The New ITSC

On October 1, 2009 the National Association of State Workforce Agencis (NASWA) and the Center for Employment Security Education and Research (CESER) became home to the Unemployment Insurance Information Technology Support Center (ITSC). Bringing the ITSC under the NASWA/CESER umbrella will enhance the ability of each organization to provide consulting and information technology services to the state workforce agencies.

The new ITSC organization will be evolving, starting from the transition fiscal year 2010. A new Cooperative Agreement was signed between the State of Maryland and the United States Department of Labor for the operation of the ITSC. Maryland has played a key role in the ITSC since its inception back in 1994.

NASWA will be responsible for providing an ITSC management team including a Director, Technology Director and other staff or contractors deemed necessary to ensure proper management. The ITSC management team will be responsible for operations and oversight of new and ongoing projects.

Joe Vitale has joined NASWA to become the new ITSC Director, replacing John Sharkey who recently retired. Joe spent 37 years with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, most recently serving as Chief Information Officer.

John Sharkey will remain with the ITSC as a part time NASWA employee, focusing his time on the State Information Data Exchange System (SIDES) project.

Lou Ansaldi was recently hired as the ITSC Director of Technology.