The Transformational Leader: 

Leading, Innovating & Transforming in a Connected World

On September 11, 2012 area executives fortunate enough to be at the Cook Convention Center Cannon Ballroom learned how transformational leadership coupled with innovation could be leveraged to provide an advantage for their organizations in our increasingly connected world. After a period of early networking with attendees and vendor sponsors, the day began with a moment of silence and a special tribute for 9/11.

The Strategy Series helps fund SIM Memphis Community Outreach Programs. Proceeds are used to support college IT Career Days and scholarships, K-12 Teen Tech Camps, STEM initiatives, and SIM's partnership with the Soulsville Foundation and Stax Music Academy.

Dr. Robert R. Taylor of the University of Memphis facilitated the program. The keynote addresses began with Peter High of Metis Strategy, LLC who made a compelling case for Information Technology as the central nervous system for businesses. Karstin Bodell from IBM described the ever morphing but vital relationship between the CIO and the CMO. In an encore performance, Dr. Kellie Maske from FedEx wowed the audience with a presentation on the Global Economy, followed by an energizing presentation on Social Media impacts that can be leveraged by enterprises at the consumer level given by Chris McGugan of AVAYA.

Everyone learned that no amount of planning can prevent obstacles when launching an event as two unplanned fire drills caused the facility to be evacuated. However, after the second false alarm, Della Adams sprang into action and worked with the Cook Convention Center management as well as the Memphis Fire Department to resolve the issue before it further dampened the day.

Over lunch, Dennis Norton gave a presentation which explained each of the outreach programs supported by SIM. Executives of McDonald's showed their support by presenting SIM a check for $1,500. Afterwards, Dennis made several awards. One award was made to Soulsville Foundation for $3,000 and one to the University of Memphis MILE program for $5,000. 

The afternoon was equally engaging and informative beginning with a panel discussion on Leadership Strategies and Innovation with Michael McKieran of Citrix Systems, Brent Nair of the City of Memphis, and Sonny Sonnenstein of First Horizon/ First Tennessee as panelist. Following the panel discussion Michael McKeirnan of Citrix provided an executive briefing on using mobility to drive business results. In the final keynote of the day, Bettina Roberts and Frank Liberio of McDonald's shared specific examples of how McDonald's uses leadership principles to drive business results.

Of course there was a prize giveaway by sponsors at the end of the session which leads us to thank our sponsors: Avaya, IBM, CDW, Citrix, EMC2, Good, kapow, okta, servicenow, Tibco, vmware, Acxiom, Adobe, Cisco, epsilon, Information Builders, Presidio, ProTech, Syntel, TCSI, Wiley, Egon Zehnder International, Heidrick & Struggles, Korn/ Ferry International, Russell Reynolds Associates, and SpencerStuart.

A hearty thanks to our sponsors and attendees in making this year's Strategy Series a resounding success.  

 

SIM Teen Tech Camp Turned Eight

by Dennis Norton 

  

Students work on SCRATCH projects

Teen Tech Camp - Library was a big hit!  Rick San Roman said, "This is the most impressive group of kids we've had.  Most said they want to pursue technically based careers.  Two years ago most of the campers wanted to be professional athletes."

 

This eighth annual camp, a partnership between SIM and the Memphis Public Library, was held at the Benjamin Hooks Central Library the week of July 16.   Twenty-two students, aged 13-15 attended.

  

SIM team conducts Jumpstart exercise.  Mark Marcus (foreground), David Ulloa, Ed Charbonnet, HP Chatham (back)

SIM members kicked off each morning with a daily module of Jumpstart, Inc.  This is a supply-chain simulation which gives students an overview of how technology enables business processes such as order management, inventory tracking, and production scheduling.  Each student manufactured a made-to-order jump rope which they got to keep at the end of the camp.

 

Jana Markowitz gives IT Career talk to students and parents

For the remainder of each day, campers learned to work with the "SCRATCH" programming language and other creative software such as Audacity, and Artrage. 

 

Saturday was "graduation day."  Students and their families came to the library to review the SCRATCH projects.  Jana Markowitz opened with her talk on "Careers in IT", where she explained how technology is utilized in virtually all careers. 

  

SIM was well represented during the week-long event.  Members were on hand to conduct the Jumpstart sessions, to meet the students during lunch on Friday, and to participate in the closing ceremony on Saturday.

 

2012 Teen Tech Camp campers, library staff and SIM members

Thanks to SIM TTC-Library co-leaders Ed Charbonnet and David Ulloa for a well-organized and executed Outreach event.  Also, thanks to Mark Marcus (SAP), Rick San Roman, Jana Markowitz, HP Chatham, Michael Boyd, Phillip Mashburn, John Oglesby, Rick Pride, and Larry Raines for volunteering.  

Thanks to Century Management, Inc, a McDonald's Franchisee in the Greater Memphis area, for donating food for Friday's lunch, and to SAP,Thomas & Betts, Inland Intermodal Logistics Services, LLC, IMC Companies and Windstream for donating items for camper gift bags. 

 

Also special thanks to Library staff Keshia Williams, Verjeana Hunt, and John Lloyd.

 

 

Community Outreach Announcements!  

 

McDonald's USA, Great Southern Region Honors SIM Outreach

by Dennis Norton  

 

McDonalds executives took the stage during Strategy Series to congratulate SIM for its Outreach programs and support of the University of Memphis' MILE program.  A check for $1,500 was presented to Dennis Norton, SIM Outreach Chair by Bettina Roberts, Vice President, General Manager; Frank Liberio, SVP of Information Technology, CIO; and Kevin Morgan, Regional Strategy & Communications Manager.

by Dennis Norton

Soulsville Foundation was recognized by SIM with a Community Improvement Award.  The award was granted for outstanding service to the community through the educational advancement of young people.  The amount of the award is $3,000 and was given in memory of former SIM board member Samuel Frank Dillard (1970-2012.).  The award was presented during Strategy Series by Dennis Norton to Mark Wender, Chief Operating Officer, Soulsville Foundation; and Justin Merrick, Operations Manager, Vocal/Choreography Director, Stax Music Academy 

SIM showed appreciation to MILE (Memphis Institute for Leadership Education) during Strategy Series.  A SIM Community Outreach Award was presented to Dr. Bob Taylor, Associate Professor Department of Management & Director MILE Program, University of Memphis.  The award in the amount of $5,000 recognizes MILE for outstanding service to the community by helping university students develop into business leaders.  The award was presented by Dennis Norton, SIM Outreach Chair.