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Dale Jablonsky

Assistant Executive Officer, IT Services Branch, CalPERS

Dale Jablonsky wants to make technology sustainable in California government — which won’t be easy. After 25 years at the state Employment Development Department (EDD), Jablonsky in 2010 moved to the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), the nation’s largest public pension fund, to oversee IT.

CalPERS was implementing a project to replace 49 of its 75 independent computer systems, more than 90 databases, and more than 300 interfaces with one integrated, sustainable enterprise system. After five years of work, phase one of the new system launched in September 2011.

To Jablonsky, sustainability means keeping software and hardware updated. “When properly funded, you can expand and change to meet legislative mandates and future business needs without having to do a lot of rip-and-replace projects.”

Although the EDD took a piecemeal approach due to funding models, Jablonsky said the 15 projects he started there are either completed or are well on their way. “Both projects are ideal examples of IT modernization in California that can be modeled after by other agencies.”

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Miriam Jones is a former chief copy editor of Government Technology, Governing, Public CIO and Emergency Management magazines.