Digital Transformation
Replacing spreadsheets with systems that actually work for residents
The Problem
Government agencies run on legacy systems built decades ago. Residents submit paper forms that get manually entered into spreadsheets. Staff spend hours on data entry instead of serving people. Critical compliance tracking happens in email threads. When leadership asks for a status report, someone spends a week pulling numbers from five different sources.
Gavin Rozzi leads digital transformation at NJ DCA, building platforms that replace this chaos with systems residents and staff can actually use. His team has cut reporting time by 70%, connected 564 municipalities to unified tracking systems, and built the data infrastructure behind New Jersey's affordable housing programs.
Director, DHCR Data Center
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
Leading digital transformation initiatives that bridge policy objectives and technical execution. Building an in-house civic technology team that develops modern, resident-first digital experiences while maintaining compliance with security and accessibility standards.
Core Competencies
Executive Leadership
Building and leading cross-functional teams that bridge technical and policy domains. Fostering collaborative cultures that deliver results.
Stakeholder Engagement
Translating complex technical initiatives for diverse audiences. Building relationships across government, community, and technology sectors.
Technical Architecture
Directing platform strategy and technical architecture to modernize legacy systems while ensuring scalability, security, and maintainability.
Policy Implementation
Operationalizing complex policies through technology. Bridging the gap between legislative intent and practical execution.
Government Projects
NJ HOMES Choice Tool
Interactive planning tool implementing A4/S50 affordable housing calculations for all 564 municipalities, supporting NJ HOMES grantmaking and municipal compliance.
Operation Right Answer: Housing Services Modernization
Led development of a data-driven service framework to modernize how New Jersey housing programs serve residents, partnering with the New Jersey Innovation Authority to implement AI-assisted contact center technology.
NJ Eviction Guide
Interactive self-help tool connecting New Jersey's most vulnerable residents directly to housing assistance and legal resources.
Municipal Lead Reporting Portal
Statewide compliance platform capturing residential lead-paint inspection data for all 564 New Jersey municipalities.
OPRAmachine
New Jersey's first statewide freedom of information platform, processing over 75,000 public records requests and releasing 250GB of government data.
Recognition
Speaking & Media
Re-envisioning Housing Data: Usability, Integration, and Systems Alignment
2025 Monarch Housing Associates Conference
talkFrom Prompt to Public Service: Putting Advanced AI Use Cases into Production for Government Teams
Community of Practice for Public Evaluation and Research (CoPPER)
pressForked River man awarded Governor's Team of Excellence honor for affordable housing work
Shore News Network
talkPredicting the Vulnerability of New Jersey Communities to Opiate Overdoses Using People, Places & Things: A Spatial Risk Modeling Approach
Bloustein School Research Day - Lightning Talks
Articles & Insights
React and TypeScript Best Practices for Government Applications
Lessons learned building production React applications with TypeScript for government clients who demand reliability, accessibility, and security
Feb 15, 2024Digital Transformation in Government: Lessons from the Trenches
Practical insights on modernizing government technology infrastructure and processes from years of hands-on experience
May 12, 2023Why Open Data Matters for Government Transparency
Exploring how open data initiatives improve government services and enable citizen engagement in the digital age
Aug 20, 2022Frequently Asked Questions
What is digital transformation in government?
Digital transformation in government involves modernizing legacy systems, implementing citizen-first digital services, and using data to improve decision-making. It requires balancing innovation with compliance, security, and accessibility requirements unique to the public sector.
What is Gavin Rozzi's role at NJ DCA?
Gavin Rozzi serves as Director of the DHCR Data Center at the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. He leads digital transformation initiatives, building an in-house civic technology team that develops modern, resident-first digital experiences.
How does digital transformation improve government services?
Digital transformation improves government services by making them more accessible, efficient, and user-friendly. This includes online portals for citizen services, automated workflows, data-driven decision making, and mobile-friendly interfaces that meet residents where they are.
What challenges exist in government digital transformation?
Key challenges include modernizing legacy systems while maintaining continuity, meeting strict security and compliance requirements, ensuring accessibility for all users, managing change across large organizations, and balancing innovation with budget constraints.
What makes Gavin Rozzi's approach to digital transformation effective?
Gavin Rozzi combines technical expertise with deep understanding of government operations and policy. His approach emphasizes building in-house capability, user-centered design, and practical solutions that work within public sector constraints.
About the Author
