Rena Rogers took over the Cook County Information Technology (IT) department about 18 months ago. Since then she and her four-person team have done a lot of reorganizing and upgrading of Cook County governmental buildings, computers and wiring to connect and share the technology.
After 18 months on the job, Cook County’s Information Technology (IT) Director Rena Rogers came before the Cook County Board of Commissioners on December 22, 2015 with an update about the accomplishment of her four-person staff. Those accomplishments were, in the words of Commissioner Jan Sivertson, “very impressive.”
Rogers said when she took over the IT department there was a long list of jobs listed on a board. The list was too long and no timeline had been established for them to be finished. With her staff, Rogers pared down that list and established criteria that included a mission, vision, values and strategies to accomplish the new goals.
“Our mission is to provide secure, reliable, state-of-the-art IT and communication products and services that enable Cook County government to deliver its services effectively and efficiently,” said Rogers.
But first the courthouse had to be re-cabled, which increased the speed and reliability of computers. New high-speed computer cable was also installed at the highway department and law enforcement center and tied into the courthouse. The law enforcement center was also fitted with new security cameras, which improved operational efficiency, said Rogers.
A new secure server room was built with new equipment installed, again improving reliability and safety.
The commissioners’ room was fitted with a new sound system and a new, more reliable, more affordable, more efficient phone system replaced the former outdated system.
A “firewall” was built to protect the county computers from hackers and Rogers said her staff has been working with the auditor and assessor’s office on offering e-government services so people won’t have to travel to the courthouse, but instead can do some county business online.
All told, Rogers said, her four-member team completed 28 projects in 18 months.
While all of that was going on her staff also had to attend to day-to-day requests for help from the various departments. “At times it was like driving a bus down the road at 60 miles per hour and changing the bus tires as the same time,” she said.
But now that the big jobs are completed she said, “We can shift our focus to a service model.”
Future plans include working more with the global information system (GIS) department and focusing on bringing more e-government services into the county. Rogers said plans call for continued work with emergency broadcast radios and the new towers that are being installed, making sure they work in conjunction with all of the users: township fire departments, first responders, law enforcement, U.S. Forest Service, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Department, U.S. Customs and U.S. Border Patrol, and Homeland Security.
“We fixed a lot of stuff and now we are going to take a little breather,” said Rogers. During that “down” time her staff will work on building a new county website, building a social media platform, producing GIS apps for public and county employees, and work on making an online “help desk” so people with questions can get them answered when the courthouse is closed.
“Impressive, impactful, informational and inspirational,” is the way Commissioner Garry Gamble saw the accomplishments. The rest of the commissioners echoed his words.
Now that the “big fires” are out, Rogers said her department will be able to be more proactive rather than reactive, and she looked forward to the new year and offering better, streamlined services to the employees and citizens of Cook County.
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