by Ginger Armbruster
I am honored to receive GovTech’s 2019 Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers Award. I am very fortunate to work in a constantly evolving area of technology with talented and dedicated leaders and colleagues. With their support, I was encouraged to lead the effort to develop the City’s Privacy Program, the first municipal privacy program in the nation, with the mission to build and maintain public trust about how the City manages the personal and sensitive information we collect to provide needed services. This award is indicative of what may be achieved in an environment that supports innovation and risk-taking.
I came to the City in 2012 as an intern, while earning my master’s degree and shifting to a career in privacy. As a Scholarship for Service recipient and member of the National Science Foundation’s CyberCorps, my internship led to a love for public service. The City has been a very supportive and nurturing environment. I found mentors throughout the organization who helped me transition to full-time City employment and grow into my current role. I have also enjoyed working with bright and motivated colleagues who, like me, are dedicated to public service and improving how City residents interact with their local government.
The Privacy Program’s team of four employees, myself, Sarah Carrier, Nathan Merrells, and Omari Stringer, continues to mature the Privacy Program as we work to become a model for municipal data privacy. With the support of my City work family, I am confident we will achieve this goal together.
To learn more about the City of Seattle’s Privacy Program, visit seattle.gov/tech.