, COVITS is taking full advantage of its Norfolk location. The COVITS theme: Virginia, Portal to the Emerging Global Marketplace, is a reference to Hampton Roads' reputation for airports, seaports, and information ports. The Virginian-Pilot generously donated advertising space for the entire event and, in particular, Tom Brokaw's appearance, which will be held at the Convocation Center of Old Dominion University. Monday evening's festivities will be on board the battleship USS Wisconsin.
NATO and NASA, both with a substantial presence in Hampton Roads, are also on the program. Attendees will hear first hand what technologies our military requires from Admiral Edmund Giambiastiani, of the Joint Forces Command. They will learn about scientific breakthroughs and technology transfer programs from the experts at NASA Langley Research Center.
"COVITS attendees will gain insight into the best practices that have made the commonwealth a leader in its own use and application of technology as well as learn how new, innovative technologies are transforming -- in fact, revolutionizing -- both the public and commercial sectors," said Newstrom.
COVITS speakers, in alphabetical order, include:
- The Honorable Madeleine Albright, former secretary of state
- Tom Brokaw, NBC News
- Ed Burns, public sector president, CIBER Inc.
- Jonathan Crane, executive vice president of corporate development and chief strategy officer, MCI
- Kevin J. Fitzgerald, senior vice president, Oracle Corporation
- Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani, Joint Forces Command, USJCOM
- Serge Godin, chairman and CEO, CGI
- Albert Hitchcock, CIO, Nortel Networks Corporation
- William E. Kennard, managing director, The Carlyle Group, former chairman, Federal Communications Commission
- Paul Lacouture, president, Network Services, Verizon
- Scott McNealy, CEO, Sun Microsystems
- George C. Newstrom, secretary of technology, commonwealth of Virginia
- James R. O'Neill, president, Northrop Grumman Information Technology
- Roseann Runte, president, Old Dominion University
- Ron Salluzzo, senior vice president -- state, local and higher education, BearingPoint
- Philip Shucet, commissioner of Virginia's Department of Transportation (VDOT)
- Lemuel C. Stewart, CIO, commonwealth of Virginia, VITA
- Curtis H. Tearte, IBM general manager, Global Public Sector
- John Thompson, CEO and chairman, Symantec Corporation
- Governor Mark Warner, commonwealth of Virginia
- Maggie Wilderotter, senior vice president, Worldwide Public Sector, Microsoft
"The insights of these well known and well respected leaders will certainly give the COVITS' delegates an unprecedented look at the best uses of technology in state government, the future of the IT industry, and, going beyond technology into the realm of national and foreign policy," said Newstrom.
COVITS annually brings together senior-level executives and thought leaders from business, government and academia and around the world to identify, discuss and propose solutions to critical technology issues.
