Shanley attributes the county’s IT excellence to three key factors: an IT shared services model; dedicated, well-trained and empowered workers; and the backing of county leadership. “They understand the impact of IT on the county, the employees and the citizens,” he said.
Shared services are well established in Cabarrus, and the results show. A new 911 system has become a backup to other counties in the area. Cabarrus has developed a multijurisdictional mass communication solution, migrating county and city systems from scattered implementations to a single deployment. Similarly, the county has deployed a building permit and planning platform that will be used by several cities. It has also opened up the county data center to support backup needs for two school districts.
Shanley peppers these accomplishments with inclusive words like “collaboration” and “partners,” recognizing that the difference between success and failure comes down to the quality of people who work under him. “I am hands-on when it comes to finding the right people,” he said. “I want to make sure they have the same passion for the job that I do.”
Most importantly, it’s about making sure everyone understands that the county does a lot of different things and technology makes that possible. “That’s the challenge that gets me up in the morning,” said Shanley. “It’s the hope we can provide the different services people need and have an impact on local government.”
*The Center for Digital Government is part of e.Republic, Government Technology's parent company.
