"Technology Leadership for the 21st Century" - CompTIA-PTI Govt. & Tech Leader Summit Part 1 Recap

Published: May 12, 2022

Architecture Engineering and ConstructionBOSTON, CITY OF (SUFFOLK) (MASSACHUSETTS)CALCASIEU, PARISH OF (LOUISIANA)CHESTERFIELD, COUNTY OF (VIRGINIA)Community DevelopmentEconomic Development/RegulationFRANKLIN, COUNTY OF (OHIO)General Government ServicesInformation TechnologyLATAH, COUNTY OF (IDAHO)MONROE, COUNTY OF (NEW YORK)Professional ServicesResearch & DevelopmentROANOKE, COUNTY OF (VIRGINIA)WASHOE, COUNTY OF (NEVADA)

CompTIA-PTI held its 2022 Local Government CIO and Tech Leader Summit on April 28, 2022. In part 1 of the summit, the discussion focused on "The Road Ahead: Technology Leadership for the 21st Century". This topic was divided into three sessions.

IT as a Business Partner

This discussion focused on exploring the role of the CIO as change-maker. Speakers Adam Frumkin (GCIO, Franklin County, Ohio), Dr. Jennifer Kusse (CIO and Director of Information Services, Monroe County, New York), and Behzad Zamanian (GCIO, CIO, Washoe County, Nevada) discussed the evolving role of Chief Information Officer in working with IT solution providers.

This panel highlighted the importance of relationship management providing points of conversation such as showing interest in the partner’s business solutions and understanding the issues at hand to aid insight on solution options. Notably, establishing these partnerships are at the core of the IT governing process and include continued communication, and on the private side, holding the government accountable as a business partner in understanding what the challenges they have at hand are.

Panelists concluded this session responding to any downsides of this newer model of IT as a business partner. Behzad Zamanian provided that the role of CIO is to build relationships, understand the needs of business, ensure effectiveness, and the impact of this is all to make the CIO role more efficient.

The Great R’s: Retention, Retirement, Resignation, and Recruitment

The second session highlighted the issues of employment in the government space with speakers Charles Burton (Technology Director, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana), Bill Hunter (GCIO, Director of Communications and IT, Roanoke County, Virginia), and Barry Condrey (GCIO, CIO, Chesterfield County, Virginia).

The focal point of this discussion surrounded the increasing competition with the private sector job market and highlighted the need to retain and attract quality employees. Speakers addressed the need for governments to increase flexibility, as appropriate, in hiring practices offering that while public sector jobs may not be able to match the compensation of their private sector counterparts, this is an opportunity for governments to be innovative. Topics of interest revolved around quality of life, financial wellness, and work-life balance. This also included the need for increased training with funding becoming more available and committing to the investment of employees’ growth with the government. Speakers discussed how critical training is not only in the traditional technologies but cross-entity training with federal partners. Barry Condrey noted that this is the time to get creative with employees’ development and prioritizing the use and application of free resources available from vendors and business partners.

Regarding increasing retirement numbers, panelist Bill Hunter spoke to the importance of planning to address this. Concluding this point, panelists provided that not only is tracking retirement eligibility and planning for it important but also being aware of reentry paths for former government employees and welcoming them back into the public sector.

IT at the Table: Managing Expectations for Federal Funding

The final session concluded Part 1 with speakers Laurel Caldwell (GCIO, ITS Director, Latah County, Idaho) and Julia Pulidinidi (Broadband Program Specialist, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, NTIA – U.S. Department of Commerce).

Facilitated by Mike Lynch (Director of Broadband & Cable, Department of Innovation and Technology, City of Boston, Massachusetts), panelist Julia Pulidinidi presented an overview on the allocation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding for broadband services. With approximately $65 billion earmarked towards broadband, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is set to administer approximately $48 billion of this funding across various programs. Approximately $42.5 billion of this spending will go towards Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) with $100 million and additional funds for high cost and under-connected and underserved communities based on mapping analysis highlighting these disconnects. This funding will also prioritize connecting residents of these areas including tribal communities. Pulidinidi highlighted the importance of states’ need for input from their local government entities in addressing specific challenges and coordination across states to access appropriate funding.

Pulidinidi also provided insight on the approximately $2.75 billion in funding towards the Digital Equity Act programs, approximately $2 billion in funding towards the Tribal Connectivity Program which aims to fund broadband adoption and infrastructure projects, and lastly, approximately $1 billion towards the Middle Mile Broadband program, a competitive grant program.

Stemming from this presentation, a discussion surrounding how local governments are doing with funding, Laurel Caldwell provided county-level insight highlighting the stipulation to partner with the private sector in order to implement these funds and connect with citizens. Caldwell advised scheduling several meetings with companies and providers with larger agencies that can help to maximize the use of funds. Additional advisement included the need to start building partnerships with providers in the area, communicating with states, and mapping and identifying those who do not have access to best help with connectivity and appropriation of funds. This includes preparing the workforce to begin project construction.

Concluding this session, Caldwell addressed the important role that counties have in serving citizens by facilitating the connection for needs, education, health services, simple connection for employment opportunities, and the need for work with state and service providers in maintaining communication channels.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The full agenda for the day’s summit can be viewed here.

"The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading voice and advocate for the $5 trillion global information technology ecosystem; and the estimated 75 million industry and tech professionals who design, implement, manage and safeguard the technology that powers the world’s economy." - Click here to learn more about CompTIA.