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Deputy State CIO Among Speakers at Cities’ IT Conference

Russ Nichols of the California Department of Technology will deliver a key address at the meeting of the Municipal Information Systems Association of California. The group’s president, Roseville CIO Hong Sae, will deliver his “State of the Association” address, as well.

A statewide association of municipal IT leaders will receive an update this month from the California Department of Technology (CDT) about issues and projects on which the state and cities may collaborate.

The Municipal Information Systems Association of California (MISAC) will also hear from its president, Roseville Chief Information Officer (CIO) Hong Sae, in his annual “State of the Association” address, during which he’ll recap the association’s activities over the past year. He will also present President’s Awards to those “who have gone above and beyond for the betterment of MISAC and municipal IT in California.”
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Deputy State CIO Russ Nichols

And as part of the State of the Association address, members will receive a legislative update, as well.

The keynote from CDT is part of MISAC’s annual gathering. In past years, CDT’s director, state CIO Amy Tong, has spoken to the cities’ group about sharing services such as procurement contracts and cybersecurity. This year’s emissary from the agency will be state Deputy CIO Russ Nichols.

“It is anticipated Nichols will cover means by which CDT and MISAC can work more closely to enhance municipal IT practices in California,” MISAC says in its latest newsletter.

Nichols is an award-winning veteran of state service, having served as CIO for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) before being named to his current role in February by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Before his time with CDCR, Nichols worked in the State Controller’s Office and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

In past addresses to MISAC, Tong has discussed CDT’s strategic plan, the latest iteration of which, Vision 2023, lays out three guiding principles: “Put people first,” “Continuous, timely improvement,” and “Working together beats working alone.”

MISAC’s annual conference is scheduled for Sept. 26-29 at the Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort and Spa in Rancho Mirage. The closing general session is scheduled from noon to 2:45 p.m. Sept. 28. Registration and other information is available online.
Dennis Noone is Executive Editor of Industry Insider. He is a career journalist, having worked at small-town newspapers and major metropolitan dailies including USA Today in Washington, D.C.