News & Press

MISAC Quarterly Newsletter - Spring 2026

Thu, 28 May 2026 21:13:00 GMT


	Navigating the Aftermath of the ADA Title II Deadline

	Many MISAC members spent the past month scrambling to ensure their organizations’ websites and other digital platforms complied with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II requirements. More than a year ago, the Department of Justice ruled that state and local governments serving populations of 50,000 or more must meet accessibility standards by April 24, 2026, while smaller entities and special districts have until April 26, 2027. With the ADA deadline now pushed back another year, many agencies are asking the same question: where do we go from here? For organizations that were already struggling to keep pace with accessibility requirements, the extension offers a much-needed opportunity to regroup and reassess priorities - but extra time should not translate into lost momentum. From website accessibility audits to staff training, agencies should use this window to tackle the areas that will have the greatest impact on public access. One MISAC member advises his peers to quickly establish a governance plan and compile a set of frequently asked questions to demonstrate progress towards compliance. When his team launched their initiative, he met with 15 different departments across his agency to review the requirements and address questions. Because ADA Title II is an unfunded mandate, agencies must cover the costs of software, testing and training out of pocket. While dedicated grant funding is not currently available, there are nonprofit organizations and colleges that offer free or low-cost resources to support accessibility efforts. To continue reading, click here.


	The Second InnovaTech Event Proved the Momentum is Growing


	What began as a Southern Chapter event quickly evolved into a collaborative experience welcoming members across chapter borders. In this group interview, InnovaTech organizers Larry Klingaman (City of Palm Springs), Purvi Bodawala (City of Thousand Oaks) and Augie Preciado (City of Thousand Oaks) discuss how the event has grown from a regional gathering into a broader association-wide opportunity for learning, networking and innovation. MISAC: What changes did you implement to improve the event from last year? PB: We provided an informal poll at the end of last year’s InnovaTech to gather feedback. As a result, we decided to change the venue and extend the length of the event to promote networking opportunities. This year, I think people preferred the new venue and we had a higher attendance rate, so I think we’ve created a lot of buzz since last year. LK: This year we expanded our portfolio and added different scheduling pieces and determined new ways to assign it. We brought in a bigger group of people to help with the planning. The hotel was a big deal. We picked a place that was downtown in Palm Springs – most of the restaurants that people went to were walkable and it kept us all in one place. MISAC: How did you decide on the event name InnovaTech? PB: I asked AI for some options, and I wanted the suggestions to incorporate innovation and technology together. MISAC: What feedback did you receive on the breakout sessions? PB: I received a lot of positive feedback and relevant information that people could take back and use in their day-to-day work. At last year’s event, I asked how many people learned something that they can take back and implement right away. A lot of people raised their hands to respond to that question. To continue reading, click here.


	Registration Now Open for 2026 MISAC Annual Conference


	MISAC conference chairperson Kathleen Boutte’ Foster, CIO, City of Sunnyvale, announced this week that registration is now open for the 2026 MISAC Annual Conference scheduled for September 27 – 30 in Monterey, California. “Our 2026 MISAC Annual Conference Committee has been working diligently to put together a memorable program for this year’s event,” Boutte’ Foster stated upon announcing the opening of registration. Boutte’ Foster outlined some of this year’s anticipated highlights: 144 Vendor booths with six hours of dedicated exhibit hall hours 35 hour-long breakout sessions Four half-day educational sessions on Wednesday, September 30th (more information to follow as details are finalized) An Incident Response/Tabletop Exercise An ITSP Development Workshop A Leadership/Soft Skills Workshop A PMP Session Three General Sessions featuring renowned keynote speakers Adam Braun – Ordinary Person, Extraordinary Change: How Every person has the Power to Affect the Masses Jim Knight – Culture that Rocks: How to Amp Up Your Company’s Culture and Deliver Sustainable Results Lt. Col (ret.) Waldo Waldman – Never Fly Solo Presentation of the 2026 MISAC Excellence, Achievement, Quality, Innovation, Visual, and President’s Awards California Department of Technology Update MISAC President’s “State of the Association” Address MISAC Comedy Central Comedy Night with headliner Don McMillan And much more! MISAC members can register by logging into their MISAC online account and then CLICK HERE. Early Bird Registration ends on July 15^th. MISAC Executive Director Brad Walker went on to remind vendors that only those vendors representing conference exhibitors or sponsors are eligible to attend and participate in the conference (see Sponsorship article in this issue of MISAC Matters).


	MISAC Member Highlight: Matt Jester


	For this edition, we highlight the IT Manager of the City of Chino Hills, Matt Jester. Click here to read his member feature.


	New Workshops. New Skills. New Opportunities.

	MISAC’s Education Committee has been working hard to deliver a strong lineup of in-demand classes. Members can look forward to a wide variety of workshops zeroing in on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, business analysis and soft skills. Additionally, these private classes also offer opportunities for members to collaborate and share ideas with their peers. Look at the schedule below for the second half of the year and register soon before our classes sell out! June 15-16, 2026 Certified Agile Scrum Master MISAC Members: $735 Non-Members: $835 August 3-5, 2026 Information Technology Management and Leadership Executive (ITMLE) MISAC Members: $1,200 Non-Members: $1,300 August 19, 2026 Preparing IT Leadership for AI MISAC Members: $500 Non-Members: $600 October 14, 2026 AI Governance for IT Managers and IT Leaders MISAC Members: $500 Non-Members: $600 October 20-21, 2026 Business Analysis Foundations MISAC Members: $1,295 Non-Members: $1,295 Stay tuned for more information October 20-21, 2026 Business Analysis Foundations MISAC Members: $1,295 Non-Members: $1,395 Stay tuned for more information


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MISAC Winter 2026 Newsletter

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 22:34:00 GMT

Meet Our New President: A Conversation with Chris Skelly

As MISAC begins an exciting new chapter, we interviewed newly elected President Chris Skelly to learn more about his background, leadership philosophy and vision for the year ahead.

MISAC: What’s one trend in public-sector IT right now that you think deserves more attention than it’s getting and how might MISAC be able to help?

CS: Right now, it’s the legislative process. There are so many laws and regulations coming down the pipe from Sacramento allowing IT to help benefit Californians. I know the MISAC Legislature Committee is looking at ways to be more proactive, but it’s going to be a team effort.

I think another trend is project management. I read an article recently declaring that project management is the most important role in IT these days because of how much IT is being utilized as a solution provider within an agency. It’s not just about break/fix departments, but being able to document and communicate internally as we implement these different enterprise-wide solutions. It’s a skill and an expertise everyone needs to develop.

MISAC: What’s a recent project or initiative inside or outside MISAC that challenged how you think about technology leadership?

CS: One is the MISAC mentor program that I took advantage of a few years ago that really opened my eyes to leading an IT organization and shifting our perspective from a technician to a manager.

The other is the State CIO Advisory Committee that MISAC is organizing every other month with Liana Bailey-Crimmins. Not to mention other resources whether it’s Cal OES and their grants division, or their Reverse 911 project manager being able to pass along membership feedback to that group of people that meets every other month.

To continue reading, click here.


	A Preview of This Year’s Annual Conference with Chair Kathleen Boutte’ Foster


	As excitement builds for this year’s Annual Conference, we sat down with Conference Chair Kathleen Boutté Foster to get a preview of what attendees can expect. Kathleen shares insights into how this year’s program is shaping up – and emphasizes how important member feedback is in guiding session topics, speakers and overall conference direction. MISAC: What are your top priorities or goals for the next MISAC Annual Conference, and how will they build on what we’ve seen in recent years? KBF: I think that the last Conference Committee did a fabulous job of trying to make sure we had a lot of ideas, so we’d like to capitalize on that. We want to build on the first-timers welcome to be just as strong as it was before, but look at providing a buddy program to ensure they get the most out of the conference. We plan on having different user groups like AI and GIS to provide information sharing, and hope to increase chapter participation. The big one is capitalizing on our Wednesday sessions. We’re going to create some in-depth interactive sessions for Wednesday to ensure people can stay and get something tangible out of it. Whether that is a document, idea or commitment, we want to make sure there is a tangible takeaway at the end of the conference. Don’t worry, we’ll keep it lighthearted because we know it’s a long conference. To continue reading, click here.


	Plan Ahead: Your Guide to Upcoming Chapter Meetings

	MISAC’s chapters are gearing up for a dynamic year of connection and professional growth. From a trip to the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission to an all-chapter inclusive three-day event in Palm Springs, you’ll want to mark your calendars early. More importantly, visit MISAC’s website regularly for event updates, and register early – many chapter events fill quickly! Southern California Chapter April 1-3, 2026 InnovaTech 2026 Palm Springs (Welcome to all members) Hotel ZOSO, Palm Springs Event Theme: Elevating IT, Governance, and Cybersecurity To register, click here. Central California Chapter March 5, 2026 Central Chapter Meeting San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission Event Theme: SB 707 and AB 339 – How California is modernizing Transparency and Labor Rights To register, click here. To continue reading, click here.


	MISAC Member Highlight: Joe Stephenson


	For this edition, we highlight the Assistant IT Director of the City of Carlsbad, Joe Stephenson. Click here to read his member feature.

IT Happens Here!


	Upgrade your scrolling - follow us on LinkedIn for tech tidbits, event recaps, and the occasional humble brag about our member's awesomeness.

Building Skills for 2026 and Beyond


	The Education Committee is excited to share the first half of the 2026 course lineup and it’s packed with opportunities to learn, grow and stay ahead in an every-changing technology landscape. From certification boot camps to executive leadership development, our classes are designed to support our members at every stage of their careers. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Click here to request a class. March 17-19, 2026 The Certified Associate in Project Management MISAC Members: $1,137 Non-Members: $1,237 March 23-27, 2026 Essential Project Management – PMP Exam Prep v7 MISAC Members: $1,195 Non-Members: $1,295 May 4-8, 2026 Certified Ethical Hacker MISAC Members: $1,950 Non-Members: $2,050 June 15-16, 2026 Certified Agile Scrum Master MISAC Members: $735 Non-Members: $835 TBD Information Technology Management and Leadership Executive (ITMLE)


	www.misac.org Find us on social media and stay connected!


	The Quarterly Newsletter is provided as a benefit for members. If you have received this email, but are not a member, please consider joining. Membership information can be found on the website.


	This email was sent to '@@email@@' from MISAC. If you wish to stop receiving ALL email from us, you can simply remove yourself by visiting: @@unsubscribe_url@@.