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| City CTO Gets Computerworld Award April 6, 2004 VIEW ORIGINAL ARTICLE NEW ORLEANS — Greg Meffert, the chief technology officer for the city of New Orleans, was named a Computerworld Technology Laureate for 2004. The Computerworld Honors Program is dedicated to identifying the men and women, organizations and institution, that are leading the technology revolution and to record the impact of their achievements on society. The Computerworld honor is an International level award based on thousands of nominations from 55 countries. The name and accomplishments of the laureates go into world archives displayed in 120 academic institutions, museums, and learning centers in over 37 countries, including the Smithsonian. "Greg Meffert and the staff of the Office of Technology should be congratulated for achieving an international honor. This honor recognizes the work that we have done to improve city services and to find savings," said Mayor C. Ray Nagin. "The bottom line is that technology allows us to better serve the needs of our community." As the City's chief technology officer, Meffert has developed a Web site that helps citizens conduct business with City Hall without leaving their home or office. Services offered on the Web site allows citizens to pay traffic and parking tickets, start a business, request service from the Department of Public Works, remit monthly sales tax payments and view property tax assessments Brown University recognized the headway that they City has made through its Web site by increasing its ranking in an evaluation of online services offered by the nation's 70 biggest cities. New Orleans' Web site ranked 70th in 2002 and 22nd in 2003. Meffert is focusing his attention now on program to bridge the Digital Divide, the gap between those who have access to computers and those who don't. The City's Office of Technology recently announced a partnership with Dell Inc. and the New Orleans Public Schools that will help provide 175 middle school students with computers. The Mayor's Office of Technology is also creating networks for kids that link NORD community centers, Milne Boys Home, and New Orleans Public Library system together to provide internet access to those who don't have access. Information about the Computerworld Honors Program can be found at https://secure.cwheroes.org/briefingroom_2004/index.asp. |
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