Ronen named head of FGIPC/IAC
Boards name Joiwind Ronen the executive director of the two organizations
The boards of the Federation of Government Information Processing Councils and the Industry Advisory Council today named Joiwind Ronen the executive director of the two organizations.
Since 2002, Ronen has been managing director of consulting services at Touchstone Consulting Group Inc. in Washington, D.C. Touchstone provides government agencies and private-sector companies with strategy development and management services, strategic communication, and program management advice.
Ronen also directed the intergovernmental technology leadership consortium at the Council for Excellence in Government from 1999 to 2002.
She replaces Alan Balutis, who served as executive director from March 2001 to January, when he resigned after a disagreement with the FGIPC and IAC boards over his outside consulting work. Balutis had been recognized as the force behind increasing IAC membership to record levels.
Ronen said her first priority would be to meet with the FGIPC and IAC boards to develop a strategy to support the boards' visions and members.
"I want to be clear on what the boards' three or four priorities are and align those with activities to make them happen," she said. "I see myself as more of a catalyst and a facilitator." Ronen also said she will focus on reinvigorating FGIPC membership.
Barry West, president of FGIPC and chief information officer at the National Weather Service, said the FGIPC and IAC boards chose Ronen because they believe her "energy and enthusiasm" will give FGIPC "a shot in the arm."
West said numerous FGIPC councils are dormant or nonexistent, and he looks to Ronen to reinvigorate them. West said the Government Information Technology Executive Council and the Association for Federal Information Resources Management are two councils that are doing well, and he would like to see others reach their level of activity.
West also said Ronen's background was a good match to the job. "She has a master's from Harvard in public policy with a concentration in nonprofit management, so this is a dream job for her," West said.
Bob Woods, chairman of the IAC Executive Committee and president of Topside Consulting Group, could not be reached for comment.