Woonsocket's Thom Guertin Is RI's First Chief Digital Officer

Woonsocket native Thom Guertin, current executive director for business technology solutions at The Boston Globe and New York Times, is about to bring Rhode Island's online government services into the modern age.   

Yesterday Gov. Lincoln Chafee named Guertin Rhode Island's first Chief Digital Officer (CDO) after a three-month, nationwide search to fill the position.

Guertin will launch the Office of Digital Excellence (ODE), created by the General Assembly as part of the FY13 Appropriations Bill, to expand and improve the quality of online services provided to Rhode Islanders. 

Guertin will work on major technology capital upgrades, e-government and e-licensing initiatives, website design, and social media/mobile technology strategy for state agencies. The ODE will work in partnership with the Department of Information Technology’s Chief Information Officer John Landers to increase the number of government services that can be provided online in order to allow residents and businesses to complete transactions in a more efficient and transparent manner, according to a release issued by Chafee's office.

Guertin, one of the first five employees of Monster.com, has more than 20 years of experience as a Senior Information Technology executive. He has managed large-scale enterprise applications, eBusiness, eCommerce, and change management initiatives for leading worldwide brands. After leaving Monster.com, he served as Senior eBusiness Manager and Senior Interactive Marketing Manager for the Acushnet Company from 1997 to 2003. 

Guertin received his B.A. from the University of Rhode Island and a corporate finance certificate from Bryant College. 

“I am very grateful for this opportunity to serve the state of Rhode Island.  As a native Rhode Islander, I am deeply committed to finding innovative ways to best support our state.  We have so many talented individuals in the technology and digital space in Rhode Island, and I intend to work together with and showcase our successful digital entrepreneurs in this position,” Guertin said.

"I am very pleased that Thom Guertin has accepted the position of Chief Digital Officer.  I am committed to finding new ways to continuously improve government so that we can best serve the people of Rhode Island.  Technology is key to moving state government forward to provide the best services possible for our citizens," said Chafee.