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WomenIn Technology Speaker Bios

Danielle DuMerer

Danielle DuMerer is Vice President of Technology at the John G. Shedd Aquarium and a Lecturer at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. Danielle brings nearly twenty years of experience leading non-profit, education, and government technology teams--including serving as Chief Information Officer of the City of Chicago and as a technology product development leader at the McGraw-Hill Companies. In 2019, the Executives Club of Chicago, the Society of Information Management (SIM) Chicago Chapter and the CompTIA AITP Chicago Chapter Danielle named Danielle CIO of the Year, and Government Technology recognized Danielle as a Top Doer, Dreamer, and Driver. Danielle holds a Master of Library and Information Science degree from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Jennifer Ricker

Jennifer Ricker is the Acting Secretary and CIO for the Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT). Ricker leads the state's technology strategy and digital transformation through the continued development and implementation of an innovative, robust, and secure technology environment. In her previous roles with DoIT, Ricker served as Assistant Secretary, focused on application development and technology delivery to the agencies DoIT serves, and as Chief of Staff she managed and directed agency operations.

Ricker has dedicated her career to public service, serving the State of Illinois for 22 years in a number of leadership roles. Growing up in the state capital, she developed an interest in government and politics that led to her first position as a Legislative Analyst with the Illinois House of Representatives and has continued with multiple senior roles throughout the executive branch. Ricker holds a M.A. in security studies (homeland defense) from the Center for Homeland Defense and Security at the Naval Postgraduate School (Monterey, CA) and a B.A. in history from the University of Missouri (Columbia, MO).

Dr. Tamara Roust

Dr. Tamara Roust is the Chief Data Officer the CFTC. As its first Chief Data Officer, Dr. Roust served as Chief Data Officer for the State of Illinois where she developed the state’s enterprise data strategy for statewide data practice and was a part of the state’s COVID-19 taskforce. She also has nearly a decade of experience in the financial services industry and worked as a senior engineer for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Tammy holds a BS in Math and Computer Science from UCLA and several degrees including a Ph.D. in Information Systems and Technology from Claremont Graduate University.