Bill Kehoe

GoldenGov: State Executive of the Year

Even though Bill Kehoe says “it’s been a crazy year, at least for me” in going from CIO of Los Angeles County, California, to statewide CIO in Washington, it wasn’t too much of a culture shock. Both governments, he says, are highly federated in their IT strategies, but Kehoe says he’s been able to implement some big changes in Washington already, including a council of agency CIOs that meets regularly, as well as new business-management and security-governance councils. “The biggest shift for me in local government, you are one step closer to the people you serve,” he says. “The state provides critical services as well, but you’re a little removed from the front lines. But it’s an opportunity.”