Power Players | 2 - Karen Evans

Administrator of e-government and information technology at the Office of Management and Budget. She was named to the post in September 2003. No. 2. Evans remains a formidable force in government IT. As we noted last year, the person in this position is the de facto federal CIO and, in our opinion, a Power Player. Evans is not responsible for a large budget, but the Bush administration’s top-down management style has made OMB more important than it has been during other administrations. Evans’ work, particularly on future budgets, will influence government IT for years to come.Furthermore, OMB recently joined forces with Don Tapscott, chief executive officer of New Paradigm and co-author of the book “Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything.” OMB, the CIO Council and New Paradigm will explore what Web 2.0 means for government — an initiative Evans no doubt hopes her successor will continue. As the Bush administration winds down, its ability to get things done slowly deteriorates. However, Evans has proven to be adept at maneuvering within the government bureaucracy, and she has earned a reputation as a formidable implementer. She will be working on budgets that a new administration, regardless of party, will largely rubber-stamp. Steady.