MnTech Outlook 2026 » MnTech

Discover What’s Next for Minnesota’s Tech Ecosystem

Thursday, December 11, 2025 | Metropolitan Ballroom | 8:00 AM

Join technology, business, and state policy leaders as they share the issues and solutions that will shape headlines, influence boardrooms, and drive policy in the year ahead.

MnTech Outlook explores emerging tech policy, strategic trends, and the innovations fueling growth across Minnesota. Connect with peers and decision-makers during a dynamic morning of learning and networking designed to position you for success in 2026.

Panelists

Renee Edwards, Senior Vice President, Consumer Engineering, Optum

Renee Edwards
Senior Vice President, Consumer Engineering
Optum

Eric R. Pratt
Senator (55, R), Assistant Majority Leader
Minnesota Senate

Steve Grove
CEO and Publisher
The Minnesota Star Tribune

Kristin Bahner
Representative (DFL), District: 37B
Minnesota House of Representatives

Commissioner Tarek Tomes
Commissioner and Chief Information Officer
Minnesota IT Services (MNIT)

Presenting Sponsors

Event Sponsors

Event Details

Date
Thursday, December 11, 2025

Time
8:00am – 9:30am
Registration opens at 7:30am, program begins at 8am.

Location
Metropolitan Ballroom
5418 Wayzata Blvd, Golden Valley, MN 55416

Pricing
MnTech Members: $90
Non-Members: $140

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Highlights From Last Year

Commissioner Tarek Tomes

Commissioner and Chief Information Officer, Minnesota IT Services (MNIT)

Tarek Tomes serves as the Commissioner of Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) and the State of Minnesota’s Chief Information Officer (CIO), leading state efforts to provide the best possible IT solutions and customer service to the people of Minnesota and our business partners.

As a recognized industry leader, Tomes brings over 25 years of experience in managing technology innovation across diverse industries, both in national, international, and public and private sector operations. Throughout his career, he has facilitated data-driven decision making, implemented many critical enterprise projects, and improved workforce diversity and inclusion.

Before becoming Commissioner, Tomes served as the Chief Innovation Officer and former Chief Information Officer at the City of St. Paul, where he was responsible for managing ongoing process improvements, supporting human-centered design, and increasing the overall effectiveness of city services and resources. While in St. Paul, Tomes facilitated a digital transformation at the city level, pioneering the use of mobile applications to improve resident opportunities. This work allowed the city to leverage deep data insights while promoting and supporting equitable service delivery. During his time as St. Paul’s Chief Information Officer, Tomes oversaw the launch of St. Paul’s Open Information Portal, which serves to promote and encourage innovative uses of data and transparency in government services.

Tomes’ prior work experience also includes six years as an Assistant Commissioner of Minnesota IT Services, where he created several nation-leading Information Technology sourcing agreements for 33,000+ user utility services statewide – including the first cloud-based public sector statewide service offering in the nation. While Tomes was serving in this role, Minnesota became the first state in the country to manage all Information Technology through service level agreements, a model that was recognized with a national award. Before joining state service, Tomes spent 13 years working for British Telecom.

Tomes received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and attended Graduate School for Business Management at Boston University.

Jayshree Seth
Corporate Scientist, 3M

Jayshree Seth is a Corporate Scientist at 3M and currently holds 77 patents for a variety of innovations, with several additional pending. She joined 3M in 1993 after an MS and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson University, New York. She is a Distinguished Alumni Award recipient from her alma mater REC Trichy India, now NIIT Trichy, where she earned a B. Tech. in Chemical Engineering.

Jayshree was appointed 3M’s first ever Chief Science Advocate in 2018 and is using her scientific knowledge, technical expertise and professional experience to advance science and communicate the benefits of science and the importance of diversity in STEM fields. She is also a member of Carlton Society which is the 3M Science and Engineering “Hall of Fame.” Jayshree is the fourth woman and first female engineer to be inducted. In 2020, she was awarded Society of Women Engineers (SWE) highest Achievement Award. She is also the first-ever winner of a Gold Stevie® Award in the new Female Thought Leaders of the Year – category in the 18th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business in 2021. Jayshree was featured in a docuseries titled Not the Science Type that premiered during the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival and accepted for Brand Storytelling Showcase, a sanctioned event at Sundance Film Festival. She is the author of the books, The Heart of Science – Engineering Footprints, Fingerprints, & Imprints, and The Heart of Science – Engineering Fine Print published by the Society of Women Engineers, and all sales proceeds go to a scholarship for underrepresented minority women in STEM. She is a sought-after speaker, globally, on a multitude of topics such as innovation, leadership and STEM advocacy and has featured in local, national and international media.

Jayshree has served on the CEOs Inclusion Council, chaired the 3M Asian Employee Resource Group A3CTION and serves on the Steering Committee for 3M Technical Women’s Leadership Forum (WLF). She also serves on the Board of the Science Museum of Minnesota, Engineering Advisory Council for Clarkson University, AAAS Committee on Science, Engineering and Public Policy (COSEPP), Advisory Board for Innovation – The Conference Board, and Advisory Group of Aspen Institute Our Future is Science program.

Jayshree has two adult kids, and her husband also works at 3M.