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SIM Memphis Quarterly
Volume 6, June 2010
About the Newsletter
 
The Memphis Quarterly SIM Newsletter is designed to share information about its members, upcoming meetings and other events, to reflect on recent accomplishments, and to provide information about SIM.  It will also focus on opportunities to serve the chapter as well as to participate in SIM Memphis' philanthropic activities. 
In This Issue
Summit 2010
Community Outreach Update
2010 Strategy Series
SIM's Chief Executive in the Spotlight
Membership News
SIMposium 2010
SIMposium 2010 
October 3-5
 Atlanta, GA
 
 Follow SIMposium on Twitter: Follow us on Twitter
 
or on
 
LinkedIn: View our profile on LinkedIn
Upcoming Chapter Meetings 
 
July 8
Best Practices for MIS Integration after Mergers and Acquisitions
 
Dr. Fred Niederman
MIS Professor
St. Louis University
 
 
 
August 5
Driving Change in Organizations
 
Dr. Craig Petrun
Department Head
Mitre Organizational Change Management
 
 
 
September 23, 2010
Strategy Series
"Thriving in Any Ecomony" 
 

?????? 
Want a free copy of Daniel Pink's book 
A Whole New Mind
 
Every member attending the July meeting on  Mergers and Acquisitions will receive a free copy of the book!
Need Access to simnet.org?
  

 
You need to have access to simnet.org to download presentations and access the wealth of information available to you as a member of SIM.

Send a request directly to the main SIM inbox
[email protected] or call the main SIM line at 312.527.6734
 
Quick Links
 
SIM Memphis 
 
SIM International 

SIM MEMPHIS
 2010
Board of Directors

 
PRESIDENT
Dick Vandenberg
 
VICE-PRESIDENT
Rick San Roman
 
SECRETARY/TREASURER
John Lewis
 
MEMBERSHIP CO-CHAIRS
Susan Caldwell
 John Oglesby
 
PROGRAM CHAIR
Jana Markowitz
 
 COMMUNITY LIAISON CHAIR
Dennis Norton

MARKETING CHAIR 
Christi Daigre
 
 STRATEGY CHAIR
Stephen Schaefgen
 
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Rick Pride
 

 
Looking for your next read?
 
Check out the  
 
CIO Zone
 
"10 Must-Reads for IT Leaders" 
 
The top ten must reads from SIM's RLF book list in 2010.
Have SIM Memphis News to Share for the Next Quarterly Newsletter?
 

Please email
Christi Daigre
Newsletter
Contributors

 

Susan Caldwell
Sue Conklin 
Diane Coons
Christi Daigre 
Jana Markowitz
Dennis Norton 
Rick San Roman 
Stephen Schaefgen
Dick Vandenberg 
 
About SIM
 
Established in 1968, the Society for Information Management (SIM) is the premier network for IT leaders.  SIM is comprised of more than 3,600 members including CIOs, senior IT executives, prominent academicians, and foremost consultants.  Through its 31 chapters, SIM provides resources and programs inspired by IT leaders for IT leaders that enable CIOs to further develop their leadership capabilities and those of the emerging leaders in their organizations. SIM provides the premiere collective voice to advocate policy and legislation on behalf of the IT profession.
Brian Shul 
 
Summit, 2010
by Christi Daigre
 
 
 
 
 
 
On April 29th and 30th, representatives of the Boards of Directors of the 31 SIM Chapters met near Chicago, Illinois, to hold the 2010 Chapter Leadership Summit.  The purpose of the event was
to network among the various chapter leaders, share best practices, and outline the future direction of SIM International. Rick Pride,
 Memphis SIM Past President and SIMI representative, Christi Daigre, Marketing Chair, and Susan Caldwell, Membership Co-Chair, participated in the event to represent the Memphis Chapter.

Andrew Jackson, a member of the Dallas Fort Worth SIM chapter, worked with his son James to compose this video summarizing Summit events: Watch Video   It is an excellent sample of the team collaboration and interaction that occurred at Summit 2010.

 
Six priority areas were identified as 2010 focal points:

1) Membership initiatives: develop an orientation program and on-boarding program for new members; create a meaningful value proposition for SIM membership.  
2) Marketing focus: develop and create a readily accessible marketing playbook, and create a consistent SIM brand.  
3)Knowledge Management initiatives: develop a playbook for events and a repository for sharing speaker information.
4)Partner Programs: develop a viable and sustainable Partner Program that is attractive to SIMI, the individual Chapters and SIM partners.
5) Susan Caldwell of the Memphis chapter participated in a panel discussion sharing materials our chapter compiled for Members in Transition (MIT); as a result, a focal group will work to compile and implement a national program to assist SIM MIT.
6) Finally, a group will explore how SIM can use social media for the benefit of members and programs.
 
If you are interested in joining in any of these focus groups, please contact Rick, Susan or Christi to volunteer.
Community Outreach Update
 
 
cobranded logos
Teen Tech Camp
July 19-24 Benjamin Hooks Library on Poplar Avenue 
by Dennis Norton, Rick San Roman, Christi Daigre  
 
There's no question about it - we must start preparing our youth for the IT careers of tomorrow. The SIM Chapter is doing just that. For the fifth year, SIM Memphis is partnering with the Memphis Public Library and Information Center to present Teen Tech Camp, a week-long technology-intensive program for 13-15 year-olds. At Teen Tech Camp, participants will learn to edit photos, music and videos to produce animations or simple games during the week.  Demonstrations and daily activities will culminate in a final project.  The program is designed to teach them about how technology fits into every business strategy and to encourage them to consider careers in technology.
 
We have something brand new this year! The daily camp agenda calls for a 30 minute BSO (bright, shiny object) presentation where students are presented a gadget or interesting applied technology. The BSO series will be a hands-on interactive supply chain simulation exercise.  The simulation is being developed by a team consisting of Rick San Roman, Ed Charbonnet, Larry Raines, Dennis Norton, and  Mark Marcus with SAP.  Mark will provide the gadgets such as scan guns, data entry screens, and a bar code printer.
 
If you're a SIM member who wants to get involved, but you don't have much time to give, Teen Tech Camp is a wonderful opportunity!!  We need facilitators to help out during the BSO's, luncheon attendees for Friday, and appraisers for the Saturday morning camper presentations. The camp is also looking for someone who could give a one-hour demo on one of the following technologies: iPhone application development, digital music recording, mixing & editing, MIDI instruments, or 3D animation.  
 
Please see Rick San Roman or Dennis Norton for more information.  Also, check out the recent report FOX Memphis did on the camp
 
  
 
Endowments
by Dennis Norton
 
James Robinson Memorial Endowment
 
Brian Shul
Joe Toman (left) and Dennis Norton (right) met with Terry Smith (center) at LeMoyne-Owen College Annual Scholarship Luncheon.  Terry, a junior in Computer Science, is the recipient of the SIM James Robinson Memorial Scholarship for the Fall 2009/Spring 2010 term. Terry is from Greensville, MS and has always loved working with computers; his passions are graphics design and systems engineering.  When he's not at school, Terry enjoys playing football, basketball and running track. He is a member of the "Man Up" social group at LOC and tutors math to high school students regularly.  After finishing his undergraduate degree at LOC, Terry aspires to becoming a full time Information Technology professional, and at some point, to earn a Master's degree.
 
The selection process for the Fall 2010/Spring 2011 recipient is underway, and we are looking forward to the continued involvement of the SIM Memphis Outreach Committee in this process.
 
Gary Lasko Memorial Endowment 
Joe Toman and Dennis Norton worked with Judy Brown at University of Memphis to interview five candidates for the SIM Gary Lasko Memorial Scholarship.  The winning recipient is Amanda Bishop, a senior with a double major of MIS and Finance.  Amanda is involved in several honor societies at the University, is a part of the Memphis Institute for Leadership Education (MILE) program, and is involved in the LeaderShape Institute. She's currently an intern with Morgan Keegan working with Information Systems. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a Master's degree from the University of Memphis
.
   
 
Friends for Kerstell Charity Golf Tournament
by Dennis Norton and Christi Daigre 
 
Brian Shul
On June 14, 2010, SIM Memphis sponsored and participated in a Charity Golf Tournament to benefit Chris Kerstell and MDA for ALS research.  Friends for Kerstell is a group comprised of friends and co-workers of Chris Kerstell, who is an MDA patient and was a SIM Memphis member.  The purpose of the event was to raise money for ALS research and treatment.
 
The event was held at the Germantown Country Club, and the chapter was represented at the event by Rick Pride (Past President), Dick Vandenberg (President), Stephen Schaefgen (Strategy Series Chair), and Steve Greene (Strategy Series, Venue lead).
 
"This is another example of the outstanding outreach efforts from the SIM chapter to the Memphis community" Outreach Chair, Dennis Norton recently commented.  "SIM sponsorship of a hole at this event shows our continued commitment to making a positive impact in the local community and supporting our members."
 
(In the photo left to right: Rick Pride, Steve Greene, Dick Vandenberg, and
Stephen Schaefgen)
2010 Strategy Series for Executives:
"Thriving In Any Economy"
by Stephen Schaefgen 
 

The 2010 Strategy Series for Executives will be held September 23, 2010 at the Holiday Inn University of Memphis.  "Surviving and Thriving in Any Economy" brings together insightful views on business and personal leadership, economic trends, and case studies on survival and thriving in adversity in an atmosphere of executive dialog and camaraderie.

 

In addition to providing a venue for peer networking and executive dialog, the Strategy Series provides the resources for SIM Memphis to continue its outreach programs including Teen Tech Camp and scholarships at the University of Memphis and LeMoyne-Owen College.

 

An impressive Advisory Board has been assembled to assist with shaping the program and encouraging sponsorship and attendance.  Society members leading the event ask that you take three steps to make this year's event THE business gathering of 2010:

 

1. Save the date on your calendar and plan to attend!

2. Get your CXO and other leaders to save the date on their calendars and make their attendance a personal goal.
3. Introduce your top five suppliers to HMG Strategy, our event partner, to facilitate and enable sponsorship discussions.
 

Working together, SIM Memphis makes a difference!

 

If you have any questions contact:

Stephen J Schaefgen, CPA.CITP

Chair, Memphis Strategy Series for Executives
SIM's New Chief Executive in the Spotlight
by Christi Daigre 
 
Wendell Jones 
Wendell Jones 
Chief Executive, SIM    
  
 
As communicated earlier this year, SIM has restructured its Board to an eight person Policy Board elected by SIM members. This change allows the Board to appropriately focus on strategic SIM issues and growing the SIM community.
 
On April 1, Wendell Jones was selected as the Chief Executive for SIM.  Recently, we interviewed Wendell to learn more about him and his plans for the SIM organization.
 
Why did you want to become the first SIM Chief Executive position?
One major part of the answer is sentimental.  I have been involved with SIM since the start of my career, and over the years, my SIM experiences shaped and enhanced my career.   I now look forward to "giving back" by helping to set new directions, as SIM evolves with the changing times.
 
The second part of the answer is based on rational considerations. My career includes global IT executive, IT academic, and IT consulting experience, which are the three dominant professions of SIM members. Having "been there and done it", I understand the perspectives of these three groups of members.  
I have lived and worked overseas in Europe and Asia and in many regions of the United States, including California, New York, Virginia, Georgia, Nevada and Florida.  These geographical experiences have provided a cultural awareness and understanding of diversity that are useful when working for SIM to foster alliances, increase membership, and broaden our international appeal.  
 
You mention you have an understanding of the perspectives of IT executives, IT academics, and IT consultants. What strengths do you believe SIM can provide to these three groups? During its history, SIM has established a reputation as a top professional association for senior IT executives and CIOs.  For many years members have found our chapters to be a supportive environment with professional relationships and opportunities to learn, share insights, and encourage each other.  A number of my friends are people I first met and got to know in SIM.
 
SIM programs have long been recognized as world class. RLF, APC, SIMposium, and Academic Affairs are four prominent examples. RLF is arguably the best education program in the country for developing leadership skills and preparing high potential managers to assume higher levels of executive responsibility in senior leadership positions.
 
The APC is a forum for senior IT executives who commission exclusive research and share cross-industry perspectives in an intimate, candid atmosphere. Thirty companies are presently APC members.
 
Our Academic Affairs programs promote the sharing of practice-oriented research, fostering a dialogue about new ways to build and cultivate academic/business linkages, and a forum for discussion and interacting among members interested in practice-oriented research.  We sponsor our annual competition for practice-oriented research papers and maintain tight linkages to the academic community.
 
Our annual conference, SIMposium, has for years been a leading event designed for and by CIOs.  For decades, IT leaders have turned to SIMposium conferences for cross-industry dialog on common challenges and for content that they can apply in their organizations.
 
In short, SIM is a professional association with a number of excellent programs and active chapters, but the Board recognizes that we must position our Society to be not just good, but great!
 
Finally, Wendell, what is your vision for SIM to enable the move from "good to great" as you mention above?
I visualize an international SIM organization that is efficiently operated but still responsive to our members.  We will continue to excel with leadership education and research on relevant business and technology issues.  Our chapters and working groups will always be attractive opportunities for networking, learning and camaraderie.  Members will typically look forward to a SIM meeting as a place to learn and be with friends and colleagues.  At the chapter level and as an international organization, SIM will provide a supportive environment for mentoring, delivering on commitments, working together with trust, and enjoying professional relationships where we learn, share insights, and encourage each other.  The SIM of the future will be recognized internally and externally as the preeminent professional organization for IT leaders and future IT leaders.  SIM will develop people and grow leaders who make a meaningful contribution to their companies, their communities, our nation and the world.  
Membership News
 
Members on the Move!
 
Brian Shul 
Rick Brown recently became the Director for Information Technology at Allenberg Cotton Company.  In this role, Rick is responsible for running Information Technology for North American operations.  Some of the major initiatives he is focusing on are to implement effective controls throughout all aspects of technology operations, and to manage the roll out of an ERP system in North America. 
 
 Congratulations to you, Rick!
 
 
Members in the News! 
 
Two Memphis SIM members, Judy Simon and John Lewis, were recently referenced in the Memphis Business Journal in the month of April.  Judy Simon is a professor of Management Information Systems at the University of Memphis, and was quoted regarding Cloud Computing. She offered expertise on how to decide on whether a vendor has the proper security and infrastructure in the virtual networking arena.  See the entire article here.
 
John Lewis, Semmes-Murphey Neurlogic and Spine Institute Administrator and CEO, commented on how changes in surgical procedures, hospital operations, and partnerships with other medical entities in the Mid-South have changed the way Semmes-Murphey does business over the years.  John is also on the Board of the Memphis SIM Chapter, serving as the Treasurer.  To see the entire article, click on this link to the Memphis Business Journal.
 
Jana Markowitz will be presenting at the upcoming July Project Management Institute (PMI) monthly chapter meeting, which will be held at the Esplande conference center, located at 901 Cordova Station Avenue. The event will be held on July 13th from 5:30-7:30pm.  The presentation topic is "Organizational Change and Communications: What are they? Who does them? Where do they fit into the Project Plan?"  The event costs $20 for PMI members, and $25 for non-PMI members; a buffet dinner is included with the registration fee. 
 
PMI members should register via their PMI online invitation (distributed on June 30th); non-members can RSVP to this link. RSVPs are requested by July 8th, but you can register at the door on the evening of the event.
 
 SIMposium header 3
SIMPosium Atlanta 2010
by Sue Conklin
 
SIMposium2010 brings CIOs, Senior IT Executives and thought leaders together from across the nation to explore ideas and opportunities, inspire and collaborate on the topics, issues and challenges that North America's top IT Leaders are facing.
 

Featured and Keynote Speakers Include:
 
  Brian Shul 
Brian Shul
AF Fighter Pilot, TOP GUN Instructor, SR-71 Pilot and Author of 4 bestselling books, including "The Speed of Life". 
 
 
As one of America's most popular speakers, Brian Shul has used his stunning aviation photography, near-death experience, and subtle sense of humor, to craft a message of living fearlessly and making the most of each day.
 
 
Steven Chabinsky
Steven Chabinsky
Deputy Assistant Director, FBI
 
Steven has just completed a joint duty assignment as Senior Advisor to the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) where he served as Assistant Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Cyber, the Chair of the National Cyber Study Group, and the Director of the Joint Interagency Cyber Task Force "CYBER TERRORISM". Steve Chabinksy is a recognized authority on cyber security and cyber crime. As Deputy Assistant Director, Cyber Division of the FBI and Senior Advisor to the Director of National Intelligence, Mr. Chabinsky does not soft sell cyber terrorism. As one of the FBI's top three priorities, Steven explores the vulnerability to our nation's economic and national security. How we handle it will be key to the future of the USA.
 

SIMposium2010 - Moderator:  Mario Armstrong 
 
Mario Armstrong
Digital Lifestyle expert, Chief Content Creator, Media, LLC
Radio & TV Technology Talk show host
Heard & Seen on: CNN, NBC:WBAL-TV, AT&T, SBTV.com and NPR, XM Sirius, US Talk Network 
 
Mario Armstrong is a Digital Lifestyle Expert, talk show host, commentator, media personality, social entrepreneur, public speaker and youth non-profit co-founder! He translates technology for non-tech audiences. He is the on-air tech contributor for NPR's Morning Edition program reaching 17 million households. He appears weekly on CNN, hosts a weekly technology talk show on Sirius XM radio and hosts shows on public radio stations WYPR & WEAA. He's also hosted a show on PBS-MPT and appeared on C-Span, TV-One, PBS and CNBC.
  

"DRIVING INNOVATION WITH NETS"Madeline Weiss

Dr. Madeline Weiss 
Director, SIM Advanced Practices Council
 

In today's global and volatile economy, firms continually seek innovative approaches to gaining competitive advantage. How can you encourage your staff to think more innovatively and share ideas for new products, services and processes? How can you reach beyond your firm to generate innovative ideas and solutions? How can you move quickly from ideas to implemented solutions? In this session, Madeline Weiss will highlight what SIM's Advanced Practices Council (APC) members have learned from leading researchers and two APC members will share their successful practices.

 

To view more information on other speakers, please visit the SIMposium 2010 Program link here. 

 
RLF Reunion Rates: 
SIMposium Atlanta bringing together all RLF graduates at RLF Reconnect at SIMposium 2010.   Meet with your fellow RLF classmates and peers.  Make plans now!

 
Register Online at 
www.simposiumconf.com/register_step1.php.  On page 2 of registration, Check the "Full Conference Rate Bullet".  Under promo code, enter promo code PRLF10 and hit APPLY.  This entitles you to a $695 full conference fee rate, a 30-40% savings (Food and Beverage Included).
 
Memphis Chapter Party Time:
We are looking into limo/bus transportation to and from SIMposium.  If you are interested in joining a group, please contact Sue Conklin.
  
                         
 
                           See you in Atlanta!