Longtime state technologist Maisha Dottery has been named chief information officer for the California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD), capping a recruitment process that began late last year when the department’s CIO of nearly four years took the identical position at a state board.
From DMV, Dottery moved next to the Financial Information System for California, where in 2011 she became chief of the enterprise project management, quality assurance and configuration management. Her mantra there was “Just Enough. Just in Time. Just for You,” per LinkedIn, and she drove project delivery and quality, working “directly with project/program managers and project executives to coach, provide expert advice and drive the adoption” of best practices and methodologies on “quality and project management.”
Dottery joined the California State Treasurer’s Office in September 2017 as chief strategist, rising to chief of IT operations and project director of its Debt Management System II. She was named CIO at CSD on July 1. She has a bachelor of science degree in computer science and engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, and has two master of technology degrees from The George Washington University.
One of Dottery’s recommendations on her LinkedIn page comes from Paul Benedetto, principal at PMB Consulting Services LLC and the former undersecretary of operations at the California Technology Agency (CTA), the California Department of Technology precursor. In an email to Techwire, Benedetto described her as “smart, communicates well, and will do a great job as the CIO.”
“I am glad she got this opportunity,” he added.
Former CSD CIO John Painter joined the California Victim Compensation Board as its CIO on Dec. 14, replacing its former CIO Gary Arstein-Kerslake, who retired in late August 2020. CSD named Megan Rivers, the deputy director of its administrative services division, which oversees the IT unit, as interim CIO during recruitment.
