E.E. Cummings wrote, "For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), it's always our self we find in the sea." As the curtain fell on a fantastic GMIS International Conference in Savannah this past August, I was really proud to have enjoyed a great event on the beautiful Savannah River with fantastic people. As we head to another waterfront destination for 2015, I can't help but feel the energy delivered by another beautiful surrounding. The water can make a difference.

On Monday, August 18, at the Annual Awards Luncheon at the Savannah Conference, GMIS International presented 2014 Awards.

Craige Baird, Technology Services Director, Ponca City, Oklahoma, and President, OGITA
GMIS member since 2010
Number of IT staff: 4
Population: 25,387
IT budget: $1 million

The top trends, priorities and widely-adopted initiatives in state government IT according to the 2014 Digital States Survey. (Government Technology)

State and local government spending on information goods and services is projected to grow at a 3.3 percent rate between now and 2019, increasing to $70 billion from $60.4 billion over that period. This would mark the third consecutive annual forecast of better than 3 percent growth. (Washington Post)

Program to share threat information was opened to state and local government last year, but few seem to be aware of it. (Government Technology)

The growth of citizen-powered engagement platforms is a challenge for local governments, but it's a phenomenon they should embrace. (Governing)

It is said that necessity is the mother of invention. If that is true, then desperation is the mother of innovation. But can there really be innovation in government, or is that an oxymoron? (American City & County)

As the federal IT operation shifts to a service-oriented model, CIOs need to staff up with managers with diverse backgrounds and the ability to work collaboratively with a diverse array of customers and providers. (CIO)

Google and the White House just sidled a step closer together: Google executive Megan Smith will be the United States’ next chief technology officer, the White House said Thursday. (Forbes)

The government’s ability to capitalize on emerging technologies comes down to three elements: people, processes and the technology itself, described by Commerce Department Deputy Chief Information Officer Kirit Amin as a "three-legged stool." (Nextgov)

Across the country, a small but growing number of states, counties and cities are naming chief data officers to manage and disseminate data generated and shared by government employees and citizens. Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco have also hired chief data officers, according to The Council of State Governments. (State Tech Magazine)