The NC TECH Association honored the N.C. Department of Information Technology for its innovative work again this year during the association’s annual awards gala held Dec. 3 in Raleigh. The awards recognize tech companies, the use of tech and leaders in tech for their achievements in North Carolina’s technology sector.
Public Leader of the Year – Jim Weaver
NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Jim Weaver was named Public Leader of the Year for his exceptional leadership of the state’s information technology efforts. NCDIT not only provides IT services and support to state agencies, local governments and educational institutions, but also oversees IT procurement, cybersecurity, privacy, data sharing and integration, the enhancement of the state’s 911 system and the expansion of high-speed internet, among many other initiatives.
“With Jim’s visionary leadership as State CIO and NCDIT Secretary, we’re getting more North Carolinians than ever connected to high-speed internet so they can take advantage of all the opportunities it brings—including better jobs, education and access to health care,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “At the same time, Jim has pushed state government to make people’s lives easier by making digital services more available and accessible while prioritizing security for state data and networks.”
Another area of focus for Secretary Weaver is ensuring NCDIT has the human capital to support North Carolina’s continued success in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. To address this, he has prioritized reaching out to students as young as middle school to help build awareness of the information technology field and introduce them to career opportunities.
He also serves as a national leader and recently completed a year-long term as the president of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO).
“I am humbled to receive this recognition, but this award is not about me,” said Weaver. “This award recognizes the outstanding work of the 1,300 employees at NCDIT do on behalf of our state, and I am proud to be part of such an incredible team.”
Use of Technology Award, Government – Accessible Digital-First Experience Across State Government
NCDIT was named a finalist for the Use of Technology Award in the Government category for its leadership in prioritizing a digital-first experience for constituents. This award honors a public-sector utilization of technology to execute a project that delivers value, efficiency and ease of use for students or citizens.
NCDIT’s Digital Solutions Team provides guidance and tools for state agencies to offer high-quality, user-friendly digital resources that are accessible to all North Carolinians, including the Digital Accessibility and Usability Standard published last April.
NCDIT has also rolled out a website quality assurance and accessibility monitoring service that has been adopted by state agencies and entities for 102 websites. In addition, the department has created the statewide N.C. Digital Accessibility Community of Practice (A11y CoP), open to web developers, communications staff and other professionals with an interest in digital accessibility. Since it launched in January 2024, more than 200 team members from many different state agencies, academia and private organizations have joined A11y CoP.
Use of Technology Award, Cybersecurity – N.C. 911 Board Cybersecurity Efforts
NCDIT was also named a finalist for the Use of Technology Award in the Cybersecurity category. This award recognizes a company, organization or institution that has developed or implemented an innovative product or solution to detect, mitigate or contain cyber breaches or attacks.
The N.C. 911 Board is a unit of NCDIT charged with overseeing the creation of a uniform, enhanced 911 system and administering the state’s 911 Fund to support public safety answering points (PSAPs) across the state. As part of its comprehensive work to safeguard the state’s 911 system, the N.C. 911 Board is focused on increasing cybersecurity awareness for PSAPs.
At the center of these efforts is a partnership between the board and the state’s Joint Cybersecurity Task Force (JCTF) as well as the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), to provide expertise and training to help PSAPs proactively secure their systems.
In 2023, the board hosted a series of four cybersecurity tabletop exercises for managers and staff at PSAPs and the IT staff who support them. The exercises, led by the N.C. 911 Board, CISA and North Carolina’s JCTF, covered cybersecurity best practices, roles, responsibilities and training for PSAPs. The board previously provided vulnerability assessments to PSAPs and continues to offer them funding for cybersecurity remediation.
Learn more about the NC TECH Awards at nctech.org.