Beyond the Booth: ASSYST Connects with Texas Technology Leaders at DIR Discover and DIR Connect 2026

Austin, Texas | October 2026 — As public-sector entities across Texas navigate shifting technology requirements, collaboration between government leaders and trusted industry partners remains crucial to driving successful digital transformation.

Earlier this month, ASSYST participated in two flagship events hosted by the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) at the Palmer Events Center in Austin: DIR Discover 2026 on October 6 and the DIR Connect Technology Expo on October 8.

Representing ASSYST were Ali Kalamchi, Senior Manager of Business Solutions, and Matthew Lee, Account Manager. Throughout both events, our leadership engaged with public-sector technology leaders, procurement professionals, and agency decision-makers to exchange insights on emerging priorities and explore collaborative pathways for government IT modernization.

Exploring Emerging Priorities for Government Technology

At DIR Discover, discussions centered on how Texas state and local agencies are approaching complex technical mandates, ranging from artificial intelligence adoption and data governance to cloud interoperability and Zero Trust cybersecurity.

A standout session, Mission at the Speed of Data: How the Texas Military Department is Forging a Unified, AI-Driven Enterprise, presented by Sekhar Gangidi of the Texas Military Department, highlighted the necessity of building trusted data foundations, enhancing system interoperability, and aligning technical tools with strategic organizational goals.

These insights reflect a core principle of ASSYST’s methodology: adopting innovative technology is only the first step. To deliver sustainable outcomes, public-sector organizations require robust infrastructure, clear governance frameworks, technical depth, and proven strategic partnerships.

            "Attending DIR Discover and DIR Connect was an exceptional opportunity to engage directly with Texas technology leaders, gain deeper insight into the state's evolving IT priorities, and explore how ASSYST can support agencies through our active DIR ITSAC and DBITS contracts. From cybersecurity and AI to enterprise modernization, it was inspiring to see the innovation driving Texas state and local government. We look forward to continuing these conversations and turning these connections into meaningful, long-term partnerships."— Matthew Lee & Ali Kalamchi,                      

Engaging Texas Leaders at DIR Connect 2026

On October 8, ASSYST welcomed attendees to Booth #523 at the DIR Connect Technology Expo. The event provided an interactive platform for DIR-contracted vendors, government IT executives, and procurement officers to evaluate cooperative purchasing avenues and address evolving agency mandates.

Our team showcased ASSYST’s end-to-end service offerings, including:

• Application Modernization & Cloud Solutions: Accelerating legacy system migration into agile, resilient multi-cloud architectures.
• Data & Advanced Analytics: Empowering data-driven decision-making through enterprise database administration and predictive modeling.
• Cybersecurity & Compliance Automation: Highlighting ComplySyncATO, ASSYST’s proprietary solution designed to automate compliance workflows, accelerate Authority to Operate (ATO) processes, and enable continuous monitoring.
• IT Professional Services & Project Management: Flexible technical resourcing to extend in-house capacity.

Streamlined Procurement via Active Texas DIR Contract Vehicles

ASSYST provides Texas state agencies, higher education institutions, and local government bodies with direct, streamlined procurement channels through active DIR contract vehicles:

• ITSAC (Contract # DIR-CPO-5570): Provides access to highly qualified IT staff and specialized technical talent across diverse technical disciplines.
• DBITS (Contract # DIR-CPO-5961): Delivers full-lifecycle, project-based IT solutions in application modernization, data analytics, independent IT assessments, and project management.

By leveraging these cooperative contract vehicles, eligible entities access pre-negotiated, competitive pricing while avoiding the administrative delays of traditional procurement cycles.

Continuing the Conversation

Participating in DIR Discover and DIR Connect reinforced the vital importance of direct dialog with the public-sector leaders who design, procure, and manage Texas government technologies.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Texas Department of Information Resources, event organizers, speakers, and all attendees who visited Booth #523 to connect with our team.

As ASSYST continues expanding its engagement across the State of Texas, we look forward to building on these conversations and delivering technical solutions that support agency missions across the state.

Contact:

• Connect with Our Team: Schedule a follow-up consultation with Ali Kalamchi and Matthew Lee by emailing govprograms@assyst.net