Leavitt said he made the appointment with an emphasis on improving the cohesion of the state's IT community, noting that Oveson has managed large IT projects in the public and private sector, including; the creation of a Web-based marketing application for a big six accounting firm; revisions to the IRS' case-tracking system; a redesign of the computer systems and processes for Utah's State Tax Commission; and the creation of the Utah Tax Law Library on CD-ROM.
The governor said he has given Oveson the job of following up on Windley's recommendations for improving the state's IT structure and operation. Oveson will work with the Legislature to improve IT, reduce fragmentation of the state's technical infrastructure, build common data storage and exchange standards and develop budgeting and funding models that reward and encourage joint applications development.
Oveson comes to the CIO position from PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he was a managing director and lead of the knowledge management function for the state and local tax group. In 1998, Oveson was appointed by Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin to serve as the National Taxpayer Advocate of the IRS.
Oveson has also held positions in Utah government, from chairman of the Utah State Tax Commission to lieutenant governor to serving as the state auditor.
