The Center's Best of California awards program was established four years ago to salute IT professionals in California state and local government organizations for their dedication, hard work and contributions. The winners are selected based on a set of criteria, including excellence in management, innovative use of technology, and improvement of services to citizens or state employees.
"California has planned its work and is now working its plan," said Paul Taylor, chief strategy officer for the Center. "This year's field of nominees for the Best of California is the most competitive the Center has seen, and we have doubled the number of awards compared to last year. The winners demonstrate a commitment to delivering public value by using the Internet to extend the value of existing systems and create new value by doing the public's business in new ways."
Winners in each category of the 2005 Best of California awards program are:
- Demonstrated Leadership in Management of Information Technology: Michael L. Moore, chief information officer (CIO), County of San Diego
- Demonstrated Excellence in Project Executive Sponsorship: Walter F. Ekard, chief administrative officer (CAO), County of San Diego
- Demonstrated Excellence in Project Delivery: Terese Butler, Project Director, California Strategic Sourcing Initiative, California Department of General Services
- Demonstrated Excellence in Project Delivery: John Hamlin, Manager, Application Development, California Board of Equalization
- Demonstrated Excellence in Project Delivery: Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) Project Team, California Department of Health Services
- Demonstrated Excellence in Project Collaboration: California Wireless E 9-1-1 Project Team
- Best Application Serving Department/Agency Business Needs: Screening Information System, California Department of Health Services
- Best Application Serving Department/Agency Business Needs: eBudget Application for Enhanced Governor's Budget Preparation and Presentation, California Department of Finance
- Best Application Serving the Public: Megan's Law Internet Web site, California Department of Justice
- Best Sustainable Value: High-Tech Crime Resource CD-ROM, California Attorney General's Office, Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force and SEARCH
- Best Sustainable Value: Integrated Non-filer Compliance (INC) System Application, California Franchise Tax Board
- Golden Anniversary Big Iron Award: Wage Record System, California Employment Development Department
