The Public Sector Show by TechTables

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ep.165 Cultivating Community, Struggling with Bureaucracy, and The Last Act with Jamie Grant fmr. Florida State CIO, at Florida Digital Service Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to our TechTables' Team Spotlight Series, where we spotlight innovative teams and unpack the human stories behind their digital transformations. This limited 5-part series was live from Tallahassee at the Florida Digital Service in 2023. This is Part 5 of 5.

Before we get into this week’s podcast, I wanted to give a special shout-out to TechTables podcast sponsors: SentinelOne, Verizon, and SAP.

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In this episode, we speak with Jamie Grant, fmr. CIO for the State of Florida at Florida Digital Service. Jamie reflects on leading the state's IT modernization efforts and building a high-performing Digital Service team focused on a shared mission of public service.

He emphasizes the critical role organizational culture plays in driving innovation, including the need to challenge norms and push boundaries despite friction with established bureaucracy.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

00:00 "You cannot innovate or disrupt or modernize or transform without some tension and some friction and some push on the status quo."

04:15 Finding Qualified Candidates Beyond Degrees

12:30 Why Character Beats Qualifications

19:47 The Legacy of Florida's Digital Service Team

22:33 Lessons from Team Shirt Fridays

25:58 Pushing Boundaries to Transform Government

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If you enjoy listening to the podcast, ⁠please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts⁠ and let us know who you want to see next on the podcast in your review. Thanks!

You can also Tweet us on ⁠@thejoetoste⁠ and tell us what lessons you learned from the episode so we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏🙏

🔗 Connect with TechTables

LinkedIn TechTables ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/
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Twitter https://twitter.com/thejoetoste
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com

ep.164 Deploying 800 Starlink Kits in 56 Hours: Inside Florida’s Digital Hurricane Response with Keith Pruett, Emergency Support Function (ESF) 20 Coordinator at Florida Digital Service Dec 28, 2023

Show notes

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In this episode, we speak with Keith Pruett, Emergency Support Function (ESF) 20 Coordinator at Florida Digital Service, about Florida's digital response efforts during Hurricane Ian, including the rapid deployment of over 800 Starlink kits.

Connect with Keith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-pruett-298542129/

In this episode, you’ll discover:

0:00 - Intro

05:25 - How organized sports build the foundations for government service
07:02 - What the “Last Dance” reveals about leadership and team dynamics
14:03 - Reliving FL[DS]’s digital response efforts when Hurricane Ian hit
17:18 - The inside story of how Starlink was acquired and deployed
19:30 - How Starlink connectivity aided search/rescue and infrastructure teams
21:12 - Expanding Starlink for hospitals, pharmacies, banks and more
23:09 - Coordinating across agencies for procurement, tracking, and more
25:38 - Comparing emergency procurement to normal legislative processes
29:24 - Applying lessons learned to prepare for the 2023 hurricane season
31:52 - The integrated effort across FL[DS] to drive the response
34:59 - Unified leadership in FL[DS]'s response

⭐️ Leave a Review

If you enjoy listening to the podcast, ⁠please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts⁠ and let us know who you want to see next on the podcast in your review. Thanks!

You can also Tweet us on ⁠@thejoetoste⁠ and tell us what lessons you learned from the episode so we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏🙏

🔗 Connect with TechTables

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com

Ep.163 The Secret Origin Story: How Florida Digital Service Built a World-Class CoLab from Scratch with Jen Cooke, the Partnership and Outreach Administrator at Florida Digital Services Dec 13, 2023

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In this episode, we speak with Jen Cooke, the Partnership and Outreach Administrator at Florida Digital Services, who spearheaded the CoLab for cross-agency collaboration and bringing world-class thought leadership to state government and beyond.

Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-cooke-pmp-fccm-6b7683a7/

In this episode, you’ll learn:

00:26 - How a love for basketball took Jen from managing restaurants to managing teams in state government
02:49 - The bold vision to pack out the Colab and make it the place for national thought leadership
03:53 - The creative tactic Jen used to launch the CoLab with zero budget
05:02 - How the CoLab email list blew up from 50 to 750+
06:32 - The key to retaining talented tech workers
07:20 - Why every agency needs a CoLab and podcast to recruit top talent
08:15 - How Jen designed the CoLab's furniture for large-scale collaboration
09:19 - Plans to launch fireside chats to share more stories from the CoLab
10:41 - The inspiring moment Jen knew her team could run the CoLab without her
15:53 - Jen recalls the dramatic moment Florida agencies united after Hurricane Ian
19:20 - The first sold-out CoLab event and more!

⭐️ Leave a Review

If you enjoy listening to the podcast, ⁠please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts⁠ and let us know who you want to see next on the podcast in your review. Thanks!

You can also Tweet us on ⁠@thejoetoste⁠ and tell us what lessons you learned from the episode so we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏🙏

🔗 Connect with TechTables

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com

Ep.162 The Relationship Manager's 5 Keys to Building Unbreakable Partnerships with Brad Oswald, Customer Success Manager at FL[DS] Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

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Brad Oswald is the customer success manager at Florida Digital Service. In this episode, Brad unpacks why he pivoted careers to serve partners with a “get out of the office” approach centered on empathetic listening, disciplined systems, and relationship building over simplistic adoption metrics.

Connect with Brad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-oswald-9380b493/

In this episode, you’ll learn:

01:52 - From Chasing Commissions to Pursuing Purpose: Why Brad Shifted Careers

03:22 - The Startup Pitch that Convinced Brad to Join the Mission

04:52 - What to Look For When Hiring a Relationship-Focused Role

06:31 - Walking the Tightrope of Assertive Empathy with Partners

08:36 - Why Leading With Empathy is a Game-Changer

10:10 - Ditching Sales Quotas: How to Scorecard Lasting Partner Success

14:11 - What Jocko Willink Taught Brad About Unlocking Potential

16:14 - The Moment Our Perspective Fundamentally Shifted: Getting Out of the Office

⭐️ Leave a Review

If you enjoy listening to the podcast, ⁠please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts⁠ and let us know who you want to see next on the podcast in your review. Thanks!

You can also Tweet us on ⁠@thejoetoste⁠ and tell us what lessons you learned from the episode so we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏🙏

🔗 Connect with TechTables

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com

Ep.161 The CISO's 3-Step Guide to Building an Unstoppable Cyber Community with Candace Wynn is the Cyber Community Ops Manager and Warren Sponholtz is the Deputy State CISO at Florida Digital Service Dec 01, 2023

Show notes

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Candace Wynn is the Cyber Community Ops Manager and Warren Sponholtz is the Deputy State CISO at Florida Digital Service. They discuss how Florida is taking steps to improve cybersecurity through grants, incident response, and community building.

Connect with Candace: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candacemwynn/
Connect with Warren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/warren-sponholtz/

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• About the $30 million Cybersecurity Grant Program to help local communities improve cyber resilience
• How Florida Digital Service acts as a security operations center to help agencies respond faster to cyber incidents
• Why cybersecurity works best as a team sport
• How Candace is connecting Florida’s cyber community through working groups and events
• The key role empathy and relationship-building play in statewide collaboration
• Warren’s perspective on Candace’s strengths in organizing the Cyber Advisory Council
• Advice for CIOs and CISOs looking to develop stronger cyber communities

Timestamps

00:00 - Introducing Warren & Candace
02:30 - Florida’s $30 million cyber grant program
05:00 - Warren on the importance of cyber collaboration
07:26 - Candace’s background before community building
10:35 - Warren highlights Candace's strengths
13:15 - Candace discusses the Cyber Advisory Council
18:00 - Connecting agencies through working groups
22:28 - Building empathy and trust with stakeholders
25:17 - Candace’s statewide outreach to locals

⭐️ Leave a Review

If you enjoy listening to the podcast, ⁠please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts⁠ and let us know who you want to see next on the podcast in your review. Thanks!

You can also Tweet us on ⁠@thejoetoste⁠ and tell us what lessons you learned from the episode so we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏🙏

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🔗 Connect with TechTables

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com

Ep.160 Live from USC: How USC is Redefining EdTech & HigherEd with Dr. Joe Way, Director of Learning Environments, University of Southern California Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

Featuring Dr. Joe Way, Director of Learning Environments, University of Southern California

🌟 "The more we can say, 'Here's why you're going to come and pay that [tuition],' because we can actually prepare you for the workforce, the more we can give that direct adaptation from classroom to workforce." ~ Joe Way

🔗 Connect with Joe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josiahway/

🎙️ What we cover:

04:00 - The Bridge from Classroom to Career: How USC's innovative learning environments prepare students for real-world opportunities.

14:00 - Inclusivity in Learning: Transcriptions, recorded classes, and AI-assisted education

16:00 - Teaching Tools for Tomorrow: Adapting to the evolving educational landscape with new technologies.

19:00 - Digital Creative Lab Magic: Exploring the wonders of video games, holograms, and digital art in education.

27:00 - Engagement in Education: The shift towards more interactive and collaborative learning experiences.

⭐️ Leave a Review

If you enjoy listening to the podcast, ⁠please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts⁠ and let us know in your review who you want to see next on the podcast. Thanks!

You can also Tweet us on ⁠@thejoetoste⁠ and tell us what lessons you learned from the episode so we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏🙏

🔗 Connect with TechTables

LinkedIn TechTables ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/

LinkedIn - Connect with Joe! ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/

Twitter https://twitter.com/thejoetoste

Website ⁠https://www.techtables.com/

#edtech #highereducation #usc

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com

Ep.159 Transforming Public Health: Insights with Barbie Robinson, Executive Director at Harris County Public Health Nov 16, 2023

Show notes

🎙️ Featuring Barbie Robinson, Executive Director at Harris County Public Health

🔗 Connect with Barbie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbie-robinson-146ab615/

"Collaboration without true integration really is just another form of fragmentation." 🔥🔥🔥 ~Barbie Robinson

In this episode of The Public Sector Show by TechTables, Barbie shares her public health journey across federal and county levels. Starting with the "ACCESS" initiative, a holistic care coordination model, Barbie shows us how technology is tackling the social safety net needs within local government and beyond. Don't miss this discussion on the future of public health and the role of technology, including:

🎙️ Holistic Care Coordination through ACCESS: Accessing Coordinated Care and Empowering Self-Sufficiency

🎙️ The Triple Aim Approach to breaking silos in public health

🎙️ Case Study: Technology's impact on vector-borne illnesses

🎙️ Harris County's Black Maternal Health Cohort program

🎙️ How to change lives by meeting people where they are at

🎙️Standardizing Data Systems: Looking ahead to 2024

🎙️ And more!

If you liked this episode, check out Carolyn Staats, Director of Innovation, Information Systems Department Sonoma County's episod: https://techtables.com/episode/ep115-interview-with-carolyn-staats-director-of-innovation-information-systems-department-sonoma-county

⭐️ *Leave a Review*

If you enjoy listening to the podcast, ⁠please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts⁠ and let us know in your review who you want to see next on the podcast. Thanks!

You can also Tweet us on ⁠@thejoetoste⁠ and tell us what lessons you learned from the episode so we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏🙏

🔗 *Connect with TechTables*

LinkedIn TechTables ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn - Connect with Joe! ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/⁠⁠⁠

Twitter ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/thejoetoste⁠

Website ⁠https://www.techtables.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com

Ep.158 Cybersecurity Meets Business Goals: Insights into Florida State Courts' Strategy with Roosevelt Sawyer, CIO, Florida State Courts Administrator Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

Featuring Roosevelt Sawyer Jr., CIO, Florida Office of State Courts Administrator

🔗 Connect with Roosevelt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roosevelt-sawyer-jr-7252362/

"Blending those [private and public sector experiences] together... hiring what we have, employees that have that experience from the private sector also employees that have worked in the public sector- it brings a more robust conversation in the room."

~ Roosevelt Sawyer Jr on a blended workforce

Court is in session! On this episode of The Public Sector Show by TechTables, we sit down with Roosevelt Sawyer Jr., CIO for the Florida Office of State Courts Administrator. Roosevelt walks us through his agency's methodical approach to aligning cybersecurity with business goals, plans to infuse more fun into team recruitment and onboarding processes, and new projects on the horizon, including:

🎙️ Recruiting and onboarding challenges and wins

🎙️ Generative AI (ChatGPT) and its potential judiciary applications

🎙️ Team building: Synergizing private and public sector backgrounds

🎙️ Training, tools, and projects to advance the state court system's cybersecurity stance

🎙️ How to engage business users with new technologies without hindering operations

🎙️ The future of passwords

🎙️ And more!

⭐️ Leave a Review

If you enjoy listening to the podcast, ⁠please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts⁠ and let us know in your review who you want to see next on the podcast. Thanks!

You can also Tweet us on ⁠@thejoetoste⁠ and tell us what lessons you learned from the episode so we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏

🔗 Connect with TechTables

LinkedIn TechTables ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn - Connect with Joe! ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/⁠⁠⁠

Twitter ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/thejoetoste⁠

Website ⁠https://www.techtables.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com

Ep.157 Transforming Maricopa County: A CIO's Insights on AI Advancements and Entrepreneurship in GovTech Oct 03, 2023

Show notes

Show Notes
“We can talk about all the great things we want to do. We can talk about how we leverage technology for all these outcomes. In the end, you have to deliver. That's what matters.” ~Richard McHattie

🔗 Connect with Richard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-mchattie-42602a5/

“Our primary responsibility is you've got to secure the enterprise. And without that, you know, not much else matters.” ~ Richard McHattie

On this episode of The Public Sector Show by TechTables, we sit down with Richard McHattie, CIO for Maricopa County. From working in his parents' RFID startup, pioneering implantable microchips for pets, to his current role as the CIO of one of the largest counties in the US, Richard shares the challenges, triumphs, and unexpected turns that shaped his path in technology, leadership, and public service, including:

🎙️ Perspectives on securing the enterprise, data priorities, and the ongoing journey of digital government transformation in Maricopa County

🎙️ Know your “why:” How work ethic follows passion for the mission

🎙️ Hands-on leadership and the entrepreneurial mindset advantage

🎙️ Improving customer experience through entrepreneurial initiatives in AI, conversational AI, and robotic process automation

🎙️ How to collaborate with early-stage startups, break down barriers in procurement, and foster a culture of innovation

🎙️ Q&A questions from Montana CIO Kevin Gilbertson and fmr. Florida CIO Jamie Grant

🎙️ And more!

⭐️ Leave a Review

If you enjoy listening to the podcast, ⁠please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts⁠ and let us know in your review who you want to see next on the podcast. Thanks!

You can also Tweet us on ⁠@thejoetoste⁠ and tell us what lessons you learned from the episode so we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏🙏

🔗 Connect with TechTables

LinkedIn TechTables ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn - Connect with Joe! ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/⁠⁠⁠

Twitter ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/thejoetoste⁠

Website ⁠https://www.techtables.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com

Ep.156 At the Line: How CIOs Handle High-Pressure Situations Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

Missed out on Houston at Hotel Zaza? Check out our 2023 GovTech Leadership Summit from October 12th to 14th.📚 Check out the full agenda:🌟 Public Sector CXOs, please register here: https://7w4m76wajkb.typeform.com/to/QFmGpjnQ🤝 Vendor partners, please apply here: https://7w4m76wajkb.typeform.com/to/I5bQo0dZThanks for reading TechTables! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.🎥 Video Podcast🔗 Connect with Bert: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bert-quarfordt/On this episode of The Public Sector Show by TechTables, we sit down with Bert Quarfordt, Deputy CIO for IT Infrastructure at the City of Houston.Bert shares his journey from a private-sector IT career to public service and discusses the challenges and pressures of managing infrastructure in the public sector. Drawing upon his love of sports, Bert dives into the importance of team dynamics, collaboration, and communication in resolving critical issues, including:🎙️ Bert's 33-year career in IT🎙️ How private and public sectors handle infrastructure outages🎙️ How to develop a presentation mindset🎙️ The value of practice, preparation, and consistency in long-term success🎙️ How to manage emotions and team dynamics during critical projects🎙️ Transforming city infrastructure: Houston’s game-changing projectsAnd more!🤝 And a big thank you to our brand partners who keep this podcast free to the listener:⁠Nagarro⁠ is a leading provider of digital government services, partnering with state, local, and federal clients on their most strategic technology projects across Digital Services, Legacy Modernization, Case Management, Data & AI, Service Desk, Cyber Security, and more.If you want to meet with Nagarro, one of our preferred, trusted brand partners, email me at ⁠joe@techtables.com⁠.⭐️ Leave a ReviewIf you enjoy listening to the podcast, ⁠please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts⁠ and let us know in your review who you want to see next on the podcast. Thanks!You can also Tweet us on ⁠@thejoetoste⁠ and tell us what lessons you learned from the episode so we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏🙏🔗 Connect with TechTablesLinkedIn TechTables ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn - Connect with Joe! ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/⁠⁠⁠Twitter ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/thejoetoste⁠Follow us on Instagram! ⁠https://www.instagram.com/techtablespodcast/⁠Website ⁠https://www.techtables.com/Related:Thanks for reading TechTables! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.techtables.com
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com

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