Lea Eriksen, the longtime director of the Long Beach Department of Technology and Innovation, will soon exit her role with the city.
That department is tasked with overseeing all of Long Beach’s technological needs, from the Go Long Beach app to permit management software and everything in between, according to the city’s website.
Eriksen’s career with the city has been long. She initially joined Long Beach in 2014 as a budget manager in the Financial Management Department and later moved up to assistant finance director before eventually accepting the role as TID’s director in 2018, according to a recent news release.
“(Eriksen’s) leadership has positioned Long Beach as a national model for digital equity and technology-driven public service,” City Manager Tom Modica said in the news release. “Her vision and strategic focus have strengthened our technology infrastructure and improved how we deliver services to the community. We’re grateful for her service to Long Beach and wish her continued success in this next chapter.”
As TID director, Eriksen managed the department’s $90 million annual budget and nearly 200 employees.
Some of her key achievements as department head include coordinating an $80 million tech infrastructure modernization project, and developing various community-centered programs, including the Digital Inclusion Initiative, the Digital Rights platform, Long beach Co-Lab and Love Your Block.
All of those programs, the city said, focus on helping bridge the digital divide for Long Beach residents who have less access to modern technology and the internet, addressing community problems using technology, and promoting positive change in Long Beach.
Long Beach has also received numerous awards for its technological programs under Eriksen’s leadership, including five consecutive No. 1 Digital City rankings. And for the past eight years running, Long Beach has been designated as a Digital Inclusion Trailblazer by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance — which recognizes cities that implement programs and policies to increase digital equity for their residents.
“Serving the Long Beach community has been one of the greatest honors of my career,” Eriksen said. “I am deeply proud of the work our team has accomplished together in building a connected, secure and future-ready Long Beach, including strengthening cybersecurity, modernizing technology infrastructure, expanding digital equity and access, responsibly exploring emerging technology, and nurturing a culture rooted in innovation and service.
“Long Beach is my home,” she added, “and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to help shape its future.”
Eriksen’s last day as TID director will be on April 3, the city said. She has accepted a position as senior assistant city manager for Culver City.
Details about Eriksen’s interim replacement and the plan to recruit her permanent replacement will be announced in the coming weeks, the city said.