Ep.106 From Networking Admin to CIO of Texas HHS [Austin Live Podcast Tour Series] w/ Rick Blanco, CIO, Texas Health & Human Services

Featuring

Rick Blanco, CIO, Texas Health & Human Services

Connect w/ Rick: LinkedIn 

Sponsor: The TechTables Live Podcast Tour

Join us for these small, intimate live podcast conversations across the U.S.

July 22nd in Raleigh, North Carolina [This Friday!]
September 23rd in Sacramento, California
October 14th in Tallahassee, Florida
Show Notes:

• Mission-driven recruitment: How leveraging Veterans transformed the Pandemic into the best recruitment season at HSS: 01:06- 2:34


• “During the Pandemic, we had a lot of people transitioning from Afghanistan/Iraq/overseas, and they needed another mission. And we provided that.” 01:49


• Value-added: how Veterans provided guidance, vision, and long term-minded Mission-driven talent recruitment at HHS 02:45- 6:06


• The evolution of Mission from the Pandemic to now: 6:07- 7:30


• “We probably know the difficulties and the challenges they face in providing those Direct Care services. I want them to focus on that care; I don’t want them to focus on “Wi-fi is down,” “my laptop doesn’t work,” or “I have an unstable network.” That’s our role and responsibility…and we want to make sure that we continually serve that.” 07:03


• How Rick’s motto “Do not turn down opportunity” drove his journey from Networking Admin to HHS CIO: 07:31 - 11:31


• “Do not turn down opportunities…” 08:10


• “I’ve got five kids. Nothing scares me.” 09:41


• “Keep your say-to-do ratio high; if you say you’re going to do something, do it… People remember that.” 12:37-12:53


• The art of crafting a good story : How to make relatable asks that get projects funded: 13:47 - 18:30


• Q & A:


• Summer on hiring Veterans: 18:49


• “Sometimes people during chaos want to gravitate towards the people that make them feel good and secure.” 21:30


• Cory: Key insights from career? 21:55


• Krishna: 23:30 Favorite activities to decompress?  

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