Empowering Governance in Local Government through a People Centered Strategy with Jeff Scheetz

Spotlight Interview: Jeff Scheetz on Empowering Governance in Local Government Through a People-Centered Strategy

In this Technology Executives Club® Spotlight Interview, Alex Jarett sits down with Jeff Scheetz, CIO of the City of Avondale, to discuss how governance, innovation, and people-first leadership come together to drive meaningful outcomes in local government.

Jeff and his team have built a strong reputation for delivering technology that serves both internal departments and the city’s constituents — a track record recently recognized with multiple national awards.

Award-Winning Leadership in Local Government IT

The City of Avondale was recently recognized with two significant honors:

• Fourth place in the national Digital Cities Survey, highlighting the city’s progress in constituent-facing technology and digital services

• An award from the Public Technology Institute for excellence in IT governance

According to Jeff, these achievements aren’t about chasing technology for technology’s sake — they’re the result of a disciplined, people-centered approach supported by strong city leadership.

Governance as an Enabler of Innovation

A central theme of the conversation is Jeff’s guiding principle: empowering governance through a people-centered strategy.

Rather than viewing governance as a constraint, Jeff frames it as a set of guardrails that allow innovation to move faster — and in the right direction. Avondale has established structures such as:

• An IT steering committee

• A cross-department AI committee

• Data and web governance guidelines

These guardrails help ensure alignment with city leadership while still enabling departments to move forward efficiently and responsibly.

Why People and Change Management Matter More Than Technology

Jeff is clear that technology itself is rarely the hardest part.

Successful transformation depends on people — their willingness to adapt, understand new systems, and embrace change. That’s why communication, training, and continuous engagement are core to Avondale’s implementation strategy.

From internal IT teams to city departments, Jeff emphasizes meeting stakeholders where they are and maintaining ongoing dialogue throughout the lifecycle of every initiative.

Cybersecurity Is Everyone’s Responsibility

Security is another area where Jeff applies the same people-first philosophy.

Rather than treating cybersecurity as an IT-only function, Avondale has made it a shared responsibility across the organization. Training, awareness, and clear communication ensure employees understand both the risks and their role in protecting the city’s systems.

A Prudent, Governed Approach to AI

When it comes to AI, Jeff applies the same governance-first mindset.

Avondale formed a cross-department AI committee early on to define policy, use cases, and guardrails before broad adoption. The city has since deployed ChatGPT Enterprise to a limited group of users to test real-world applications, validate governance policies, and identify value before scaling.

This measured approach allows the city to explore AI’s potential while maintaining accountability, transparency, and trust.

Final Thoughts

Jeff’s leadership philosophy reinforces a critical lesson for public- and private-sector technology leaders alike: innovation succeeds when governance, people, and strategy move together.

By focusing on adaptability, communication, and shared ownership, the City of Avondale continues to deliver technology that serves its community — and sets a model for other organizations navigating digital transformation.

📌 Watch the full Spotlight Interview with Jeff Scheetz to hear his insights on governance, innovation, cybersecurity, and AI in local government.

Guest: Jeff Scheetz, CIO, City of Avondale, Arizona  Learn more about Jeff Here.
Host: Alex Jarett, Founder, Technology Executives Club®