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NEWS RELEASE
Department of General Services
DATE:  December 17, 1998
FOR RELEASE:  IMMEDIATE
NUMBER:   98-26 INTERNET:  www.dgs.ca.gov
Department of General Services Director Leaves Behind an "On-Time, On Budget" Record
Sacramento — Peter Stamison, the Director of the state’s Department of General Services (DGS), has announced his resignation effective December 31, 1998, following three and a half years as head of the agency known as California’s "business services provider."
 
"Thanks to the efforts of a talented team of professionals, DGS has made the business of California government more efficient and effective," said Stamison. "We’ve transformed the agency from one of command and control to an agency recognized nationally as a customer-focused, results-driven leader We’ve demonstrated that business principles and disciplines do apply to public-sector management"
 
DGS oversees California’s multibillion-dollar real estate assets, purchasing systems, telecommunications, publishing, transportation services, allocation of school bond monies, and adjudicating claims for the state. While under Stamison’s leadership, DGS has initiated several reforms that have saved the state time and money including:
  • The sale of the state-run telecommunications network, "CALNET," to the team of Pacific Bell/MCI; a privatization effort that will give state government access to the most advanced communications technology available, while saving millions of dollars through lower rates.
  • Consolidation of state office leases in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, and elsewhere—an effort that will save taxpayers more than $1 billion over the next 20 to 30 years.
  • Streamlining the process for funding and building public schools.
  • The sale of surplus state property, including the former West Agnews Developmental Center in the City of Santa Clara, which means revenues in excess of $350 million returned to taxpayers.
  • "User-friendly" procurement reforms, including a stockless catalog for office supplies through a contract with Office Depot that has saved the state nearly $9 million a year by leveraging buying power and reducing delivery time.
  • Implementation of a state credit card system for small purchases. Use of "CAL-Card" has saved the state an estimated $13.5 million.
Under Mr. Stamison’s tenure, DGS has earned several national awards for its cost-cutting solutions, including the National Association of Directors of Administration and General Services "Outstanding Program Award" for Human Resources and Real Estate Asset Management programs, and the National Association of State Information Resource Executives award for "Outstanding Achievement" in information technology solutions.
 
In May 1995, Governor Pete Wilson appointed Mr. Stamison as Director of DGS, and he also served as Chairman of the Board of Control, which oversees claims against the state, as well as administering the crime victims restitution program. Mr. Stamison is a native of Chicago, Illinois where he graduated from Northwestern University Kellogg School with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a major in Marketing. Upon graduation, he joined the Dow Chemical Company and ultimately became head of Marketing Research, Pricing, and Marketing Planning for the company.
 
In 1983 Mr. Stamison co-founded a long-distance telephone company in Pasadena, California. As that company was sold, he entered the digital data transmission business as President and Chief Executive Officer of BITS, Inc. Prior to joining DGS, he served as Vice President of Marketing, Business Development, and Customer Development for a Lockheed Corporation subsidiary.
 
Mr. Stamison will return to Los Angeles and pursue other opportunities.