DATE: March 25, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Paul Nerland, County Administrative Officer
SUBJECT: Confirm Appointment of the Director of the Information Technology Services Department and Chief Information Officer
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Confirm appointment of Michael Kerr, effective March 31, 2025, to the position of Director of the Information Technology Services Department and Chief Information Officer pursuant to Fresno County Charter Section 16.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will confirm Michael Kerr as the Director of the Information Technology Services Department and Chief Information Officer. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board could choose not to confirm the appointment.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Internal Services Department Org 8905 FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget and will be included in the Information Technology Services Department FY 2025-26 Recommended Budget request.
DISCUSSION:
Consistent with the reorganization of the Internal Services Department into two departments (General Services and Information Technology Services), the County conducted a thorough and robust recruitment for these critical leadership positions. At the conclusion of a very competitive process, Michael Kerr was recommended for this important new leadership role.
With a Master of Science in Public Administration and Information Management, Mr. Kerr has built a strong foundation in both public sector leadership and technology management. As Deputy Chief Information Officer and Director of Information Technology, he has demonstrated extensive expertise in managing a county’s information technology (IT) infrastructure, overseeing a data center, and ensuring the smooth operation of over 40,000 assets. He has successfully managed large-scale projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget, and met the specified scope.
Mr. Kerr’s work includes developing one-year tactical and five-year strategic financial plans, creating IT policies and procedures, and implementing technology solutions that support both internal operations and service delivery. A key accomplishment was deploying an open-data initiative for the county’s budget, as well as building applications to track county board directives and enhance transparency. Furthermore, Mr. Kerr has maintained a robust network of services by overseeing a 24/7 operation, managing vendor performance, and ensuring service levels were met across multiple locations.
Pursuant to Section 16 of the Fresno County Charter, with your Board’s approval of the recommended action, the appointment of Michael Kerr to the position of the Director of the Information Technology Services Department and Chief Information Officer by the County Administrative Officer will be confirmed.
Pending successful background and approval by your Board, Michael Kerr will begin as the Director of the Information Technology Services Department and Chief Information Officer effective March 31, 2025.
CAO ANALYST:
Amy Ryals