Lafayette City/Parish President Joey Durel announced Tuesday, November 9th that he has appointed Keith Thibodeaux as the first-ever Chief Information Officer for Lafayette Consolidated Government.

Thibodeaux has over 20 years in the IT field with experience ranging from running a startup IT company to managing a national computer network covering 42 states. He formerly served as the Chief Technology Officer for the Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA), where his focus was technology-led economic development (TBED) issues. He was a key team member on the Acadiana Technology Immersion Center project. Thibodeaux also serves as Chairman of Zydetech, and was the key organizer behind this year’s first-ever TechSouth IT Summit. He worked on numerous other technology initiatives across the state including the Louisiana Optical Network Initiative, Alt-C, Vision 2020 Science and Technology Taskforce and other high profile projects resulting in his receiving the Governor’s Technology Award as 2004 Louisiana Technology Leader of the Year.

“I said when I took office that I would appoint the best and brightest that Lafayette has to offer to join my team at Lafayette Consolidated Government, and, without a doubt, Keith Thibodeaux fits that label,” said Durel. “For us to be able to hire someone of Keith’s caliber and background I believe speaks volumes for what we are doing to move Lafayette Parish forward. I am thrilled that he has agreed to be a part of our team and begin the challenge of moving this government to where it needs to be from a technology standpoint.”

The CIO position is one that Durel has been pushing for since taking office in January. The Lafayette City/Parish Council approved an ordinance Tuesday night to formally create the position.

Thibodeaux’s prime duties as CIO will be:

• To review and assess LCG's information technology resources and its utilization
• To devise a long term plan to optimize LCG's information technology strategy
• To seek external funding through grants, public-private partnerships, cooperative agreements, intergovernmental agreements and other means to benefit the technology initiative of LCG and the Department of Information Services and Technology
• Prioritize, direct and supervise use of LCG's information technology staff
• Develop and implement an updated disaster recovery plan
• Coordinate and facilitate interdepartmental and intergovernmental uses of information services
• Align LCG's information technology hardware, software and info services human services to best meet future demands
• To apply science and technology initiatives and infrastructure that encourage economic growth

“Lafayette is an incredible place with momentum that is gaining national notice,” said Thibodeaux. “Working for President Durel and LCG as the CIO is a great opportunity to expand the work I have done at LEDA into new dimensions. I am excited to be a part of this team.”

Thibodeaux’s last day at LEDA will be Friday, November 19th. His first official day on the job with Lafayette Consolidated Government will be Monday, November 29th.