It is a team of former public sector professionals who meet quarterly with Apex leadership to guide the strategy, services, and priorities of our Public Sector Clients.
The Public Sector Strategic Advisory Council at Apex
Apex Technology Management formed the Public Sector Strategic Advisory Council to keep our government and municipal services grounded in real public sector experience. Built for city, county, and special district leaders across California, the council shapes how we approach cybersecurity, compliance, and IT strategy for the organizations that serve your community.
35
+
Years of Experience
2024
Council founded
4
x
Strategy reviews yearly
4
Council members
Trust Indicators
- 34 Years Supporting Municipal Clients
- Council of Former Public Sector Executives
- Strategic Partnerships with the FBI and Statewide Associations
- Quarterly Strategic Review Process
- NIST 800-53 Cybersecurity Compliance
- California-Based Public Sector Team
Highlights
- Guided by former police chiefs, county officials, and finance executives, not just IT vendors
- Strategic insight built from decades inside municipal government, not observed from outside it
- Services reviewed quarterly against real, emerging public sector challenges
- A direct line between council recommendations and the programs we deliver
- A long-term public sector partner, not a one-time technology vendor
What Is the Public Sector Strategic Advisory Council
In 2024, Apex formed the Public Sector Strategic Advisory Council, a team of former public sector professionals who meet quarterly to identify, enhance, and oversee the services we deliver to government clients. The council gives our team direct access to industry-specific insight, helps us scale responsibly, and keeps our strategic direction grounded in the day-to-day realities of running a public agency.
Every member has spent their career inside government, in law enforcement, county administration, or municipal finance, not on the outside of it advising from a distance. That perspective shapes decisions most MSPs never get right, from how a cybersecurity rollout affects a small IT department to how a technology purchase moves through a public procurement cycle.
A Track Record Built Inside Public Sector, Not Around It
Apex has supported municipal clients for 34 years. In that time, we have built strategic partnerships with the FBI and presented to organizations including CIRA, MISAC, SCORE, CSMFO, JPA associations, the Alliant Board, and numerous municipalities throughout California.
We also brought Marc Coopwood on to chair the council, adding more than 27 years of law enforcement leadership directly into how we serve municipal government clients. Combined with the council’s quarterly review process, this gives public sector leaders a level of built-in accountability that is uncommon among managed service providers.
Meet the Council
Marc is the Chairman of our Public Sector Strategic Advisory Council, where he guides key initiatives and strategic priorities across government-facing efforts. He is the former Assistant Chief of Police in the City of Beverly Hills. He also served as a Police Captain for the City of Sacramento and is a Past President of the California Peace Officers' Association (CPOA). Marc has over 27 years of experience leading Police Departments and CPOA in the Public Sector space. He has a deep understanding and expertise in supporting Public Safety agencies and municipal government at all levels.
Marc holds a Master's Degree in Emergency Services Administration from California State University at Long Beach. Marc is also a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy, P.O.S.T. Command College, and the Senior Management Institute for Police.
George Passidakis holds an Information Technology degree from California State University, Long Beach and has over 30 years of experience as an Information Technology professional. During his ten years at Apex, he has been dedicated to bringing complicated technology down to earth for everyday use, ensuring both new and existing clients get the personal and professional service they deserve.
His experience includes founding a custom database applications company, working as an IT consultant and holding a position as Sales IT Manager for Cisco Systems, VMX Inc. and Octel Communications. George is leveraging the Sandler Sales Process with his team to drive new customer acquisition. He also has extensive knowledge of Microsoft technology and other SMB IT products and solutions.
Dana spent over 29 years with Tehama County, retiring as Treasurer and Tax Collector. In that role, she managed the county's investment portfolio and served as the IT liaison between the county and its managed service provider, working directly with the elected board of supervisors to plan infrastructure upgrades and allocate resources across general fund departments.
Before Tehama County, Dana served as Vice President and Controller of a regional savings and loan, overseeing accounting and acting as technology coordinator across all branches. She has also served the community as Treasurer for Kiwanis and the local United Way chapter, on the Department of Education site council, and as a FEMA board member.
Before Tehama County, Dana served as Vice President and Controller of a regional savings and loan, overseeing accounting and acting as technology coordinator across all branches. She has also served the community as Treasurer for Kiwanis and the local United Way chapter, on the Department of Education site council, and as a FEMA board member.
Professional Highlights
- Bachelor of Science in Economics, University of Illinois
- Treasury Management Certificate, University of Southern California and the California Association of Treasurer/Tax Collectors
Jay brings more than 42 years of leadership in law enforcement and public administration. He began his career with the Dallas and Lansing, Michigan police departments, later serving as Police Chief and City Administrator for the City of Chowchilla, California. He was elected Sheriff of Madera County in 2014 and appointed County Administrative Officer in 2020, where he oversaw 25 county departments and a budget exceeding 500 million dollars.
During his tenure, Jay guided Madera County through the COVID-19 pandemic, supported the reopening of Madera Community Hospital, advanced major infrastructure projects, and helped drive measurable growth in revenue, housing, and business development. He retired in 2025 after a career dedicated to public service.
During his tenure, Jay guided Madera County through the COVID-19 pandemic, supported the reopening of Madera Community Hospital, advanced major infrastructure projects, and helped drive measurable growth in revenue, housing, and business development. He retired in 2025 after a career dedicated to public service.
Public Sector Challenges This Council Was Built to Address
Government and municipal leaders face a specific set of pressures that generic IT support was never built to handle.
- Tight budgets and public procurement cycles that limit flexibility
- Cybersecurity threats increasingly aimed at local government and Special Districts
- Compliance obligations spanning CJIS and public records requirements
- Aging infrastructure that was never designed for today’s threat landscape
- IT staffing shortages and turnover in public sector departments
- Pressure to report clearly and confidently to elected boards and the public
These are not abstract concerns to our council members. They managed these exact pressures from inside a public agency, which is why their input carries weight in how we build our services.
How the Council Shapes Our Public Sector Solutions
Council input flows directly into the programs our team delivers. That means fewer disruptions during rollouts, cybersecurity programs designed around real municipal risk, support response times that respect the pace of public agency operations, predictable monthly costs that fit public budgeting cycles, and compliance documentation built for audit, not assembled after the fact.
Council-Informed Service Areas
Cybersecurity and Compliance Guidance
Security programs shaped by former law enforcement leadership and reviewed quarterly against emerging threats.
Expected outcome: Stronger protection and audit-ready documentation.
Budget and Procurement Strategy
Technology planning built around how public agencies actually approve and fund projects.
Expected outcome: Fewer budget surprises and smoother approvals.
Infrastructure Modernization Planning
Practical roadmaps for replacing aging systems without disrupting daily operations.
Expected outcome: Modern infrastructure with minimal service interruption.
Emergency Preparedness and Continuity Planning
Continuity plans informed by leaders who managed real emergencies, including a countywide pandemic response.
Expected outcome: Confidence that critical services stay online and staff continue to have access to critical systems to provide vital services to the public.
Council and
Board Reporting
Board Reporting
Clear reporting frameworks built for elected councils, boards and public accountability.
Expected outcome: Easier communication with leadership and the community.
Why Public Sector Leaders Choose Apex
Most MSPs serve government clients using the same processes they use for any other business. Apex built a dedicated structure around public sector work instead, a Strategic Advisory Council made up entirely of former public sector employees, chaired by a leader with a law enforcement background. We are not aware of another MSP in California with an advisory structure built this way.
That structure shows up in how we work: procurement timelines we understand firsthand, compliance frameworks built for public agencies, and a reporting style suited to elected boards and constituents, not just IT departments.
Public Sector Scenarios We Help Address
Problem: A city preparing for a cybersecurity audit with no formal documentation in place.
Solution: Apex builds a compliance framework and monitoring program aligned to the audit standard, guided by council input on what auditors actually expect.
Outcome: A defensible security posture and a smoother audit process.
Problem: A city or county managing infrastructure that has not been updated in over a decade.
Solution: Apex develops a phased modernization roadmap that fits the budget cycle and minimizes disruption to daily operations.
Outcome: Modern, secure infrastructure without a disruptive all-at-once overhaul.
Problem: A joint powers authority coordinating IT policy across multiple member agencies.
Solution: Apex standardizes security and support across every member agency under one accountable plan.
Outcome: Consistent protection and support regardless of which agency is affected.
The Cost of Waiting
Public agencies are not exempt from cyber risk, and in many cases they are more exposed than private businesses. Every month without a clear compliance framework increases audit risk. Every unpatched system is a potential entry point for ransomware aimed at municipal data. Downtime does not just cost money in government, it disrupts services residents depend on. Addressing this does not require alarm. It requires a plan, built with people who understand the environment you operate in.
// SERVICE COVERAGE
Local IT Support across Northern California
REDDING (HQ)
CHICO
SACRAMENTO
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Frequently Asked Questions
Who serves on the council?
Council members include former law enforcement executives, county administrators, and public finance leaders.
How does the council actually influence the services Apex provides?
The council meets quarterly to review emerging public sector challenges and provide direct input on our cybersecurity, compliance, and IT strategy programs before they reach clients.
Does working with Apex's public sector team cost more than a standard MSP?
No. Public sector clients receive the same predictable, flat monthly pricing model as our other managed IT clients, structured around your budget cycle. Apex offers fully managed and co-managed services to support organizations with no IT staff or those with some IT staff that need a strong partner to help fill in the gaps.
Does Apex only work with large counties, or also smaller municipalities and special districts?
Apex supports public agencies of varying sizes, from small special districts, city governments, county governments and tailors service scope to each agency’s needs.
How is this different from your general government services page?
Our government services page covers the managed IT services we deliver. This page explains the council that shapes and oversees those services, and introduces the people behind it.
Talk With Apex Technology Management's Public Sector Team
If you’d like to learn how the Apex Technology Management Public Sector Strategic Advisory Council, comprised entirely of former public sector leaders, helps shape technology strategy for agencies across California, we’d welcome the opportunity to connect. Schedule a consultation with Apex Technology Management, and we’ll walk you through how our council-driven approach supports cybersecurity, compliance, and long-term IT planning for public sector organizations.
