Agawam’s new IT Director Peter Kochanek meets with the City Council at its most recent meeting on Sept. 15.
Photo credit: Agawam Media
AGAWAM — Mayor Christopher Johnson joined the City Council meeting on Sept. 15 to introduce the new IT Director, Peter Kochanek, to the council and community.
Kochanek has served different IT roles within Agawam for the past 20 years. He worked in Agawam Public Schools for three years before serving as the IT systems administrator in Agawam for the past 17 years.
The IT systems administrator position has been posted and Kochanek will begin interviewing people for the vacant role that he left.
Kochanek has a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems and maintained several IT certifications.
Kochanek said, “I believe that these credentials combined with the discipline and problem solving skills that I earned through my military experience will help me build a more secure and innovative IT environment for the town of Agawam.”
Kochanek also worked closely with former Agawam IT Director Jeffrey Hurlbert, who retired in June, and said his “leadership and mentorship” played a key role into shaping the IT Department to what it is today.
For example, last November, Agawam took a major step forward in improving its public access to local government services by expanding its online permitting capabilities in partnership with OpenGov.
For over a decade, Agawam utilized permit management software to streamline its permitting processes. In December 2024, the city will launch a new public permitting portal, enabling residents and businesses to apply for several permits online.
The city and OpenGov intend to continue collaborating to bring additional permits online, further improving efficiency and transparency for local constituents.
Johnson talked more about moving Kochanek to the director of the IT Department.
Johnson said, “Peter Kochanek has been a tremendous asset for us. It was a very, very easy choice for me to move him up to the top spot. He’s made some significant enhancements since he’s been in that top spot improving our cybersecurity.”
Johnson also stated the city recently qualified to purchase “substantial” cyber and social engineering insurance coverage which is necessary to operate not only a municipality, but any business, according to Johnson.
“Pete was the one that was the cornerstone in making sure that happened,” Johnson said, “Couldn’t be more happy that he agreed to take the top job.”
Hulbert served as Agawam’s IT director for the last 28 years, but Johnson said, “While we miss his predecessor Jeff Hulbert very much, Pete is an outstanding choice to move us to the future.”
