COLUMBIA - The South Carolina Information Technology Directors Association (SCITDA) names Ruth Kirkland, Division of the State Chief Information Officer (CIO), as the Innovative Technologist of the Year. The first recipient to receive this prestigious honor, Kirkland was presented the award during SCITDA’s 28th Annual Conference on Sept. 11, in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
The award, created to recognize and honor innovative approaches and outstanding achievements in the field of information technology (IT), was presented to Kirkland in the administrator/manager category for her contributions to the design and development of the official Web site of the State of South Carolina, SC.gov. “I’m grateful to the SCITDA organization for the honor of being selected as the first recipient of this award. I am privileged to be in a position where I’m able to promote the use of information technology to enhance state government’s delivery of its services to the public,” said Kirkland upon receiving the award.
Kirkland has served the citizens of South Carolina well, working over 30 years in state government including the last 20 with the CIO. From 1976 to 1981 she worked for the Office of the Governor before joining the South Carolina Budget and Control Board in 1982. From 1982 until 1986 she worked for the Board’s Office Systems Reprographics section before subsequently joining the Division of Information Resources, known today as the CIO.
Kirkland has been with the CIO’s Data Center since 1987, serving in a variety of capacities including the management of the Help Desk and the LAN Technical Services Group. In addition to her current duties as manager of the Customer Relations team, Kirkland oversees the CIO’s multi-agency partnership projects, the creation of customer, employee and agency director communications, and the design and development of the State’s Web portal and the CIO Web site, CIO.SC.gov.
The CIO developed the State’s first Web portal in 2000; however, after several years, numerous challenges threatened its continuation. In response, Kirkland put together a team of state and local government stakeholders to analyze the existing site and to propose a solution for the development of a new one. The team’s recommendation resulted in the creation of a unique public/private partnership between the South Carolina Budget and Control Board’s CIO and South Carolina Interactive, LLC.
SC.gov was created through this partnership, offering portal and online services to governmental entities within the State without requiring the use of appropriated funds, development fees or support charges. The portal provides a dynamic, state-of-the-art platform designed to help citizens and businesses find the government information and services they need in the most efficient manner possible.
Kirkland played a crucial role in the development of this self-funded model as she not only managed the design and development of the portal, but also wrote the request for proposal (RFP) and the state contract itself. It was Kirkland’s dedication, diligence and hard work that enabled SC.gov, the official Web site of the State of South Carolina, to come to fruition.
Congratulations to Ruth Kirkland for her very well deserved recognition.
About SCITDA
SCITDA, originally formed in 1978 as the South Carolina Association of Data Processing Directors (SCADPD), serves as a forum for the exchange of information pertinent to the management of State IT facilities while also providing a consolidation of experience, knowledge and interest in improvement of IT administration and management. Since its inception, the Association has grown from a handful of people to an organization that includes most State agencies, colleges and universities.