Lea Deesing 
Assistant City Manager, former CIO | City of Riverside
Riverside, CA, UNITED STATES
Motivate staff and spark innovation. Encourage kids to pursue STEM fields. Increase government transparency and improve cyber security.
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Biography
Lea Deesing was the first in her family to go to college, became a self-made tech geek, and has risen to the top ranks of municipal government. For the past five years, Lea served as the Chief Innovation Officer for the City of Riverside leading a national-award-winning department and publishing various technical articles on topics ranging from social media use in government to cybersecurity. She has spoken both internationally and nationally about technology and leadership topics including smart city technologies, social media, project management, technology policies, cyber security, leadership, and “sparking” innovative thinking.
In Lea’s breakthrough inspirational speech, “Finding Light at the End of a Math Formula: A Tech Geek’s Guide to Career Success”, she will describe her formula for success and share with you in a very real and honest presentation her professional trials and tribulations, including several failures she experienced along the way and how she overcame them. She will delve into several of her key fork-in-the-road decisions, which made a life-changing difference her career and she will discuss the professional and personal traits needed to set oneself apart from others.
In her heartfelt speech, Lea will entice you to ponder how innovative thinking can change your trajectory, she will describe how one key ingredient in life will help you realize the authentic version of yourself you are destined to become, and she will present to you a working copy of an actual formula you can take away and apply to your own life to foster years of career success in your own life.
Biography:
Lea’s experience includes 31 years in the IT field with 20 years specific to local government. She holds a Master of Public Administration degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems degree from the University of Redlands. Lea also holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
Prior to moving into her executive leadership role as Assistant City Manager, Lea’s background was in computer programming. Her love for programming originated from her fascination with codes and ciphers, known as cryptology. She cracked the Tiger Beat Magazine’s fan club secret code when she was just nine years old. When she was sixteen, Lea started programming computers. Lea regularly speaks to young students, hoping her story will inspire them to become interested in the computer science field.
Industry Expertise (3)
Information Technology and Services
Computer/Network Security
Government Administration
Areas of Expertise (7)
Information Technology
Innovation
Leadership
STEM Education
Government
Open Government
Cybersecurity
Accomplishments (1)
Published (professional)
2013-11-26
See my Linkedin Account for a list of articles I have either written or contributed to. www.linkedin.com/in/leadeesing/
Education (3)
California State University-Dominguez Hills: MPA, Public Administration 2010
3.96 GPA
University of Redlands: BSIS, Information Systems 2003
Activities and Societies: Member of Whitehead Leadership Society. Graduated with a 4.0 GPA, Summa Cum Laude.
PMI: PMP Certificate, Project Management 2013
Affiliations (2)
- MISAC
- Whitehead Leadership Society
Languages (1)
- English
Event Appearances (61)
Applying Innovation To Do More With Less - Panel
2019 League of CA Cities Mayors & Council Members Executive Forum Newport Beach
2019-06-19
Finding Light at the End of a Math Formula (30 Minute Motivational Keynote)
Annual Riverside County Women's Leadership Conference Riverside, CA
2018-09-13
Cybersecurity Panelist on Plenary Stage
Midmarket CIO Forum Savannah, GA
2018-04-10
Digital Transformation Panelist on Plenary Stage
Public CIO Forum ESRI Corportate Office, Redlands, CA
2018-04-05
"Narrowing the Digital Divide and Ensuring Equity" Speaker
Leadership Riverside Education Day Riverside, CA
2018-03-02
The Future of IT and Smart Cities Speaker
CSMFO Annual Conference 2018 Riverside Convention Center, Riverside, CA
2018-02-21
Women in Tech Panel
Laserfiche Empower 2018 Conference Long Beach, California
2018-01-10
Speaking Tech Talk: How to Partner with IT to Drive Innovative Change, A Four-Hour Interactive Session
International Institute of Municipal Clerks Meeting Cal Poly, Pomona
2017-10-06
Panelists for "28 Conversations to Transform The Way Government Works"
Government Technology Los Angeles Digital Government Summit Los Angeles LA Hotel and Convention Center
Women in Leadership Panel (Plenary Session)
Government Technology's Los Angeles Digital Government Summit Los Angeles LA Hotel and Convention Center
2017-08-30
Organizational Behavior Guest Lecturer
Cal State Fullerton Fullerton, California
2017-04-27
Co-Speaker on "Balancing Responsiveness & Resource Management"
National Webcast for Viewpoint Online
2017-03-23
Speaker on "Narrowing the Digital Divide Through Technology and Education"
Leadership Riverside Education Day Riverside, California
2017-03-03
Speaker on "Entrepreneurship Thinking - Organizational Development"
ERepublic Magazine's Califiornia Public Sector CIO Academy Sacramento, California
2017-03-01
Keynote Speaker on Coding and STEM
Inland CS For All Summit Riverside, CA
2016-12-07
Inspire Her Mind
Keynote Address for Inspire Her Mind (240 High School Girls) Riverside, CA
2016-11-17
Organizational Behavior Guest Lecturer
Cal State Fullerton Fullerton, CA
2016-11-02
Technology & Your Community Panelist
Latina Empowerment Day Riverside, CA
2016-10-14
CIO and City Manager Panel on Innovation
Municipal Information Systems Association of California (MISAC) San Diego, CA San Diego, CA
2016-10-12
The Pros and Cons of Outsourcing
Municipal Information Systems Association of California (MISAC) San Diego, CA
2016-10-11
Innovation Panelist
Local Government Commission 7th Annual Statewide Energy Efficiency Forum Riverside, CA
2016-06-16
Narrowing the Digital Divide Through Technology and Education
Leadership Riverside Education Day Riverside, California
2016-03-04
IT Policies: What is At Risk?
GFOA Annual International Conference Toronoto, Canada Convention Centre
2016-05-23
Panelist during the closing plenary session
7th Annual Statewide Energy Efficiency Forum Riverside Convention Center
2016-06-16
Keynote speaker and emcee for 375 high school girls interested in nontraditional careers
Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) Day Riverside Community College Campus
2015-12-04
Reinventing your Agency for a Digital Age: Presentation & Panelist
Municipal Management Association of Southern California Indian Wells, California
2015-10-30
Spark Your Innovation: A Four-Hour Interactive Session
International Institute of Municipal Clerks Meeting Cal Poly, Pomona
2015-10-16
Boosting Your Smart City Credentials: Speaker & Panelist
IEDC Annual Conference Anchorage, Alaska
2015-10-05
Chief Innovation Officer Panelist
Harvard University 2015 Strategic Innovation Summit Cambridge, Massachusetts
2015-09-26
Spark Your Innovation: A Two-Hour Interactive Session
PMI California Inland Empire Dinner Meeting Rancho Cucamonga, California
2015-09-15
Spark Your Innovation: A Two-Hour Interactive Session
International Institute of Municipal Clerks 2015 Annual Conference Hartford, Connecticut
2015-05-19
The Pitfalls of Information Technology Purchases
Association of Government Accountants Local Meeting San Bernardino, California
2015-04-22
SmartRiverside Program Update
California Emerging Technology Fund Local Government Officials Roundtable Mission Inn
2015-04-02
Panelist for "Innovative Solutions for Changing Communities"
Local Government Commission Conference for Local Policymakers Yosemite, California
2015-03-20
Digital Inclusion and E-waste Recycling
US/Mexico Sister Cities Association 52nd Annual Conference Riverside Convention Center, Riverside, California
2015-02-27
Panelist for "Daily Work: Data-Driven"
Governing Magazine's Summit on Government Performance & Innovation Louisville, Kentucky
2015-02-12
Cyber Security Panelist
Cal State University Cyber Security Summit San Bernardino, CA
2015-01-20
Panelist to Encourage 8th Grade Girls to Enter STEM Field
American Association of University Women STEM Conference San Jacinto, CA
2015-01-08
Information Management and the Challenge of Technology
League of California Cities City Clerks New Law & Elections Conference Monterey, CA
2014-12-03
Open Data Panelist
The UCR Child Wellbeing Conference University of California, Riverside
2014-10-31
Government Transparency and Open Data
ICF Connections Online International Webinar Online Web Cast
2014-10-30
Keynote speaker and emcee for 200 high school girls interested in nontraditional careers
Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) Day Riverside Community College Campus
2014-10-17
The Hive: Project Management Portal
MISAC Annual Conference Garden Grove, California
2014-10-06
Avoiding the Pitfalls of IT Purchases
CAPPO Riverside County Purchasing Seminar Crestmore Manor in Riverside, California
2014-09-24
Innovation at the Local Level
CSMFO Channel Counties Chapter Meeting Thousand Oaks, California
2014-09-11
Transparency, Open Data, and Innovation for Financial Information
CSMFO & MISAC Webinar Online
2014-09-10
Innovation at the Local Level
California Forward Summit on Data UC Center, Sacramento, California
2014-03-20
The Trends in Transparency, Innovation, Open Data & Constituent Reporting Initiatives
California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO) Annual Conference Renaissance Hotel Conference Center, Palm Springs, California
2014-02-21
Cryptology and Logic: In Everyday Life and in the Field of Computer Programming
ABLE/STEM Day Mesa View Middle School, Calimesa, California
2014-02-14
Cryptology and Logic: In Everyday Life and in the Field of Computer Programming
STEM Speaker Day Riverside Stem Academy, Riverside, California
2014-02-12
Government E-Transparency
MMASC Annual Conference Rancho Bernardo, CA
2014-11-13
Panelist on Open Data
University of Riverside Child Well Being Conference Riverside, CA
2014-10-31
Innovation and Mobility: Sparking Innovation Within Your Organization
Midmarket CIO Conference JW Mariott Hotel, Tucson, AZ
2013-10-27
Women in Information Technology
8th Grade Girls Math and Science Conference San Jacinto, CA
2013-01-09
Effective Use of Social Media
California Municipal Utilities Association’s (CMUA) Energy Services and Marketing Committee Annual Conference Riverside, CA
2012-10-01
Cities Using Social Media
League of California Cities 2012 Annual Conference San Diego Convention Center
2012-09-06
Mobile Applications
Municipal Management Association of California Annual Conference Rancho Mirage, CA
2012-05-11
Social Networking Made Easy for Government Agencies
MISAC Meeting Marina Del Rey, CA
2011-07-01
Time Management
Municipal Management Association of California Annual Conference Santa Barbara, CA
2010-05-26
Microsoft Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Microsoft CIO Summit Microsoft Corporate, Redmond, Washington
2007-02-01
Live Demonstration and Presentation of Application I wrote
JD Edwards/Peoplesoft International Users Conference Denver, Colorado
2001-07-01
Style
Availability
- Keynote
- Moderator
- Panelist
- Workshop Leader
- Corporate Training
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