August 2021 Newsletter

Indiana Chief Information Officer Tracy Barnes and former IOT employee Stephanie Williams recently received honors from the Indiana Business Journal (IBJ) and TechPoint at its annual technology event.

Each year, the IBJ and TechPoint honor the Chief Technology Officers of the year – those who are in the top information technology positions within their organizations - for their vital roles in organizational success.

Barnes was named an honoree in the Not-for-Profit/Government with budgets exceeding $100M category. Beginning his career with IOT in March 2020, Barnes has played a considerable role in the State’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic while continuing to provide strategic oversight of the State’s technology portfolio, as well as leadership on technology and cybersecurity policy.

“I am humbled to be recognized for this award – but this is dedicated to the hard-working men and women who work with me in the Indiana Office of Technology,” Barnes said. “Without their determination and resilient efforts throughout the pandemic, I would not be in the position I am today, leading Indiana’s IT workforce.”

Williams was honored with a Tech25 award for her work with the Indiana Office of Technology where she assisted with enterprise collaboration services. The Tech25 awards honor a prestigious selection of critical and exceptional individuals in helping to grow the community’s tech and tech-enabled companies.

“I have been able to accomplish so much during my time with the State of Indiana; but I share this recognition with the amazing and dedicated communities within state government, such as the WorkSmart 365 and Government Women in Technology communities,” Williams said. “I am so thankful to have been able to foster and support these communities and watch the experience, curiosity, and diversity of the community members blend into a powerful and supportive program that enables the State of Indiana to modernize and move everyone forward. This award is for all of us.”

You’ve recently heard the stories about cyber hackers hitting hospitals, governments, water systems and other utilities during storms or natural disasters. What can we do to prepare here in Indiana?

The State of Indiana held a full-scale cybersecurity disaster drill to test and better prepare Hoosier response. Cybersecurity Program Director Chetrice Mosley-Romero spoke with WTHR on why it was important to practice these scenarios.

"It is a staggering threat when we talk to our counterparts in Louisiana, in Texas, in Florida. When there are hurricanes coming at them, all of a sudden, they see the bad actors trying to get in their systems increase by a thousand-fold," Mosley-Romero said. "Bad actors watch the news and watch the weather channel just as much as the good people do, right? So, they're saying, 'hey - they're going to be affected. They're going to be distracted, so we should go after that.'"

"Operation Homeland Defender" was held at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center and included the Indiana National Guard, local first responders, Indiana Task Force One, Indiana-based Pondurance, IU Health and Citizens Energy.

The drill's goal was to show the interdependency between a kinetic event and a cyber event by creating a training environment to allow Indiana Executive Council on Cybersecurity members an opportunity to participate in a partnership exercise.

The group conducted a simulated emergency (an earthquake) and then injected a cyberattack. The crews learned how to plan and respond – and in turn, hospitals and utilities across the state will use the lessons learned to prepare better.

"It isn't just one entity that solves it all; it is an 'all hands are on deck' situation because all of us are touching things that are plugged in, so all of us are really part of the cyber problem," Mosley-Romero said. "But we're also part of the cyber solution."

The Indiana Office of Technology, the Department of Workforce Development, and the Office of Work-Based Learning & Apprenticeship (OWBLA) recently welcomed the second round of State Earn and Learn associates to the state — Jennifer Zwarycz and Kevin Barthauer.

Already a few weeks into this work-based learning program, the associates are learning practical skills and certifications that will support public-sector IT.

A strategic, multi-agency partnership, IOT's SEAL program is an opportunity for Hoosiers to work in a highly needed job, while building career skills. Upon completion of all milestones, associates will be eligible to enter a state of Indiana staff position.

There are two phases to the SEAL program. Phase One covers the first three months, in which associates receive mentorship and coaching; learn the fundamentals of state agency customer service; and earn the CompTIA A+ certification in IT. In Phase Two, associates gain a deeper understanding of the agency business goals and objectives and conduct hands-on work with a team, all while pursuing IT certifications meaningful for their new roles in the organization.

Jennifer Zwarycz had been a line cook for most of her working life and realized that she wanted more and re-enrolled in online college classes.

She heard about the SEAL program while attending Ivy Tech Community College where she was going back to school for Networking Infrastructure.

“I knew an opportunity to be taught onsite, gain experience, and work for something as important as the government wouldn’t be something I'd find again anytime soon or ever again,” she said. “So far a day in the life of a SEAL Consultant has been a lot of studying and learning new things. Kevin - my SEAL Cohort - has been extremely helpful in making it a fun experience.”

Kevin Barthauer is a second-year student at Ivy Tech in the Cybersecurity program. A husband and father of five boys, he had a 25-year career in restaurant management until he heard about the SEAL program at Ivy Tech.

“I have a strong desire to make my second act one of service,” he said. “The SEAL program offers the chance to serve the State of Indiana and the training in the specific IT areas that interest me. The support from everyone has been excellent and my SEAL counterpart, Jen is an excellent study partner.”

Both urge others who are interested in the IT field to apply for the program.

“I would definitely recommend this program to others – it’s a great opportunity to anyone trying to change their career and wanting to get their start in IT,” Zwarycz said.

Interested in partnering with our agency to expand this program? Reach out to Jon Rogers at jrogers1@iot.in.gov. For more information and continuous updates on the SEAL program, visit the website here: https://www.in.gov/iot/seal/.

In 2005 the Indiana Office of Technology was created to provide cost-effective, secure, consistent, reliable enterprise-technology services to state government. IOT offers more than 120 technology products supported and serviced by expert staff with licenses or certifications in 62 technical areas. Behind the Tech is a spotlight on the staff that provides services for 30,000 state employees.

Richard Bane is the IOT Helpdesk technician trainer, assisting new contractors since November 2020.

Bane spends his days helping to train new hires, as well as, answering any questions they or anyone else at the Helpdesk has. He also assists the teams’ tech writer with projects including the agency’s chatbot (Y.O.D.A.- Your Online Digital Assistant) and more.

“I’ve really enjoyed teaching our new hires our department's role, how to handle different tickets, and just overall becoming successful IOT Helpdesk workers,” Bane said. “Being able to see some of the contractors that I’ve trained getting hired full-time at the state is a reward on its own.”

Bane hopes to expand his IT knowledge while here at IOT.

​“Since working here at the state I’ve realized there is a difference between what you learn in school and what you learn in the workplace,” he said. “I’m currently taking my final class before I graduate with my Bachelors’ degree in Computer Science. There is quite a bit that school doesn’t teach you that you can only learn by working.”