Priorities Podcast - Episode Summary
Title: ‘High expectations’ drove IT in Tim Walz's Minnesota, says outgoing CIO
Date: February 18, 2026
Host: Colin Wood (StateScoop Editor-in-Chief)
Guest: Tarek Tomes (Outgoing Minnesota CIO)

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth conversation with Tarek Tomes as he prepares to leave his role as Minnesota's Chief Information Officer after nearly seven years of service. Tomes discusses his upcoming move to the University of Minnesota, reflects on his time in state government and leadership under Governor Tim Walz, addresses major IT challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and the MinLARS modernization, and offers perspective for the next generation of government IT leaders.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Transition to the University of Minnesota

• [01:21] Tomes shares excitement about joining the University of Minnesota as Vice President and CIO, working across five campuses, and the opportunity to support the university’s research and educational mission through digital services.

  • “To be a part of a research institution, a vibrant learning environment, where technology will play such a prominent part as it relates to attracting students, retaining students... I consider it just such an amazing, incredible opportunity.” (Tomes, 03:18)

• Reminisces about his early days using the “Gopher” protocol, invented at the University of Minnesota, seeing the move as a “full circle moment.”

2. The Famous “NASIO Socks” Story

• [03:32] Lighthearted anecdote about a tradition at a NASIO panel, where Tomes and colleagues wore socks with Doug Robinson’s likeness as a surprise, joking about them as “collector’s items.”
  • “These are collector items. I might actually put them on eBay one day, you know, just to see at auction how many people bid on the Doug socks.” (Tomes, 04:34)

3. Leadership and Working Under Governor Tim Walz

• [04:54] Tomes credits Governor Walz with fostering a climate of high expectations and servant leadership, emphasizing transparency and a “no surprises” agreement when first hired.

  • “Anything that anyone in our roles could ever wish for is high expectations... an expectation that technology would be at this intersection of being an engine for government.” (Tomes, 05:00)

• Describes Walz’s cabinet as exemplifying servant leadership; cites the administration’s commitment to doing what’s best for Minnesotans during crisis, especially the pandemic.

  • “During COVID... you see only human beings that really have an immense responsibility... when you see the empathy and the compassion and the selflessness, that work was approached to, certainly many decisions that are not popular during those types of times... They were always done in the best interest of, is this what’s best for people in Minnesota?” (Tomes, 06:34)

• Celebrates policy achievements like paid family medical leave and digital innovations supporting social programs.

  • “The state rolling out paid family medical leave program... has already benefited tens of thousands of people.” (Tomes, 08:04)

4. Minnesota IT’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

• [09:04] Tomes vividly recalls technologists “running toward opportunity” despite personal uncertainty, meeting the moment to enable 45,000 employees to work from home and designing digital processes for rapid vaccine distribution.

  • “Technologists really rose up... Wherever there was a need, there was a hand going up from a technologist: ‘I think we can do that, I think we can craft a solution.’” (Tomes, 09:13)
  • Shares emotional stories about the COVID-19 vaccine lottery system and its impact on reducing stress for residents.
    • “I remember people in tears as they essentially had a ticket to go receive a vaccination... the digital technology really reduced stress.” (Tomes, 10:37)

• Stresses the pandemic’s role as a confidence-builder in government IT’s capacity to deliver under pressure, citing long-term springboard effects.

5. Addressing Major IT Projects: MinLARS Modernization

• [12:05] Tomes reflects on inheriting the troubled MinLARS (Minnesota Licensing and Registration System) as his first major task, noting the bipartisan urgency to fix it.
  • “Technology was kind of at the core of that opportunity... and fixing that was kind of a core campaign promise. And within the first year of his administration, we certainly delivered that.” (Tomes, 13:06)

6. Favorite and Most Impactful Projects

• [13:50] Discusses several major initiatives:

  • Modernization of Driver and Vehicle Services (increasing satisfaction and efficiency).
  • Using Medicaid data to expand summer food benefits for 300,000 children.
  • Upgrades to workers’ compensation systems.
  • Overhaul of the child welfare information system to better help families and youth.
    • "Families and children... deserve and should look at... the technology underpinnings that social workers... have to really create a bright future." (Tomes, 15:14)

• Stresses the real culture shift: from seeing technology as a back-office function to an engine that changes government outcomes.

  • “That culture is the most important one. A culture where there’s confidence that the technology organization not only can deliver, but they’re really a core part of the business.” (Tomes, 16:01)

7. On Job Expectations vs. Reality

• [17:02] Tomes admits the role’s scale and complexity exceeded expectations: 2,500 technologists, supporting dozens of agencies, meeting a vast array of business needs.

  • Found organizational culture and cross-agency collaboration crucial: “Changing that mindset that ultimately collectively we have choice over how services are delivered. That culture component... was something that I knew I was going to walk every day to try to espouse.” (Tomes, 17:51)

• Praises the cabinet’s interagency partnership, noting that it “really set the foundation for making so much positive change happen.” (Tomes, 18:54)

8. Advice & Vision for Future State CIOs

• [19:38] Tomes encourages future leaders to view technology as the engine of government, essential to enacting any major policy.

  • “You have to have an incredibly strong technology team to implement whatever policy aspirations you may have... Investing in a very forward-oriented, delivery-oriented technology organization is really, really important.” (Tomes, 19:46)

• Urges breaking down silos and building sustained collaborations with local governments, counties, and tribal nations.

  • “That partnership and togetherness... has to be deep.”

• Leaves with a motivational charge: “Be aspirational, like no ask should be too big for the technology organization.” (Tomes, 21:32)

Notable Quotes

• “That Gopher tool holds a prominent place in computing history as it relates to the Internet... a full circle moment.” — Tarek Tomes (03:18)
• “Anything that anyone in our roles could ever wish for is high expectations... and an expectation that technology would be at this intersection of being an engine for government.” — Tarek Tomes (05:00)
• “The enduring memory was... technologists just really meeting the moment and the confidence that the executive branch really had in that solutions could be crafted in a timely manner to meet those moments.” — Tarek Tomes (11:22)
• “If there is anything you think technology can help as it relates to business outcomes, don’t ever hesitate to have high aspirations. Like, don’t settle.” — Tarek Tomes (17:43)
• “Be aspirational, like no ask should be too big for the technology organization.” — Tarek Tomes (21:32)

Important Timestamps

• [01:21] – Tomes on joining University of Minnesota & ‘Gopher’ legacy
• [03:50] – NASIO sock story
• [04:54] – On Tim Walz, expectations, and servant leadership
• [09:04] – Minnesota IT’s COVID-19 response
• [12:05] – MinLARS: The urgency and success of modernization
• [13:50] – Favorite projects: DMV, food benefits, child welfare system
• [17:02] – Job expectations vs. reality; importance of culture and collaboration
• [19:38] – Guidance for future CIOs: technology as a government engine

Tone and Language

The conversation blends lighthearted banter (e.g., NASIO socks story) with earnest reflections and deeply-felt respect for public service, collaboration, and digital transformation. Tomes throughout remains passionate, reflective, and focused on service and results.

Takeaways

Listeners walk away with a sense of the crucial, often behind-the-scenes role of IT in government transformation. Tomes’ tenure under Tim Walz was marked by high expectations, strong collaboration, fast-paced modernization, and a deep commitment to aspirational, people-centered government technology.

End of Summary