VENNARD WRIGHT

Vennard Wright is currently the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Prince George’s County Government and is a proud, lifelong resident of Prince George’s County, MD.   As CIO, he provides the requisite leadership to transform the management of information technology (IT) capabilities and services to support the County’s mission.  As the Director for the Office of Information Technology (OIT) he ensures that OIT’s service delivery is in alignment with the County Executive’s goals and objectives for the County.

 

Mr. Wright was appointed as Chief Technology Officer/Deputy Director in December 2010 and subsequently appointed as the Acting CIO/Director in January 2012 and confirmed as CIO/Director by Prince George’s County Council in November 2012.

 

Prior to joining Prince George’s County, his professional IT experience included serving as Director of Technology for Hillary Clinton during her successful US Senate re-election campaign and subsequent Presidential Campaign, and serving as Director of Technology of Technology during Rushern Baker’s successful run for County Executive of Prince George’s County, MD in 2010.  He was also Chief Technology Officer and Technical Organization Delivery Manager for Electronic Data Systems (EDS), which was subsequently acquired by Hewlett Packard (HP).

 

In addition to his fifteen years of IT management experience, Vennard brings an equal amount of hands-on experience in working with young people through a myriad of avenues.  His experience includes mentoring students in multiple settings. As a USA Track & Field Level One certified coach, he has coached many young athletes into athletic scholarships with Division One universities.

 

Mr. Wright has also served as a volunteer through the Prince George’s County Red Cross Disaster Assistance Team and participated in numerous fundraisers and philanthropic efforts for various worthy causes.

 

For the past few years, Vennard has also occasionally served as a guest columnist for several publications and written on a number of issues ranging from technology insertion in County public schools to the critical role that normal black men play in everyday society.  He is also working on developing a County-wide initiative whose goal is to identify and develop students in the Prince George’s County Public School System (PGCPS) who are high achievers and that have demonstrated a sustained aptitude for technology related disciplines and to cultivate the growth of IT related businesses that will strengthen the tax base and contribute to the future economic success and viability of Prince George’s County.

 

The program will develop a partnership between PGCPS and Prince George’s County Government in order to identify and encourage the development of the best and brightest students and IT business and to track the growth of both to demonstrate the value, over time, which the program brings.

 

Mr. Wright has also spoken at several technology conferences on the benefits of effectively applying the latest technologies and project management methodologies to solve common infrastructure problems.  He is applying those same principles to solving some of the most vexing IT challenges in Prince George’s County.

 

Vennard Wright holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland and resides in Clinton, MD with his wife, Janelle, and four children.