Controller-elect announces tech-heavy transition team

A week after Rebecca Rhynhart secured the City Controller seat with 82 percent of the vote — on a platform of transparency, tech and modernization — the former Chief Administrative Officer has announced the team that will over see the transition.

Led by Kellan White, Rhynhart’s former campaign manager, the team will be chaired by a team of three: Brigitte Daniel, Executive Vice President of Wilco Electronics Systems and founder of Mogulette; Richard Vague, Managing Partner of Gabriel Investments; and attorney Heather Steinmiller, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for consulting firm Conner Strong & Buckelew.

Tech-backed Rhynhart said the foursome will help her implement campaign promises — like yearly department audits with a focus on modernization and the public release of open data sets — and put together a team.

“I’m thrilled to have their experience, wisdom and skills, and I look forward to working with them over the next couple months so we can begin the work of the Controller’s Office immediately in January,” said Rhynhart.

Vague, a noted investor recently presented with PACT’s Legend Award for Lifetime Achievement, also served as finance chair of Rhynhart’s campaign.

Now the real work begins! Excited to announce the leadership team for my transition into the City Controller's Office. https://t.co/VzjXC5iuQa

— Rebecca Rhynhart (@RebeccaRhynhart) November 13, 2017

For Daniel, a prominent voice in Philly’s efforts to woo Amazon’s HQ2, her role in the team will be to help Rhynhart’s office to “use technology to create more transparency in government and user friendly interfaces through open data, review innovative governance practices across the Country to employ here in Philadelphia, and provide a guiding voice in ensuring that she is bringing on the best and most diverse tech talent in the City as she begins to craft a new presence and role of the Controllers office.”