Reforming the Human Services Safety Net: A Conversation with Clarence Carter, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Human Services

Submitted by on Mon, 04/13/2026 - 11:18
What would it take to redesign it for outcomes, not just compliance? How is Tennessee leveraging data, digital tools, and emerging technologies like AI to transform the delivery of human services? What can we learn from the new book, Our Net Has Holes In It? Join host Michael J. Keegan as he explores these questions and more with Clarence Carter, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Human Services and author of Our Net Has Holes In It.
Broadcast Date: 
Monday, April 13, 2026 - 09:53
Author: 
Clarence Carter
Audio: 
Audio icon clarence_carter2_podcast_abcd.mp3

Tim Cummins

Submitted by on Wed, 04/08/2026 - 10:03

Tim Cummins serves as the Executive Director of the CCM Institute and as the President of World Commerce & Contracting. Until 2023, he was a Professor in the Law School at the University of Leeds (UK).

Daniel Finkenstadt

Submitted by on Wed, 04/08/2026 - 10:00

Dr. Daniel Finkenstadt is a recognized expert in public procurement and policy, currently supporting the CCM Institute. With over 23 years of experience in public sector acquisitions— from operational units to headquarters—he brings deep, practical knowledge to the field. His career includes overseas roles in Italy and Afghanistan, as well as joint acquisition work with the intelligence community.

Outcome-Based Contracting in U.S. Government

Submitted by on Wed, 04/08/2026 - 09:56

For years, federal agencies have been encouraged to shift their acquisition strategies from buying activities to buying results—yet the distance between aspiration and execution remains wide. This report, Outcome-Based Contracting in U.S. Government: From Policy to Performance by Daniel Finkenstadt and Timothy Cummins, addresses that gap.

Improving The Effectiveness of Government Financial Oversight Through AI

Submitted by on Mon, 04/06/2026 - 13:27

Government financial oversight stands at an inflection point, enabled by artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.  As agencies manage increasingly complex digital financial systems, traditional audit methods—anchored in sampling, manual review, and documentation checks—can be supplemented by modern analytics approaches, implemented early in the payments cycle and tracked through the audit stage. Such strategies can enable agencies to address emerging risks to transparency, accountability, and public trust by effectively safeguarding taxpayer resources. 

Weekly Roundup - March 23-27

Submitted by on Fri, 03/27/2026 - 13:27

The week ending March 27, 2026, brought a convergence of consequential developments spanning quantum strategy, AI infrastructure, defense modernization, and the impact of workforce disruption. On the technology front, a GAO report put the National Quantum Initiative's strategic gaps into sharp relief just as the Senate prepared for a reauthorization markup and President Trump's appointment of 13 technology titans to PCAST sent a clear signal about where the administration intends to anchor its emerging technology agenda.

Daniel Fonner

Submitted by on Thu, 03/26/2026 - 16:42

Daniel Fonner is the Associate Director for Research at SMU DataArts, the National Center for Arts Research at Southern Methodist University (SMU), as well as an adjunct lecturer in SMU’s Division of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs. Daniel’s teaching and research focus on data science for social good, employing artificial intelligence to improve public administration and support the arts and culture sector.

Irakli Petriashvili

Submitted by on Thu, 03/26/2026 - 10:18

Dr. Irakli Petriashvili is a Certified Public Sector Auditor committed to advancing the architectural foundations of financial oversight through technology. At the University of Georgia, he teaches public administration, public sector auditing, and financial fraud detection courses. He serves as a faculty affiliate with the Transparency and Governance Center in the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers University–Newark, and as a Governance and Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) Fellow at the UK Centre for the Study of

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