On September 22, 2011, the Memphis Strategy Series for Executives will be held at the Westin Memphis on historic Beale Street. This will be a world-class event focused on the timely theme of "Unleashing the Power of IT for Innovation and Growth."  With the help of FedEx, the Executive Advisory Board, HMG Strategy, and our Committee members, the 2011 Strategy Series for Executives is starting to take shape!

Designed exclusively for CIOs/IT executives, this all-day conference focuses on the critical issues confronting transformational leaders as they seek optimal strategies for leveraging technology to drive business growth in rapidly changing markets.  The format for the conference includes substantial time for networking. Join the most respected senior CIOs/IT executives from the greater Memphis area and grow your professional network!  

The event is expected to attract close to 150 attendees representing top business and IT executives from the Memphis area. It is designed to deliver exceptional thought-leadership in a warm and friendly club setting, where the audience will receive unique insights into best practices and hear success stories involving leadership, management, technology and career management. Register now to reserve your spot. Be sure to encourage other qualified execs to register as well by forwarding this information to them.   

Rob Carter, CIO of FedEx will be our keynote speaker.  

We'll also hear from Kellie Maske of FedEx, who will bring out her crystal ball and clarify the future of the economy.

Mayor AC Wharton will speak on "Memphis, City on the Move". We are currently working on engaging a speaker from Gartner as well.

Brian Janz will reprise his role as moderator/master of ceremonies.  Brian is the Professor of Management Information Systems at the Fogelman College of Business and Economics and Associate Director of the FedEx Center for Supply Chain Management at the University of Memphis's FedEx Institute of Technology.

WE NEED VENDOR PARTNERS. Please contact or follow-up with your best vendors and strongly encourage them to work with Hunter Muller to find a way that they can be a part of this outstanding event.

It would be great seeing you at the September 22nd event!

Best Regards,
Dick Vandenberg
Della Adams
Co-chairs
2011 Strategy Series for Executives
 

Community Outreach Spotlight: Teen Tech Camp

Excitement is building as our SIM and Library teams prepare to launch Teen Tech Camp July 11-16, 2011!  The camp, now in its seventh year, helps kids to acquire IT skills through hands-on learning.  By the end of the week, they will have created basic computer games and music videos.  They will also understand how computers enable manufacturing and distribution processes.  The experience will allow students to discover aspects of technology totally new to them and some will be intrigued by IT as a career option.

The main agenda for the week involves learning how to use the SCRATCH programming language.  SCRATCH was developed by MIT in 2007 for users of any age, skill or background.  Kids find it easy to get started and build skills as they try to make their creations more "cool."  SCRATCH also includes an online collaboration environment where programs can be shared, reused and enhanced by others.  Currently there are more than 800,000 users around the world in the online community.

SIM contributes to the curriculum by presenting a half-hour BSO (Bright Shiny Object) session each morning.  The purpose of BSO is to show how technology is used in business.  This year we will demonstrate how fictional company "Jumpstart, Inc" uses computers to run a jump rope manufacturing and distribution business.  Daily installments will include sales order processing, production planning, manufacturing, and billing and shipping.
 

The camp will conclude on Saturday with a recognition ceremony attended by campers and their families.  SIM member Jana Markowitz will give a talk on IT career opportunities, and SIM members will be on hand to review students' SCRATCH projects and to share personal experiences about an IT career.

Rick San Roman reviews students' work at Saturday Recognition Ceremony (TTC 2010).

DON'T MISS OUT on an opportunity to get involved with TTC this year!  You will be impressed by the kids and surprised by what they've learned.  You will be amazed at the dedication of the Library staff.  You will be moved by the gratitude of the parents - many of whom could not afford to send their child to a camp like this--but SIM generosity made it possible.   You will be proud to be a part of SIM's work in making our community better.

SIM members are invited to:

�        Assist with BSO Mon-Fri 9:00am

�        Have lunch with students and staff Friday at noon

�        Attend the recognition ceremony on Sat at 10:00am

Contact Ed Charbonnet or Dennis Norton for more information.

SIM Memphis and the Memphis Public Library wish to thank Kraft Foods, Inc for the generous donation of (9) laptops.  This allows each student access to a reliable computer with which to produce and present their programming projects. 

See the slideshow movie from 2010 Teen Tech Camp HERE.

See camper interviews from 2010 Teen Tech Camp HERE.

See the WMCTV.com ad for 2010 Teen Tech Camp HERE.
 

Stax Museum

As supporters of the Stax Music Academy, SIM members were invited to a private reception at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music on May 19th.  The event was attended by several SIM Memphis members, including Rick San Roman, Della Adams, Jana Markowitz, Diane Coons, Ed Charbonnet, and Susan Caldwell. Digger Phelps, renowned former Notre Dame basketball coach and popular ESPN sports analyst, was the guest speaker for the evening.  During his 20 years as coach at Notre Dame, Phelps won more games (393) than any coach in Irish history. 

The event included performances by students from the Academy before and after Phelps' talk.  Phelps' message to the group was that the Academy was more than an opportunity for students to develop musical skills; it could also be a venue to develop the confidence and life skills needed to overcome the challenges often experienced in life.  It was a great speech, a great open house, and everyone (students and attendees) had fun.   Digger even performed "Walking the Dog" with the Stax kids.

In an interview later that same week, Digger was on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" show.  He reemphasized in this interview the importance and impact of programs like those offered by the Stax Academy.  See the full interview HERE.

Digger Phelps speaking at the Stax Reception.

University of Memphis senior Van Stacks was awarded the SIM scholarship for the 2011/12 school year.  Van is pursuing a BBA in MIS with a minor in Management.  She has a 3.8 GPA and is interning with the IRS's Human Capital Office.  She is a member of the University of Memphis Honors Program, FCBE honors program, the Memphis Institute of Leadership Education (MILE),  the Association of Management Information Systems, Golden Key International Honor Society, and Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.  Her projected career goal is "to work as a technical analyst in Cyber Security, Information Management, and other related fields."   Van was selected during a panel interview May 2 conducted by SIM Members Judy Brown, Joe Toman, and Dennis Norton.