Longtime state IT executive Gail Overhouse has been appointed chief information officer at the Employment Development Department, according to a staff announcement from Director Pam Harris.
With more than 25 years in IT management, Overhouse will join EDD as deputy director of the Information Technology Branch on August 6. Currently, Overhouse is the project director for the California Child Support Automated System at the Department of Child Support Services. Previously, she served as deputy director for statewide telecommunications and network programs at the Office of Technology Services, according to the announcement. She also served as Bureau Chief for the Department of Justice’s Hawkins Data Center.
Overhouse will fill the position as acting CIO Mike Howland takes over as the department’s chief deputy director.
“I am equally pleased that, with Ms. Overhouse taking over IT Branch leadership, Mike Howland will fully embrace the duties of Acting Chief Deputy Director,” Harris said in the email announcement. “Mike’s extensive executive and IT leadership experience are a welcome addition to the Directorate as EDD rolls out its Strategic Plan and related initiatives in the coming months while continuing to make service improvements through IT project completion and internal process improvements.”
With one of the largest IT programs in state government, EDD purchased more than $80 million in IT goods and services in 2011, according to state purchasing data.
The department administers the unemployment and disability insurance programs and collects various employment payrolls taxes, among other things.
