IT councils hire executive director

The Industry Advisory Council and the Federal Government Information Processing Councils today named Joiwind Ronen as the new executive director of both organizations.

Ronen, managing director for consulting services at Touchstone Consulting Group Inc., will start June 2, said Bob Woods, IAC and FGIPC president. She will leave her position as a Washington consultant in mid-May, Woods said.

Ronen replaces Alan Balutis, who resigned in January after he could not reach an agreement with the organization's board of directors about his outside consulting work with member companies (Click here for background coverage from Washington Technology)

Since Balutis' departure, Vivan Ronen?no relation to Joiwind?has been serving as acting director.

"We are excited about having her," Woods said. "She will bring a lot to the table for IAC and FGIPC. She has a background with a nonprofit association and has been involved with fund raising."

Previously, Ronen was the director of the Intergovernmental Technology Leadership Consortium for the Council for Excellence in Government. She also has worked for the Justice Department and held several other industry positions.

"She understands how to deliver value to private-sector companies when asking for sponsorships and how to work with them," Woods said. "The board felt she could strike a delicate balance between the goals of companies and the organization."

The board chose Ronen from more than 130 applicants, which it whittled down to 11 and then interviewed six, Woods said.

"It was a long process, and we ended with excellent candidates," he said. "Any one of the six would have been excellent choices. We felt Joiwind brings a lot of new ideas and energy and, with everything both organizations have going on, we need someone who brings those things."