·
2 minute read
Recorded at TAGITM's Annual Conference at the La Cantera Spa & Resort in San Antonio, TX. Visit https://www.tagitm.org/ to learn more how TAG is serving as the premier organization for government technology professionals in Texas.
Listen now: YouTube x Apple x Spotify
Subscribe to the Newsletter
Get early access to new episodes, insights, and event updates — straight to your inbox.
Brought to you by:
SentinelOne—Learn how SentinelOne empowers this state to stay secure.
Verizon Frontline—The advanced network that keeps first responders connected when it matters most.
Carahsoft—The Trusted Public Sector IT Solutions Provider™, supports government agencies and education/healthcare markets. Contact your Carahsoft rep today to access special discount pricing exclusively through the TechTables + Carahsoft partnership!
Featuring:
- Tanya Acevedo, Senior Vice President and CIO, CapMetro
- Kendra Ketchum, VP for Information Management & Technology, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)
- Kerrica Laake, Chief Information Officer, City of Austin
- Chris Stewart, Chief Technology Officer, Freeit Data Solutions (former CIO, City of Austin)
What You’ll Learn:
- How Austin's CIO built career pathways from college intern to executive leadership over 33 years, creating high school Shark Tank programs and veteran transition pipelines that solve the government talent crisis
- Why CapMetro's paratransit AI agent sounds so human that special needs riders can't tell the difference—and how it already knows their eligibility and service history before they finish speaking
- How a simple homeless services app discovered 40% hidden capacity in existing lockers, helping vulnerable citizens store belongings safely during job interviews instead of hiding them in bushes
- UTSA's "hungry, humble, kind" framework that transformed 9 out of 11 frustrated leaders into collaborative innovators using Working Genius assessments and intentional failure policies
- Why Tanya's team failed twice on the same project before breakthrough success, and how transparent budget conversations about declining sales tax revenue actually strengthened team creativity and resource optimization
- How FreeIT Data partners with resource-constrained counties and cities to deliver the same technology solutions that large organizations require, but with creative collaboration that leverages vendor partnerships when budgets are tight
Timestamps
- (03:00) From College Intern to CIO: Kerrica's 33-Year Austin Journey
- (05:00) Integrity and Accountability Crisis: Rebuilding Trust in Government IT
- (08:00) High School Shark Tank: Building Tomorrow's Government Tech Talent
- (11:00) Hungry, Humble, Kind: UTSA's Team Transformation Framework
- (16:00) 9 of 11 Leaders Frustrated: Working Genius Assessment Breakthrough
- (23:00) Austin's First Technology Conference: Breaking Down 30-Year Silos
- (26:00) Data Stewardship Before AI: Why Foundation Matters More Than Hype
- (33:00) Breaking "Always Done It This Way": Culture vs. Strategy Battle
- (36:00) AI Factory Framework: UTSA's Governance-First Automation Approach
- (39:00) AI So Human You Can't Tell: CapMetro's Mind-Blowing Paratransit Agent
- (44:00) Resource-Constrained Partners: FreeIT Data's Creative Government Solutions
Links Mentioned
- TAGITM - Serving as the premier organization for government technology professionals in Texas
- FreeIT Data - offers innovative IT and cybersecurity solutions expertly designed and deployed to help companies better manage, support and secure their data. Our goal is to simplify technology and its implementation to make the most of your time and resources.
- Pat Lencioni's "The Ideal Team Player" - Hungry, humble, kind framework
- The 6 Types of Working Genius Assessment - Team productivity framework
- Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink - Leadership principles
Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways you can connect with TechTables:
1. 📬 The TechTables Newsletter: Get early access to new episodes, insights, and event updates — straight to your inbox.
Join now: https://www.techtables.com/
2. 🤝 The Collaboratory: The Exclusive Peer Network for Senior Technology Leaders in Public Sector, nationwide. The Collaboratory is a 100% Public Sector, Vendor-Free Private Community where you can connect, share strategies, and drive innovation alongside peers through monthly virtual meetings and our annual national event.
Learn more: https://techtables.com/collaboratory
3. 🤝 The Better Together Series: a virtual podcast series where TechTables partners with leading CXOs and vendor partners for candid conversations that showcase real-world solutions, spark innovation, and drive industry action.
📧 Interested? Email Joe at joe@techtables.com
Subscribe to the Newsletter
Get early access to new episodes, insights, and event updates — straight to your inbox.
CONNECT
