Overview

March 28

Join our fireside chat with Hershel Becker, former Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) for the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) and current Senior Fellow at the Center for Digital Government, and Dustin Haisler, President of Government Technology. Becker will provide invaluable insights into the Texas gov tech market for anyone looking to sell technology in the state, including:

The state of Texas’ technology procurement process and what role DIR plays
Tips for vendors as they sell technology to state agencies (including what new vendors should do before selling to the state)
How to navigate the Texas market as a new company and key dates to know
How to get on a DIR contract

Whether you are a seasoned professional or new to selling to the Texas gov tech market, this webinar will equip you with the knowledge to effectively navigate the challenges and opportunities in the state.

Speakers

Hershel Becker

Former Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) for the Texas Department of Information Resources and current Senior Fellow at the Center for Digital Government

Hershel Becker, a seasoned expert in government contracting, brings over 35 years of experience across both public and private sectors. He currently serves as a Senior Fellow at the Center for Digital Government and co-founder of Signature Advisory Partners, a procurement advisory firm based in Texas. During his tenure with the State of Texas, spanning nearly two decades, Hershel played integral roles in government contracting. Notably, he directed procurement and contracting functions at the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) for seven years, where he spearheaded initiatives such as the Innovative Procurement Lab and worked with state and local governmental entities in addressing their technology contracting challenges. Additionally, under his leadership, the Chief Procurement Office facilitated over $3 billion in annual sales through the agency's cooperative purchasing program. Further, Hershel played a key part in procuring and transitioning the state enterprise to the Next Generation Shared Technology Services, in collaboration with his fellow DIR executive team members.

Dustin Haisler — Moderator

President, Government Technology

Dustin drives exponential growth, implements new ideas and promotes a corporate culture that rewards creativity. He thrives on innovation (and strong coffee!). Dustin is the leader of Team Innovation – our in-house group of data geeks, market specialists and creatives who challenge the status quo. As the former CIO of Manor, Texas, Dustin pioneered the use of commercial technologies to deliver better government services – including QR barcodes, crowdsourcing and gamification. During his time in public service, Dustin was named one of the nation’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers by Government Technology. More recently, he was selected as an Eisenhower Fellow in 2019 and a Business Transformation 150 Leader by Constellation Research in 2021.

Webinar

Selling Tech in Texas: What you need to know to sell IT Solutions to Agencies in the State of Texas