Wednesday, December 1, 2004
Contact: Spence Jackson, (573)751-1378
Gov.-elect Matt Blunt Names Pair To Head Office of Administration
JEFFERSON CITY - Gov.-elect Matt Blunt today nominated Senate Administrator Michael Keathley to the post of Commissioner of the Office of Administration and Executive Deputy Secretary of State Dan Ross as the Chief Information Officer.
The Office of Administration is the state's service and administrative control agency. It combines and coordinates the central management functions of state government. The divisions within the Office of Administration are: Accounting; Budget and Planning; Design and Construction; Information Services; General Services; Personnel; Facilities Management; and Purchasing and Materials Management.
Keathley, who also has been serving as budget director for Blunt's transition office, is a native of Dexter who was a corporate executive for 23 years including four years as chief executive officer at IXL Industries, the world's largest manufacturer of tool handles. Keathley, whose appointment is subject to state Senate approval, has served as the Senate's top staffer since January, 2002.
"I look forward to implementing the Gov. -elect's plans for improving the operations of this important state agency," Keathley said. "Every state government office interacts in some fashion with the Office of Administration. As commissioner, I will constantly be looking for ways to enhance the services the agency provides while looking to reduce costs to Missouri taxpayers at the same time."
Keathley and Ross will oversee the consolidation of the Information Technology (IT) and telecommunications functions in the executive branch of state government, a key pledge made by Blunt in his campaign for governor. A similar plan implemented by the state of Florida resulted in millions of dollars in savings for taxpayers.
One of the first cost-savings measures Blunt will implement in the agency is the elimination of the position of Director of Information Services. Ross will assume the responsibilities of this position which will result in a savings of more than $100,000 to Missouri taxpayers.
Ross, a Jefferson City native, has served the last four years as Executive Deputy Secretary of State. He began his career in state government in 1968 as a mail clerk with the Missouri State Park Board. Ross also has served as Director of Administration for the Missouri Public Service Commission and Director of Administrative Services for the Missouri Department of Economic Development.
As the Executive Deputy Secretary of State, Ross played a key role in implementing Blunt's plans for improving the secretary of state's office which included using emerging technologies and basic management practices to reduce Missouri taxpayer spending in the office by 11 percent and the number of employees by 10 percent.
"Gov. -elect Blunt has proven that it is possible to enhance services while improving stewardship of the people's tax dollars," Ross said. "I am pleased to accept this challenge to bring efficiencies and a greater return on the state's investment in information technology.
Blunt said he was confident in Keathley and Ross's ability to improve the efficiency of the Office of Administration by implementing his IT consolidation plan, seeking out new technologies to improve the operations of the office and other ways to reduce costs and enhance services.
"Mike Keathley played an instrumental role in helping the Missouri Senate attain real cost-savings for Missouri taxpayers," Blunt said. "His strong management background and attention to detail will be essential in our efforts to improve the operations and efficiency of a critical state agency.
"Dan Ross has a proven record of providing a high level of service to Missourians in several different state agencies and was instrumental in our efforts in the secretary of state's office to implement new technologies that made a very diverse office more accessible to the people. I know he will take this same focus into his new role as Chief Information Officer in the Office of Administration."