N C - Key Persons

As deputy secretary for Broadband and Digital Opportunity, Annette Taylor oversees the investment of nearly $1 billion in federal American Rescue Plan funds and $30 million in state funds toward infrastructure access and digital literacy to close the digital divide in North Carolina. Before becoming deputy secretary in March 2025, she served for three years as the N.C. Department of Technology's director of the Office of Digital Opportunity, which was established as the first of its kind in the nation. In that role, she helped expand NCDIT's initiatives to ensure all North Carolinians have access to high-speed internet and digital literacy resources. Taylor has more than 25 years of community service and civic engagement in both public and private sector roles and in the philanthropic arena directing resources to organizations across North Carolina. She was appointed chair of the N.C. Council for Women in 2021. She also served on the Governor's Andrea Harris Social, Economic, Environmental and Health Equity Task Force, helping secure $650,000 Governor's Emergency Educational Relief funding for digital literacy skills training in libraries in rural communities. Taylor holds a Master of Science in organizational leadership from Pfeiffer University, a Bachelor of Arts in communications from North Carolina Central University and a nonprofit management certificate from Duke University. She is also a graduate of Leadership North Carolina, the Rural Economic Development Institute and Town of Morrisville Citizens Academy.

Ansley Wegner

an..@ncdcr.gov

Job Titles:

Member of Committee

Bart Matthews

ba..@usda.gov

Job Titles:

Member of Committee

Bernice Bond

Job Titles:

Chief Information Security Officer
Leader
Member of the Leadership Team

Bernice Bond, a cybersecurity leader with more than 25 years of experience, serves as the N.C. Department of Information Technology's chief information security officer. Bond oversees North Carolina's cybersecurity efforts with a focus on strengthening partnerships and collaboration at the state, local and federal levels. She enjoys leading teams to empower all staff in fostering an effective cybersecurity culture. Bond has held a variety of private-sector and nonprofit leadership roles in cybersecurity operations, risk management, IT governance, incident management and auditing. Before joining NCDIT in March 2025, she was chief information security officer and vice president of information security at RTI International. She also owned and ran her own IT risk management consulting firm for nearly 20 years. Bond was named the NC TECH Association's 2024 CISO of the Year and serves on the association's advisory board. She is also board chair for the N.C. Museum of Life and Science. She holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Hampton University and a Master of Business Administration for the University of Phoenix in addition to CISSP, PMP and ITIL v3 Foundations certifications.

Bob Coats - Chairman

bo..@osbm.nc.gov

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Chairman
Governor

Brandy Rivers

br..@usmc.mil

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Member of Committee

Brett Spivey

br..@nc.gov

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Staff Member

Brian Watkins - CIO

Job Titles:

Chief Information Officer
Chief Information Officer, Transportation
Department of Information Technology 's Chief Information Officer

Brian Watkins serves as the N.C. Department of Information Technology's chief information officer for the N.C. Department of Transportation. He oversees a team of more than 600 employees and contractors and leads the planning, development and execution of strategic technology initiatives and goals for NCDOT. He is also responsible for developing and implementing a technology quality assurance program to ensure that the department's IT solutions are of the highest quality. Watkins is a strong advocate for customer service and is dedicated to providing better IT solutions daily. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from many of years overseeing various IT leadership roles with the state. He first joined NCDOT in 1999 as manager of Technical Services. Most recently, he served as NCDIT's business relations and customer service director at NCDOT - a position he held from 2018 until he was named CIO in 2023. In this position, he developed an understanding of the department's needs as well as those of staff and external partners, enabling them to work together more effectively to achieve NCDOT's mission, goals and objectives. Previously, he worked as a forensics investigator with NCDOT's Investigations Unit of the Office of Inspector General and conducted electronic data investigations, including digital investigations and computer forensics, to detect fraud, waste, abuse and misconduct. Watkins has a rich history of service, including four years in the U.S. Navy F-14 Squadron, where he specialized in weapons systems. He then transitioned to an IT career, where he has gained more than 33 years of experience.

Cam McNutt - Chairman

ca..@ncdenr.gov

Job Titles:

Chairman
Chairman of Committee
Water Resources

Camille Tyndall-Watson

ca..@ncdcr.gov

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Member of Committee

Charlie Brown

ch..@ncdot.gov

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Staff Member

Charlotte Water

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Member of Committee
Senior Business Analyst

Chelsea Duncan

cm..@ncdot.gov

Job Titles:

GIS Database Administrator
Member of Committee

Christian Klaus

ch..@dhhs.nc.gov

Job Titles:

DHHS, State Center for Health Statistics

Christian Vose - Chairman

ch..@ncagr.gov

Job Titles:

Chairman

Christie Burris - Chief Data Officer

Job Titles:

Chief Data Officer
Member of the Leadership Team
Chief Data Officer & Director, Government Data Analytics Center
Chief Data Officer With the N.C. Department of Information Technology

Christie Burris was appointed as the state's chief data officer with the N.C. Department of Information Technology in January 2024. She leads NCDIT's statewide development of enterprise data strategies, including management, privacy and governance across all platforms. As director of NCDIT's Government Data Analytics Center, she also guides the state's use of integrated data to support public safety, fraud, compliance, health care, finance and performance and policy decision analysis. An award-winning communications executive with experience in industries from radio and television to public housing and insurance, Burris joined the N.C. Health Information Exchange Authority, within GDAC, in 2016. She became its executive director in December 2017 and oversaw the strategy to develop a mature and modernize state-designated health information exchange. She also led initiatives to support health care providers in fulfilling the state mandate to participate in the exchange. Burris holds a B.A. in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Government Chief Information Officer Certification from the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Government. She received a State Leadership award from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers in 2019.

Cristalle Dickerson

cr..@nc.gov

Job Titles:

Broadband & Digital Opportunity Media Inquiries
Communications and Marketing Manager

Dan Kempton

Job Titles:

Senior Technology Advisor
Senior Technology Advisor for the N.C. Department of Information Technology

Dan Kempton serves as the senior technology advisor for the N.C. Department of Information Technology. He brings more than 30 years of technology and business experience, having worked for large and small firms in the private sector as well as for 15 years with the state of North Carolina. Kempton has held several IT leadership roles, including chief technology officer positions in the private industry and both deputy chief information officer and subsequently chief technology officer at the N.C. Department of Revenue. At NCDIT, he has led several teams (including the engineering section) that have brought new products, notably multi-cloud capabilities, to state agencies. Kempton is a strong technology-focused leader who can easily discuss business needs to determine the right solution that fits them. His extensive and broad technical background provides the experience to guide business leaders to the solutions that will achieve the best results. Kempton has a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a master's degree in computer science from the University of South Carolina. He has also earned certification as a government chief information officer from the UNC School of Government.

Dan Madding

da..@ncagr.gov

Job Titles:

IT Manager
ISS Director, Emergency Programs / 919 - 807 - 4344
Member of Committee

Dave Zilkoski

da..@gmail.com

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Staff Member

David Giordano

da..@nc.gov

Job Titles:

CGIA ( Staff to Committee ) Center for Geographic Information and Analysis
GIS Database Administrator
Member of Committee
N.C. Center for Geographic Information & Analysis / CGIA Staff / 919 - 754 - 6585

Dean Grantham

de..@ncdenr.gov

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Staff Member

Dianne Enright

di..@dhhs.nc.gov

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Member of Committee
Vice - Chair / State Center for Health Statistics

Doug Newcomb

do..@fws.gov

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Member of Committee

Dylan Frick

Job Titles:

Member of the Leadership Team
Legislative Affairs Director
NCDIT As Legislative Affairs Director

Dylan Frick joined NCDIT as legislative affairs director in March 2024. He represents the department's priorities, initiatives and interests at the state Legislature. Frick has experience in both the public and the private sectors advocating for clients' interests, building relationships and facilitating partnerships with state and local governments. He also has familiarity with state and federal processes and policies governing grants for broadband infrastructure. He previously worked as assistant vice president of McGuireWoods Consulting's government relations team and served in the offices of N.C. General Assembly members, as well as on congressional and mayoral campaigns. He holds an M.A. in Public Policy and Political Management from George Washington University and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Eric Wilson

eg..@ncdot.gov

Job Titles:

Member of Committee
N.C. Department of Transportation

Erik Hund

er..@noaa.gov

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Member of Committee

Erin Lesh - Chairman

ea..@ncdot.gov

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Chairman

Gary Thompson - Chairman

ga..@ncdps.gov

Job Titles:

Chairman
Vice Chair
Chairman, NCDPS - Geodetic Survey / Chair
Member of Committee
Vice Chair of Committee
Vice Chair, Permanent Seat

Gerald Faulkner

gf..@kannapolisnc.gov

Job Titles:

Member of Committee

Glenn Mack - CIO

Job Titles:

Chief Information Officer
Chief Information Officer ( Public Safety, Adult Correction )
N.C. Department of Information Technology 's Chief Information Officer

Glenn Mack serves as the N.C. Department of Information Technology's chief information officer for the N.C. Department of Public Safety and the N.C. Department of Adult Correction. He is responsible for the overall technology direction and leadership of the state's largest agency, including operations, applications and security. Mack came to NCDIT in 2019 during the transition of cabinet agency IT positions into NCDIT. Previously, he was chief information officer of the N.C. Department of Crime Control and Public Safety from 2009 to 2012 and deputy chief information officer of the N.C. Department of Public Safety from 2012 until he was promoted to CIO in 2018. He also worked for various private companies, serving as an IT director for a North Carolina-based national marketing and publications company and as a senior-level integration consultant for domestic and international clients. Mack has received multiple recognitions over the years for successful or enhanced technology initiatives to include a Governor's Award for Excellence for Efficiency and Innovation, as well as being named the 2021 NC Tech Public Sector CIO of the Year. He is a board member of the North Carolina Criminal Justice Information Network and a certified employment and grievance mediator. He has also served on the Governor's Advisory Council on Hispanic and Latino Affairs. Mack graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science in computer science.

Glenn Poplawski

Job Titles:

State Solutions Director

Glenn Poplawski has more than 25 years of business experience, including five years in systems engineering and technical analysis for the federal government and 15 years working in the private information technology sector. Prior to coming to work for the state of North Carolina, Poplawski worked for various private companies, including IBM, a systems integration firm, an internet startup bought by CMGI, the former Anderson Consulting and as a consultant to various private companies and public agencies. This work included managing client relationships and engagements, managing the operations of critical business systems, guiding the implementation of large-scale system development projects and contributing with the senior team to develop the local business strategy and operational model. Poplawski has been working for the state for more than 10 years. Initially, he served the Office of Information Technology Services Enterprise Solutions Division in the role of team lead for the Project Management Services team. He built a team of certified project managers to manage both ITS-related projects and other executive agency projects. Subsequently, per the ITS chief information office, Poplawski took on additional duties as required to include the Service Transition organization, including the PMO, and later IT Business Applications. Currently, Poplawski heads the N.C. Department of Information Technology's Solutions Delivery Division, which includes the Enterprise Project Management Office, the Project Management Office, Business Analysis Services, Solutions Architecture Services, Software Quality Assurance Services, Digital Commons Services and several general government CIOs. Poplawski is a certified project management professional and government chief information officer. He has a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from Virginia Tech and a Master of Business Administration from George Mason University.

Greg Dobson

gd..@unca.edu

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Member / University of North Carolina

Hope Morgan - Chairman

Job Titles:

Chairman
Current Chair
GIS Manager
Member of Committee

Hugh Harris - Chief Legal Officer

Job Titles:

General Counsel
Member of the Leadership Team

Hugh Harris, a lawyer with more than 20 years of experience in public and private practice, serves as general counsel, managing and overseeing all areas of in-house legal issues and providing direct counsel and advice to the State Chief Information Officer and executive leadership at the N.C. Department of Information Technology. Prior to joining NCDIT in February 2025, he served as deputy general for the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and supported divisions including IT, human resources, procurement and budget. In addition to running a private solo practitioner firm, Harris has held a variety of roles with the N.C. Department of Justice and N.C. Industrial Commission, including assistant attorney general, public defender, criminal litigator and civil litigator. He is a board member for Haven House Services and is a past member of the N.C. Victims Assistance Network Training Committee and N.C. Senior Fraud Task Force. Harris has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina Asheville and a Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University School of Law.