The 13 recipients from over 55 entries to the 2003 Best of Texas Awards Program were broken down into two categories: leadership and development.
Leadership award criteria included nominees' demonstrated excellence and contributions to IT in the state of Texas. Development award criteria included features, functionality and benefits of application, innovative use of technology, economic benefit, improvement of services to citizens or state employees, and collaboration between agencies.
"Texas is a big state with some big ideas on technology and how it can be applied to benefit citizens," said Cathilea Robinett, executive director of the Center for Digital Government. "Each entry in this year's Best of Texas Awards Program was so impressive. Clearly, a lot of strategic thinking and foresight went into these projects. I commend all of the public leaders for their vision, dedication and commitment to the great state of Texas."
The following Best of Texas award recipients are profiled in the report:
- Visionary Award, State Government: Texas State Sen. Eliot Shapleigh
- Visionary Award, County Government: Judge Mickey West, Palo Pinto County
- Visionary Award, City Government: City Manager C.G. Maclin, City of Lufkin
- Demonstrated Excellence in Project Management: Leslie Howes, Texas Workforce Commission
- Demonstrated Leadership in Management of Information Technology: Steven W. Jennings, Central Technology
- Best Application Serving a Department or Agency's Business Needs: Enforcement Wireless Computing Solution, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
- Best Application Serving a Department or Agency's Business Needs: Bringing Resource Integration and Data together for Greater Efficiencies, Texas Department of Agriculture
- Best Application Serving the Public: I-Jury, Travis County District Clerk
- Best Application Serving the Public: Unemployment Insurance Initial Claims, Texas Workforce Commission
- Most Innovative Use of Technology: Harris County Regional Radio Center, Harris County Central Technology
- Most Innovative Use of Technology: LaserFiche Imaging Project, Denton Technology Services Department
- Best IT Collaboration Among Organizations: Texas Pre-Kindergarten-16 Public Education Information Resource, Texas Education Agency, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and State Board of Educator Certification
- Best IT Collaboration Among Organizations: Greater Rockdale E Access Team.
