Password:
NASCIO Announces Finalists in Recognition Awards for Outstanding Achievement in State IT August 14, 2008
(Lexington, KY) – The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) has selected 30 state IT initiatives in 10 categories as finalists for the 2008 Recognition Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Information Technology in State Government.
NASCIO’s Recognition Awards Program, celebrating its 20th consecutive year, features categories reflecting the wide range of IT projects currently under development within state governments. Emphasis was placed on recognizing programs that exemplify best practices, support the public policy goals of state leaders, represent an innovative use of existing technology or a use of new technology, assist government officials to efficiently execute their duties, provide cost-effective service to citizens and are transferable to other agencies or units of government.
“State information technology best practices should be promoted and shared,” said Deputy Director of Information Technology, State of Oklahoma and NASCIO Awards Committee Chair, Joe Fleckinger. “Recognizing NASCIO’s twentieth year of the program, NASCIO’s leadership has revised the process and expanded recognition to a field of finalists. The program provides a showcase of innovative initiatives from across the nation and encourages state governments to continue to focus on efficiency, excellence and quality service to citizens.”
Thirty exemplary initiatives were chosen as finalists from 114 submissions by 30 states. NASCIO’s Awards committee, comprised of NASCIO state and corporate members representing leading public and private IT organizations selected the 2008 award finalists. One initiative in each category will be honored as the award recipient during the State Dinner and Award Presentation at NASCIO’s Annual Conference on September 23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
NASCIO Member Tom Jarrett, Delaware, CIO, Testifies Before Congress on IT Project Management July 31, 2008 (LEXINGTON, KY) - On July 31, 2008, NASCIO member and Delaware CIO Tom Jarrett testified on behalf of the state of Delaware before the U.S. Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services and International Security of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on efforts to manage information technology projects.
Jarrett’s testimony offered a high-level view of project lifecycles using the “Delaware Model” as well as processes and procedures that Delaware has put into place to successfully manage portfolios. Jarrett explained the need for transparency, continuous information exchange and dialogue among legislature, the governor and elected representatives. An archived webcast will be available from the Senate Subcommittee.
NASCIO reports on Governance of GIS July 23, 2008
(Lexington, KY) – The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) is pleased to announce the release of its new issue brief, "Where’s the Data? Show Me" - Maximizing the Investment in State Geospatial Resources.
This issue brief is part of NASCIO’s series on Enterprise Governance and deals with the growing demand for GIS in every aspect of government decision making. GIS, or geo-spatial resources, involves more then technology. It is the organization, management and delivery processes associated with managing geo-spatial resources. GIS ranked as one of the Top Ten Technologies by state CIOs at the NASCIO 2007 Annual Conference. This issue brief is available at: www.nascio.org/publications.
“GIS is continuing to grow in its use in business decision making,” said Utah CIO Stephen Fletcher, co-chair of NASCIO’s Enterprise Architecture Committee. “GIS is really a portfolio of capabilities that extends across the enterprise. The investment in this portfolio is growing and we need to be sure we are managing this investment as well as incorporating GIS process and knowledge assets within enterprise architecture, information architecture, and program management. We are including this issue brief within our series on Enterprise Governance because this resource has become so significant for state government. State GIS Coordinators have become a valued advisor across the enterprise. We offer this issue brief as way of building awareness of potential of GIS within the state government enterprise and the NASCIO community; exploring and communicating the potential for further leveraging not only GIS technology, but the GIS organization; and the role of the state Chief Information Officer in delivery of a successful state GIS program that is coordinated and orchestrated to facilitate cross line of business collaboration and investment.”
Anymore, GIS becomes relevant to every state agency and initiative. With proper governance, appropriate partnering, and investment, this resource can assist state government decision makers in making better, more informed decisions. Data and information that is enhanced with a location perspective often brings new insight and understanding. Add to that the layering of multiple dimensions and intersections, and cross line of business collaboration reaches a whole new level that can demonstrate immense value to state government for not only enterprise agility and rapid response but also long term strategy and multi-jurisdiction collaboration.
NASCIO is the premier network and resource for state CIOs and a leading advocate for technology policy at all levels of government. NASCIO represents state chief information officers and information technology executives from the states, territories, and the District of Columbia. The primary state government members are senior officials who have executive level and statewide responsibility for information technology leadership. State officials who are involved in agency level information technology management may participate as state members. Representatives from other public sector and non-profit organizations may also participate as associate members. Private sector firms may join as corporate members and participate in the Corporate Leadership Council.
National Leaders Gather to Help State and Local Governments Prepare - NASCIO Members Attend the IPER Summit July 21, 2008 State and national leaders in Emergency Management, Information Technology, and Archives and Records Management will gather at a Summit Conference in Atlanta on July 21-22, 2008, to consider how essential records can be protected during times of disaster. State CIOs or their designees from thirty-eight states will participate representing the state IT community.
“When disasters strike,” says Vicki Walch, Executive Director of the Council of State Archivists, “emergency responders need records to locate utilities and establish chain of command, state and local governments need records to continue operations, and individuals need records to prove their identity and re-establish their lives.” The Summit, sponsored by the Council of State Archivists (CoSA) and funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will bring together key leaders from every state and territory to plan how to identify and protect essential records, both paper and electronic.
According to David Carmicheal, who was President of CoSA when Katrina and Rita struck, the hurricanes were a wakeup call. “Emergency responders and governments had simply taken records for granted, and some of those proved to be essential to the response and recovery. Responders, for instance, needed maps and building plans and delegations of authority in order to respond appropriately to the disaster.” More poignant to Carmicheal were the losses suffered by ordinary people. “For example, people along the Gulf Coast assumed that their deeds were safe because the courthouse had a copy and they had a copy at home. But then courthouses and homes were wiped out and people were left scrambling for proof of property ownership. The records became very important at that point.”
In response to what they found after Katrina, CoSA developed the Intergovernmental Preparedness for Essential Records (IPER) project and successfully applied for a FEMA grant to fund it. The Summit in Atlanta is the first step and will bring together the directors (or deputies) of every state emergency management office, information technology agency, and archival or records management agency. “These three need to work together,” says Julie Framingham, the IPER Project Manager. “Emergency managers need to help set the priorities for response and recovery, the archival and records management professionals have the expertise to protect records, and the information technology directors can provide the technology and expertise needed to create and protect electronic records.” After the Summit, says Framingham, the IPER project will produce training sessions to be delivered nationwide. “Our goal is to reach thousands of state and local government officials in every state and territory and train them how to identify essential records and how to protect them from disasters.”
"Iowa has just experienced record breaking flooding and the resulting damage was extensive to both personal and public property", says John Gillispie, Iowa CIO. "It will take years to rebuild and has tragically impacted thousands of people. Access to records was critical during the response efforts and will be invaluable during the recovery. The broad interest in this conference confirms the significant impact that states see from loss of essential records and their willingness to address the challenges."
July Fast Facts now available July 15, 2008 The monthly NASCIO Fast Facts electronic newsletter highlights association news and features articles on information technology issues and initiatives affecting state government.
NGA Recognizes Chris Cummiskey, CIO, State of Arizona with Distinguished Service Award July 8, 2008
(Lexington, KY) - The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) is pleased to announce Chris Cummiskey, Chief Information Officer and GITA Director for the State of Arizona, will receive a 2008 Distinguished Service to State Government Award from the National Association of Governors (NGA).
Each year NGA presents three awards to state officials, three to private citizens and two for distinguished service to the arts. This award recognizes individuals for their leadership and valuable contribution to public service. The Awards for Distinguished Service to State Government will be presented at the upcoming NGA Centennial Meeting in Pennsylvania on Sunday, July 13, 2008. Click here for the NGA announcement.
In 17 years of public service in the executive and legislative branches, Chris Cummiskey has been recognized for his ability to pull together divergent groups, creating a collaborative environment to seek positive solutions. Under his leadership, Arizona implemented and continues to advance Arizona's Health-e Connection Roadmap, a statewide electronic health information exchange among insurance companies, health care providers and consumers of health care. Cummiskey has also transformed government service delivery through initiatives expanding public access to information through a partnership with Google and by developing a statewide 2-1-1 system. "Chris has distinguished himself through service to Arizona," said Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano. "Most often, it is Chris I call upon to inspire government innovation and manage transformation initiatives."
NASCIO Releases Brief "Ready for the Challenge? State CIOs and Electronic Records" July 3, 2008 (Lexington, KY) - The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) is pleased to announce the release of its research brief "Ready for the Challenge? State CIOs and Electronic Records". The brief is a product of NASCIO’s Electronic Records and Digital Preservation Working Group and may be found online at www.nascio.org/publications/.
States continue to struggle with new challenges presented by a growing portfolio of electronic records and digital content that must be preserved. Within this context, the issue of electronic records (or e-records) management has emerged as a high-priority policy and technology issue for State CIOs. This issue is now driven by emerging trends such as new Web 2.0 collaboration tools that create e-records in forms that are transitory, yet still document the business of government, the vulnerability of essential e-records during disasters and a growing emphasis on transparency and accountability in state government, including online public access to records on spending, performance, procurements and contracts.
"State CIOs face new challenges presented by the dynamic nature of electronic records and greater demands for online public access. By better understanding their leadership role and need to be part of the deliberations, CIOs have an opportunity to collaborate with other state agencies to forge enterprise solutions. NASCIO’s research brief calls attention to issues and offers best practices from several states." said Gary Robinson, State CIO, State of Washington, and Chair of NASCIO’s Electronic Records and Digital Preservation Working Group.
