STATE
OF ARIZONA GOVERNMENT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
411 N. Central Ave., Suite 770
Phoenix AZ85004
Governor Calls On Stender To Succeed as State CIO
(PHOENIX – February 4, 2002) Governor Jane Dee Hull today named Craig Stender as the Director for the Government Information Technology Agency (GITA) and State of Arizona Chief Information Officer (CIO). In Arizona, the State CIO serves on the Governor’s cabinet. Stender is succeeding Richard Zelznak, who resigned to take a position in the private sector.
Stender previously served as Deputy Director for GITA. Prior to working at GITA, Stender was the Chief Information Officer for the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). There, Stender served as Chair for the Steering Committee of the Arizona Telecommunication System and coordinated technology initiatives at the international, federal, state and local level. He managed an information technology budget in excess of $30 million; directed IT purchasing, inventory, and procurement activities, managed Service Arizona, Y2K efforts and mainframe computer consolidation. Stender’s background in technology includes project management, application development and support, mainframe operations, database administration, research and development, wide area network support, local area network support, voice and data communications support, security, strategic planning and administrative services.
Last month, Arizona was recognized as one of the top five states for the Digital State Award 2001. Arizona received top rankings in using technology for education, transportation and health care, to name a few.
GITA provides oversight and coordination for the State's Executive Branch automation resources and advises the three branches of state government about information technology. The mission of GITA is "Partnering with state agencies and private sector organizations to improve information technology capabilities, both technical and human, to efficiently add value and improve delivery of public services for the people of Arizona".
Prior Arizona State CIO Rick Zelznak accepted a position with Maximus, a consulting firm working with the public sector on management and technology.
