NOVEMBER 12, 2026 · RALEIGH, NC

Progress
in Practice

AI, Innovation & What's Working Across North Carolina

Register on Eventbrite
Thursday, November 12, 20268 AM to 5 PM
McKimmon CenterNC State Campus, Raleigh

About the Conference

One day. Every board in the state.

A one-day gathering bringing together members and staff from North Carolina's licensing, permitting, and titling boards, commissions, and state agencies, for candid discussion, practical learning, and relationship-building among counterparts.

An engaged audience during a conference session

The Program

Thursday, November 12

A full day of sessions, roundtables, and time with your counterparts. Details are being finalized and this page updates as they are confirmed.

8 to 9 AM

Coffee & Breakfast

Check in, collect your materials, and meet the room before the program opens.

9 to 9:30 AM

Opening KeynoteKeynote

Secretary Dev Sangvai, NC Department of Health and Human Services

9:30 to 9:45 AM

Break

9:45 to 10:30 AM

Breakout SessionsChoose one

Legislative Update, with Chris Wall, EQV Strategic

Communicating with Government, with Sadie Weiner and Ford Porter, WP Advisors

10:30 to 10:45 AM

Break

10:45 to 11:30 AM

Risk Management for Boards and Commissions

Liz Hale and Latarsha Silver, Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina

11:30 AM to 12:15 PM

Roundtable DiscussionPeer session

Grouped by board type. Bring a problem you are working on.

12:15 to 1:30 PM

Lunch

1:30 to 2 PM

AI Information Session

Practical, ground level uses of AI in regulatory operations.

2 to 2:30 PM

Fireside ChatKeynote

Secretary Nate Denny, NC Department of Information Technology

2:30 to 2:45 PM

Break

2:45 to 3:30 PM

Roundtable DiscussionPeer session

Second round, new table, new counterparts.

3:30 to 5 PM

Happy Hour & NetworkingOpen to all

The part of the day people actually remember. Stay, compare notes, and trade numbers with the people who hold your seat on another board.

Schedule subject to change. Registered attendees receive the final program by email ahead of the event.

Speakers

Who you will hear from

State leaders and practitioners who work with North Carolina's boards and commissions every day.

Secretary Dev Sangvai
Opening Keynote

Secretary Dev Sangvai

Secretary, NC Department of Health and Human Services

Dr. Devdutta "Dev" Sangvai is North Carolina's 19th Secretary of Health and Human Services, a family medicine physician, and a professor at Duke University. He is a member of the North Carolina Medical Board and previously served as President of Duke Regional Hospital and President of the North Carolina Medical Society. His work has focused on improving access, developing the healthcare workforce, and making care more efficient.

Secretary Nate Denny
Fireside Chat

Secretary Nate Denny

Secretary & State Chief Information Officer, NC Department of Information Technology

Appointed in April 2026, Nate Denny leads the agency responsible for statewide technology strategy, IT service delivery, cybersecurity, and high speed internet access. He brings more than two decades in state and federal government, including earlier roles at NCDIT as deputy secretary, chief of staff, and legislative director, and champions responsible uses of emerging technology such as artificial intelligence across state government.

Liz Hale
Risk Management

Liz Hale

Director of Risk Management, Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina

Elizabeth Hale has been with IIANC since 2017, where she assists the State of North Carolina with cyber, directors and officers liability, and crime insurance. She holds a political science degree from Stetson University and earned her CPCU designation in 1991.

Latarsha Silver
Risk Management

Latarsha Silver

Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina

Joining Liz Hale for a practical look at the coverage questions boards and commissions run into, and where the real exposure sits.

Chris Wall
Legislative Update

Chris Wall

Partner, EQV Strategic

Chris Wall began his career in Washington as a senior staffer to Senator Richard Burr, Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, and Congressman Robin Hayes, then served as a senior lobbyist for the National Pork Producers Council. Back in North Carolina, he managed a broad client portfolio at a major government affairs firm and was named by The Hill as one of Washington's top lobbyists of 2019.

Sadie Weiner
Communicating with Government

Sadie Weiner

Principal, WP Advisors

Sadie Weiner has worked in state and federal government and campaigns for almost two decades. She served in the Office of Governor Roy Cooper first as Communications Director and most recently as Director of External Affairs. Previously she was Communications Director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Communications Director for U.S. Senator Kay Hagan.

Ford Porter
Communicating with Government

Ford Porter

Principal, WP Advisors

Ford Porter has worked in state and federal government for more than a decade, serving as Communications Director for Governor Roy Cooper as well as in various press secretary and communications roles across the governor's office and the U.S. Senate.

Who is in the room

The people who hold your seat somewhere else

Members and staff from licensing, permitting, and titling boards, commissions, and state agencies across North Carolina.

Two roundtable blocks are grouped by board type, so the person across the table is working through the same renewal cycle, the same reporting, and the same software questions you are.

Details

When and where

  • DateThursday, November 12, 2026
  • Time8 AM to 5 PM ET
  • VenueMcKimmon CenterNC State Campus, Raleigh
  • Who attendsMembers and staff of NC licensing, permitting, and titling boards, commissions, and state agencies

Getting there

McKimmon Conference & Training Center
1101 Gorman Street
Raleigh, NC 27606
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Reserve your seat

Registration is open now through Eventbrite.

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