Ridgill graduates from CGCIO Program
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The program, offered in conjunction with the Municipal Association of South Carolina, is the first program in the nation specific to local government CIOs. The program encompasses the broad spectrum of responsibilities facing those IT professionals, including management, leadership, legal, regulatory, and enterprise topics.
“As new technologies and regulations emerge, the IT professional must also keep pace with the technical, regulatory, and managerial changes that accompany these opportunities,” Ridgill said. “This program has afforded me the opportunity to gain valuable insight into the skill sets necessary to assess, implement, and manage the integration of these opportunities into an established system. Classes also provided excellent opportunities for networking, looking at the next advances in IT, and discussing ways to stay ahead of those advances.”
Approximately 240 hours in length, the course instruction covers strategic technology planning, communication, project management, emerging trends, risk assessment and management, acquisition management, change management, leadership, security, legal issues and financial trends.
Ridgill joined the city as its first information technology manager in 2007 and oversaw installation of the IT infrastructure for the city’s new municipal complex. His responsibilities include keeping computers and software, city servers, telephones, and all other voice/data systems updated and operating.
“The program seeks to elevate the position of the dedicated and talented cadre of public sector technology leaders who work tirelessly to serve the public good through strategic investments in technology,” the program’s director, Dr. Shannon Tufts, said. “Jim is a testament to everything that embodies public service. We are very proud to be associated with such a committed, talented, and service-oriented IT professional.”
The CGCIO program has graduated more than 600 public sector technology leaders across the nation since it was started in 2005.