Captured Event

August, 06 2007 - 2007 Western CIO Forum

What: annual conference for WITC

Where: Grand Hyatt Hotel

When: 8/5/07 through 8/7/07

Ticket Prices: Public Sector: $595; Non-profit: $695; Private Sector: $1,195

Executive Director: ED of WITC: Ted Piper; ED of Denver Federal Executive Board: Lawrence Grandison

Catering: Grand Hyatt

Sponsors: Hosted by: Western Information Technology Council, Denver Federal Executive Board, State of Colorado, Western Governor's Association.
Sponsors: Dept. of Veterans Affairs Health Administration Center, GSA, CSIA, BDNA, Sungard

Quote of the evening: "Whatever you do, do something that will mean something to those you've left behind."--Joe Ahern, CIO for the State of Wyoming

Menu: buffet luncheon: Greek village salad, tomato and buffalo mozzarella salad, marinated Mediterranean olives, Parma ham on bean ragout, Baba Ghanoush with pita chips, vegetable brown rice paella, cheese ravioli and gorgonzola pouches with green pea sauce, chicken & beef brochette with Mediterranean couscous, roasted red summer Chermula on artichoke Barigoule, Tiramisu, Greek baklava and Spanish orange custard

Attendance: 100

Attire: business

Event Coordinator: Ted Piper and Lisa Diaz

Blacktie Photos by: Pamela Cress

Two Federal Executive Board officials exchange notes: Anne Tiernan from the Seattle FEB and Larry Grandison from the Denver FEB.
View all photos

If you're a fan of crime novels, you often read about the insinuated territorialism between federal, state and local governments. The 8th annual Western CIO Forum proved that couldn't be farther from the truth, as Information Officers and officials from these entities gathered at the Grand Hyatt Denver to discuss the pressing issues that come with advances in technology.

Participants coverged for a welcome reception on Sunday, August 5 and then got down to business on August 6 and 7, beginning with a welcome by host CIO Mike Locatis from the State of Colorado and Larry Grandison, Executive Director of the Denver Federal Executive Board, followed by opening remarks by Governor Bill Ritter.

Representatives from federal, state, county and local entities from not only Colorado, but also Canada, Montana, Wyoming, Washington, Arizona, Virginia, Texas, Maryland and North Dakota collaborated in the delivery of and participation in a highly informative program. Panel topics included "Federal Agencies: Synopsis of Current Activities," "State Panel: Business Needs, Direction and Modernization Efforts," "Best Practices of IT Service Delivery" and "Content and Document Management." Interspersed in the program were opportunities to network and talk over ideas over some delicious meals prepared by the Grand Hyatt.

"This conference is a great opportunity to bring together federal, state and local IT professionals to discuss security and documentation issues," said WITC Executive Director Ted Piper. "With new technology in Blackberries and other such devices, there is a whole new suite of communications integral to business. It is very important to have open communication and exchange of ideas."

As Governor Ritter stated in his greeting letter included in the program, "these events are important to the West, as they help shape communities, expedite progress and modernize society."

WITC was founded in 1973 as ITCIS (Information Technology Council of the Intermountain States), a public sector non-profit, educational organization whose purpose is to improve cooperation, operations and delivery of services at all levels of government by promoting increased knowledge, improved management methods and more efficient use of information and telecommunications resources, services and technologies. Through their affiliation with the Western Governor's Association they serve IT professionals throughout the 21 Western states and US-Flag Pacific Islands.

In 2005, WITC formed a strategic alliance with the Denver Federal Executive Board. Federal Executive Boards exist across the country and serve as catalysts for the creation of intergovernmental relationships that advance local and national initiatives. Denver and the Front Range are home to the largest concentration of Federal Executives outside Washington DC.

For more information about WITC, log on to www.WITConline.org, and for more information about the Denver Federal Executive Board, log on to www.denver.feb.gov.