When the Human Services IT Advisory Group (HSITAG) was founded in 1993, technology had very different uses and meanings within government and life in general.
This year, HSITAG celebrated its 25th anniversary at CompTIA’s annual Tech Summit with a series of panels and an evening reception. Over the last quarter century, the group, which is made up of several heavy hitters from the technology industry, has established itself as a trusted counselor to governments across the United States
The celebration focused on looking at both the history and the future of the organization through the viewpoints of members, association leaders, and government participants who value the organization.
The group’s founder, Bob Stauffer, recounted how HSITAG began as a small group of professionals that got together once a month for lunch and thought there needed to be a better way for industry to collaborate and work with government. Policy and program staff weren’t involved in technology decisions and government often had a hostile outlook on the technology industry and with HSITAG’s leadership, we’ve come a long way since 1993!
Today, HSITAG serves as a trusted advisor to both policy and technology officials at the federal and state levels. In areas where industry has a consensus, HSITAG serves as subject matter experts and vendor-neutral viewpoints on many areas of HHS technology in governments.
When the group joined the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) in 2015, its voice and influence was only amplified. The group’s membership has also expanded from the day when the group could fit at a table for five at the local watering hole. HSITAG and CompTIA’s public sector and advocacy programs now have 123 member companies that regularly participate and represent a large portion of the technology ecosystem.
Over the years, not only the technology has changed. HSITAG’s organization and the diversity of members has also changed. The individuals that these HHS programs serve have also changed. Families look different today than they used to and the technologies that serve them have adapted.
The organization, our membership, and the industry as a whole has done a tremendous job of evolving into the predominant bridge builder between the HHS IT industry and government, and we’re looking forward to the next 25 years!
