ISD Business Analyst Office Team
Kory Asfour and Alen Plicanic
Alen Plicanic and Kory Asfour
Alen and Kory are IT Business Systems Analysts in the Information Services Department and have been key in the success of many cutting edge and transformative programs that not only serve to help County departments, but County residents as well. This team has provided project management and guidance to such major projects as the County’s Artificial Intelligence Appropriate Use Policy and related projects, the Humbl blockchain project, the development of an RFP for the NextGen radio and the Master Broadband Plan for the County. Both Kory and Alen have brought a high level of professionalism, openness, and customer finesse to every project that they have taken on, from innovative technology, RFP review, contract review, or business analysis on workflows and use of countywide applications like Docusign, Laserfiche, and the expanded Microsoft suite. The success of these projects and initiatives owe much to the diligence, expertise, and commitment of the ISD Business Analyst Office Team, and we thank Alen and Kory for their dedication to process improvement and innovation.
Judy Nagamine
Judy Nagamine
Judy began working for the County of Santa Cruz in October 2021 as an internal auditor assigned to Emergency Operations and Response. Joining the County team in the midst of the COVID-19 disaster, Judy jumped into her new role and became the primary administrator of the County’s FEMA grants related to COVID. Over time her role expanded to administration of FEMA grants related to the CZU fires and assisting in the development and refinement of the County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) finance processes. In January 2023, the County experienced a devastating atmospheric river storm and Judy had an integral role as the assistant chief of finance for the EOC during that event, as well as the subsequent March 2023 storm. During those storm events Judy displayed the ability to bring a sense of order amid chaos, and after the storms cleared Judy showed great initiative in taking every available opportunity to learn about the damage suffered by the County during the storms. Judy’s foresight to do this better informed the County’s FEMA grant applications for the events, allowed Judy to develop important relationships with representatives from CalOES and FEMA ,and also made her aware of an opportunity to apply for California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA) grant funding. Judy set her mind to obtaining the funding and her diligence resulted in a $9 million CDAA advance from CalOES, and over the course of 2023 Judy’s work has resulted in obligated or received grant funding totaling more than $11 million. Judy’s work serving the County’s EOC and administering disaster grants has been for the benefit of the entire County government and community.
Ramon Gomez
Ramon Gomez
Ramon began working as a County Supervisor’s Analyst for the Fourth district in 2016 and since that time he has been invested in projects that improve the day-to-day lives of our community members. Ramon has been instrumental in organizing monthly and sometimes bi-monthly cleanups in the Fourth District that have not only transformed the appearance of our neighborhoods but have also fostered a sense of pride and community engagement. One of the key aspects of Ramon's efforts is prioritizing identifying areas both within the city boundaries and in unincorporated regions of the Fourth District that are in need of community cleanup, and it is this proactive approach that ensures that no corner of our community is neglected, contributing to a cleaner and healthier environment for everyone. Ramon has collaborated on clean-up projects with partners from various organizations, including County Public Works, Watsonville Works, the City of Watsonville, and the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project; and Ramon’s ability to bring together these diverse entities demonstrates his effective leadership and his understanding of the importance of cooperation in achieving common goals. Beyond the physical transformation of our neighborhoods, Ramon's cleanups have had a profound impact on community morale, giving residents a renewed sense of connection and pride in their surroundings, and fostering a positive atmosphere that extends beyond the cleanup events. Ramon’s selfless efforts have not only enhanced the aesthetics of the Fourth District but have also inspired others to take an active role in maintaining the beauty of our community.