Ruthbea Yesner is the Vice President of IDC Government Insights and the global director of the Smart Cities Strategies practice at IDC. In this practice, Ms. Yesner coordinates the Smart City team and Smart City research worldwide. Ms. Yesner's research discusses the strategies and execution of relevant Smart City technologies and non-technology best practice areas, such as governance, innovation, partnerships and business models essential for Smart City development.  Ms. Yesner's research includes the Internet of Things, Big data analytics, cloud computing, mobility and social media in public works, transportation, public safety, smart water, community engagement and Open Data initiatives. Ms. Yesner contributes to consulting engagements to support state and local governments' Smart City strategies and IT vendors’ overall Smart City market strategies.

BACKGROUND

Ms. Yesner contributes to the IDC Community and in publications such as Government Technology, Government Computer News, CivSource, M2M Evolution, CIO magazine,  SmartGrid News, Connected World and FedTech magazine.  She has contributed to U.S. publications such as American City & County, StateTech, .Gov magazine covering technology in the Middle East, and iThome a Taiwanese IT magazine.  Ms. Yesner's publications include a chapter with PTI and the Global Institute on the first developmental model for smart cities in Smart Cities for a Bright Sustainable Future: A Global Perspective which is available on Amazon.  Her latest publication is on smart city measurements and assessments, published in February 2017 in Managing for Social Impact: Innovations in Responsible Enterprise, by Springer. She is a frequent speaker and panelist at industry events.

Ms. Yesner has had several roles at IDC over the past 15 years. Ms. Yesner helped launch the IDC end-user research Vertical Group as the Director of Vertical Views following five years as a Consulting Director for large-scale international projects that provided strategic and tactical marketing services, including market opportunity assessments, competitive analysis, and cost/benefit analysis.

Ms. Yesner joined IDC following work as a product manager in Internet start-ups in Silicon Valley.  Prior to that, she worked in state social services as a director of programs serving young adults and adolescents diagnosed with substance abuse and mental health issues.

EDUCATION/INDUSTRY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Ms. Yesner holds a BA from Wesleyan University, and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Boston College with an MBA and MSW joint degree.

On January 20th, 2016, Ms. Yesner was presented with the James Peacock 2015 Memorial Award for excellence in her contributions to IDC research and IDC clients.

Follow Ruthbea on Twitter @RuthbeaClarke.