A County CIO Survived a Ransomware Attack and Transformed IT in Weeks with Kevin Kerrigan

In this episode of ChoinqueCast, host Jim Emerick sits down with Kevin Kerrigan, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Fulton County Government. Kevin shares his journey from research to public service and leadership in local government. With a background in technology and environmental data research, Kevin has led IT teams through transformative changes and significant challenges, including a major cyberattack. The conversation explores Kevin’s career evolution, leadership lessons, and how technology is shaping local government operations.Expect to Learn:Kevin’s journey from an IT intern to CIO, and his role in transitioning from research to government service.Insights on the importance of leadership development, especially in managing large IT teams and navigating crisis situations.How Fulton County leveraged technology to recover from a significant cyberattack, accelerating their tech progression in the process.The growing importance of soft skills in leadership and technology management, particularly as AI and automation continue to shape the future.Episode Breakdown with Timestamps:[00:00] – Teaser[01:28] – Welcome & Introduction to the ChoinqueCast with Kevin Kerrigan[04:27] – Building the Water Atlas: Environmental Data and GIS[09:45] – Transitioning from Research to Hillsborough County[16:27] – The Leadership Epiphany: Seeking Coaching and Development[25:18] – The Six-Month Vetting Process for Fulton County CIO[32:04] – Managing 46 Departments and Elected Officials During Recovery[40:57] – Estimating the Acceleration: Five to Seven Years of Progress[48:59] – The Value of Offsites: Building Trust and Vulnerability[53:39] – Final Thoughts: Soft Skills Are the New Hard Skills[54:56] – Closing Remarks🔗 Connect with the Guest Kevin Kerrigan:👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinmkerrigan/👉 Company’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fultoncountygovernment/👉 Company’s Website: https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/🔗 Connect with the Host Jim Emerick:👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimemerick/🔗 More from Choinque:👉 Website: https://www.choinque.com/blog👉 Facebook: https://facebook.com/918903204639744👉 Instagram: https://instagram.com/choinquecast👉 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@choinque👉 X: https://x.com/choinque👉 Email: [email protected]🔗 Follow the Podcast:👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/choinquecast/id1290927745👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/56oY3glVaoTXmmcWWGQGry?si=69f1cd525a5d4be5👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAA4czS4aI7V5g3i2Sd4bUQ