Hennepin County is innovative in many ways – so is our IT Department and IT community.

We work with our departments or lines of business to deploy innovative technology practices that create more efficient, responsive government. That's why we're once again cited in the Digital Counties Survey as one of the top in the country.

Congratulations to each of you for your contributions to leveraging technology to build better delivery of services for residents and better tools to do their work for employees. Your work matters!

Glen Gilbertson
Chief Information Officer

Hennepin County is again receiving recognition for its technology innovation at the national level. The county came in fifth place for this year’s Digital Counties Survey award, which honors leading counties for programs that encourage government innovation and improved services to residents. The survey is conducted annually by the Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties.

“We use the results internally to see how Hennepin County’s technology initiatives compare to similar-sized counties. Are we innovative? How are other counties using technology in ways we haven’t even thought about? Where are the areas that we are on the leading edge?” explained IT Strategic Alignment Division Manager Becki McDonald.

“The survey is part of our whole strategy to understand how the county’s technology investments and results compare to others – kind of a litmus test,” McDonald said. “It is one factor we use to help answer the question ‘Are we doing the right work?’” 

The survey is a comprehensive look at technology across the county, from being customer focused to cybersecurity, from data use to building a connected internet infrastructure across the county.

“Hennepin County is the 34^th largest county in the country, and coming in the top five for this survey shows that we are leading in our approach to technology and services,” said McDonald.

“We’re proud of our results,” said Meg Knodl, who co-shepherded the creation of the 61-page submission with Sarah McNulty, both members of the IT Strategic Planning team. Writing and data were provided by more than a dozen people, including partners such as the Office of Digital Experience, Emergency Management, and the Office of Broadband and Digital Inclusion.

“The survey is an important lesson in reflection and review of what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. It’s a great way to learn what other counties are doing and see what we want to emulate or try,” Knodl said.

Hennepin County’s collaborative work centers began opening in May 2022 – an innovative, intentionally designed, brick-and-mortar change for the Future of Work that provides onsite, hybrid and remote employees a place to drop in for work, collaboration and connection.

“People who want to use the collaborative work center do so because the space has amenities,” said Facility Services Assistant Director Janet Mills. Besides Teams technology in the meeting rooms, the space offers different work zones, basic office supplies, day lockers, kitchen facilities and much more.

During the last year, IT and Facility Services asked employees for feedback and used it to continuously improve the space. For example, sound masking was installed at the Government Center collaborative work center in June after employees shared that noise carried. “Initial impressions are positive,” Mills said.