DENVER, Colo.—The Governor’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) is proud to announce that Colorado’s Chief Data Officer, Dianna Anderson, has been honored with the coveted 2014 Technology Innovator Award from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO).

It has long been recognized that individual agencies collect massive amounts of public data from residents. Until recently they have not had an easy way to share that information. As Chief Data Officer, Anderson led Colorado to create the Colorado Information Marketplace (CIM). This past year, Anderson’s work with CIM was instrumental in the success of the State’s first civic app challenge—Go Code Colorado. The Secretary of State’s office designed Go Code Colorado to encourage developers to create solutions to identified business problems using data that was hosted on the Colorado Information Marketplace. It was an example of how the public data housed on CIM can be used to create business solutions.

Anderson says, “I really do believe data is the soul of information. It can be used to give us smart solutions to tough problems, particularly in the public sector.” Secretary of Technology and Chief Information Officer Suma Nallapati adds, "Dianna is passionate about her work and the people of Colorado. Her drive to increase government transparency while helping all Coloradans gain better services is a true gift to our great state. Her leadership continues to transform the landscape of data sharing and I know her good work will benefit the State of Colorado for many years to come."

The NASCIO Technology Innovator Awards were announced in Nashville, Tennessee on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

About CIM
It is well known that various government entities and departments collectsimilar, if not the same, information from citizens over and over again, many times using this information only once. The Colorado Information Marketplace (CIM) aims at stopping this data redundancy and singular use by providing a secure, standard and usable platform for data sharing.

CIM takes Best of Breed ideas from the private sector to create a reusable, transparent and trusted environment for data sharing. Taking an enterprise governance strategy around privacy rules such as HIPAA and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), wrapping data standards and MOUs around it, and providing a publishing and cataloging platform is revolutionizing the way information exchanges take place within the State of Colorado.

Access to information, not just data, creates a competitive advantage for any entity looking to improve its services. The Colorado Information Marketplace is the public sector’s answer for information exchange and interoperability enabling good government and effective, efficient and elegant services delivered to Coloradans. The increased transparency, better service and reducing of waste in government programs will increase the public’s confidence in government.

About NASCIO
The National Association of State Chief Information Officers is the premier network and resource for state CIOs and a leading advocate for technology policy at all levels of government. NASCIO represents state chief information officers and information technology executives from the states, territories, and the District of Columbia. The primary state government members are senior officials who have executive level and statewide responsibility for information technology leadership. State officials who are involved in agency level information technology management may participate as state members. Representatives from other public sector and non-profit organizations may also participate as associate members. Private sector firms may join as corporate members and participate in the Corporate Leadership Council. For more information about NASCIO visit www.nascio.org.

Tauna Lockhart, Chief Communications Officer & PIO