After 14 years at the City of Albany and 22 years as a resident of Albany, Jorge Salinas has accepted a position as Chief of Staff for Flagler County, Florida.
Jorge joined the City of Albany as Chief Information Officer in 2006, after being employed by HP for 15 years. He later took on the dual role of CIO/Deputy City Manager. Under Jorge’s leadership, the City’s information technology team implemented sound project management principles and best practices which have helped the team thrive and develop a reputation for excellence in service delivery. He has played a major role in supporting other departments to increase efficiencies in their service delivery. In his stewardship of public resources, Jorge’s skill as a negotiator has resulted in significant price reductions on products and services on a number of occasions.
Among the many major initiatives he’s led during his time in Albany, Jorge drove the improvement of the City’s strategic plan and strengthening of the document’s connection to the budgeting process; development of a financial transparency dashboard capturing organizational revenues and expenditures; implementation of a complex interagency Computer-Aided Dispatch/Records Management System (CAD/RMS) system with Linn County; acquisition of new permitting software with online plan review; energy audits of City buildings and practices in collaboration with the Energy Trust of Oregon; the strengthening of the City’s economic development program; and a migration to the Office 365 platform, which has been invaluable in the continuity of City operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jorge’s tireless work has resulted in the City’s recognition in 9 of the past 10 years with the International City Manager’s Association (ICMA)’s Certificate of Excellence in Performance Management and achievement as one of the top 10 communities under a 75,000 population in the Center for Digital Government’s 2015 Digital Cities Survey. Jorge has also been personally lauded as one of the 2016 “Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers” according to Government Technology magazine and was recently nominated for the 2019 ICMA Buford M. Watson, Jr., Excellence in Leadership Award.
Jorge will start in his new position in Florida effective January 4, 2020, and the professional move also provides him the added benefit of being to be closer to family. The City team is incredibly proud of the work that Jorge has done during his years of service in Albany. His talent, dedication, and passion for “providing quality public services for a better Albany community” will be sorely missed. Our most heartful congratulations are with Jorge in this next chapter of his career.
