Jeff Brueggeman, Vice President of Public Policy, AT&T

Mr. Brueggeman is Vice President-Public Policy at AT&T.  Mr. Brueggeman is responsible for the development and coordination of AT&T’s strategic policy initiatives related to Internet, technology and convergence issues.  He supports AT&T’s business in the operation of its global Internet network, deployment of next-generation broadband networks and development of converged IP services.

Mr. Brueggeman previously worked as an attorney in AT&T’s Washington, D.C. office advocating the company’s positions on broadband and universal service issues before the Federal Communications Commission.  Prior to joining AT&T, he worked as a telecommunications attorney in private practice. 

He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia.

Christopher Buse, Chief Information Security Office, State of Minnesota Office of Enterprise Technology

Mr. Buse is responsible for designing and implementing the enterprise security architecture for state government.  Before accepting this position, Christopher served as the Manager of Information Technology Audits for the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor.  During his 19 years as an auditor, Christopher planned and oversaw information technology audit work done on large government computer systems.  Christopher also provided state of the art technology tools and training for financial audit professionals who worked for the office.

Christopher Buse graduated from St. Cloud State University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.  Since graduation, he has supplemented his accounting degree with numerous computer science and management information systems courses.  Christopher is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), and a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). 

Christopher is active in many professional organizations and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Chapter of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA). 

Daniel Castro is a Senior Analyst with ITIF specializing in issues relating to IT and the digital economy. He has experience in the private, non-profit and government sectors.

Before joining ITIF, Mr. Castro worked as an IT analyst at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) where he audited IT security and management controls at various government agencies. He contributed to GAO reports on the state of information security at a variety of federal agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). In addition, Mr. Castro was a Visiting Scientist at the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he developed virtual training simulations to provide clients with hands-on training of the latest information security tools. He has a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and an M.S. in Information Security Technology and Management from Carnegie Mellon University.

Representative Joe Hoppe represents district 34B which covers Chaska and Chanhassen. He was first elected to the House in 2002. His committee assignments in the Legislature include the Telecommunications (where he is the GOP lead) Commerce, Energy Finance, Ways and Means, and Rules.

Rep. Hoppe’s hometown of Chaska was a national pioneer in laying out a public Wi-Fi system. Hoppe has been interested in working on telecommunications deregulation and reform in St. Paul. Hoppe works as a sales executive for a communications firm and enjoys hunting and fishing in his leisure time.

He is an alum of St. Johns University.

Professor William McGeveran, Associate Professor of Law, University of Minnesota

Professor McGeveran specializes in information law, including intellectual property, data privacy, communications and technology, and free speech. His current research focuses on digital identity and data privacy, disclosure rules and norms in areas such as open records laws, and fair use and the public domain in trademark and copyright law. He teaches civil procedure and privacy courses.

Professor McGeveran earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from New York University and a B.A., magna cum laude, in political science from Carleton College. Prior to coming to the University of Minnesota, Professor McGeveran was a resident fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School. He previously clerked for Judge Sandra Lynch on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and practiced as an intellectual property litigator at Foley Hoag LLP in Boston. Before law school, Professor McGeveran worked in national politics for seven years, primarily as a policy aide to Democrats in the United States House of Representatives. He grew up in New York City.

Bil MacLeslie, Chief Executive Officer, ipHouse

Mr. MacLeslie has over 24 years of Internet experience, 9 of them at VISI.com developing their reputation that still survives today. Prior to VISI.com, Mr. MacLeslie spent 2 years at the University of Minnesota operating networks for the Biochemistry Department and 10 years running a BBS.

Mr. MacLeslie was lured into the field of technology after spending a decade mastering the technical challenges of theatre and live & recorded performance. As a stage and sound technician, he spent three years with the Guthrie Theater and toured nationally with such acts as The Replacements, REM, X, The Jets, Rod Stewart and The Nylons. He's worked his backstage magic with Graham Chapman, Bruce Willis, Harry Anderson, Theatre de le Jeune Lune, Emo Phillips, Todd Rundgren, Louie Andersen, The Minnesota Opera, Judy Collins, NRBQ, The Pixies, Tina Turner and countless others.

In 2002 Mr. MacLeslie earned the coveted 40 under 40 award from The Business Journal, placing him as one of the top business people under 40 in Minnesota.

Gregory T. Nojeim, Senior Counsel, Center for Democracy & Technology and Director of its Project on Freedom, Security & Technology

Mr. Nojeim conducts much of CDT’s work in the areas of national security, terrorism, and Fourth Amendment protections. Nojeim is also Co-Chair of the Coordinating Committee on National Security and Civil Liberties of the Individual Rights and Responsibilities Section of the American Bar Association.

Nojeim works to limit the threat to privacy posed by governmental wiretapping and monitoring of Internet communications. He has substantial expertise on the application of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and on the civil liberties protections it affords.  Other areas of his expertise include governmental data mining, civil liberties protections for information sharing, the PATRIOT Act, and the state secrets privilege.

Nojeim frequently testifies before congressional committees and the various commissions Congress establishes on anti-terrorism legislation and aviation security legislation.  Prior to joining CDT, Mr. Nojeim was for five years a Legislative Counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union and for seven years the Associate Director and Chief Legislative Counsel of the ACLU’s Washington Legislative Office.  Mr. Nojeim also served as the Director of Legal Services of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC). 

He was graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Rochester in 1981, where he studied Political Science.  He received his J.D. from the University of Virginia. 

Senator Scheid served 11 years in the House before resigning to become Vice President for Community Relations for Burnet Realty. Her interest in legislative politics revived after she managed the late-Rep. Darlene Luther’s successful campaign in 1994, so she jumped back into the electoral fray.

Her background includes a variety of professional and community experiences. She taught English as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia. She has been active in the League of Women Voters and Mrs. Jaycees, where she served as State Vice President in the early 1970s. She has been involved in the Minneapolis Girls’ Club and a variety of civic organizations and panels around the Brooklyn Park/Brooklyn Center area.

Scheid is interested in the process of government, and believes that there should be “hoops and hurdles” in the legislative process in order to let issues simmer and generate more public input. Her legislative priorities include: E-16 education, funding for roads and transit, elections and ethics, and business issues.

Representative Ryan Winkler, Minnesota House of Representatives

Representative Winkler represents district 44B in the Minnesota House, covering portions of St. Louis Park and Golden Valley.  Representative Winkler lives in Golden Valley with his wife Jenny and two sons, ages 3 and 1.  His committee assignments in the Legislature include the Finance; State Government Finance; Government Operations, Reform, Technology and Elections; Biosciences and Emerging Technology; and Rules and Legislative Administration.  Rep. Winkler has chief authored bills establishing statewide education technology standards and increased oversight for technology projects at state agencies.  When not at the State Capitol, Representative Winkler works as General Counsel at Nazca Solutions, Inc., and enjoys running, hunting and hockey.  Representative Winkler received his undergraduate degree in history from Harvard, graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School, and is a native of Bemidji, Minnesota.