March 2, 2007

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg Receives Pathfinder Award from LNW Program

The Pathfinder Award is given to public officials exemplifying the kind of leadership required in an increasingly networked world. Bloomberg was honored for leading impressive technology initiatives—from the acclaimed NYC 311 Citizen Service Center, which has dramatically improved service access and monitoring; to newer initiatives such as the Citywide Mobile Wireless Network, which promises to be the most advanced public safety network in the nation. He told the audience of students, faculty, practitioners, and LNW sponsors that technology has the power to "close the gap between what we know needs to be done, and what actually gets done."

"I am honored to receive this award, and thankful for this special recognition from the Leadership for a Networked World Program," said Mayor Bloomberg. "New York City has an ambitious agenda to respond to the challenges of the 21st century, and information technology is central both to what we can do now and must do even better for the future."

He was introduced by Jerry Mechling, faculty director of the Leadership for a Networked World Program. The LNW Program is an Executive Education Program of Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. The LNW Program works with leaders to better understand and respond to the challenges of digital information technologies and networks. "Mayor Bloomberg represents the innovative, farsighted, and strategically focused leadership the nation needs in responding to emerging 21st century challenges," said Jerry Mechling. "He was able not only to understand what the City needed, he was able to get the City to respond effectively and in time to make a difference. We are proud to honor him with a Pathfinder Award."

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December 6, 2006

Governing magazine

Jerry Mechling, LNW Faculty Chair, published an article in Governing magazine titled "The Transition: A Dark-Horse Opportunity". This article is part of the Management Insights series, a weekly column published in collaboration with the Government Innovators Network at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

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Panelists for the session included:

• PK Agarwal, Director, Department of Technology Services, State of California
• Otto Doll, Chief Information Officer, State of South Dakota
• Peter Harkness, Editor, Governing