GMIS Illinois

What GMIS Illinois does

GMIS Illinois (Government Management Information Sciences Illinois) is a non-profit professional membership association founded in 1988 by Val Andres, headquartered in Westmont, Illinois. The organization serves as a collaborative forum for local government information technology professionals across Illinois, with membership open to entire agencies — counties, municipalities, libraries, and special districts — through affiliation with the parent GMIS International. It is described as the largest state chapter of GMIS International, providing access to government IT perspectives from across the United States and several other countries. GMIS Illinois does not build or sell software products; its service portfolio consists of quarterly in-person and streamed meetings hosted at member facilities, the annual three-day GIANTS (GMIS Illinois Annual Networking + Training Symposium) conference held each April at the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, monthly virtual training sessions delivered by corporate members on topics including cybersecurity, cloud migration, AI governance, and infrastructure management, a free job board for member agencies, and an awards program (Val Andres Award since 2006, Rick Kaczanko Award since 2022, Slacker Award since 2023).

The organization's revenue model is membership-based with two paying sides. Government agencies join through GMIS International membership, which allocates access to the Illinois chapter. Corporate technology vendors join directly at four tiers — Bronze ($2,000/year for up to 5 members, with $1,000 per additional GIANTS attendee), Silver, Gold, and Platinum — each offering progressively higher visibility, exhibit space, and speaking opportunities at quarterly meetings and the GIANTS conference. Corporate membership is the primary revenue stream, supplemented by conference registration fees (non-member government registration at $800) and exhibit/sponsorship revenue. Notable Platinum and Premium corporate members include Heartland Business Systems, Check Point, Fortinet, Nomic Networks, Pace Systems, and ThinkGard. The organization is staffed by 7 employees and led by a volunteer board of government IT professionals representing member agencies such as the Village of Oak Brook, City of Rolling Meadows, Village of Palatine, Village of Hanover Park, Champaign County, and Village of Woodstock.

Name

GMIS Illinois

Legal name

Government Management Information Sciences Illinois

Website

https://gmisillinois.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GMIS Illinois is a non-profit professional membership association serving 100+ Illinois government agencies and corporate technology vendors through quarterly meetings, the annual GIANTS conference, and training events focused on public sector IT collaboration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Westmont

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from corporate technology vendors seeking access to government IT decision makers. Membership levels include Bronze ($2,000), Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers with varying benefits including exhibit space, speaking opportunities, and quarterly meeting access.
2. Government Membership: Government agencies join through GMIS International membership, which provides access to the Illinois chapter and broader national network of government IT professionals.
3. GIANTS Conference Revenue: Annual conference revenue from exhibit space, registrations, and sponsorship tiers at the GIANTS (GMIS Illinois Annual Networking + Training Symposium) conference held each April.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

GMIS Illinois is a non-profit professional membership association that brings together local government IT professionals and corporate technology vendors. It provides networking, training, and peer-collaboration services through quarterly in-person meetings hosted at member facilities, monthly virtual training sessions, and the annual multi-day GIANTS conference. Membership is offered to entire government agencies via GMIS International and to corporate vendors at four tiered levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum).

Product overview

GMIS Illinois (Government Management Information Sciences Illinois) is a professional membership association for local government information technology professionals. The organization provides a forum for IT collaboration, education, and innovation through quarterly meetings, the annual GIANTS (GMIS Illinois Annual Networking + Training Symposium) conference, virtual training sessions, a job board, and various awards programs. Membership is open to government agencies and corporate technology companies. The organization does not offer software products; its services consist of networking events, educational presentations, training opportunities, and peer collaboration platforms for public sector technology leaders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GIANTS Conference: GMIS Illinois Annual Networking + Training Symposium - a multi-day conference filled with educational sessions, training opportunities, vendor demonstrations, exhibits, entertainment and networking opportunities for local government technology professionals.

Products and services

• GIANTS Annual Conference (GMIS Illinois Annual Networking + Training Symposium)

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GMIS InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGMIS Illinois is the largest state chapter of GMIS International. GMIS International is a professional IT association of worldwide government IT leaders providing best practice solutions, enhanced professional development, training, conferences, awards, and networking. Government agencies join GMIS Illinois by becoming members of GMIS International, which provides access to IT perspectives from across the United States and several other countries.
• MS-ISACcoreTechnology or IntegrationMulti-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) provides cybersecurity resources, threat intelligence, and collaboration opportunities for state, local, tribal, and territorial governments. Listed as a Partner Organization on GMIS Illinois website.
• CampIT ConferencesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization providing IT conferences and events for the government and corporate technology community.
• Heartland Business SystemscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlatinum corporate member providing complete, local, end-to-end technology solutions. Assists with any technology need, solves problems, and exceeds expectations. Provides presentations at quarterly meetings and GIANTS conference.
• Check PointcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlatinum corporate member providing cybersecurity solutions protecting customers from 5th generation cyber-attacks with industry-leading malware, ransomware, and advanced targeted threat detection.
• FortinetcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlatinum corporate member making digital world security possible through protecting people, devices, and data. World's largest enterprises, service providers, and government organizations choose Fortinet.
• Nomic NetworkscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlatinum corporate member providing affordable network security services including Managed Network Detection and Response, Network Cloaking methodology, and CINS Active Threat Intelligence.
• Pace SystemscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium member since 1983 driving comprehensive technology convergence across all areas of expertise to increase efficiency, lifespan, and return on investment for clients.
• ThinkGardcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium member and Technology Risk Management Firm specializing in Intelligent Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning. Provides cybersecurity training and tabletop exercises at quarterly meetings.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• NASCIO (National Association of State Chief Information Officers): National association representing state government CIOs and IT leaders. Directly comparable mission of convening government IT leaders for networking, advocacy, and education, but at the state CIO level rather than local-government practitioner level.
• Public Technology Institute (PTI): Membership association for local government IT executives, focused on city and county technology leaders. Closest substitute to GMIS Illinois at the national level, addressing the same local-government IT audience with research, training, and events.
• GMIS International: National/international parent association of which GMIS Illinois is the largest state chapter. Same mission (government IT professional association) and same revenue model (membership + conferences), but operates at national scope rather than Illinois-only.

Broad incumbents

• ISACA: Global professional association for IT governance, risk, and cybersecurity professionals. Comparable association model (membership dues, chapters, conferences) but broader scope and global footprint rather than Illinois-local.
• CompTIA: Major IT industry trade association offering membership, training, and certification. Comparable membership-and-events revenue model, but industry-wide rather than government-vertical focused.
• ISSA (Information Systems Security Association): Global member organization for cybersecurity professionals with local chapters and conferences. Comparable chapter-based association model, with strong overlap given cybersecurity is a major topic area for GMIS Illinois members.

Emerging players

• Code for America: Nonprofit that builds digital tools and advocates for better government services, with a civic-tech volunteer network. Tangentially comparable as a government-tech community convener, but mission-driven/civic-tech rather than paid membership.

Regional players

• ILGISA (Illinois GIS Association): Illinois-focused association serving government GIS professionals. Comparable Illinois-only geographic scope and government-IT professional membership model, but specialized to GIS rather than general IT.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gmisillinois
• Facebookfacebook.com/gmisillinois
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gmis-illinois

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GMIS Illinois