Overview

October 1

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Local government leaders are looking at shared services – a business model that enables technology resources to be leveraged across an entire county, city, town, village, or department – with renewed interest as the COVID-19 pandemic altered their views on the need to work together to rapidly deliver services, meet community needs, overcome staffing challenges, and access specialized skillsets.

A recent Center for Digital Government survey found that 74 percent of mid-sized cities and counties participate in shared services agreements with other organizations or agencies across a range of areas, including GIS, analytics and broadband. But 80 percent of respondents also said they see more opportunities to share services with other agencies that are not currently being pursued.

Join Government Technology and Amazon Web Services on October 1 at 11 a.m. Pacific/2 p.m. Eastern as we unpack the results of this survey, discuss how your agency can increase its use of shared services, and share how the cloud can simplify shared services arrangements.

Register here and find out answers to questions like:

· How important are shared services today for mid-sized governments?
· What types of skills do government personnel need to ensure they implement shared services effectively?
· Who is doing shared services right and what are some of their best practices?

Speakers

 

Deborah Giles

Executive Government Advisor, Amazon Web Services (AWS)

As Executive Government Advisor at Amazon Web Services Worldwide Public Sector, Deborah Giles helps governments innovate for their customers. Prior to AWS, Deborah served as a consultant to Fortune 500 technology companies; CEO, Center for Technology; National Government Affairs Director, SHI International; and COO, Texas Health and Human Services Commission. She led enterprise-wide digital transformations, managed workflow modernization projects, directed policy and legislative funding advocacy for large technology projects, and oversaw organizational change projects.

 

Shonte Eldridge

Executive Government Advisor, Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Shonte currently serves as an Executive Government Advisor with Amazon Web Services (AWS). In this role she is responsible for engaging State and Local Government leaders to build cloud frameworks that reduce cost, improve service delivery, change customer experience and transform the organization into a modern, inclusive, equitable and innovative enterprise. Prior to joining AWS, Ms. Eldridge worked in the public sector for over 20 years and held various C-suite positions including the Deputy Chief of Operations for the City of Baltimore, Chief of Policy, Planning and External Affairs for the Office of the States Attorney for Baltimore City and Chief of Policy for Maryland’s Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention. During her time in government she was known for using technology to solve some of the largest operational and social challenges her state and local governments faced, as well as changing the culture to more readily accept and try new technologies. Ms. Eldridge’s work in the industry has appeared in numerous national publications and is often called upon to speak and conduct workshops on the importance of creating holistic digital transformation strategies and how to implement technology that improves operations and delivers a better customer experience.

 

Phil Bertolini — Moderator

Vice President, Center for Digital Government (CDG)

Phil Bertolini is the Vice President of the Center for Digital Government (CDG), a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. Previously, he served as deputy county executive and CIO for Oakland County, Michigan. During his 31-year tenure, Phil built a world-class IT organization in the second-largest county in Michigan, just north of Detroit. As Oakland County CIO, he oversaw more than 150 employees serving over 1.2 million residents. In 2005, he was also promoted to deputy county executive, holding dual positions until his retirement. Phil’s efforts earned the county national attention, winning numerous awards for technology innovation and excellence. He was named one of Governing Magazine’s Public Official of the Year and Government Technology Magazine’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers. He was also honored by the President Obama White House as a Champion of Change for 2012.

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