1. What training was most useful to you in your current position?
Reinert: Leadership training, working with people and project management.
King: Entering the IT field, I found mathematics and logic training useful. In my
current position, my many years in the IT field have proven to be most helpful.
2. What are the biggest IT issues currently facing your jurisdiction?
Reinert: I see implementation of cross-jurisdictional programs as our biggest issue. This includes programs such as connecting schools and libraries throughout the state and building interfaces to 72 different counties and their criminal justice partners.
King: As a mainframe manager, the biggest IT challenge I face is developing new value-added services that are cost competitive with private industry.
3. What IT program are you most proud of?
Reinert: I am most proud of our ambitious effort, called BadgerNet, to provide network access throughout Wisconsin.
King: Our consolidation and standardization project that created "one look" for the state.
4. What has been your most difficult challenge?
Reinert: Year 2000 -- managing the scope with the proliferation of embedded chips in our lives.
King: Encouraging state agencies to adopt standardized processes and embrace an enterprise perspective.
5. How will information technology change in five years?
Reinert: I see a growth of e-commerce and Internet use for business functions. There will be a blurring of the boundaries between business and information technology and an increased need for business involvement in IT planning.
King: For IT within government, I see e-commerce having a significant impact providing more business involvement and requiring greater interoperability.
6. What do you wish vendors would do or not do?
Reinert: I wish they would deliver what they promised.
King: My wish is that they would set realistic expectations for services their products provide. I would appreciate being kept appraised of their initiatives with the state agencies.
7. When did you decide to enter government and what was the reason?
Reinert: I entered state government one year ago seeking a challenge and an opportunity to stretch and grow. Little did I know or suspect how much Year 2000 would present!
King: I entered government service twenty years ago for the opportunity it provided for entry into the technology field.
8. How do you stay ahead of your e-mail?
Reinert: My approach is to answer e-mail on first reading whenever possible. Those not answered remain in my inbox until I find the answer needed.
King: I rely on my PalmPilot and synchronize at least once a day in the evening. Even with this, I find I need to dedicate special time periodically to catch up.
9. How do you use the Internet? What sites are most useful to you?
Reinert: At work, I use the Internet to look at Year-2000 sites. At home, I look at travel sites for rates, travel and location information.
King: I use the Internet to review state activities and to research current technology issues.
