That’s right, it is coming up sooner than you think!  This year we will be at the beautiful J.W.  Mariott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. More details coming soon!

Aaron Sampson serves as the Network Operations Supervisor for the City of Bryan, where he leads a team responsible for managing the city’s network infrastructure, server environment, SCADA network, and backup systems. With more than 12 years of dedicated service, Aaron has been instrumental in ensuring system reliability, improving operational efficiency, and advancing technology initiatives that strengthen city services. In addition to his role with the City, Aaron is currently pursuing his Master’s in Public Service and Administration at Texas A&M University, continuing his commitment to professional growth and public service. His leadership and dedication reflect the mission of the City of Bryan IT Department — to serve, innovate, and protect. Gig ’em!

TAGITM Members,

We have three new features for the TAGITM Newsletter, and we need YOUR help to collect content for them! The features are TAG You’re IT, OG TAGITM, and Let’s Hear IT! They are listed below with additional information and links to answer the questions yourself or share with your co-workers!  
 
Let’s Hear IT – There will be a new question each month for membership to answer! 
This month’s question: Stuffing or Dressing? Which do you prefer and why?
 
TAG You’re IT!  (Member Spotlight) – Do you or someone you know want to be showcased in the newsletter?  

1. What is the size of your team and how do you divide responsibilities? 
2. Are there any upcoming initiatives you are excited about? 
3. What is the one thing you now understood better about public sector IT?
4. What is the best thing about working for your Agency? 

 OG TAGITM – Do you or someone you know have wisdom from being a long time TAGITM Member?

1. What inspired you to pursue a career in public sector IT? 
2. What role has mentorship played in your career? 
3. If you could offer one piece of advice to other public sector IT professionals, what would it be? 

Submit your answers for one of our TAGITM Newsletter Features HERE!

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

Every year, I sit in the audience during the TAGITM Awards Luncheon, genuinely inspired by the nominees. Sometimes I catch myself thinking, "We've done that," or "My team has achieved great results too." But I've never submitted a project of my own.

I'm not alone. Many members don't apply. It's not because they haven't done anything worthy, but because they don't always recognize the impact of their own work.

So why aren't more of us celebrating? I think there are a few reasons:

1.    We think we're just doing our jobs.

We deliver systems, solve problems, and keep the city running. We see it as "business as usual," not "award worthy." But, sometimes, what feels routine to us is of great value to others.

2.    We think our project was too simple.

Not every great solution has to be complicated. Creativity, resourcefulness, and measurable impact matter more than complexity. Simple doesn’t always mean simpler!

3.    We think we can't compete.

Smaller cities and smaller IT shops often feel overshadowed by larger organizations and teams. But the awards aren't about size or competition. They're about impact. If your work had a positive impact on your organization, that's huge!

4.    We think it's vain to nominate ourselves.

It's not about boasting, it's about recognizing the value of what you and your team have accomplished. Sometimes we have to lift ourselves and give our teams the credit they deserve, instead of waiting for someone else to do it. Your work matters, and it's worthy of recognition and celebration. If you really can't bring yourself to submit it, tag a TAGITM member to submit it for you.

This year, I want to challenge you to change the narrative. Don't hide behind humility or understate your accomplishments. Whether your project was large or small, if it made a difference to your team or the people you serve, celebrate.

Meaningful work deserves to be celebrated.

You've earned it. Your team has earned it. And TAGITM wants to celebrate it.

So, don't be "too ashamed to celebrate". Submit that project!

Learn more about the TAGITM Excellence Awards and how to apply at https://www.tagitm.org/page/Awards.

Fay Young, PMP®, CGCIO™ 
Information Technology Director
City of Port Arthur