A Message from the City Manager
Over the last year or so, I’ve had the privilege of visiting several departments to learn directly from the City employees who provide the services that make Boerne an exemplary Hill Country community.
Recently, I spent the day with our talented Information Technology team. Here’s what I learned.
– Ben Thatcher, City Manager
A Strong, Specialized Team
Boerne’s IT team is made up of dedicated professionals, each playing a key role in keeping the City’s technology operations safe, secure, and responsive.
- Leslie leads our security efforts and is also the team’s chief morale booster. She ensures birthdays and holidays are always celebrated in style.
- Ryan and Sarah are the first line of support for most employees. They field and manage incoming issues, escalating them when needed.
- Barrett oversees our network infrastructure, including routers, switches, firewalls, and the systems that keep our connections running smoothly.
- Chase is the primary IT contact for our Police Department, handling body and dash cameras, license plate recognition systems, and a long list of law enforcement technology.
- Sheldon wears many hats and is often the one picking up complex, behind-the-scenes projects, including serving as project manager for major initiatives.
- Mike, the department director, leads the team and manages a long list of planned projects and miscellaneous requests, ensuring each member has the tools necessary to be successful in their role.
Together, this team represents a rare blend of technical expertise and strong culture. They often begin their day with support calls as early as 7 a.m. and work collaboratively through projects and challenges.
On Fridays, they finish the week with a department wrap-up, and it’s not uncommon for them to wait for one another at the end of the day so they can walk out together. I love what this communicates: an intentional expression of unity that defines their culture.
What They’re Working On
The IT team is currently leading several important initiatives, including:
- Phased upgrade of the City’s entire network to Cisco equipment
- Tighter security measures like penetration testing and vulnerability scanning
- Major Police Department technology enhancements
- Improved onboarding and access controls for new and transitioning employees
- Enhanced software approval workflows aligned with job roles and responsibilities
They recently hosted a regional event for IT professionals across South Texas, featuring AI demonstrations and professional development. It was encouraging to see our team not only participate, but lead.
Appreciating Their Impact
Each member of the team brings unique experience from prior work in churches, schools, and private companies, giving them a diverse perspective and a collaborative spirit that strengthens their department.
They support one another in ways both big and small, from covering early calls to celebrating with themed snacks and decorations. Their positive and inclusive culture truly stood out during our visit.
To the IT team: Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Your work empowers every other department in the City to succeed. It also ensures the services our residents rely on – from online payments to reliable emergency response – can be conducted safely and securely.
