Orlando’s deputy CIO to lead IT team

Roberto Lopez (pictured) has stepped up to become CIO at the City of Orlando. The city veteran has served Orlando for more than 20 years, including the past two years as Deputy CIO.

He told Cities Today that the move from Deputy to Chief will allow him to have a greater impact on the city’s technology direction and overall business strategy.

“With my 23 years of experience, I also want to ensure the IT department’s continuity and continue improving the services provided to our internal and external customers,” he said. “As CIO, I am able to collaborate with city leadership to drive the transformation, enhance resident experience and improve the operational effectiveness of our staff, process and technology.”

Cybersecurity will be a top priority for Lopez as well as managing diverse expectations from different business units, communicating IT strategies and building a consensus around IT priorities.

The city’s IT department has matured as an organisation over the last two decades and the department now plays a greater role as a strategic business partner. One of his primary challenges will be to ensure that IT initiatives and investments are closely aligned with the mayor’s and the city’s overall strategy.

“Over the last 20 years, the move to new technologies such as cloud computing and mobile solutions have improved our efficiency and enhanced citizen engagement,” he said. “This transformation would not have been possible without the clear focus, trust and investments that Mayor Dyer and other elected officials have provided IT during this time.”

Some of his main achievements over the past 20 years include:

• Leading the implementation of a Recreation Management solution to electronically provide facilities, memberships and registration for the city’s recreational programmes.
• Working on the implementation of two different cloud-based email programs.
• Playing a major part in the organisational transformation, ensuring increased services to clients.
• Beginning the Project Management Office (PMO) for the city.
• And leading the push for the IT service management to continue improving IT services and delivery to clients.

“It is a professional honour to be selected as CIO of the City of Orlando,” he added. “It reflects positively on Mayor Dyer’s commitment and investment to develop internal talent for growth opportunities.”

Image: City of Orlando