AUSTIN, Texas, -- Texas Chief Information Officer and Executive Director of the Department of Information Resources Carolyn Purcell announced that she would retire from her position effective August 31, 2003. The Department of Information Resources serves as headquarters for Information Technology in Texas state government.
"It has been a great honor to serve the people of this great state as Chief Information Officer. I have enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with some extraordinary elected officials and public servants in state government."
During her tenure as executive director, the department has promoted the use of the Internet to deliver public information and services through TexasOnline.com. The Internet portal allows Texans to register their vehicles, renew their driver's license, file sales taxes and renew professional licenses among other government transactions. TexasOnline.com was established by the legislature in 1999 to provide a convenient way for Texans to conduct business with the state. "The legislature and the governor have been big supporters of the Internet as a tool to improve government services and lower transaction costs," Purcell said.
Other programs of the include the state's consolidated data center in San Angelo, Texas; the Year 2000 remediation effort; statewide telecommunications operations; volume purchase pricing for IT commodity goods and services; statewide network security; and various efforts to improve the quality and price performance of Information Technology projects.
"I am grateful to past and present DIR board members and staff for the many improvements in state government Information Technology operations and practices over the past nine years, and for their dedication to accountability and quality," Purcell said.
The DIR Board will begin a search for a replacement for Purcell.
