CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Government Technology magazine recently named West Virginia First Lady Gayle Manchin one of this year's "Top 25 Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers" for using technology to improve government.
This award recognizes public officials who have displayed a strong commitment toward the use of information technology to improve the lives of the people they serve. Don Pearson, vice president and group publisher of Government Technology magazine, praised the work of First Lady Gayle Manchin. "Your commitment to use technology to further the mission of West Virginia, and ultimately improve the lives of citizens deserves and demands recognition," Pearson said.
The first lady said she is honored to be selected for such an award. "This award represents the commitment of many people with whom I work in partnership to help bring the latest and most innovative technology to our rural communities here in West Virginia," Manchin said. "Technology will remain an essential part of our lives and is a core element to our future."
The first lady joins the ranks of other distinguished nominees across the nation. Among those honored this year were California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, and several chief information officers, state emergency managers and agency directors.
This year marks the seventh annual selection of Government Technology magazine's list of Top 25 outstanding achievers. According to the magazine, the Top 25 include people who cut through the public sector's traditional barriers to innovation, such as tight budgets and organizational politics, and instead implement changes that reshape government operations for the better.