Presenter Bio

Scott Willett
Premier Account Manager - Cisco Systems, Inc.
Missouri Valley Enterprise Region

Scott Willett is a Premier Account Manager for Cisco Systems, Inc. for the Missouri Valley Enterprise Region.  His major accounts include the State Government of Missouri and the University of Missouri System and campuses, including the University of Missouri Saint Louis.  He works directly with customers to provide Cisco’s resources, services, and products that align with the strategic initiatives of each account. 

Prior to joining Cisco, Willett was CIO of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services from 2003 - 2006.  His work included an expansion of Missouri’s health information technology efforts in the areas of web-based technologies, broadband communications, wireless and mobile initiatives, and interoperability standards.  .

Willett was active in several statewide and national technology efforts.  He was Chairman of the Network Management Steering Committee, which represented the interest of all state agencies in developing communications strategies for fiber optic, wireless, and IP telephony venues.  He was a member of the Enterprise Architecture Review Committee, which helped to set state technology standards throughout state government.

Prior to joining DHSS, Willett worked in the State Office of Information Technology.  He served as the Chief Architect of Missouri’s Adaptive Enterprise Architecture project, allowing Missouri to achieve great efficiencies through collaboration and integration of Information Technology.  He also served as Chairman of the Business Continuity Committee of the Missouri Security Council and was a member of the Deputies Council for Homeland Security.  He also worked on a variety of technology projects involving strategic outsourcing, innovative technology funding, and policy development.

Before coming to Missouri, Scott was the CIO for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.  A native of Kentucky, and a graduate of the University of Kentucky, he joined the Department in 1988 and became CIO in 1996.  His work included EMPOWER AGRICULTURE, a dynamic project to connect field and office staff in a seamless electronic environment for inspection activities.  He also created the KDA Country Store, which provided a free website for all agriculture producers and business, and an online agriculture store to promote the sale of Kentucky Products.  The project won a National Award in 2000 for innovation in government.

He also founded NASATO, the National Association of State Agriculture Technology Officials in 2002, and was its first President.  From 1995 to 2002 he was an active member of the Geographic Information Advisory Council in Kentucky, which advised the Governor and legislature on issues relating to GIS.  From 1999 to 2002, he was a member of the CIO Advisory Council and a charter member of the Governor’s Task Force on Information Technology.

He and his wife Cheri have four children, Tiffany, Morgan, Tanner, and Makenna.  They reside in Jefferson City, MO.