It’s difficult to believe it has been six months since the 2014 GMIS International Conference in Savannah, GA! It's hot in Savannah! The 2014 conference was a very successful event, and Savannah, GA, is certainly a remarkable location with some great history. I will definitely be returning.

New Jersey GMIS will hold its 6th Annual Technology Education Conference on March 25 at The Palace at Somerset Park. More than 150 state, county, local and K-12 technology representatives will be in attendance.

Georgia GMIS will host its Spring Conference on May 4-7 at The King and Prince on St. Simons Island, GA. Registration is now open.

Mark K. Graham
GMIS member since 2013
Number of IT staff: 4.5
Population: 32,000
IT budget: $618,373 operational, $866,474 capital outlay

As of January 31, MAV Technology of Australia has accepted membership into LOLA (Linked Organization of Local Authorities), which means that GMIS International now has affiliation with a new international partner in Australia.

The White House wants to expand an initiative it began in 2014 to hire top tech workers into the government. (National Journal)

Local governments update their infrastructure to prepare for the FirstNet public-safety network. (State Tech)

To find technology in this year’s speeches, you often need to read between the lines. (Government Technology)

While security and cloud will the most important management priorities for state and local chief information officers in 2015, CIOs expect to give significantly greater attention to broadband and wireless connectivity in 2015 than in recent years, according to a new report. (State Scoop)

Having a chief innovation officer in government has become all the rage. (TechWire)

The most important IT career skills aren't necessarily technical. Communication, negotiation, team-building and conflict resolution are all critical to IT success, especially in leadership positions. (CIO)

At a time when technological change is measured in nanoseconds, experts in information systems are focused on longer-term trends that will position their communities to take advantage of the convenience and efficiency of technology. (American City & County)

Google is bringing speedy Internet to 18 cities in four metro areas in the southeastern United States, the latest expansion of its Fiber project. (USA Today)

As many Americans abandon snail mail and even desktops in favor of smartphones and tablets, many states are redoubling their efforts to make government more accessible and responsive to citizens on-the-go. (Government Executive)