TAG You’re IT

Neil Rose
GIS Manager, City of New Braunfels

What is the size of your team? 

With three members on the team, we assign responsibilities based on skill and competency levels. We intentionally create opportunities for team members to lead projects in areas where they’re building expertise, pairing them with support as needed to foster professional growth and structured skill development.

Are there any upcoming initiatives you are excited about? 

We are deploying a new GIS environment with ArcGIS Enterprise 11.5 and working closely with our new Emergency Operations Manager to configure dashboards and web applications that serve both internal stakeholders and public-facing needs.

What is the one thing you now understand better about public sector IT?

I used to think the biggest challenge was the technology. After 12 years, I realize it’s the relationships—earning credibility with staff, explaining the ‘why’ behind projects, and being a partner rather than just a service provider. GIS gives you a unique vantage point across the whole organization, but it only works if people see you as a collaborator.

What is the best thing about working for your Agency? 

The best thing about working for the city is the opportunity to learn across a wide range of areas, understand diverse workflows and methodologies, and collaborate with subject matter experts, which allows me to provide better support.

TAGITM OG

Tim Torno

IT Administrator, City of Webster

What inspired you to pursue a career in public sector IT?

My father, he was one of the original admins before IT became IT from the early 60s.

What role has mentorship played in your career?

A great deal.

If you could offer one piece of advice to other public sector IT professionals, what would it be?

Remember it's ok to ask for help.

Additional Commentary 

Every day is a new day, never the same ole same ole. If you want constant, IT is not for you. But if you want to grow in your knowledge and expand your mind, then IT is where it is at.   You will laugh, you will cry, you will want to flip the table. Other days you will want to smile from what you created and maintained and improved over your time in IT.

Let’s Hear IT

October Question of the Month: What do you enjoy doing outside of work to recharge?

• Range shooting, cross bow, hiking, biking, working out, cruising country roads on a beautiful day in a nekkid Jeep, wrastlin dogs, trying new eats, enjoying fav old eats, nothin finer than an ice cold Shiner and no plans, gloomy day couch naps...so much!
   – Shane McDaniel

• I enjoy getting to do several things with my family including camping, BBQ'ing, and exercising. – James O’Brien

• Reading just about anything I can get my hands on. Not a fan of dry, technical non-fiction, but give me anything else and I'm a happy girl. – Angie Wright

• I like traveling and seeing new places, live plays, bowling, and watching movies in the theatre. I'm an ok bowler, but I am an expert at eating movie theatre popcorn. – Fay Young

• I love to work with my hands to Sabbath. My husband and I restore furniture and sometimes even build some pieces.  It is so relaxing to me to sand down a piece of old furniture to bring new life.  It connects me to my faith and ancestors who worked with their hands more often than I do for my living. – Shannon Mejia