Roseville, Calif., CIO Brings International Background to Native Gov | Hyperlink Tech

I used to be lately sitting in a packed assembly room on the California Public Sector CIO Academy* as the wonderful panel of present and former CIOs answered robust questions. The session was titled “A Day within the Lifetime of the CIO,” and the highly effective panel was filled with seasoned professionals providing witty solutions from the state degree, a big company perspective, and extra.

Whereas I actually favored the responses from all of the contributors, one individual’s responses stood out to me: Hong Sae, the present CIO. for town of Roseville, California. You’ll be able to view Sae’s spectacular LinkedIn profile, as she prefers to be referred to as, right here.

What instantly impressed me about Sae was the huge world expertise that he brings to his administration roles each day. Along with receiving quite a few private and staff management awards, his expertise ranges from data programs administration for Tenet Healthcare to director of knowledge administration for the Texas Division of Well being and Human Companies, director of knowledge expertise for the Metropolis of Irving, Texas, and his present function as CIO within the Metropolis of Roseville.

However most spectacular (moreover being fluent in 5 languages) is the work Sae leads for cross-border authorities teams just like the Municipal Info Methods Affiliation of California (MISAC), the place he gives finest practices for expertise administration and cyber safety for native governments throughout the nation. .

Dan Lohrmann (DL): You’ve gotten a distinguished profession. Inform us what motivated you to enterprise into authorities expertise. What are you most happy with?

Hong Sae (HS): I’m humbled by your fantastic praise. I’ve all the time been obsessed with what I do, nevertheless with out the robust help system of my household, staff, colleagues, and numerous mentors, I might not be the place I’m right this moment. They’re typically my motivation. I take pleasure in working with various and gifted groups throughout a number of domains to enhance expertise, connection, engagement, and repair supply by the usage of expertise.

DL: Because the CIO of Roseville, what are your high enterprise and expertise priorities?

HS: In Roseville, now we have adopted three precedence objectives throughout the citywide five-year strategic expertise roadmap to rework citywide operations:

• Purpose #A: Rework our metropolis by individuals and partnerships, utilizing trusted partnerships to attain shared objectives.
• Purpose #B – Optimize metropolis operations by course of effectivity, by the implementation of technological options that meet the wants of the group and the group.
• Purpose #C: Assure dependable and safe expertise, offering technological infrastructure that ensures continuity of operations and knowledge safety.

DL: You’ve gotten frolicked working in authorities organizations in Texas and California. Is there a unique tradition at work? What strengths and weaknesses have you ever observed between the roles?

HS: The fantastic thing about working in a unique a part of this nice nation actually depends upon particular person life-style decisions, preferences, revenue, and the business we discover ourselves in. Every particular person metropolis and state could have a unique focus of workforce, instructional entities, value of dwelling, high quality of life, inclusion, and various tradition. We selected Roseville, California to settle with our household as a result of it’s the finest metropolis to reside, work and play on this nation 🙂!

DL: Did COVID-19 change the best way your authorities operated in Roseville? How is that?

HS: The yr 2020 was the yr of inconsistency and suppleness. The yr 2021 was the yr of an infection, inflation and invasion. The yr 2022 was the yr of the nice awakening.

Throughout COVID-19, our tech world transitioned from digital lifeguard to digital advocate to digital/transformational strategist.

Not simply me, the CIO or any authorities management function, we’re all focusing extra right this moment on constructing collaborative partnerships (internally and externally) and investing in our staff members with the appropriate abilities to ship cost-effective options to help enterprise operations. the complete group and supply glorious companies to our group.

DL: Because the chief of California’s native governments and fast previous president of MISAC, what’s most essential to main native governments in California?

HS: As a pacesetter, our dedication to turning into an HPO (excessive efficiency group) has turn out to be extra obvious over time. We’re focusing extra on enterprise continuity/resiliency and defending in opposition to dangers similar to human actions, cybersecurity, or pure/environmental points. Utilizing progressive applied sciences and data-driven resolution making to drive steady enchancment in the best way we serve our group and promote concrete expertise advantages in security, sustainability, financial alternative, and high quality of life for our residents, companies, and guests. Lastly, constructing a deliberate and centered technique that enables us to stretch restricted public {dollars} to be extra worthwhile and productive.

DL: How a lot actual collaboration is there between jurisdictions?

HS: Partnership between jurisdictions, and even inside native, state, and federal businesses, is a fancy challenge relying on this system, challenge, and funding supply. For instance: The federal authorities helps native jurisdictions by offering grants and regulatory steerage, i.e. CARES and ARP help.

On the planet of expertise infrastructure, broadband and cybersecurity are the 2 largest infrastructure partnership packages that the federal authorities helps for state and native businesses. This interprets into the deployment of high-speed Web entry to each nook of this nation and supplies steerage within the statewide cybersecurity technique.

The challenges are there, and California Division of Know-how CIO Liana Bailey-Crimmins is engaged on all fronts with all of us to enhance communication, coordination, and collaboration throughout all jurisdictions. Working collectively as one staff sharing assets, instruments and finest practices.

DL: Can authorities programs be really safe? What are your priorities for cybersecurity enhancements?

HS: Authorities programs right this moment face important cyber threats and ransomware challenges. No system could be really cybersecure and protected against all potential assaults. That being mentioned, to guard one’s networks and demanding infrastructure, authorities and all entities should accomplice and put money into our individuals and the appropriate ability units, processes and applied sciences.

Understanding the advantages and the stability between usability and price when weighing safety threat is extraordinarily essential. Native authorities, state and federal businesses should proceed to work collectively to continually monitor, report, and enhance our protection posture to maintain tempo with an evolving cyber menace panorama. The number one precedence needs to be a precept of zero belief and ought to be the usual apply in all authorities and business programs.

DL: You converse a number of languages ​​and have traveled loads around the globe. Inform us about that and a few of your favourite locations to go to outdoors of the US.

HS: Rising up in overseas nations and studying a number of languages ​​has given me a unique perspective and an appreciation for inclusion, variety, fairness, and accessibility. My private journey and experiences have had a huge effect on my skilled life and the kind of chief I’m. I’ve traveled throughout Southeast Asia and skilled many various kinds of meals, festivals, historical past, and tradition. We now have many fantastic reminiscences outdoors of the US that I like to share and enrich my staff with.

DL: In about 5 to seven years, how will most native governments be totally different in the case of technological enhancements and innovation?

HS: Because the world emerges from pandemic to inflation/recession, the years forward name for extra progressive enterprise adjustments and extra high-profile, commercial-value expertise tasks to enhance total organizational efficiency. General, the general public will name for a wiser authorities/smarter group that’s sustainable, related, digital, digital, good, safe, and multiverse. [use of artificial or augmented intelligence]!

Sensible is a journey, not a vacation spot, and it by no means ends. It requires incremental steps and requires fixed enchancment and development. Pretty much as good stewards of group service, we’re right here to ship good governance, construct infrastructure for the long run, and enhance the lives of residents/communities by a sequence of individuals, processes, and efficiency/expertise.

DL: The rest you need to add?

HS: The adjustments in our world are steady and difficult. As leaders, we should embrace innovation as a shifting goal and begin incrementally. Flexibility and adaptableness are key for us to exist sooner or later. The way forward for expertise is all about individuals, course of and efficiency; we can’t do it alone, with out our staff and enterprise companions. IDEA (Inclusion, Variety, Fairness, and Accessibility) Leaders should be genuine, empathetic, and adaptable!

DL: I need to thank Sae for his service to the federal government, glorious management, and his willingness to be interviewed for this weblog.

FINAL THOUGHT

I urge state and native authorities readers throughout the nation (and around the globe) to succeed in out and be taught from finest practices and successes in authorities expertise and cybersecurity administration within the Metropolis of Roseville and at MISAC.

*The California Public Sector CIO Academy is organized by authorities expertise.