Nicholas Carr to Headline 2011 TechTomorrow Conference - CIOs from Around the Country to Participate in National Forum

(Columbus, OH – October 7, 2011) – CIOs, IT leaders and industry thought leaders from around the country will gather for the 2011 TechTomorrow conference, “The Adaptive Enterprise: Leading in the Face of Change.” Nicholas Carr, author of The Big Switch and The Shallows, will bring his thought-provoking insights and sometimes controversial ideas to this year’s event.  TechColumbus will host this premier CIO leadership exchange Oct. 26-27 at the Ohio Union on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus.

In its 10th year and sponsored by InformationWeek, TechTomorrow draws company executives from around the country, including Hewlett-Packard, Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch, Mettler Toledo, The Scotts Co., and American Electric Power, among many others.

“This year’s theme for TechTomorrow focuses on IT’s critical role in enabling and driving the adaptive enterprise,” said 2011 TechTomorrow Chair Rob Richardson, CIO of Worthington Industries.  “In today’s fast-paced global business environment, IT must be a proactive driver and enabler of innovation for profitable business growth.  Attendees of TechTomorrow will take away valuable insights that inspire new thinking for their enterprise.”

TechTomorrow will feature a powerful line-up of top speakers, engaging tracks, and  in-depth panel discussions, as well as networking opportunities.
 

Keynote Addresses:
David Kaufmann, EVP/COO, The Motorist Insurance Group
Wed., Oct. 26, 9:30 a.m.
Kaufmann will share the key role technology has played in Motorists’ success and the increasing importance of broad business skills across IT organizations.

Nicholas Carr, Tech, Culture and Economics Columnist/Author
Wed., Oct. 26, 3:30 p.m.
Carr will reflect on the impact – positive and negative – of technology on our businesses and in our lives, and will look to the possibilities of the future.

Jeanne Ross, MIT Sloan School Center for Information System Research
Thurs., Oct. 27, 9:30 a.m.
Ross will speak to the challenges and opportunities facing companies that want to embrace technology for strategic advantage.
Thornton May, Author/Executive Director/Dean, IT Leadership Academy
Thurs., Oct. 27, 1:30 p.m.
Thornton will tap his own research and the insights of the executive panel to explore the truth of what it takes to drive value across the business.

Archie Griffin, Two-time Heisman Trophy Winner/President & CEO, The Ohio State University Alumni Association, Inc. 
Thurs., Oct. 27, 4:45 p.m.
Griffin frequently speaks about leadership, character, and the importance of education and service.  At TechTomorrow, he will share his insights as part of a motivating leadership talk.
 

Panel Discussions:
CFO Panel Forum
Thurs., Oct. 27, 1:30 p.m.
During the CFO Panel forum, participants will focus on how to improve the CIO relationship with the CFO to ensure future investments are properly funded and business objectives are met. The moderator of this session will be Angelo Mazzocco. Panelists will be: Matt Moellering, EVP, CAO & CFO, Express; Andy Rose, CFO, Worthington Industries; and Rick Schwieterman, CFO, OCLC.

Key Learning Panel
Thurs., Oct. 27, 3:45 p.m.
During the Key Learning Panel, a panel of TechTomorrow keynote speakers and track leaders will discuss takeaways from this year's conference. The moderator of this session will be Rob Preston, VP & Editor-In-Chief, InformationWeek. Panelists will be: Doug Allen, VP, Director of Information Technology, State Auto Insurance Companies; Bruce Barnes, President, Bold Vision, LLC; Ben Blanquera; Founder, TechLife; and John Hrusovsky, CEO, GroundWork group.

Track Sessions:
Track 1 – Vision
Wed., Oct. 26; 11 a.m./Thurs., Oct. 27; 11 a.m.
The drive toward the future begins by clearly seeing it, as well as hidden opportunities that may lie within. However, it does not end there. Real leaders know they also must give life to that vision through guiding strategies, improved alignment within expanding fields of play, and innovative actions that will re-shape enterprise of tomorrow. This track will look deeply into all of these facets. The moderator of this session will be Bruce Barnes,  President,  Bold Vision, LLC. Panelists will be: Vince Kellen, CIO, University of Kentucky Senior Consultant, Cutter Consortium; David Platt, Head of IT, Americas, Mettler Toledo; Joe Szmadzinski, Managing Partner, Questor Enterprise Partners; Pablo Vegas, CIO, American Electric Power; and Bill Waszak, Former CIO, The Scotts Company.

Track 2 – Change
Wed., Oct. 26; 11 a.m. /Thurs., Oct. 27; 11 a.m.
This track will take a deeper look at how to influence choices in a way that is productive to not only the enterprise, but also the people and functions that reside within it. The moderator of this session will be Doug Allen, VP, Director of Information Technology, State Auto Insurance Companies. Panelists will be: Len Couture, Managing Director, Bluewolf; John Deane, CIO, Abercrombie & Fitch; and Wil Schroter, Founder & CEO, Virtucon Ventures.

Track 3 – Execution
Wed., Oct. 26; 11 a.m. /Thurs., Oct. 27; 11 a.m.
This track will take a deeper look at ways in which IT’s overall execution capability can be enhanced, assessed and assured. The moderator of this session will be Ben Blanquera, Founder, TechLife. Panelists will be: Srini Koushik,  Worldwide Executive Applications Development, Hewlett-Packard; Michael Mah, Benchmark Practice Director,  Cutter Consortium; Bart Murphy,  VP Shared Services, Careworks; Pat Reed, Sr. Director, GAP; Rich Sheridan, CEO,  Menlo Innovations; and Jim Struntz, Executive Partner, Accenture.

Track 4 – Growth
Wed., Oct. 26; 11 a.m. /Thurs., Oct. 27; 11 a.m.
This track will focus on understanding the top-line issues and drivers that are steering industries, as well as the business-related measures that will be used to assess IT’s level of success in meeting those challenges. The moderator of this session will be John Hrusovsky, CEO, GroundWork group. Panelists will be: Zahid Afzal, COO & CIO, Huntington National Bank; Joe Gallo, Executive VP, Corporate CIO, The Dispatch Printing Company; Greg Jackson, Senior Consulting Director – CGI; Branndon Kelley, CIO, American Municipal Power and Jeff Sopp, CEO, Expesite.

Networking Opportunities:
TechLife Startup Showcase
Wed., Oct. 26, 5:30 p.m.
TechLife Startup Showcase will consist of an evening of networking, learning and connecting with 100 of the best and brightest innovators and entrepreneurs whose companies are tomorrow’s technology growth leaders.

IT Martini Event & Vendor Fair
Thursday, Oct. 27, 5:15 p.m.
IT Martini will feature engaging networking, thoughtful professional development, innovative demos, and opportunities to connect with IT vendors.
 

Registration:
For more information or to register for the TechTomorrow conference, please visit www.techtomorrow.org.

About TechColumbus (www.techcolumbus.org)
TechColumbus is a nonprofit organization that focuses on technology-based economic development in the 15 counties of central Ohio. TechColumbus accomplishes this by:

•    Providing professional development and technology business assistance to both large and small companies that rely on technology for business success
•    Managing a 62,000 square foot technology business incubator that has been recognized as one of the best in the country
•    Managing TechStart, the Central Ohio Entrepreneurial Signature Program, with a mission to create, finance and launch new tech companies in central Ohio
•    Assisting in the development of facilities for tech companies
•    Working with state and local organizations to attract new tech companies to the region

For more information about TechColumbus visit www.techcolumbus.org.

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