Agencies Have New Tech Leaders and Opportunities

Changes in technology leadership in some key state agencies and departments have been announced in the past couple of weeks.

The Office of Systems Integration, part of the California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS), has a new chief deputy director. Deanne Wertin’s appointment was announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Dec. 23. In addition to her new position, Wertin will retain the role of deputy agency information officer for CHHS, which she’s held since 2018.

Adam Dondro, CHHS’ agency information officer and OSI’s director, told Industry Insider — California that he’s very happy Wertin is taking on the additional role.

“Deanne has been a critical part of CalHHS’ efforts to better meet the needs Californians through integration of services, better use of data and a focus on whole-person care,” Dondro said Tuesday in an email. “Her leadership across the agency has been indispensable, and I’m ecstatic to have her continue on in her new dual role as deputy AIO and chief deputy director.”

Before joining state government in 2018, Wertin held executive positions in the private sector. According to Newsom’s announcement, she was chief operating officer for Social Interest Solutions from 2015 to 2017; chief operations officer at M Corp from 2013 to 2015; senior vice president of Operations at the Walz Group from 2011 to 2014; and chief executive officer at Maximus Consulting Services from 2006 to 2010. Previously, Wertin was managing director at KPMG Consulting from 1997 to 2006.

The Financial Information System for California (FI$Cal) has welcomed back a familiar face to a new role: Subbarao Mupparaju, most recently the CIO for the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), is the new chief deputy director for FI$Cal.

Mupparaju had served as the department’s CIO from July 2015 to July 2021, when he moved to HCD. Toquyen Collier served as FI$Cal’s CIO from January 2022 through last week.

Jennifer Maguire, director of FI$Cal, told Industry Insider — California in an email Tuesday, “We thank Toquyen for her work and dedication to FI$Cal over the past year and wish her well on her new endeavors.”

The department has begun recruiting for the CIO role, and the application deadline is Jan. 8. More information about that recruitment is available online.

In other CIO-related news, the California Prison Industry Authority has begun recruiting for a CIO to succeed Suzie Changus, who held that role for more than four years before being named the state’s chief technology officer and moving to the California Department of Technology in November. The application deadline for the CIO role is Jan. 13.