Among other topics, Jay discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy:
Jay is the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota. He is responsible for the company’s overall technology strategy, systems operations, applications development and controls, and technology risk management for all product, production, and business information systems.
Jay has more than 25 years of experience building and leading high-performing software development groups and information technology organizations. Prior to joining Blue Cross, Jay served as executive vice president of product development and chief technology officer of Wolters Kluwer Financial Services, working on compliance and analytic solutions for banking, mortgage, insurance, and securities markets.
Jay also served as vice president of software development for the Thomson Corporation, where he oversaw the development of award-winning and market-leading training and knowledge management solutions for the legal marketplace.
Jay has a Bachelor of Science degree in computer and information sciences from the University of Maryland, a Masters of Science in information systems from George Mason University, and a Masters of Science in management and technology from the University of Minnesota.
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Among other topics, Jim discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy:
Jim Flyzik is the President of TheFlyzikGroup (www.theflyzikgroup.com). The company specializes in Strategic Business Consulting, Performance Based Contracting Consulting and Training and Thought Leadership media events. The company assists small, medium and large companies in providing world-class government services. Jim also serves as the Chairman of the AFCEA International Committee on Homeland Security. Jim also hosts the monthly radio program, The Federal Executive Forum on WFED 1050 AM and can be found at this link.
Jim was inducted into the CIO Magazine Hall of Fame on October 29, 2007. He joins 31 other CIO’s inducted over the past 20 years and is the first career government CIO to be selected.
Jim served over 27 years in the federal government. He served as Senior Advisor to Governor Ridge in the White House Office of Homeland Security (OHS). He provided advice to OHS on the National Strategy and Information Management in support of the OHS mission. From February 1998 until December 2002, Jim also served as the Vice Chair of the Federal Government CIO Council overseeing numerous governmentwide IT initiatives. He was also a member of the President’s Critical Infrastructure Protection Board.
Prior to this, from August 1997 until April 2002, Jim was the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information Systems and Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the Department of the Treasury. He provided oversight, strategic planning and management direction on over $3.0 billion in annual information technology and information infrastructure programs within Treasury and its fourteen Bureaus. Jim also served as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Management for the Treasury Department from January 20, 2001 until February 8, 2002. In that role he provided oversight of all Treasury bureaus and served as the principal policy advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary on matters involving the internal management of the Department and its bureaus. Jim received the Secretary Certificate of Appreciation on February 12, 2002 for his efforts during this transition period.
Prior to his Treasury positions, Jim worked for 18 years at the U.S. Secret Service where he held key IT management positions, including the Chief of the Communications and ADP Operations Division, providing world class telecommunications in support of Secret Service tactical and operational requirements.
Jim served as IT Team Leader on Vice President Gore’s National Performance Review (NPR) Information Technology Team. Following this assignment, he was selected as Chairman of the Government Information Technology Services Working Group, to implement the NPR Information Technology recommendations and coordinate the government services portion of the National Information Infrastructure (NII). He was given the prestigious Eagle Award as the government information technology executive of the year in 1994, a Meritorious Presidential Rank Award in 1995, the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Award for Excellence in Information Technology in 1996, the AFFIRM Award for Outstanding Service to the Citizens in 1997, the Industry Advisory Council Award for Special Achievements and Leadership in 1997, the AFFIRM IRM Executive of the Year Award in 1998, and the Distinguished Rank Executive Award from President Clinton in 1999. In 2001 the Federation of Government Information Processing Councils presented him the John J. Franke award for outstanding government service. In March 2002, Jim was selected by the Federal CIO Council to receive the Azimuth Award as the Government Executive of the Year.
Jim has extensive public speaking experience and frequently serves as a featured speaker at industry events. He has developed, and currently teaches part-time, a graduate level course on Information Systems Security and Risk Assessment at the University of Maryland. Jim was given the Stanley J. Drazek Excellence in Teaching Award in 1998 by the University of Maryland.
Jim has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and Computer Science and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Maryland with an area of concentration in Information Systems Management.
Among other topics, Nick discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy:
Nicholas Colisto to the broadcast, Nick is the Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., a large residential homebuilder.
Prior to joining Hovnanian, he held key information technology leadership positions at large organizations including Pepsi-Cola, Priceline.com, Hyperion Solutions, Boehringer-Ingelheim, and Bayer Corporation (formerly Sterling Winthrop).
Nick is active in many CIO networks and educational forums. He is also the recipient of many industry awards, including the 2010 CIO 100 by IDG’s CIO Magazine, the 2009 InfoWorld 100, and the 2009 and 2010 InformationWeek 500.
Nick has a B.B.A in management information systems and a M.S. in information systems from Pace University.
Among other topics, Ken discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy:
Ken Piddington serves as the Chief Information Officer of Global Partners LP. In this capacity, he is responsible for setting and achieving Global’s Information Technology strategy and providing information technology services across all divisions of the organization. Since joining Global he has worked to transform Global’s Information Technology group into a strategic asset positioned to scale and contribute to the company’s growth strategy. Prior to being named CIO in June 2010, Ken served as the Director of Applications and Software Development for Global. He is a member of the 2010 Boston CIO Executive Summit Governing Body.
Ken successfully led the development and implementation of an internally developed Energy Trading and Risk Management System in 2009. Code named “Peloton”, this project was a key company initiative which provided the organization with a leading-edge technology solution but also implemented process and operational changes positioning the company for future growth. Ken’s responsibilities for the project included chief architect, project manager and change agent.
Prior to joining Global, Ken was a partner at Lyland Associates, Inc. where he managed the technology division of the company’s energy practice. In this role he served as a technology advisor and led custom development and application implementation projects for its Fortune 500 clients.
Previously Ken had spent 12 years working in the energy consulting and software industry. At Triple Point Technologies he held various positions including Director of Product Development for the company’s flagship product Tempest XL. He has served as a Director for Opportune in their energy practice and as a Senior Technology Consultant for MRE Consulting. Ken has spent his career focused on the energy industry where he has worked with almost 50 clients domestically and internationally.
Ken has spent the past 15 years successfully working in information technology and the energy industry although majoring in Health and PE as a former college football and baseball player at Graceland College. He resides in Massachusetts with family.
Among other topics, Richard and George discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy:
Purchase Richard and George’s book from
Richard Hunter is vice president and research director in Gartner Research, where his recent work has focused on matters of interest to CIOs. Mr. Hunter is the author of “World Without Secrets: Business, Crime and Privacy in the Age of Ubiquitous Computing” (Wiley&Sons, NYC, 2002), “IT Risk: Turning Business Threats Into Competitive Advantage” (Harvard Business Press, Boston, 2006), and “The Real Business of IT: How CIOs Create and Communicate Value” (Harvard Business Press, Boston, 2009), the latter two works with co-author George Westerman. He is in much demand as a speaker and advisor to CIOs.
Mr. Hunter was elected a Gartner Fellow in 2003. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music from Harvard University. He is a world-class harmonica player who continues to compose and perform, and is the author of the world’s best-selling method for jazz and rock harmonica players (“Jazz Harp”, Oak Publications, NYC, 1980).
George is a Research Scientist in MIT’s Center for Digital Business. His research and teaching focus on how executives can create value by bridging the IT/Business gap. Major themes include digital innovation, risk management, and communicating about value. George is co-author of two award-winning books: The Real Business of IT: How CIOs Create and Communicate Value and IT Risk: Turning Business Threats into Competitive Advantage. His research has also appeared in top academic and management journals. He is faculty chair for the MIT Sloan executive education course entitled “Transforming Your Business through IT.” In addition to presentations and workshops, George works regularly with senior executives on topics related to digitization and IT management.
This interview is the fourth in a special series of five eSeminars covering the Five Principles of World Class IT. The five interviews will be broadcast in sequential weeks, and in this conversation on principle four –IT & Business Partnerships, John Boushy discusses the following ideas:
Follow this link to download the eSeminar presentation
The final interview in the series will be Bob Willett, CEO of Al Futtaim Group and former CIO of Best Buy and CEO of Best Buy International. The broadcast date will be December 20, 2010.
After retiring as CEO of Ameristar Casinos in 2008, John Boushy began running his own consulting firm, aimed at assisting companies to create and capture long-term business potential.
John joined Ameristar as president and was subsequently appointed CEO and president and elected to the company’s board of directors.
Prior to joining Ameristar, he served as a senior executive at Harrah’s Entertainment, holding various executive positions within Harrah’s and its prior parent companies, Holiday Corporation and The Promus Companies. John most recently served as Harrah’s Executive Vice President, Project Development, Design & Construction. Prior to that, John held the position of Senior Vice President Concept Development and Chief Integration Officer where he had executive level responsibility to plan and execute all aspects of the business combination of Caesars Entertainment with Harrah’s Entertainment.
As SVP, Operations, Products and Services and CIO, John established corporate operating functions in order to deliver enhanced capabilities to all company various properties, enhancing delivery of service and competitiveness, while supporting the rapid growth through property expansions and company acquisitions. At the same time, John led the maturing of the IT function, creating greater alignment between IT and the business, thereby driving incremental business value from the business/IT projects.
As Harrah’s CIO, John was credited for various technological advances that today power the company’s customer service and financial performance. As vice president of strategic marketing for Harrah’s, John developed numerous customer-centric innovations, including 800-HARRAHS and the industry’s first, nation-wide customer loyalty program. Under his leadership, the company issued the first annual survey of casino entertainment, which continues today as The Profile of the American Casino Gambler.
In 2001, Harrah’s was awarded CIO’s coveted Enterprise Value Award due to John’s leadership of Harrah’s loyalty program and in September of 2007, John was elected to the CIO Magazine Hall of Fame.
John holds a bachelor of science degree in mathematics and a master of science degree in applied mathematics, both from North Carolina State University.
Chosen as third among “The Best IT Business Books of 2009” by CIO Insight
“What’s unique about this book is that it’s not only a must-read for the CIO (and everyone else in an IT department); it’s for anyone associated with the technology industry. If you are a manufacturer, seller, or service provider of technology, you will gain insight into what makes an IT department world class.” – CIO Digest
“The new book World Class IT (Jossey-Bass, 2009), by consultant Peter A. High, provides solid, timeless advice for CIOs trying to manage IT for business success.” – Mitch Betts, Computerworld Book Review
“Technology is all around us. It is so pervasive in our daily lives that we may not even recognize when we interact with it. Despite this fact, many companies have yet to leverage information technology as a strategic weapon.
What then is an information technology executive to do in order to raise the prominence of his or her department? In World Class IT, recognized expert in IT strategy Peter High reveals the essential principles IT executives must follow and the order in which they should follow them whether they are at the helm of a high-performing department or one in need of great improvement.
Principle 1: Recruit, train, and retain World Class IT people Principle 2: Build and maintain a robust IT infrastructure Principle 3: Manage projects and portfolios effectively Principle 4: Ensure partnerships within the IT department and with the business Principle 5: Develop a collaborative relationship with external partners
The principles and associated subprinciples and metrics introduced in World Class IT have been used by IT and business executives alike at many Global 1000 companies to monitor and improve IT’s performance. Those principles pertain as much to the leaders of IT as they do to those striving to emulate them.”
Among other topics, Dave discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy
Dave currently serves as the Chief Information Officer for the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). A government owned corporation, OPIC’s mission is to facilitate U.S. private investment in developing countries and emerging markets around the world. As CIO, Dave is responsible for the acquisition and use of information technology solutions to improve agency performance and service to the public. He is also responsible for formulating and articulating the agency’s policy, position, and response on current or emerging information technology and its relationship to U.S. private investment in developing nations.
Prior to joining OPIC, Dave served as Director for Strategic Development for Project Performance Corporation. Among his responsibilities, Zeppieri led the company’s federal strategic development and managed the operations of its applications development and system integration projects.
Dave joined the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on July 12, 2004 as the Chief Information Officer; he was responsible for ensuring the availability of effective mission-critical support to those who serve on the front line of homeland security.
Prior to his time at TSA, Dave was Chief Information Officer at the Office of Justice Programs at the Department of Justice where he focused on modernizing the organization’s Grant Management IT processing and modernizing the department to a Portal/Internet-based communications and service delivery environment.
Dave has won numerous awards including the CIO 100 Award for Resourceful IT Management Practices from CIO Magazine, the 2004 Federal CIO Award from Federal Computer Week, and Computerworld Premiere 100 IT professionals.
Dave has a bachelor of science degree in Computer Science and an MBA both from the University of Maryland at College Park, and he also has a CIO Certification from the National Defense University.
Among other topics, Naresh discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy
Naresh is the Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Palm, Inc. He has management responsibility for IT strategy and all of the company’s IT assets. This includes all application development, data management, technology infrastructure, data-center operations and telecommunication networks worldwide. Naresh also has responsibility for palm.com operations.
Prior to joining Palm, Naresh was responsible for managing Agilent Technologies’ internal enterprise business solutions organization, delivering customer-facing and supply-chain solutions worldwide, resulting in significant savings to the company. He also was instrumental in establishing offshore IT operations and outsourcing services in India.
Naresh started his career at Hewlett-Packard Company, Medical Products Group. He was responsible for delivering applications and infrastructure solutions and services worldwide, and integrating acquisitions into the business. He also was instrumental in establishing a joint venture manufacturing center in China.
Naresh received his Bachelor of Science degree in computer science (BSCS) and master’s in business administration (MBA) from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago.
Among other topics, Phil discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy
Phil is the Chief Information Officer at Kaiser Permanente, where he directs the 6,000 employees of the health information technology team. He was recently named one of Computerworld’s 2010 Top 100 Information Technology (IT) Leaders for exceptional technology leadership and effectively managed IT strategies. Since joining Kaiser Permanente in 2007, Phil has been working on using technology to move the not-for-profit health care system toward a vision of real-time, personalized health care for its 8.6 million members. Under Phil’s leadership, the company creates better tools and platforms to deliver smarter, more connected care that is also preventive and affordable.
Phil has served in information technology leadership roles in leading finance companies, including Capital One Financial Group, where he drove the transformation to diversified financial services. He also helped reshape the company’s IT organization to reduce costs and to improve the consistency of delivery for business initiatives, strengthened the management structure, and shortened time to market. As senior vice president and global business executive for JP Morgan, he helped improve the IT function, reinvigorate a strong customer focus, and acquire and retain new business.
Previously, Phil worked at Capital Sourcing Group, Inc., a consulting company he founded to serve Fortune 500 companies and the federal government. He has also held executive internet technology positions and executive positions at American Financial Group, Deutsche Financial Services Corporation, Bankers Trust, and Kidder, Peabody & Co.
Phil earned an MBA from Long Island University and an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from the New York Institute of Technology.
Among other topics, Rob discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy
Rob is the Chief Information Officer of Hilton Worldwide, a leading global hospitality company with more than 3,500 hotels in 81 countries. In that role, Rob has global responsibility for technology systems strategy, information security, technology infrastructure, and enterprise planning and architecture.
Prior to his time at Hilton, Rob was the CIO of Equifax. He also held a variety of leadership positions at General Electric, including as Managing Director of GE Vendor Financial Services Canada, as well as having the CIO role at GE Commercial Finance, GE Global Consumer Finance, and GE Energy Savings. Rob also spent time as a management consultant at Andersen Consulting and at EDS.
Rob has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Western Ontario, and an MBA from ESCP.
