ARMA Episodes

In this live episode of the InfoGov Hot Seat recorded straight from the ARMA Federal Summit in Reston, Virginia, host Jim Merrifield sits down with Wesley Callahan, Senior Account Executive at Hyland Software. With over 30 years of Enterprise Content Management (ECM) experience in the federal space, Wesley breaks down why the massive shift toward Artificial Intelligence (AI) and agentic processing requires organizations to look backward at how they manage data, information, and records. If yo...

In this live episode of the InfoGov Hot Seat, host Jim Merrifield (Chief Data Officer, Robinson+Cole) sits down with Will Talbot, Manager of Enterprise Sales at Laserfiche, direct from the ARMA Federal Summit in Reston, Virginia. With over 12 years of experience in records and information management, Will dives deep into the biggest challenge facing federal records officers today: overcoming user resistance and making compliance seamless. He shares how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is complete...

In this episode of the InfoGov Hot Seat, host Jim Merrifield sits down with John Beglan from Tungsten Automation live at the ARMA Federal Summit in Reston, Virginia. John discusses how Tungsten Automation (formerly known as Kofax) is tackling the unique challenges faced by the federal government, focusing on driving efficiencies through intelligent capture, case management, and records management. They dive deep into the buzz surrounding agentic AI, the realities of government infrastructure,...

In this live episode of the InfoGov Hot Seat from ARMA’s Federal Summit, host Jim Merrifield sits down with Kon Leong, CEO and Co-founder of ZL Technologies. With over 26 years of experience managing petabytes of unstructured data for Fortune 100 companies, Kon shares his unique perspectives on how the rapid rise of generative AI is changing the landscape of data governance. Highlights from this episode include: A Personal Look: Kon discusses his interest in Wabi-Sabi, the Japanese philos...

In this special Global Information Governance Day episode, Jim Merrifield welcomes leaders from ARMA International and ILTA to discuss the critical role of information governance in 2026 and beyond. Recorded live, this conversation explores why organizations must stop treating IG as a department and start embracing it as shared leadership responsibility. As AI tools reshape how we manage data, experts discuss the evolving landscape of information governance in legal and regulated organizations, ...

In this episode of the InfoGov Hot Seat, host Jim Merrifield sits down with Arman Afkhami of TitanFile to break down the biggest insights from InfoCon 2025. They explore why information governance is more urgent than ever, especially as organizations struggle with expanding data sprawl, fragmented systems, and increasing regulatory pressure. Arman shares real-world lessons from working closely with law firms—highlighting the growing demand for secure collaboration, trusted data sources, and technology that actually aligns with how legal teams work. The conversation also examines the rapid rise of AI in data management, the risks of unmanaged content, and why organizations must build a single source of truth to stay compliant and competitive. Whether you're in legal, IT, or governance leadership, this episode offers practical guidance on navigating an environment where security, usability, and governance must evolve together. 00:00 Introduction to InfoCon 2025 Recap 02:50 The…

In this episode of the InfoGov Hot Seat, host Jim Merrifield welcomes Anne Cornish and Nathan Hughes to discuss the Global Information Consortium (GIC). They share insights into the origins of the GIC, its vision for the future, and the importance of collaboration in the field of information management. The conversation highlights the challenges and successes of building a global organization, the evolving landscape of information governance, and the diverse membership that the GIC aims to culti...

In this episode of InfoGov Hot Seat, host Jim Merrifield discusses the evolving landscape of data and records management with guests Alec Wyhs and Michael Ratigan. They explore the importance of partnerships in the industry, the integration of electronic records management with broader data management policies, and the upcoming RIM Spotlight series aimed at driving meaningful change. The conversation also touches on future trends in records management, emphasizing the need for integrated solutio...

In this episode of the InfoGov Hot Seat, host Jim Merrifield is joined by Marina Kaganovich from Google and Jeffrey Sharer from Lexshift. They discuss their experiences at the InfoNext conference, focusing on the impact of Generative AI on information governance. The conversation explores real-world applications of GenAI, the future of AI in the workplace, and the importance of continuous learning in the evolving tech landscape. Both guests emphasize the need for professionals to adapt and lever...

In this episode of the Info Gov Hot Seat, host Jim Merrifield welcomes Sandy Serkes from Valora Technologies and Mike Salvarezza from ARMA to discuss the upcoming Infonext 2025 conference. They delve into the executive experience designed for senior-level professionals, the importance of AI adoption in information governance, and the diverse audience expected at the conference. The conversation highlights the need for information governance to evolve from a risk-averse mindset to one that embrac...

In this episode of the InfoGov Hot Seat, host Jim Merrifield interviews Inna Tokarev Sela, founder of Illumex.ai. They discuss Inna's background in AI and business intelligence, the vision behind Illumex.ai, and the challenges of AI and information governance. Inna emphasizes the importance of governance in AI, the need for safety and compliance, and the future of governance roles in organizations. The conversation concludes with insights on the potential of agentic AI and the importance of unde...

In this episode of the InfoGov Hot Seat, host Jim Merrifield speaks with Mike Salvarezza about the key takeaways from Infocon 2024, the evolving role of ARMA, and upcoming events such as the Federal Government IG Summit and Legal Week. They discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on information governance, the dominance of Microsoft as a platform, and the importance of maturing information governance programs. The conversation highlights the significance of collaboration and education in t...

In this conversation, Jim Merrifield and Kevin Benedicto discuss the evolving landscape of information governance, particularly in relation to artificial intelligence (AI). Kevin shares insights from the recent Infocon conference, highlighting key takeaways about the importance of good records management, the diverse nature of data, and the need for information governance professionals to adapt to the rapid changes brought about by AI. He offers practical advice for IG professionals on how to na...

In this conversation, Jim Merrifield interviews Alec Wyhs, Sales Director at Carahsoft, discussing his role, insights from the recent Infocon 2024 conference, and the evolving landscape of information governance and records management, particularly in relation to AI. They explore the collaboration between Carahsoft and ARMA, the upcoming Carahsoft ARMA Federal Summit, and the importance of staying ahead in the rapidly changing public sector environment.

In this episode of the InfoGov Hot Seat, host Jim Merrifield speaks with Christine Becker and Jeanne Martinez from ILTA about their experiences in the legal industry, their roles at ILTA, and the importance of collaboration in education. They discuss key takeaways from the ILTA Legal track, the evolving landscape of AI in the legal field, and the upcoming Global IG Day event. The conversation emphasizes the need for legal professionals to stay informed and engaged in their field, particularly re...

In this conversation, Jim Merrifield interviews Tim Brady, CEO of Colligo, discussing the evolving landscape of information governance, particularly in relation to email management and the impact of AI technologies. They reflect on key takeaways from Infocon 2024, emphasizing the importance of compliance and the challenges organizations face in managing their data effectively. The discussion also touches on the significance of prompt engineering and internal threats associated with AI, as well a...

In this episode of the InfoGov Hot Seat, host Jim Merrifield interviews Aaron Ryssemus, CEO of O'Neill Software and founder of Annex.com. They discuss Aaron's background, key takeaways from the Infocon 2024 conference, the importance of AI in information governance, and strategies for engaging with customers. Aaron emphasizes the need for businesses to focus on security and infrastructure before implementing AI, the significance of building systems that cater to the expectations of Gen Z, and the importance of simplifying processes in a rapidly changing technological landscape.

In this episode of the InfoGov Hot Seat, host Jim Merrifield interviews Cindy Chmura, Vice Chair of the ARMA International Board of Directors. They discuss Cindy's background, key takeaways from Infocon 2024, the importance of networking within the ARMA community, and exciting developments on the horizon for 2025, including a new website and branding initiatives.

In this conversation, Jim Merrifield interviews Danny Palo, CEO of VRC Companies, discussing the importance of networking in Information Governance (IG), the upcoming InfoCon 2024 event, and VRC's evolution from a records storage company to a comprehensive IG solutions provider. Danny shares insights on the significance of community and relationships within ARMA and highlights VRC's diverse offerings in the IG space.

In this conversation, Jim Merrifield interviews John Montel, an associate chief information officer at the Department of the Interior, about his upcoming keynote at InfoCon 2024. They discuss the challenges of electronic records management, the importance of networking at the conference, and the future of email and information management in the federal government. Montel emphasizes the need for collaboration and best practices in the IT sector, particularly in managing the increasing volume of e...

In this conversation, Jim Merrifield hosts Phil Plait and Mike Salvarezza to discuss the upcoming Infocon 2024 conference in Houston. They delve into the evolution of data management in astronomy, the challenges of long-distance communication with space probes, and the significance of the conference for information professionals. Phil shares insights about his keynote presentation titled 'Downloading the Universe,' which will explore how astronomers handle vast amounts of data. The discussion al...

In this engaging conversation, Jim Merrifield interviews Nate Hughes, CEO of ARMA International, discussing his background, the upcoming InfoCon 2024, and the importance of community and networking in the information management field. Nate shares his excitement for the conference, highlights the value of attending, and emphasizes the future initiatives ARMA is undertaking to support its members and the broader community.

In this episode of the InfoGov Hot Seat, host Jim Merrifield interviews Wendy McLain, an assistant professor of professional practice at Louisiana State University and a prominent figure in the records and information management field. Wendy shares her extensive background in various industries, her involvement with professional associations, and her recent experiences at the RIMPA conference in Australia. She discusses key takeaways from the event, including the innovative hackathon and insight...

Colin Cahill, Senior Solutions Manager of Information Governance and Collaboration at InOutsource, shares his background and role in the information governance industry. He discusses the importance of information governance in the age of artificial intelligence and the shift towards managing information in place. He emphasizes the opportunities and challenges that come with disruption and acceleration in the industry. Takeaways Information governance is crucial in the age of artificial intel...