Cleveland mayor names new tech and innovation chief
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb on Monday named Stephanie Wernet, a former technology executive for local charter schools, as the city’s chief innovation and technology officer.
Wernet, who most recently spent nearly nine years as the chief information officer of Breakthrough Schools, a Cleveland network of public charter schools, is tasked with managing the city’s use of technology to improve online interactions with residents.
In a press release, Bibb said Wernet has “the right blend of experience to drive digital transformation” in Cleveland.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Wernet in July stopped serving as chief executive of the marketing firm she founded, Takai & Company, almost 15 years ago. She spent seven years at Goodyear, departing as vice president of e-commerce, and early in her career held roles with IBM, the software firm Trilogy and the consulting firm McKinsey & Company.
Wernet joins the Cleveland city government just weeks after a cyberattack disabled some of its computer systems, forcing some physical offices to close.
In the press release, Wernet pointed to Cleveland’s open data efforts and an overhaul of its 311 system as examples of some of the city’s recent technology advances.
“I am excited to take this work to the next level and deliver on Mayor Bibb’s commitment to enhance city services and make data-driven decisions though better technology,” she said in the release.
