Simon Huang , CTO of the City of St . Louis , explores the Midwestern city ’ s digital transformation efforts and plans to bridge the regional digital divide
CITY OF ST . LOUIS
Simon Huang , CTO of the City of St . Louis , explores the Midwestern city ’ s digital transformation efforts and plans to bridge the regional digital divide
For those who don ’ t know the City of St . Louis , one thing is clear ; it is faithfully committed to its people . Sitting in the Midwest state of
Missouri , St . Louis was an important transportation hub that helped shape the growth of the United States . It is positioned at the meeting point of two of the largest rivers , the Missouri and the Mississippi .
The city was originally built for upwards of 900,000 residents . However , after the Second World War , de-industrialisation led to a lot of the population leaving for the suburbs . Now , with a population of nearly 300,000 people , the city ’ s Chief Technology Officer ( CTO ) Simon Huang explains that maintaining the city ’ s infrastructure across a large surface area is a significant challenge .
“ In the past , there has been an underinvestment in IT in general and so the departments have taken it upon themselves to bolster their own technology ,” says Simon . “ This has gone ahead in a very fragmented fashion .”
In order to standardise technology and make systems more efficient across St . Louis , Simon explains that his team is advocating for greater operations coordination and education efforts .
“ Getting support from the executive level down and driving the same message in conjunction with ensuring that our IT department is as competent and as professional as they need to be to earn the confidence of all the departments they support ,” he explains .
‘ WASN ’ T I LUCKY TO BE BORN IN MY FAVOURITE CITY ?’ ( TOOTIE IN MEET ME IN ST . LOUIS , 1944 )
During the 19th Century , St . Louis grew into an important centre for commerce and trade , making it a
desirable location for people of all diversities and backgrounds seeking a new life . As a result , it earned its title as the fourth-largest city in the United States at that time and is now described as the ‘ Gateway to the West ’, which is now marked by the iconic Gateway Arch .
Now , St . Louis is celebrated for its character , affordability and many cultural and entertainment options . Notable landmarks include its worldclass attractions like the Zoo and Art Museum and the 1,300 acre urban Forest Park , in addition to a thriving arts scene , eclectic neighbourhoods and a thriving culinary industry .
The city also holds a strong sports tradition , with its main fixtures being soccer , hockey and baseball .
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