If you are following the confirmation of Office of Technology Services Director Ron Hughes, a Senate Rules Committee hearing is scheduled for March 13 at 1:30 in Room 113 of the State Capitol, according t the Senate Daily File. Rules Committee is the first hurdle of the confirmation process which concludes with a vote on the Senate Floor. The Senate has one year to confirm gubernatorial appointees. Hughes was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown on March 20, 2012.
Also in the State Capitol next week, there are two hearings focused on broadband and digital literacy. On Monday, March 11, Assembly Committee on Utilities & Commerce, chaired by Assemblymember Steven Bradford, will hold an information hearing on California’s efforts to bridge the digital divide in California . On Wednesday, March 13, the California Broadband Council will meet from 10.a.m to noon. Read more here.
According to Public Sector Partners’ website, state departments will have an opportunity on March 28 to demonstrate their innovation and creativity at the 2nd Annual Mobile Government Forum. The event focuses on the various ways that government can leverage mobile technology to mobilize the government workforce and improve outreach to the citizens. Mobile government solutions will be on display in a "Government Solution Center" designed to show the various ways that these technologies are already being used to deliver government services or make government more accessible. Up to 40 departments will have displays. Space is going quickly and the deadline to reserve a spot is March 11. Learn more here.
Speaking of government mobility, stay tuned for the next issue of Techwire Magazine that will include an exclusive interview with Technology Agency Undersecretary Paul Benedetto who talks about the state’s mobility program that includes nearly 70 mobile apps. The issue will also include a review of Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom’s new book “Citizenville: How to Take the Town Square Digital and Reinvent Government" (co-written by Lisa Dickey). And, watch for Q and A with California Lottery CIO Amy Tong and other exclusive photos and articles from our great lineup of writers. Yes, it’s a printed magazine. If you want a copy, send your physical mailing address to info@techwire.net.
Last month at the CIO Academy in Sacramento, veteran technology official Steve Kolodney was nominated into California Hall of Fame for Technology. Kolodney served as director of the California Office of Information
Photo: Bill Foster, Techwire.net
Technology under governors Deukmejian and Wilson before he was appointed CIO for the state of Washington 1995. He started working in IT during the 1980s, a time as he describes as when the only computer around was a “4300” in the basement of the Department of Finance. On stage at the event, Kolodney gave an acceptance speech that told “the rest of the story.” He actually told 4 stories that included names like P.K. Agarwal, Gerri Magers, Chon Gutierrez, Ralph Schumacher, Dennis McKenna, Paul Taylor, Todd Sander and Russ Gould, among others. With all of his rich history and story telling about California’s public sector IT community, we couldn’t let it go undocumented, so here are the audio and transcript from his speech.
Folsom-based Kiefer Consulting announced they have launched the SacRT Tracker Windows 8 App. According the Window App Store description, it provides riders using the Sacramento RT buses with real-time information about bus arrivals at stops throughout the greater Sacramento area. Users can easily locate all nearby bus routes and stops along those routes, and see the real-time location and movement of buses along the route, along with anticipated arrival times at each stop. Watch for RT’s demonstration at the Government Mobility Conference at the Sacramento Convention Center on March 28, or check it out here.
According to CalPERS spokesperson Tim Taylor, last Saturday’s IT Career Fair was a resounding success with attendees wanting to learn more about government IT positions at CalPERS and across the state. “We are very excited about the overwhelming response to the fair. We had an estimated attendance of 760,” said Taylor in an email. “Our HR team was able to provide detailed information about the hiring and examinations for candidates new to the state. The event allowed us to reach a broader range of candidates and provide a larger candidate pool for our current and upcoming vacancies.” The photos below are courtesy of CalPERS.
