Kansas City, Mo., Hires City's First Chief Innovation Officer

The list of chief innovation officers in public agencies is growing, as evidenced by appointments at the state and local levels -- Maryland, Massachusetts, San Francisco and Philadelphia, to name a few -- and in education, at Chicago Public Schools. 

And Kansas City, Mo., was the most recent government entiity to join the list when, on Jan. 23, 2013, Mayor Sly James announced the appointment of Ashley Z. Hand to the role.

For the last five years, Hand has been an associate at AECOM where she has worked for both private- and public-sector clients to adopt best management practices through streamlining processes, data management and analysis, and incorporation of technology to change the business-as-usual mentality, according to a press release. More specifically, Hand has helped the U.S. General Services Administration and the Air Force adopt and implement new technologies and efficiencies.

“I look forward to helping Mayor James drive innovative strategies that will improve how our city government serves Kansas Citians through creative problem solving and citizen engagement," she said in the release. "We have an opportunity to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit we see throughout Kansas City and re-assess how we can best meet the needs of the community, empower neighborhoods, and enhance coordination, quality and efficiency."

Hand's official start date is Feb. 4, 2013.

Photo of the Kansas City, Mo., skyline courtesy of Shutterstock