Howdy again TAGITM!

As I’m writing this message about a week before Thanksgiving, cooler temps have finally arrived in South Central TX. Sort of. Don’t get me wrong, it’ll still be mid 80’s this afternoon, but I’ll take what we can get. Even with cooler air and the holidays looming, in many ways it feels like TAGITM is ramping up. It’s wild how much activity is happening around the state. There was a cyber virtual lunch and learn that was a complete success, many thanks to Kevin Joyner for leading that effort. Midland’s tech day looked like it was a great event (thanks Jennifer!), and Scott Joyce seemingly always has something cool lined up in his area. We’re barely scratching the surface though, there is so much more!

By Angie Wright

Happy Holidays to my all-time favorite group of IT professionals! As we look back over this past year with TAGITM, it’s clear we’ve achieved great things together. We’ve hosted incredible events, shared knowledge, and strengthened our community, setting the stage for an even more successful 2025. I’m especially excited for what the upcoming conference and new year will bring!

Before diving into holiday reflections, a couple of important reminders for you all:

1. Upcoming Events: The South Texas Regional Summit and GIS Summit are both scheduled and should be open for registration by the time you read this. For those who couldn’t make it to our North Texas Summit, mark your calendar for February 5 in The Woodlands – here’s another chance to connect, learn, and network! Additionally, we’re thrilled to introduce the brand-new GIS Summit in Lewisville on January 16. Whether you’re a GIS expert or just curious, all are welcome! The GIS committee has put tremendous effort into making this an accessible and enriching event.
2. Conference Proposals: A quick reminder to submit your proposals for the 2025 conference! The Education Committee is eager to dive into the submissions and curate the best content to meet your needs. Your ideas and contributions are what make our conference so impactful – let’s make this the best one yet!

As we approach the end of the year, I encourage each of you to carve out time for yourself amidst the holiday hustle and bustle. This time of year often comes with staff shortages, project deadlines, and unexpected down times – all of which can be challenging and stressful. It's essential to find moments to pause, recharge, and remember that self-care allows you to bring your best to the workplace. Don’t overlook the value of a few deep breaths or short breaks to help manage holiday pressures.

Wishing you all a joyful holiday season filled with warmth, rest, and happiness. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at our upcoming events in 2025. Here’s to an exciting new year ahead!

After five years of dedication, the City of Port Arthur implemented an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system that integrates Finance, Human Resources, Payroll, Utility Billing, Asset Management, and Municipal Court into one cohesive system. We had our share of technical and knowledge hurdles throughout the six-phase implementation. However, our highest hurdles were team dynamics and leadership. The biggest hurdle was influencing team members without authority. The implementation project experience validated how crucial connecting is to a project's success.

Location: Rudy’s, Allen Texas (1790 N Central Expy)
Date: Wed 12/04/2024
Time: 11:30 am – 1 pm
Speaker: Mimecast Vendor Presentation

Location: Boerne City Hall (447 N Main Street)
Date: Wed 12/11/2024
Time: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm          
Speaker: David McCall, Cybersecurity Delivery Manager at Computer Solutions

RSVP for the Regional Events using the Form HERE.

Government Technology
Significant cyber events from the year, like the CrowdStrike incident, tell us which critical infrastructure sectors are most at risk. What are governments doing to prepare for the new year?

State Tech
AI can enable autonomous decision-making, predictions and optimizations for government agencies.

State Scoop
A growing majority of local government IT leaders say their cybersecurity funding is adequate to protect their agencies from threats.

CIO
With no set framework for gen AI success, and few production successes to learn from, IT leaders are left with sketchy roadmaps even as some best practices start to come into focus.

American City & County
Mobile IDs (mID) are a great way to improve citizen experience. But, as mID adoption increases nationwide, governments must ensure their security or risk exposing personal information to cybercriminals.

State Scoop
The report and toolkit aim provide guidance to cities as they consider the impact of AI and its role in modernizing city services.