MCCTO 2026 Conference

Join us for a valuable opportunity to connect with colleagues, gain insights from engaging sessions, and stay up to date on the latest IT developments at community colleges throughout Maryland.

View the agenda or download the Whova app for conference details. The conference will be Wednesday, October 28 through Friday, October 30 at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina in Cambridge, MD.

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Cutoff Date: Tuesday, September 29

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Agenda

Wednesday 10/28 Schedule
Event	Location	Time	Description
VP/CIO Annual Breakfast		9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.	VP/CIO only/Closed Session. Will include Ellucian, Titanium sponsor presentation. *Breakfast sponsored by GuidePoint Security*
Check-In		10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.	Check-in and collect your name badge at the Registration Table
Exhibits Open		12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.	Visit with sponsors
Welcome/Lunch		12:00 p.m. -1:00 p.m.	Introductions and Welcome, Valarie Burks, CSM CIO/Vice President of Information Management and Technology Enjoy Lunch sponsored by Ellucian
Keynote Presentation		1:00 p.m. -1:45 p.m.	James Saunders, MD State Chief Security Information Office
Break Sponsor Exhibits Open		1:45 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.	Attendees are welcome to network or attend to other needs during this time
Ellucian Presentation		2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.	Titanium Sponsor Presentation
Sun Management, CrowdStrike Presentation		2:30 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.	Platinum Sponsor, Sun Management, Presentation by CrowdSrike
Break Sponsor Exhibits Open		2:50 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.	Attendees are welcome to network or attend to other needs during this time.
MCCTO Member Updates		3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.	Colleges will provide updates on current and upcoming projects. Facilitated by Dr. Rhonda Spells-Fentry, PGCC VP of Data Science, Innovation, and Effectiveness
Break Sponsor Exhibits Open		4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.	Attendees are welcome to network or attend to other needs during this time.
Welcome Reception Happy Hour	Clipper Room/ Garden Terrace	5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.	After an inspiring round of presentations, it's time to unwind! Head over to join your colleagues for a well-deserved Happy Hour! Sponsored by *Sun Management*

Thursday 10/29 Schedule
Event	Location		Time		Description
Exhibits Open			8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.		Visit with our sponsors
Connect and Converse			8:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m.		All Sponsors and colleges will have the opportunity for Connect and Converse Space. Space will be provided for vendors and attendees to meet and discuss current or future projects and initiatives.
Dell Interactive Van			9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.		Visit the Dell Interactive Van in the parking lot
Breakfast			8:00 a.m. –9:00 a.m.		Enjoy breakfast with fellow attendees. Enjoy Breakfast sponosred by ePlus
ePlus presentation			9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.		15 min Gold Sponsor Presentation
Voyatek presentation			9:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.		15 min Gold Sponsor Presentation
Sponsor Exhibits/Dell Truck/Connect and Converse			9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.		Time to visit sponsors, the Dell Interactive Van in the parking lot, and/or Connect and Converse
Breakout Session 1			10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.		4 session opportunities: Interactive panel discussions and expert-led presentations exploring emerging technologies and innovative solutions shaping the future of higher education
Break/Sponsor Exhibits/Connect and Converse			10:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.		Time to visit sponsors, the Dell Interactive Van in the parking lot, and/or Connect and Converse
Breakout Session 2			11:00 a.m - 11:45 a.m.		4 session opportunities: Interactive panel discussions and expert-led presentations exploring emerging technologies and innovative solutions shaping the future of higher education
Break/Sponsor Exhibits/Connect and Converse			11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.		Time to visit sponsors, the Dell Interactive Van in the parking lot, and/or Connect and Converse
Lunch			12:00 p.m. -1:00 p.m.		Enjoy lunch with fellow attendees. Enjoy Lunch sponsored by Zaviant
Zaviant Presentation			12:45 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.		Gold Sponsor presentation
GuidePoint Security Presentation			1:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.		Gold Sponsor presentation
Sponsor Exhibits/Dell Truck/Connect and Converse			1:15 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.		Time to visit sponsors, the Dell Interactive Van in the parking lot, and/or Connect and Converse
Breakout Session 3			2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.		4 session opportunities: Interactive panel discussions and expert-led presentations exploring emerging technologies and innovative solutions shaping the future of higher education
Break/Sponsor Exhibits/Dell Truck/Connect and Converse			2:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.		Time to visit sponsors, the Dell Interactive Van in the parking lot, and/or Connect and Converse
Breakout Session 4			3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.		4 session opportunities: Interactive panel discussions and expert-led presentations exploring emerging technologies and innovative solutions shaping the future of higher education
Break/Sponsor Exhibits/Dell Truck/Connect and Converse			3:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.		Time to visit sponsors, the Dell Interactive Van in the parking lot, and/or Connect and Converse
Feed the Fish!					Feed the Fish! *Sponsored by Voyatek*
Happy Hour			5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.		Join us for an evening event of light refreshments, networking, and fun activities that include the golf simulator. Sponsored by Skyline Technologies
Friday 10/30 schedule
Event		Location		Time		Description
Exhibits Open				8:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.		Visit with our sponsors
Breakfast				8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.		Enjoy breakfast with fellow attendees. Sponsored by ThinkSecureNet
ThinkSecureNet Presentation				9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.		15 minute Gold Sponsor Presentation
Skyline Technologies Presentation				9:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.		15 minute Gold Sponsor Presentation
Break/Sponsor Exhibits				9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.		Attendees are welcome to network or attend to other needs during this time
MACC Update				10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.		Updates from MAAC (Maryland Association of Community Colleges)
Break/Sponsor Exhibits				10:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.		Attendees are welcome to network or attend to other needs during this time
MEEC Update				11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.		Updates from Tamara P., Executive Director of MEEC (Maryland Educational Enterprise Consortium)
Conference Wrap-up/What’s Next for MCCTO				11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.		Conference Close out and What’s Next for MCCTO
Sponsor Exhibits Close				12:00 Noon

Keynote Speaker

James Saunders

James Saunders is the State Chief Security Information Officer (SCISO) for the State of Maryland. He leads the Office of Security Management within the Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT), securing state IT systems by pursuing strong state partnerships and implementing cutting-edge cybersecurity technologies, programs, and policies.

Mr. Saunders was officially sworn in as the SCISO, the highest ranking cyber professional in the State of Maryland, on May 11, 2026. Under his leadership as “Acting” SCISO, the DoIT Office of Security Management (OSM) has dramatically elevated the State of Maryland’s cyber posture. In the last year, he has helped establish the country's largest state-level VDP, enabling the State of Maryland to identify and remediate vulnerabilities. His team has finished a Cybersecurity and Policy Suite, a modular Governance, Risk, and Compliance framework that has set the state towards zero-trust implementation and embedded privacy practices. He has expanded Maryland's umbrella of cybersecurity intelligence, ensuring local and critical infrastructure partners can act on the latest information. Most of all, he is a leader driving partnership, rapid improvement, and long-lasting security practices throughout the State of Maryland.

Mr. Saunders has over 15 years of experience across the federal government and private industry. Before joining DoIT, Mr. Saunders served as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Deputy Chief Information Officer for the U.S Office of Personnel Management (OPM), where he led the rollout of zero-trust programs, the agency's secure cloud migration, and culture change throughout the agency.