On his first full day in office, Gavin Newsom, California’s 40^thGovernor, signed a round of executive orders. One of which was directly influenced by the Central Valley’s very own Irma L. Olguin, CEO and co-founder of Bitwise Industries. Executive Order N-04-19 will change the way the state contracts technology systems. Specifically, it will empower agencies to specify to the private sector what problems they are trying to solve instead of the government injecting a blanket technology solution. This executive order will encourage agencies, entrepreneur and scientists to innovate better solutions to the problems facing the state of California.

As a part of Governor Newsom’s Transition Technology Council, Irma has co-chaired and contributed to writing the materials that were ultimately used to form the initial proposal and executive order. As part of this transition council Irma has help mold the governor’s position when it comes to all thing’s technology.

“In California, we’re known for innovation and creating the technology that derives the rest of the world. However, the Central Valley is not usually the part of the state that comes to mind when you think of those technology hubs” said Irma. “Bitwise is changing that and I commend Governor Newsom for recognizing that voice from outside the traditional regions are of value and I’m honored to represent the new face of technology in California.”

Irma is the only voice from Fresno involved in any of the Governor’s councils (transition or otherwise). Irma has been making waves in the tech industry for years and co-chairing the technology council transition team is one of the most recent examples of how she brought the Central Valley’s concerns to the conversations taking place in Sacramento. In the coming weeks Governor Newsom will finalize his permanent technology council and Irma will continue this trend by having direct sway over who fills those seats.