Public official

Rich Gagnon

This page lists only public roles and public actions, each with its source. Why.

Offices

Director of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, City of Amarillo	2016 – Aug 26, 2021
Managing Director/Chief Information Officer, City of Amarillo	Aug 26, 2021 – end not yet sourced
Assistant City Manager and Chief Information Officer, City of Amarillo	dates not yet sourced
Assistant City Manager and Chief Technology Officer, City of Amarillo Resignation effective July 22, 2026, announced by the City on July 2, 2026.	start not yet sourced – Jul 22, 2026

Events

Jun 28, 2016Council approves technology for a proposed 311 non-emergency system
Jan 24, 2017Council work session receives an "Update on 311 and Open Technology"
Jun 2021Tyler announces Amarillo has gone live with EnerGov civic services software
about Oct 2021Council backs an ARPA-funded fixed-wireless broadband access plan
May 24, 2022Council approves a two-year, $270,700.08 interlocal agreement for MyGovernmentOnline software
about Jun 2022City selects AT&T for its broadband access plan
about Jun 2022Council unanimously approves $24 million fiber partnership with AT&T, with $2 million in ARPA funds
about Nov 2022Construction of the AT&T fiber network under way in north Amarillo
Aug 1, 2023Council awards Dell Technologies up to $582,948.89 to develop a website "digital human"
Aug 9, 2023Workday announces Amarillo has selected Workday applications
Nov 1, 2023City says its website will get a multilingual digital human in early 2024
about May 2024City's CIO describes Emma at Dell Technologies World; public launch expected in October
Dec 10, 2024Council renews Dell's hosted digital-human agreement for $553,052
Mar 13, 2025City reports Emma answered more than 16,400 questions in about three months
Sep 2025Dell and UneeQ publish case studies on Emma
Sep 9, 2025Council renews the digital-human agreement with Dell for $252,489.97 in ARPA funds
Sep 23, 2025Council approves enQuesta change order moving go-live from November 3, 2025 to March 30, 2026
about Sep 2025City and AT&T complete the fiber internet project
Oct 29, 2025CIO tells Government Technology Emma answers about half of the City's monthly questions
Dec 9, 2025Council approves a five-year, $549,424 Workday Success Plan and a $175,000 Caber consulting renewal
Jul 22, 2026Assistant City Manager Rich Gagnon, who led Emma's creation, leaves the City
Sep 23, 2026Combined CM turnover cost tops $1.2M; other executives also departed

Sources

1.City of Amarillo tabs Gagnon as Managing Director/Chief Information Officer — ABC7 Amarillo (KVII), Aug 26, 2021 · retrieved Oct 10, 2026newsIndependentStates: "In his most recent position with the city, Gagnon was CIO and director of Information Technology."
2.COA Assistant City Manager/Chief Technology Officer Gagnon Resigns — City of Amarillo, Jul 2, 2026 · retrieved Oct 10, 2026primarySubject-authoredStates: "Gagnon has held several management positions with the city since 2016, including director of information technology, managing director and chief information officer."
3.Amarillo CIO: Transforming Business Requires Innovation, Collaboration — GovTech (Industry Insider – Texas), Apr 20, 2023 · retrieved Oct 10, 2026newsIndependentStates: "An Amarillo native with a long career in private-sector IT, he returned home in 2016 as the city’s tech leader."
4.Recent City leadership turnover has cost taxpayers over $1 million — Amarillo Tribune, Sep 23, 2026 · retrieved Oct 9, 2026news
5.City of Amarillo Names Gagnon as Chief Information Officer — The Amarillo Pioneer, Aug 26, 2021 · retrieved Oct 10, 2026newsIndependentStates: "City officials have tapped Rich Gagnon to serve as Amarillo’s new Managing Director/Chief Information Officer."
6.City Council minutes, regular meeting of September 12, 2023 — City of Amarillo, Sep 12, 2023 · retrieved Oct 10, 2026primarySubject-authoredItem 8.W.
7.City Council minutes, regular meeting of June 24, 2025 — City of Amarillo, Jun 24, 2025 · retrieved Oct 10, 2026primarySubject-authoredFrom the City's CivicClerk meeting portal; date is the meeting date. Consent item 8.K removed; no action.
8.City Council Agenda Planner (posted November 20, 2025) — City of Amarillo, Nov 20, 2025 · retrieved Oct 9, 2026primarySubject-authoredAnticipated items for the December 9, 2025 meeting; final agendas may differ and the planner does not record outcomes.
9.Amarillo's Chief Technology Officer resigns amid water billing controversy, $85,000 audit — ABC7 Amarillo (KVII), Jul 2, 2026 · retrieved Oct 10, 2026newsIndependentStates: "The city of Amarillo announced Thursday that Gagnon, assistant city manager and chief technology officer, will leave the city effective July 22. The city did not give a reason for his resignation."