Tyler Tech Podcast from Tyler Technologies

With the American Rescue Plan Act, local government is seeing opportunities to address some of the challenges they are facing brought on by the pandemic.  But what’s the best way to use these funds?  How do you make sure to best leverage this unique opportunity with both short term needs and long term priorities in mind?   Well, to help us understand this, we turn to Mark Funkhouser.

Mark Funkhouser, is the president of Funkhouser & Associates, and is a municipal finance expert and former mayor of Kansas City who has served as a government official, elected leader and publisher of Governingmagazine. He is a trusted and credible advisor to government officials who is uniquely qualified to help them put their communities on the path to fiscal sustainability. 

Mark has a master’s degree in social work from West Virginia University, an M.B.A. from Tennessee State University, and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in public administration and urban sociology from the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

Ways to Not Waste Your Stimulus Funds

1. Don’t misapply a temporary windfall
2. Invest some of the money to reduce your operating costs
3. Think beyond your borders
4. Make overdue investments in technology and cybersecurity
5. Spend some on social services and small businesses to avert short-term disaster

With the American Rescue Plan approved, many are looking at the best use of those funds to strengthen government for both short term and long term success.  Today, we look at how those funds might be used to support data infrastructure, and turn to an external subject matter expert, Tyler Kleykamp.

Tyler is a Fellow at Georgetown University’s Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation and Director of the State Chief Data Officers Network. Tyler was the State of Connecticut’s first Chief Data Officer (CDO) and one of the first state Chief Data Officers in the nation. A geographer by training, most of Tyler’s career has been in Connecticut state government including positions with the Department of Public Health, Office of Policy and Management, and the Governor’s Office.

In his role as CDO Tyler led Connecticut’s efforts to use data to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of state programs, policies, and services. 

He was named a “Data and IT Innovator” by Route Fifty. In 2019, Tyler was named one of Government Technology’s “Top 25 Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers.”

Today Tyler brings us his 5 reasons to use the American Rescue Plan funds to support data infrastructure.  Which are:

5 Reasons to Use American Rescue Plan Funds to Support Data Infrastructure

1. It’s necessary for informed recovery
2. It’s vital for equitable recovery
3. It builds a modern digital infrastructure
4. Allows for future data-driven problem solving
5. It’s an investment in both short and long term success

For information about: Tyler Technologies

It often dominates the headlines.  Modern criminals, cyber and otherwise, are using modern ways to conduct crime. So here’s the problem we are looking at in this episode:  if modern criminals are more sophisticated than ever, how can federal law enforcement use technology to keep us safe?

Well, to help us answer that question, we turn to Skip Bland, a development executive, with Tyler Technologies.  Skip has an incredible background, including:

• More than 30 years of military security, law enforcement, and counterintelligence experience. 
• Upon joining the U.S. Air Force in 1984, he guarded nuclear weapons storage areas and aircraft at strategic commands near Oxford, England, and later in Adana, Turkey. 
• From there he spent a decade with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), which identifies, investigates, and neutralizes serious criminal, terrorist, and espionage threats to the USAF and Department of Defense, thereby protecting national security.

Skip is a wealth of information and helps us carefully navigate this very important topic.  

Here's the 7 Ways Criminal Investigations Benefit from Innovative Technology:

1. To fight modern crime, you need modernized investigative solutions
2. Integrated solutions support collaboration across the investigative landscape
3. Internal tracking of investigative activity leads to better outcomes
4. Law enforcement reporting and analytics lead to better insights 
5. Informant tracking solutions streamline informant interactions
6. Tracking LE officials’ training and behavior enables accountability
7. Mobile case management empowers the field operator

2020 is over.  And now that we’re well into Q1 of 2021, we share the five key themes we are talking about and tracking this year in the public sector.  And how has the pandemic impacted these key themes? 

The perfect person to educate us on this topic is Tyler’s Editorial Manager, Meredith Trimble.  Meredith has an extensive background in the public sector, writes and produces the Tyler blog, and is a guest contributor for publications like GovLoop, ELGL, and the American City & County.

Go to the Tyler Tech Blog

Get in touch with Meredith:  [email protected]

Vocational Rehabilitation.  It’s a vital service for individuals and communities, but to be effective, VR counselors must have the right tools to help.

To help us understand what vocational rehabilitation is, who is eligible, and what success looks like for both the individual and community, we turn to John Harper.  John is the Chief Subject Matter Expert at Encorpe, and has 25 years working in vocational rehabilitation.

He has a Master’s degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling, a licensed professional counselor, a certified rehabilitation counselor, and spent many years in the Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation agency.

Learn more about Tyler Technologies Vocation Rehabilitation Solutions

GenZ wants information from their local government via social media. What does that mean for those in the public sector?  Get 5 very practical tips on how to improve your social media from Heather Daniels, Tyler's Sr. Social Media Specialist.  They are:

1. Invest in talent.
2. Define a social media strategy.
3. Be intentional with social media usage.
4. Always create relevant content.
5. DEI work is everyone's work

(Plus a bonus tip on unleashing valuable content you may be overlooking!)

Heather spent several years in the public sector with cities like Los Angeles and Missouri City, Texas, and shares her insight with us.

Tyler Technologies 

Heather Daniels 

Jeff Harrell

It is no secret schools are facing lots of challenges, especially in the last year with the pandemic.  What are some of the unique challenges school transportation is facing?  Getting students safely from point A to point B is more challenging than you think.

Here to help us navigate this issue is Kim Rentner. Kim is an Industry Engagement Consultant at Tyler Technologies, and she works with Transportation Directors, Business Managers and Superintendents to find solutions that are the best fit for their unique situations.

Kim has spent 23 years in K-12 transportation. She has served in various roles such as Northern Regional Director for the Illinois Association for Pupil Transportation, Safety Officer, Third Party Tester and Director of Transportation. She is an official NAPT (Nation Association for Pupil Transportation) instructor. Kim is passionate about student safety and loves sharing that passion with others. She’s the perfect person to help us understand school transportation issues.

Tyler Tech Resource Center

We kick off Season Two of the Tyler Tech Podcast with a "best of" compilation of the breakthrough research separating myth from truth in how each generation wants to engage with their local government.  

Generational expert Jason Dorsey walks us through each generation, hand-picking the biggest discoveries from the research, giving local government leaders incredible insight as they work to engage with their community.  

More content available at the Tyler Tech Resource Center. 

The threat environment is high and cyber incidents seem to be on the rise.  The public sector has not been immune to cyber attacks.  Get some great information plus six tips to build cyber resilience in your organization from Ron Barnier, one of Tyler Technologies' cybersecurity experts.

Tyler Technologies

Tyler Technologies Resource Center

Veterans have been impacted by the pandemic but automation and technology are helping them access the benefits they deserve.  Find out how the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs leverages automation to take care of Veterans in need.  Especially those who cannot access services and benefits on their own.  Semper Gumby!