Georgia wins StateScoop 50 awards

State CIO and GTA Executive Director Shawnzia Thomas and the state's digital connectivity program were honored in the 2024 StateScoop 50 Awards announced April 28. The national awards program recognizes the most influential people in state government IT and the most innovative projects that advance government operations and citizen services. This year's awards were presented at the National Association of State CIOs (NASCIO) midyear conference in National Harbor, Maryland.

Ms. Thomas received the GoldenGov: State Executive of the Year award. Since her appointment in 2021, she has worked to clear a path toward harnessing technology to support agencies and Georgians. Also a 2022 GoldenGov winner, Ms. Thomas prioritizes customer service and citizen engagement in using IT to power efficient government.

GTA's digital connectivity program, Let's Connect Georgia, was honored as a State IT Innovation of the Year. With resources and financial support from available grant funds, the state is seeking to tackle the challenges of internet access, affordability, and digital literacy head-on, enabling all Georgians to fully participate in the digital economy and reap its benefits. The effort is guided by Digital Connectivity Manager Oneisha Freeman.

"As government continues to embrace new opportunities and look into a future driven by artificial intelligence and other emerging technology, we're excited that these are the leaders who are leading that charge," said Jake Williams, Scoop News Group's senior vice president of modernization.

Members of the state and local government IT community nominated hundreds of leaders and projects for their awards. StateScoop narrowed the list to nearly 200 finalists, and more than one million votes were cast to select the winners.