Salute to the Leadership

«
Merrill Baumgardner
AWARD
presented to
JOHN WISSLER
Deputy Director, Application
Development
Washington Employment Security
Department
«
The Merrill Baumgardner Award is presented annually to an individual who has
demonstrated excellence in the field of information technology
in a state workforce agency.
As Deputy Director of Application Development for the Information
Technology and Business Integration (ITBI) Division of Washington’s
Employment Security Department, Mr. John Wissler was the driving
force behind a multi-year effort to consolidate resources, centralize
support and modernize technology—while maintaining current systems
and improving them along the way.
In August 2014, Mr. Wissler conducted a full business process analysis
and found many methodologies were outdated and unsupported.
Working with his team, he identified opportunities both operationally
and technically that would result in an optimal solution. Mr. Wissler
piloted a cloud-based product called Microsoft Visual Studio Team
Services (VSTS) Release Management. The tool is an all-encompassing
code deployment tool. Since launch, Washington has been able to
revolutionize the way custom code is stored, in cloud vs. on-premises.
Mr. Wissler's team also implemented new Secure Messaging application
for the UI Claim Center which allows for a timelier, effective, and
secure method for claimants and claim agents to correspond. Previously,
sensitive information, such as social security numbers, was sent through
email and questions would take time to resolve. Claimants now sign-in
10 « 80 th Annual NASWA Conference «««