What is the U.S. Census Bureau’s technology innovation strategy? How is Census using new technologies to improve services and products? Join host Michael Keegan as he explores these questions and more with Avi Bender, Chief Technology Officer, U.S. Census Bureau.

Avi Bender is currently the Chief Technology Officer for the US Census Bureau, in charge of Enterprise Architecture and IT Governance. He is leading the optimization of Census' IT through standards, shared services, and innovation. Prior to the Census, Avi was the Director of EA at the Internal Revenue Service. Prior to joining the IRS, Avi held executive level positions at IBM, Price Waterhouse LLP, GTE (Verizon), and he was the cofounder of a software company.  

This enterprise includes mailing out 600 million forms and marshaling a network of 1.3 million temporary employees to count over 300 million people living in 130 million households. It is expected the cost of the current census will ultimately exceed $13 billion—or about $50 per person given population estimates. Against the backdrop of the economic downturn and escalated pressure on Congress and government agencies to curtail excessive spending, the Census Bureau has worked to capitalize on technological developments to meet its mission—and save money doing it.