N C - Key Persons

Brian Watkins serves as the N.C. Department of Information Technology's chief information officer for the N.C. Department of Transportation. He oversees a team of more than 600 employees and contractors and leads the planning, development and execution of strategic technology initiatives and goals for NCDOT. He is also responsible for developing and implementing a technology quality assurance program to ensure that the department's IT solutions are of the highest quality. Watkins is a strong advocate for customer service and is dedicated to providing better IT solutions daily. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from many of years overseeing various IT leadership roles with the state. He first joined NCDOT in 1999 as manager of Technical Services. Most recently, he served as NCDIT's business relations and customer service director at NCDOT - a position he held from 2018 until he was named CIO in 2023. In this position, he developed an understanding of the department's needs as well as those of staff and external partners, enabling them to work together more effectively to achieve NCDOT's mission, goals and objectives. Previously, he worked as a forensics investigator with NCDOT's Investigations Unit of the Office of Inspector General and conducted electronic data investigations, including digital investigations and computer forensics, to detect fraud, waste, abuse and misconduct. Watkins has a rich history of service, including four years in the U.S. Navy F-14 Squadron, where he specialized in weapons systems. He then transitioned to an IT career, where he has gained more than 33 years of experience.

Cam McNutt - Chairman

ca..@ncdenr.gov

Job Titles:

Chairman
Chairman of Committee
Water Resources

Camille Tyndall-Watson

ca..@ncdcr.gov

Job Titles:

Member of Committee

Charlie Brown

ch..@ncdot.gov

Job Titles:

Staff Member

Charlotte Water

Job Titles:

Member of Committee
Senior Business Analyst

Chelsea Duncan

cm..@ncdot.gov

Job Titles:

GIS Database Administrator
Member of Committee

Cherie Givens

Job Titles:

Chief Privacy Officer
Member of the Leadership Team
Chief Privacy Officer for the N.C. Department of Information Technology

As chief privacy officer for the N.C. Department of Information Technology, Cherie Givens is responsible for a strategic and comprehensive statewide privacy program that defines, develops, maintains and implements policies and processes that enable consistent and effective information privacy practices. Givens is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and an attorney with more than 20 years of experience. She joined NCDIT in December 2021 after more than a decade supporting federal privacy programs in the Washington D.C. area - first as a federal employee and then as a contractor. Givens brings experience in creating, assessing and maturing privacy programs. She has supported privacy at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Government Publishing Office and the U.S. Department of Defense - Advana (Advancing Analytics). Givens is the author of "Information Privacy Fundamentals for Librarians and Information Professionals" as well as several book chapters on the topics of information privacy, cybersecurity and information governance. She has taught graduate level privacy and information science courses for San Jose State University, a governance course for the University of Alberta and information science courses for the University of Maryland's iSchool. Givens earned a Juris Doctor from Louisiana State University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Library, Archival and Information Studies from the University of British Columbia.

Chris Cretini

cr..@usgs.gov

Job Titles:

Member of Committee

Christian Klaus

ch..@dhhs.nc.gov

Job Titles:

DHHS, State Center for Health Statistics

Christie Burris - Chief Data Officer

Job Titles:

Chief Data Officer
Member of the Leadership Team
Chief Data Officer / Director, Government Data Analytics Center
Chief Data Officer With the N.C. Department of Information Technology

Christie Burris was appointed as the state's chief data officer with the N.C. Department of Information Technology in January 2024. She leads NCDIT's statewide development of enterprise data strategies, including management, privacy and governance across all platforms. As director of NCDIT's Government Data Analytics Center, she also guides the state's use of integrated data to support public safety, fraud, compliance, health care, finance and performance and policy decision analysis. An award-winning communications executive with experience in industries from radio and television to public housing and insurance, Burris joined the N.C. Health Information Exchange Authority, within GDAC, in 2016. She became its executive director in December 2017 and oversaw the strategy to develop a mature and modernize state-designated health information exchange. She also led initiatives to support health care providers in fulfilling the state mandate to participate in the exchange. Burris holds a B.A. in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Government Chief Information Officer Certification from the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Government. She received a State Leadership award from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers in 2019.

Cristalle Dickerson

cr..@nc.gov

Job Titles:

Broadband & Digital Equity Media Inquiries
Communications and Marketing Manager

Dan Kempton

Job Titles:

Senior Technology Advisor
Senior Technology Advisor for the N.C. Department of Information Technology

Dan Kempton serves as the senior technology advisor for the N.C. Department of Information Technology. He brings more than 30 years of technology and business experience, having worked for large and small firms in the private sector as well as for 15 years with the state of North Carolina. Kempton has held several IT leadership roles, including chief technology officer positions in the private industry and both deputy chief information officer and subsequently chief technology officer at the N.C. Department of Revenue. At NCDIT, he has led several teams (including the engineering section) that have brought new products, notably multi-cloud capabilities, to state agencies. Kempton is a strong technology-focused leader who can easily discuss business needs to determine the right solution that fits them. His extensive and broad technical background provides the experience to guide business leaders to the solutions that will achieve the best results. Kempton has a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a master's degree in computer science from the University of South Carolina. He has also earned certification as a government chief information officer from the UNC School of Government.

Dan Madding

da..@ncagr.gov

Job Titles:

IT Manager
Member of Committee

Dave Zilkoski

da..@gmail.com

Job Titles:

Staff Member

David Giordano

da..@nc.gov

Job Titles:

CGIA ( Staff to Committee ) Center for Geographic Information and Analysis
GIS Database Administrator
Member of Committee
N.C. Center for Geographic Information & Analysis / CGIA Staff / 919 - 754 - 6585

Dean Grantham

de..@ncdenr.gov

Job Titles:

Staff Member

Dianne Enright

di..@dhhs.nc.gov

Job Titles:

Member of Committee
Vice - Chair / State Center for Health Statistics

Doug Newcomb

do..@fws.gov

Job Titles:

Member of Committee

Dr. DP Singla - CFO

Job Titles:

Chief Financial Officer
N.C. Department of Information Technology As Chief Financial Officer

Dr. DP Singla joined the N.C. Department of Information Technology as chief financial officer in September 2023. He is a team-oriented leader with rich knowledge of state and federal financial operations and more than 25 years of public and private experience in finance. Singla directs a department of 35 employees and leads day-to-day financial activities, including general fund appropriation, special fund and an Internal Service Fund, with a combined total of approximately $1.6 billion in annual spending. He exercises oversight over a variety of areas, including accounting and financial oversight, financial reporting, financial risk analysis, rates development, operations, compliance, analytics, IT and customer care/engagement. Singla is a champion for continuous improvement, innovation in financial operations and providing excellent customer service. He also prioritizes mentoring a diverse staff and supporting their professional development. Singla previously served as CFO at the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, CFO for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and assistant controller for the University of North Carolina System Office. He holds a doctorate in business administration, specializing in advanced accounting, along with masters' degrees in business administration and manufacturing engineering and a bachelors in electrical engineering. Singla also has N.C. Certified Public Manager and Certified Federal Contracts Manager certifications and was a member of the National Contract Management Association, Institute of Internal Auditors and N.C. Certified Public Managers.

Dylan Frick

Job Titles:

Member of the Leadership Team
Legislative Affairs Director
NCDIT As Legislative Affairs Director

Dylan Frick joined NCDIT as legislative affairs director in March 2024. He represents the department's priorities, initiatives and interests at the state Legislature. Frick has experience in both the public and the private sectors advocating for clients' interests, building relationships and facilitating partnerships with state and local governments. He also has familiarity with state and federal processes and policies governing grants for broadband infrastructure. He previously worked as assistant vice president of McGuireWoods Consulting's government relations team and served in the offices of N.C. General Assembly members, as well as on congressional and mayoral campaigns. He holds an M.A. in Public Policy and Political Management from George Washington University and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Eric Wilson

eg..@ncdot.gov

Job Titles:

Member of Committee
N.C. Department of Transportation

Erik Hund

er..@noaa.gov

Job Titles:

Member of Committee

Erin Lesh - Chairman

ea..@ncdot.gov

Job Titles:

Chairman

Gary Thompson - Chairman

ga..@ncdps.gov

Job Titles:

Chairman
Vice Chair
Chairman, NCDPS - Geodetic Survey / Chair
Member of Committee
Vice Chair of Committee
Vice Chair, Permanent Seat

Gerald Faulkner

gf..@kannapolisnc.gov

Job Titles:

Member of Committee

Glenn Mack - CIO

Job Titles:

Chief Information Officer
Chief Information Officer ( Public Safety, Adult Correction )
N.C. Department of Information Technology 's Chief Information Officer

Glenn Mack serves as the N.C. Department of Information Technology's chief information officer for the N.C. Department of Public Safety and the N.C. Department of Adult Correction. He is responsible for the overall technology direction and leadership of the state's largest agency, including operations, applications and security. Mack came to NCDIT in 2019 during the transition of cabinet agency IT positions into NCDIT. Previously, he was chief information officer of the N.C. Department of Crime Control and Public Safety from 2009 to 2012 and deputy chief information officer of the N.C. Department of Public Safety from 2012 until he was promoted to CIO in 2018. He also worked for various private companies, serving as an IT director for a North Carolina-based national marketing and publications company and as a senior-level integration consultant for domestic and international clients. Mack has received multiple recognitions over the years for successful or enhanced technology initiatives to include a Governor's Award for Excellence for Efficiency and Innovation, as well as being named the 2021 NC Tech Public Sector CIO of the Year. He is a board member of the North Carolina Criminal Justice Information Network and a certified employment and grievance mediator. He has also served on the Governor's Advisory Council on Hispanic and Latino Affairs. Mack graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science in computer science.

Glenn Poplawski

Job Titles:

State Solutions Director

Glenn Poplawski has more than 25 years of business experience, including five years in systems engineering and technical analysis for the federal government and 15 years working in the private information technology sector. Prior to coming to work for the state of North Carolina, Poplawski worked for various private companies, including IBM, a systems integration firm, an internet startup bought by CMGI, the former Anderson Consulting and as a consultant to various private companies and public agencies. This work included managing client relationships and engagements, managing the operations of critical business systems, guiding the implementation of large-scale system development projects and contributing with the senior team to develop the local business strategy and operational model. Poplawski has been working for the state for more than 10 years. Initially, he served the Office of Information Technology Services Enterprise Solutions Division in the role of team lead for the Project Management Services team. He built a team of certified project managers to manage both ITS-related projects and other executive agency projects. Subsequently, per the ITS chief information office, Poplawski took on additional duties as required to include the Service Transition organization, including the PMO, and later IT Business Applications. Currently, Poplawski heads the N.C. Department of Information Technology's Solutions Delivery Division, which includes the Enterprise Project Management Office, the Project Management Office, Business Analysis Services, Solutions Architecture Services, Software Quality Assurance Services, Digital Commons Services and several general government CIOs. Poplawski is a certified project management professional and government chief information officer. He has a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from Virginia Tech and a Master of Business Administration from George Mason University.

Greg Dobson

gd..@unca.edu

Job Titles:

Member / University of North Carolina

Hope Morgan - Chairman

Job Titles:

Chairman
Current Chair
GIS Manager
Member of Committee

James A. Weaver

Job Titles:

Member of the Leadership Team
Secretary & State Chief Information Officer

James Tanzosch

Job Titles:

Chief IT Procurement Officer

James Tanzosch, who joined the N.C. Department of Information Technology in August 2022, exercises management oversight of the Statewide IT Procurement Office and leads the effort to streamline the state's IT procurement procedures. He is responsible for developing the state's IT procurement strategy, aligning it with the overall state IT and business strategy priorities and translating state IT and business imperatives into IT procurement targets. He also seeks to introduce enhanced e-procurement, contract management and supplier performance tools in collaboration with the N.C. Department of Administration's Division of Purchase and Contract. Most recently, Tanzosch was purchasing director at North Carolina Central University from April 2020. He has also served as procurement services manager for the University of Northern Iowa and held various roles with John Deere. Previously, Tanzosch held leadership positions with the Iowa Public Procurement Association and attended the National Institute for Government Procurement Leadership Academy. He has a bachelor's degree from Grinnell College and a master of business administration from Iowa State University.