NASCIO Honors Three Public Servants with State Technology Innovator Award
New Orleans, LA., Tuesday, October 1, 2024 —The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) presented the State Technology Innovator Award to three deserving public servants during the NASCIO 2024 Annual Conference. The NASCIO State Technology Innovator Award honors outstanding state government employees who have made contributions to advance state technology policy through the promotion of best practices, adoption of new technologies and advancements in service delivery. Nominations were gathered from NASCIO members and selected by the NASCIO Executive Committee.
The following are the recipients of the NASCIO 2024 State Technology Innovator Award:
Kathryn Darnall Helms
Chief Data Officer, State of Oregon
Nominated by: Sharon Murphy, Marketing Senior Specialist, NTT Data
CDO Kathryn Darnall Helms’s focus on diversity, equity and inclusion in the state’s technology and data management policies has been imperative in Oregon’s technology efforts. Her collaborative development of Oregon’s Data Strategy and the draft Data Literacy Framework reflects a commitment to inclusive policymaking and skill enhancement across state agencies. Darnall Helms’s strategic efforts focus on using data as an asset to foster people-first initiatives in digital government services. Her work is integral to statewide efforts shaping the future of AI governance, ensuring that the benefits of Oregon’s digital advancements are equitably shared among all citizens
Darnall Helms has also been central to Governor Tina Kotek’s efforts to expand emergency sheltering and rehousing initiatives addressing homelessness. Her commitment to data equity is also evident in her contributions to Oregon’s AI Advisory Council, where she advocates for fairness and self-determination in AI governance. Nationally, Darnall Helms’s influence extends through her partnership in the State CDO Network’s Data Equity Briefing and her participation in the Equity in Practice Learning Community, ensuring that the benefits of the digital revolution
reach underrepresented groups within Oregon and across the country. Her efforts are a testament to the power of inclusive and equitable data usage in creating a more effective and transformative government.
Paula Peters
Deputy State Chief Information Officer, State of Missouri
Nominated by: John Laurent, Acting CIO, State of Missouri
Missouri State Deputy CIO Paula Peters has been integral to Missouri’s digital government transformation, focusing on a strategic overhaul for enduring success. Peters formed an IT steering committee with top-level government participation followed by an enterprise project management office (EPMO) to improve project management. Her consolidation of application development teams and establishment of a business relationship management (BRM) practice proved invaluable when Missouri received $126 million in ARPA funds, allowing for swift action on various state technology initiatives through the efforts of Peters.
Building on this foundation, Peters led citizen journey mapping efforts to address public concerns and created a comprehensive inventory of the state’s 1200 systems to aid in disconnecting from legacy mainframes. Under her leadership, centralized governance structures like EPMO, BRM and application development expedited the launch of their citizen portal – a cross-agency initiative established by the IT steering committee in 2018 with broad support. Paula’s vision and leadership have also fast-tracked the approval and funding of numerous digital government transformation projects, such as identity and access management, low-code platforms, API Integration and AI.
Nick Stowe
State Chief Technology Officer, Washington Technology Solutions
Nominated by: Vickie Sheehan, Communications Director, State of Washington
Washington State CTO Nick Stowe has been instrumental in propelling Washington’s technology policy while fostering a culture of initiative and bold innovation. His establishment of Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech) Architecture and Innovation Division led the state to embrace cloud computing and generative AI while ensuring their secure integration into the state infrastructure. Stowe co-authored Washington State’s first guidelines for responsible AI use, contributed to the governor’s AI executive order and formed a statewide AI community of practice. Stowe’s leadership in cultivating partnerships across various sectors further allowed WaTech to improve and prioritize citizen-centric technology solutions.
Stowe has been a champion for emerging technologies such as AI across the state as well as in his WaTech role, setting the framework for its ethical application across Washington. He has overseen the development of procurement guidelines and training for AI and is preparing to launch a statewide AI evaluation and adoption program. His strategic direction has led to the establishment of the Innovation and Modernization Fund, which, with a biennial budget of $3 million, has swiftly funded 12 technology projects prioritizing accessible and user-friendly technology for vulnerable populations. This approach underscores Nick’s commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable government service landscape.
To view previous recipients, please visit NASCIO’s website.
Contact
Meredith Ward
Deputy Executive Director
National Association of State Chief Information Officers
859.514.9209
[email protected]
