TO: EDITORS, NEWS DIRECTORS

DATE: May 10, 2000

FOR: IMMEDIATE RELEASE

McNany Named State Employee of the Year

PHOENIX - Jeffrey McNany, Electronic Data Processing Administrator for the Corporations Division of the Arizona Corporation Commission, was named State Employee of the Year on May 3, 2000. McNany is in charge of the division's entire computer, data processing, website and electronic imaging systems. McNany was chosen from a field of 79 nominees to receive the highest award for individual achievement granted by the Arizona Administrators Association.

In April 1993, McNany and two other employees were tasked with providing public access to the complete database of corporations and limited liability companies (LLCs) operating in the state. At the time, government agencies and members of the public had to call or visit the Commission to access this information. Each inquiry required the direct assistance of a staff member to look up data on the 115,000 corporations and 1,200 LLCs that existed at the time. STARPAS, the State of Arizona Public Access System, became fully operational in December 1993 and now provides direct public access to over 200,000 corporations and 52,000 LLCs.

Last year, McNany launched an ambitious program to convert the Corporations Division system to Windows NT from Windows 3.1. The total system upgrade also involved transitioning to new application software, training the staff and troubleshooting problems. When he saw the need for a stronger Internet presence, McNany started building a website without the benefit of any formal training in web development. The resulting site was showcased at a 1999 convention as a model for other states. McNany also oversaw Y2K readiness for the division and helped other state agencies prepare for the date change.

"Most organizations turn to computer support staff as troubleshooters only. Jeff is an innovator and pioneer," said Joanne MacDonnell, director of the Commission's Corporations Division. "He's brought us into the modern age, given the public greater access to information and saved the state money by implementing technology where appropriate."

MacDonnell and seven co-workers from the division nominated McNany. He also shared his expertise with the State Board of Respiratory Care Examiners, an agency that had no one on staff to support their computer systems or help prepare for Y2K. This organization also joined in nominating McNany for Employee of the Year.

Chairman Carl Kunasek, Commissioner Jim Irvin and Commissioner Bill Mundell, the three elected officials who head the Arizona Corporation Commission, publicly recognized McNany's achievement at an open meeting on May 9. Chairman Kunasek presented him with a plaque and said: "We are fortunate to have on staff someone with the dedication, spirit and admiration of his peers that you, Mr. McNany, have earned. Congratulations on this outstanding achievement. You are an asset to the state, the Commission and the taxpayers of Arizona."