Missouri, Utah CIOs resign

Michael Benzen, who was appointed Missouri's CIO in 1995, will leave his

post Oct. 1. He will become vice president of government services for the

Walnut Creek, Calif.-based Tier Technologies. The 52-year-old is credited

with improving the government's efficiency through technology. Last year,

Missouri was one of four states to receive Governing Magazine's highest

grade for state management. He is also credited for ensuring that the state's

computer systems were Year 2000-compliant.

Prior to his stint as CIO, Benzen worked 25 years at the state's Department

of Mental Health. He was deputy department director for information technology

the last five years there before being named the state's CIO. Benzen is

a former president of the National Association of State Information Resource

Executives (NASIRE) and serves on the group's executive committee.

Gov. Mel Carnahan named Gerry Wethington, Director of the Information

Systems Division for the Missouri State Highway Patrol, as acting CIO.

David Moon, who was appointed CIO for Utah in 1998, left Sept. 1 to

join a venture capital firm. During his stint, he is credited with helping

the state prepare for Year 2000 as well as begin many e-government initiatives.

Prior to that, he served as vice president of development for Novell Inc.

He also was chief technology officer for the WordPerfect Corp. before its

merger with Novell.

Moon also served on a variety of committees for NASIRE. Utah Gov. Michael

Leavitt has not yet named a successor.