Gov Tech Today

In this edition of GovTech Today, hosts Russell Lowery and Jennifer Saha discuss the importance of broadband access for all Californians, emphasizing the state's efforts to bridge the digital divide. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the necessity of reliable internet access as students had to rely on broadband to attend school remotely, highlighting inequities in access. The state of California h...

In this episode of Gov Tech Today, hosts Russell Lowery and Jennifer Saha discuss the enterprise approach to procurement in government departments and agencies, highlighting its impact on technology decisions and operations. They dive into the concept of enterprise infrastructure, using personal technology choices as an analogy, and explore how a unified system can offer interoperability, volume d...

This episode of Gov Tech Today features hosts Russell Lowery and Jennifer Saha in conversation with Justin Brown, former Secretary of Human Services for Oklahoma, about the use and impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in government services, particularly in health and human services. Brown discusses his experiences and insights gained from serving during the pandemic, his role in spearheading co...

In this episode of Govtech Today, hosts Russell Lowery and Jennifer Saha explore the transformative landscape of coding and development, especially within the state government sector, with insights from an experienced GitLab developer. The conversation covers the developer's journey from QA to coding for product and sales consulting, emphasizing the rapid evolution of coding languages and methodol...

In this episode of GovTech Today, hosts Russell Lowery and Jen Saha discuss the ongoing efforts in California to legislate and regulate Generative AI (Gen AI). They delve into key legislative proposals from Senator Wiener and Assemblywoman Bauer Kahn, focusing on their intent to provide clear guidelines and protections concerning the use of AI. Amidst discussions on the complexities and challenges...

In this episode of Gov Tech Today, hosts Russell Lowery and Jennifer Saha explore the ongoing reforms in government technology procurement, focusing on the complexities and frustrations within the terms and conditions of procurement contracts. They discuss a specific comment period and a significant hearing where industry professionals and government representatives attempt to address these issues...

In this episode of Gov Tech Today, hosts Russell Lowery and Jennifer Saha delve into the world of data management within the government sector, sparked by the growing interest in AI technologies like ChatGPT. They invite Athol Smith, a seasoned data expert with over 30 years of experience, to share his insights on the evolution of data storage, the challenges and opportunities of storing data in t...

In this edition of Gov Tech Today, hosts Russell Lowery and Jennifer Saha explore the challenges businesses face in navigating the complex web of privacy regulations across different jurisdictions including federal, international, and state levels, particularly highlighting the variances between states like California and others. They discuss the implications of divergent regulations for businesse...

In this episode of Gov Tech Today, the hosts, Russell Lowery and Jennifer Saha, discuss procurement reform in state government, specifically in California. They express concerns for the need to improve the traditional method of procurement, explaining that it may be more fitting to refer to it as 'procurement modernization' or 'procurement streamlining'. The conversation involves examining past an...

This episode of 'Govtech Today' delves into the complexities and intricacies of selling to the government and B2G operations, hosted by Russell Lowery and Jennifer Saha. The hosts differentiate between business-to-business (B2B), business-to-consumer, and business-to-government (B2G) sales, stating that selling to the government (B2G) is uniquely challenging due to its risk averseness and its lack...

In this episode of GovTech Today, hosts Russell Lowry and Jen Saha discuss the latest advancements in government technology, particularly the integration of AI in various departments. The hosts delve into AI pilot projects authorized by the governor, with a focus on the state of California. These projects include using AI to solve state problems, such as improving transportation and tax and fee ad...

In this episode of GovTech Today, hosts Russell Lowery and Jennifer Saha delve into the complex topic of privacy and regulatory frameworks in California. They discuss European regulations influencing California legislation, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and discuss local laws such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). T...

In this episode of GovTech Today, Russell Lowery and Jennifer Saha discuss concerns around the projected $68 billion deficit in the California state budget. Despite the panic caused by news of the deficit, they emphasize the hundreds of billions of dollars still being spent. They explain that difficulties in predicting revenue, which is heavily dependent on personal income tax and notably from wea...

In the episode, hosts Russell Lowery and Jennifer SaHa discuss the shift in work from home policies for state workers in California, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Traditionally, remote work was rare for state employees, but the pandemic necessitated a quick shift to nearly 90% of the workforce working from home. As offices slowly begin reopening, state agencies plan to requi...

In this episode of Gov Tech Today, hosts Jennifer Saha and Russell Lowery discuss the SB DBVE option, a State-contracted vehicle designed to streamline the execution of small contracts under $250,000 with small businesses and disabled veteran businesses. It is deemed a 'secret weapon' for entities seeking to do business with the state, due to its flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and its ability to...

In this episode of GovTech Today, Russell Lowery and Jennifer Saha discuss the potential of small businesses to thrive in California despite the state's $68 billion deficit. They highlighted that California, being the fifth largest economy in the world, represents a massive market for small businesses and disadvantaged businesses like Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBEs). Jen spoke about...

In this edition of GovTech Today, hosts Russell Lowery and Jennifer Saha discussed the shortage in the tech labor force, a problem that significantly affects the government sector. They touched on reform initiatives related to IT classifications in state government and provided details about how these classifications were consolidated from 36 to nine broad categories in 2018. They also emphasized...

In this episode of GovTech Today, hosts Russell Lowery and Jennifer Saha discuss several legislative implications for the tech industry, notably touching on AI laws, cybersecurity, privacy rights, and the rise of zero trust architectures. They highlight the complexity of how these new legislations might realistically be implemented and enforced, also hinting at potential hurdles businesses might f...

In this episode of Gov Tech Today, hosts Russell Lowery and Jennifer Saha discuss the surprise government spending freeze issued by the government. They explore the ramifications, analyzing the unexpected freeze's impacts on budgets and current projects. Meanwhile, the hosts elaborate on how the freeze might be a response to projected budget deficits running into billions. They delve into the exem...

In this episode of Gov Tech Today, hosts Russell Lowery and Jennnifer Saha discuss the vital topic of cybersecurity in the Gov Tech industry, specifically where the state of California stands. They refer to the National Association of State CIOs' survey which has shown cybersecurity as the top priority for the past 10 years. They explore the ever-evolving nature of cybersecurity, the increasing ra...

In this edition of GovTech Today, Russell Lowery and Jennifer Saha dive into a discussion about AI, its various uses, and the way it is received by different states in the US, focusing on generative AI. They explore the role of AI in state government response and the issues surrounding AI bias and technology failure. They also share their ideas on future developments in AI regulations and the pote...

Hosts Russell Lowery and Jennifer Saha discuss the vast potential in local government spending, particularly in regards to technology. Jennifer showcases her research into local governments' technology budgets, emphasizing their often overlooked opportunities. The hosts also highlight some unexpected innovation in small cities or counties, and discuss the growth potential in the State & Local Gove...

In this episode of Gov Tech Today, hosts Russell Lowery and Jennifer Saha discuss the roles and impacts of conferences, events, and summits in the field of government technology. The hosts shed light on how these events can be beneficial for technology professionals in the government, highlighting the networking opportunities, learning experiences, and potential for showcasing technological capabi...

In today's episode, Jennifer Saha and Russell Lowery discuss the state of telework in California's government. They delve into the emerging hybrid model, which signifies a notable departure from the traditional in-person work dynamics. This transformation is triggered by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating a swift shift from predominantly in-office work to a remote work environment, redef...

Welcome to "Gov Tech Today" with hosts Russell Lowery and Jennifer Saha, bridging the gap between tech and government. In this episode, they delve into data governance frameworks, the unsung heroes of policy decisions. Data governance sets the rules for data ownership, sharing, and classification that underpin policymaking. It's essential, but often overlooked. California's journey through data go...