2nd Annual Business of Cloud Computing

KEYNOTE: Tim Crawford, Strategic Advisor, Crawford Consulting

Tim Crawford is an internationally renowned thought leader in the areas of IT transformation, innovation and cloud computing. Tim has served as CIO and other senior IT leadership roles with global organizations such as Konica Minolta/ All Covered, Stanford University, Knight-Ridder, Philips Electronics, and National Semiconductor. Tim regularly speaks at industry conferences, is well published and often quoted by business and technology publications.

Areas of expertise include strategy, mergers & acquisitions, cloud computing, infrastructure, operations and core applications. Tim serves as an advisor to global enterprises, government agencies, venture capital firms and startups. Tim's approach focuses on driving business value through key game-changing strategies.

KEYNOTE: Shyam Desigan, Chief Financial Officer, Volunteers of America of Chesapeake

An MBA with thirteen years of Finance, IT and project management experience, Shyam Desigan has focused on enabling healthcare providers and non-profits use outcomes-based benchmarking to build a sustainable competitive advantage. Shyam joined Volunteers of America in February 2009 to manage corporate and project finance & IT operations for the non-profit's 26 human service programs throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Since joining the Volunteers of America Chesapeake executive team, he had been recognized locally and nationally for the dramatic strides he has made for the non-profit including executing a turnaround leveraging Analytics and technology. He has received an MBA in Finance from Kelley School of Business, Indiana University and a BS in Electronics Engineering.

Keynote: Blake Holman, CIO, Ryan, LLC

Blake Holman joined Ryan in 2005 and is responsible for all strategic and operational Information Technology (IT) activities, enhancing Ryan’s ability to be efficient and effective in all aspects of its business.

He has over 20 years of experience leading Information Technology Strategy, Development and Operations for several public and private companies in the Consulting, Telecommunications and Financial Services industries.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Southern Methodist University, and a Strategic IT Management Certificate from the Scandinavian International Management Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark.

In April 2011, Blake received Ryan’s inaugural Innovatus Award, recognizing the employee that exemplifies the Ryan brand commitment to delivering “Innovative Solutions to Taxing Problems”. Blake consistently demonstrated an innovative approach to improving client efficiency, effectiveness, and results through a suite of technology-based productivity improvement tools and processes leveraged throughout the field for delivering client value and tax savings.

Amy Anderson, Manager Cloud Partner Programs, IBM

Amy Anderson is the manager of Cloud Partner Programs for IBM. She is part of IBM's ISV & Developer Relations organization, which has a successful track record in delivering valuable benefits and services for partners. She and her team have delivered several programs that enable partners to monetize the cloud, including the Cloud Specialty, the ISV Business model Self-Assessment for Cloud, the Cloud Enablement roadmaps, and cloud-friendly pricing for partners.

Michael Bennett, Partner, Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP

Michael Bennett is a partner in the Intellectual Property Department of Edwards Wildman. Mike's entire legal career has been spent advising technology companies as well as companies acquiring technology products on the legal issues inherent in existing and emerging technology. For nearly 20 years, he has counseled clients on their use of technology and has provided strategies to avoid the legal pitfalls that frequently arise from such use. He consults with clients on a variety of technology issues including the mitigation of risk associated with use and distribution of software licensed under an open source model, creation of RFID payment systems, data security and privacy issues, and the use of marketing data in a manner that does not violate various federal, state and international laws. On behalf of technology consumers, Mike has negotiated transactions with nearly every major provider of hardware and software operating systems and applications. These negotiations include traditional inbound and outbound licensing, development agreements, distribution, customization, and implementation. Mike has represented clients acquiring ASP services, traditional outsourcing, business process outsourcing, and facilities management services, and negotiated on behalf of Northrop Grumman the largest private/public outsourcing IT agreement at the time, valued at $2 billion.
-Structure and negotiate innovative licensing and supplier agreements to maximize downstream revenue for bio-fuels technology companies.
-Regularly counsel corporations on policies, license agreements and best practices for Open Source and Cloud Computing technology.
-Served as lead counsel to an IT service provider for a ten-year IT outsourcing agreement valued at $2 billion; the largest private public outsourcing agreement of its kind.
-Represents a multi-billion dollar leading consumer brands company on all of its major technology transactions including traditional licensing agreements, ASP agreements, implementation agreements for Enterprise Resource Planning systems, and outsourcing.
-Represented one of the world's leading spirits companies regarding issues related to the outsourcing of finance and accounting functions. Assisted client from the negotiation of a legal structure for the outsourcing agreement to ongoing maintenance of change orders.
-Represents an insurance company in its $600 million relationship with a major provider of IT outsourcing services, in a wide array of matters including structuring of outsourcing agreements, developing new applications, and dealing with various disputes that arise.
-Represented one of the country's largest REITs regarding all of its major technology initiatives including implementation of back-end systems, front-end systems, telecommunication agreements, and B-to-B commerce sites.
-Represented a major provider of travel content regarding a significant technology initiative designed to increase the scope and allow greater control of the services it offers consumers and businesses.
- Represents a global communications and manufacturing company in its licensing dispute.

Marc Crudgington, National IT Director (Governance, Risk, Business Integration), Advantage Sales and Marketing

Marc Crudgington most recently was a National Technology Director - IT M&A Integration, Governance, and Programs at Advantage Sales and Marketing, a 43,000+ employee global CPG and home electronics sales and marketing organization with revenue over $1.2B headquartered in Irvine, CA.  He was responsible for IT M&A Due Diligence and led the IT integration teams following the acquisitions.  In addition he was responsible for enterprise-wide IT Governance, Risk, and related Program Management.  He has over 15 years' experience in information technology and has held a variety of positions including Sr. Consultant, Sr. Systems and Software Engineer, Systems and Software Lab Manager, and Sr. Network Engineer.  He has owned four businesses including his current one, Pacific Technology Consulting Group, LLC.  Marc has an MBA from the University of California, Irvine - The Paul Merage School of Business where he concentrated on IT and Strategy.  He has created the MAKO Matrix and written the supplemental document, "MAKO IT Governance Model: Doing for IT Governance what RACI did for Project Management".  Marc has been published by the Project Management Institute in two articles, "IT Shift: From Technical Support to Business Ally", PMI White Paper, April 2012 and "Who's Guarding The Cloud?", PM Network, March 2012.  Additionally Marc has presented to the IEEE - Orange County chapter on Agile software development, "Agile Development: Product Delivery For Successful Organizations", Nov. 2010.  Marc has the following certifications: CRISC - Certified in Risk and Information Systems Controls, PMP - Certified Project Management Professional, CSM - Certified ScrumMaster, TOGAF - Certified in The Open Group Architecture Framework, ITIL Foundation - Information Technology Infrastructure Library, and the Institutional Shareholders Services Proxy Governance - a Board of Directors Governance Certification. He has also held both the CISM - Certified Information Security Manager and CISA - Certified Information Systems Auditor certifications.  He is a member of the Scrum Alliance, Project Management Institute - Houston Chapter, and Association of Open Group Enterprise Architects.  He has volunteered as an Instructor for the Project Management Institute - Orange County Chapter teaching Project Management Professional certification workshops.  Marc's LinkedIn profile can be found at http://www.linkedin.com/in/marccrudgington/ and his Twitter account is WoodlandsTXMarc.  He lives in The Woodlands, TX with his wife and two boys.

Kevin Fisher, Information Technology, CB RICHARD ELLIS

Kevin has provided technology solutions to startups and large corporate clients for nearly twenty years. His delivery experience includes mobile/tablet device development, social media solutions, startup development, corporate development, system integration, and business intelligence solutions. He has worked in multiple industries including Finance, Telecom, Healthcare, and Energy for corporate clients including USAA, Dell (formerly Perot Systems), TXU, Nortel Networks, and CBRE.

He currently works as a Vice President in Information Technology for CBRE, a global commercial real-estate company. At CBRE, Kevin has held multiple roles including Director of Development and Director of Enterprise Architecture. In these roles, Kevin initiated and delivered numerous projects including CBRE's first mobile, tablet, and cloud applications. Kevin also introduced and established modern practices including Agile methodologies. Kevin is an advocate of practices which facilitate rapid delivery of high-quality technology solutions with the lowest possible total cost of ownership for the business. He is currently focused on leveraging the cloud to connect CBRE, customer, and partner systems utilizing modern integration patterns.

Kevin recognizes cloud technology as a transformative opportunity for companies willing to embrace it. In addition to the promises of the cloud, Kevin sees a rapid delivery process emerge, new emphasis on existing roles, and a trend toward self-service operations. Kevin is also a contributor and co-founder of NXTCIO.com (launching Fall 2012), a blog focused on modern challenges for the CIO/CTO.

Song Fu, Assistant Professor, Director, Dependable Computing Systems Lab, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS

Dr. Song Fu is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and the Director of the Dependable Computing Systems Laboratory at the University of North Texas. His research interests include distributed, parallel and cloud computing systems, particularly in dependable computing, self-managing and reconfigurable systems, power management, energy-efficient systems, system reliability and security, resource management, and virtualization.

Joe Lasik, VP & CIO, Morrison Supply Company

Prior to joining Morrison Supply Company, Mr. Lacik was Senior Vice President of Information Services for Aviall. In September 2006 Aviall was purchased be Boeing as a wholly owned subsidiary. He played a key role in completely transforming Aviall and the aerospace Industry. A completely new technology strategy, infrastructure and team were created. He graduated with honors from Villanova University in New Jersey and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. While serving, he also earned his Masters in Business Management in 1981 from Central Michigan University. In 1997, Mr. Lacik was recruited to be the Chief Information Officer and Vice President of PRONET located in Dallas, Texas. In 1999 Mr. Lacik was recruited to be the Senior Director of Information Technology at AMFM, a $3.2 billion entertainment company.