Wesley "Mac" Devine
Distinguished Engineer and CTO for Cloud Partnerships, IBM Corporation, Research Triangle Park, NC
Wesley Devine (Mac) has 19 years of experience with networking and virtualization, seven of which were spent in mainframe software development where he served as chief programmer for several VTAM releases. Mac then moved to mainframe software design where he served as chief designer for several Communications Server releases and led the design work for Sysplex and SNA over IP networking (Enterprise Extender). In 2000, Mac went on temporary assignment for 2 years to assist the new networking alliance teams (IBM/Cisco, IBM/Nortel) in the role of lead solutions architect. Upon conclusion of this temporary assignment, he started the Linux Networking Solutions team within Enterprise Platform Software and served as it's product director and chief architect. In 2005, he started the Enterprise Platform Software Architecture Board and served as it chairman. The ESAB is the System z focus area for the SWGAB and is responsible for the architecture, design and strategy of solutions using IBM middleware on System z. In 2007, Mac started the zCloud Innovation team and served as its chief architect. The zCloud Innovation team provided the architecture, design and development for several in-market experiments leveraging System z as a premier cloud platform. Mac’s innovative zCloud architecture and design resulted in him being named an IBM Master Inventor. In 2008, he was appointed as an IBM Distinguished Engineer and became the WebSphere CTO for Cloud Computing. Mac currently serves in this role within IBM’s Enterprise Initiatives Division which was established in 2009 to drive IBM’s architecture, design and development activities for Cloud Computing. Mac’s innovations in this role resulted in him being appointed as a member of IBM’s prestigious Academy of Technology in July 2009.
Session: Dispelling the Vapor around Cloud Computing
Leon Thomas
CEO, Jelecos
Leon Thomas has over 15 years of experience in business and technology. His path to into the technology field was anything but customary. He obtained an undergraduate degree in exercise science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a doctorate in Physical Therapy from Creighton University. While working toward his doctorate at Creighton, Leon provided IT consulting services on a contract basis. In 1999, he co-founded Jelecos, a technology consulting and services firm where he currently serves as the President and CEO. In 2002, he was named to Omaha’s 40 under 40 entrepreneurs list. Jelecos has been honored by INC magazine as one of the fastest growing private companies in the United States, and named a Top 25 Company in Business Excellence by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. Leon lives in Omaha with his wife Lori and their two sons, Alex and Luke. Leon and Lori are involved in numerous community organizations including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Heartland Chapter of the American Red Cross, and Project Harmony, just to name a few.
Session: Right Sourcing: Maximizing Business Value of IT through Strategic Outsourcing and Insourcing
Kate W. Brown
Consulting Partner, TechEdge LCC
Kate W. Brown is a consulting partner with TechEdge LLC. As an innovative and values based company, TechEdge assists their clients with creating and sustaining collaborative, high performing and execution-based cultures focused on results delivery and performance target attainment. With over 25 years of Information Technology experience, Kate has extensive leadership and technical capabilities in the areas of organizational transformation, strategy implementation, leadership development, project management, application development and business intelligence. Prior to becoming a partner at TechEdge, Kate served in a variety of executive and leadership capacities at Oriental Trading Company, Best Buy Corporate (Minnesota), and The Hartford Courant (Connecticut). As a results-driven leader with envisioning and organizational development expertise, Kate has a proven track record in implementing complex multi-million dollar initiatives and in building durable high-performance organizations and collaborative cultures that deliver exceptional customer service and bottom line results while maintaining a keen eye on resource optimization.
Session: High Performing Teams: What are they? Why do we want them? How do we build them?
Stephen Balzac
President, 7 Steps Ahead, LLC
Stephen R. Balzac is a consultant and professional speaker. He is the president of 7 Steps Ahead, an organizational development firm focused on helping businesses dramatically increase revenue and build their client base. He is also an adjunct professor of Industrial/Organizational Psychology and management. Steve has over 20 years of experience in the high tech industry as an engineer, manager, entrepreneur, and consultant. He is a popular speaker on topics ranging from leadership, innovation, sport performance and game design. He has been a guest lecturer at WPI and MIT. Steve is a contributing author to Ethics and Game Design: Teaching Values Through Play, and is the author of The 36-Hour Course in Organizational Development, due out this fall from McGraw-Hill. His articles have appeared in many journals, including FreudTV, CEO Refresher, The Journal of Interactive Drama, The IBM Systems Journal, The Lincoln Journal, Mass High Tech, Analog, Journal of Corporate Recruiting Leadership, and the Worcester Business Journal.
Session: Zen and the Art of Leadership: Succeeding by Knowing When, and How, to Not Care
Doug Taylor
CIO, Lindsay Corporation
Doug Taylor offers more than 20 years of experience in Information Technology. Orchestrating start-up operations and turn around projects throughout his career, Taylor offers invaluable expertise. He held several positions with ConAgra foods before launching his career at Lindsay Corporation where he currently serves as Vice President of Information Technology. A native of Sioux Falls and veteran of the US Marine Corp, Taylor now resides in Omaha, where he also held several positions on the Board of Directors with the Stephens Center.
Session: On-Time and Millions Under Budget: ERP Case-Studies
Regina Tullos-Williams
Director of Strategic Initiatives, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands
Regina Tullos-Williams is a co-creator of the Measure Up program. She is an outspoken supporter of outcome measurements and logic models to justify nonprofits' impact and document donors’ return on investment. She has held executive and management positions with Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands, Urban League of Nebraska, and Girls Inc.
Session: Measure Up: How to Develop and Deliver Outcomes
Nancy Williams
Technology Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands
Nancy Williams serves as the Technology Director for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands, Inc. (BGCM), a youth development organization in Omaha. Nancy supports about 90 staff members and the 8,000 youth members and the more than 250 workstations and 11 computer servers at 11 different building sites. Nancy began her technology career teaching business technology courses at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and expanded to provide corporate training with a small independent firm. For the past eight years, she has been working with key staff, community leaders, and supporters to enhance technology programming for youth and improve technology training and development for staff. With a passion for education and empowering people, Nancy enjoys encouraging all to embrace their innate talents and strengths while employing technology tools regardless of their background or training.
Session: Measure Up: How to Develop and Deliver Outcomes
Paul Huebner
Partner, Business IT Solutions LCC
Paul J. Huebner is an experienced senior IT executive and business consultant from the insurance and financial services industry. He is the founder and a partner with Business IT Solutions, LLC, which helps market-leading services companies and non-profit organizations achieve their business goals, by optimizing their business strategy, processes and their uses of technology. From 2000 – 2007, Paul was senior vice president and CIO of the Ameritas Acacia Companies, and then of UNIFI Companies, Inc. – a $17 billion (assets) and $2 billion (revenues) diversified insurance and financial services company. Prior to becoming CIO, he helped establish and led the Ameritas Acacia Companies’ e-business group. From 1982 – 2000, Paul worked for IBM Corporation. In 1991, Paul joined IBM’s services group, which later became IBM Global Services, where he was a business process consultant, project manager and consulting practice executive. Prior to leaving IBM, he also helped start up IBM’s first web-based consulting service.
Sessions: Donor, Volunteer and Client Relationships in the Cloud (a case study) and Technology Tools and Support for Non-Profits
Brad Bryan
Executive Director, City Impact, Lincoln, Neb.
Brad Bryan is the volunteer founder and Executive Director of City Impact. He graduated from UNL with a BA in Business Administration. In 1993 Brad became an Advertising Sales Rep. at Peed Corporation while serving youth in the community. In 1996 Brad and Carma, his wife, left their lucrative positions in the business world to become urban missionaries while beginning City Impact. In January 1997, Brad became City Impact’s Executive Director. He and Carma rehabbed an abandoned home in the Malone neighborhood, where they live to this day. Brad and Carma have two daughters, Macey, 10, and Miya, 8. City Impact’s non-tax supported vision is to transform families and neighborhoods from the inside out by equipping people with the Good News of God’s love. Through a recent investment by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation the programs and staff have grown tremendously to 8 full-time and 15 part-time to increase its capacity and impact in the community. In 2009, over 1,100 volunteers invested over 15,000 hours in the children and families in Lincoln’s urban neighborhoods through various City Impact programs.
Session: Donor, Volunteer and Client Relationships in the Cloud (a case study)
Anthony DeCanti
Vice President of Analysis & Information Systems, Werner Enterprises
Anthony is the Vice President of Analysis & Information Systems at Werner Enterprises, Inc. Anthony is responsible for the IT infrastructure, Software Development, and Logistics Analysis for Werner and its global subsidiaries. Anthony leads an international team of over 120 IT professionals located in North America and China. Anthony’s team is responsible for the development and support of Werner Enterprises global Supply Chain Management System (SMART) that supports Werner’s operating divisions, customers, and carriers. Anthony is experienced in Information Technology, Transportation, and Logistics Management. Prior to Werner Enterprises Anthony worked as a Terminal Manager for Skyway Freight Systems, a 3rd Party Logistics Company.
Session: Maturing an IT Organization through Chaos
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