Past year's attendees rave about the learning opportunities provided by SoTeC's interactive Panel Discussions! The SoTeC Speaker Committee is proud to present two exciting and relevant Panel Discussions as part of the SoTeC 2009 program. All Panel Discussions will be moderated and provide an opportunity for conference attendees not only to hear from the panelists, but also to interact with both the panelists and their fellow attendees to maximize the sharing of information and experience.
SoTeC's 2009 Panel Discussions include:
Project Management Panel -
Enterprise Project Implementations:
Success Stories and Tales of Woe
What are the overriding issues and challenges when developing, implementing and rolling out enterprise systems and what are the keys to success? Hear how three senior level IT professionals from the three different industries have successfully accomplished the task. Our panelists will share stories of their success and discuss how they have weathered storms to completion or shut down. Learn what you must do and what you must avoid from a panel of experts who have some battle scars to prove it.
Senior Project Manager
Applied Computer Solutions
Executive Director
Fox Information Technology
Sr. Manager Development and Applications
O’Melveny and Myers
Enterprise Applications Manager, SVP
Wells Fargo Foothill
Career Development Panel -
Optimizing Your Career Search:
How to Use Your Network and Technology to Get Noticed
Landing your dream job is all about standing out from the crowd! Learn from the experts how to use technology tools and resources to position yourself favorably in any type of job market. This panel will discuss ways that you can differentiate yourself and get noticed using current technology and internet resources. Learn how to better create and manage your career and professional image and online profile and standout in a sea of competing job candidates. If you don't do it, your competition will!
Queen of iSpace
Vice President Talent Acquisition
Fox Interactive Media
Senior VP/CIO
The Olson Company
Ryon Harms
Internet Marketing Director
efi Sports Medicine
PANEL MEMBER BIOGRAPHIES:
Ben Kreader
Executive Director
Fox Information Technology
Enterprise Project Implementation: Success Stories and Tales of Woe
Ben Kreader is Executive Director of Enterprise Application Services for Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corp that includes Fox Filmed Entertainment, 20th Century Fox Television, Fox Networks Group and MySpace. In his current role, Ben and his team are responsible for implementation and integration of non-ERP vendor package solutions as well as development and support of custom applications. They currently manage a portfolio of 12 major shared service systems used by over 400 customers in the corporate services areas of Fox including Security, Treasury, Tax, Legal, Real Estate, Risk, and Royalties.
Ben has over 12 years of IT and entertainment industry experience split between Fox and Sony Pictures Entertainment where he supported studio, production and music. Prior to working in IT, Ben worked in print production, music publishing and music licensing. Through this combination of experiences, Ben has become a subject matter expert on intellectual property rights and the various ways IP and its corresponding monetization methods can be modeled in IT systems.
Ben holds a Bachelor of Arts in Film, Music, Literature and Perceptual Psychology from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, where he’s thankful they taught him how to write since that’s what he does every day. Ben is also a songwriter and singer with an upcoming album release of electropop available on iTunes, Amazon.com and eMusic in early 2010.
Joseph K. Ricks
Sr. Manager Development and Applications
O’Melveny and Myers
Enterprise Project Implementation: Success Stories and Tales of Woe
Joe Ricks is currently the Senior Manager of Development and Applications at O’Melveny & Myers LLP, an American Lawyer 2009 A List – Top 20 international law firm with 1000 attorneys practicing in 14 offices worldwide. As Senior IT Manager at O’Melveny, Joe is responsible for providing application and business intelligence - based technology solutions to meet O’Melveny’s strategic business objectives. Joe manages a team of application developers, business analysts, enterprise integration specialists, and DBAs.
In his 30+ years of experience in IT, Joe has worked in a wide variety of industry groups and disciplines, most recently in the newspaper, and entertainment industries. Prior to his current position at O’Melveny & Myers, Joe was IT Director for the Writers Guild of America, West, where he and his team of developers and DBAs performed a major migration of enterprise applications from the WGA’s legacy system (HP 3000) into a MS SQL relational database infrastructure. Earlier in his career, Joe was a Retail Systems Manager for Warner Bros., where he and his team of engineers, business and support analysts created the first intranet within the Warner Bros. Studio, as well as provide project planning, and logistical oversight of the Warner Bros. Retail Design Studio migration from New York to Burbank.
Joe holds an MBA with an MIS specialty from California Lutheran University and is member of the International Law Technology Association and the National Black MBA Association.
Lori Shapiro
Senior Project Manager
Applied Computer Solutions
Enterprise Project Implementation: Success Stories and Tales of Woe
Lori Shapiro, PMP, ITIL has over 25 years of experience working in and around technology. Lori holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Information Systems from CSU, Northridge and a Masters Degree in Software Engineering from National University. She currently works as a Sr. Project Manager for Applied Computer Solutions, a large women owned Solutions Provider headquartered in Huntington Beach, CA. Previously Lori has owned her own Internet Consulting and Website business, and had 15 years with Pacific Bell/ AT&T as a storage capacity planner.
She has been involved in several professional organizations and currently serves as the Marketing Director for the PMI Orange County Chapter. Lori was a founder and a five year President of the Sun/StorageTek’s international Large Tape User Group. She also was involved with the Association for Women in Technology, serving as the Vice President of IT and Treasurer for five years.
Tatiana Shevshuk
Enterprise Applications Manager, SVP
Wells Fargo Foothill
Enterprise Project Implementation: Success Stories and Tales of Woe
Tatiana Shevchuk is the Enterprise Applications Manager at Wells Fargo Foothill. Wells Fargo Foothill is a leading provider of senior secured financing from $10 million to $1 billion and more to companies in a wide range of industries.
Tatiana has over 16 years of IT experience working in the financial industry. She is responsible for providing application, database and business intelligence support to meet business objectives. Tatiana manages a team of 20 developers, business analysts, DBAs, and testers supporting 1200 users.
Currently Tatiana and her team are responsible for the major applications integration and consolidation related to the merger between Wells Fargo and Wachovia banks.
Tatiana earned her Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from Odessa State University, Ukraine.
Brian Harmsen
Vice President Talent Acquisition
Fox Interactive Media
Optimizing Your Career Search: How to Use Your Network and Technology to Get Noticed
Brian Harmsen is currently Vice President, Talent Acquisition for Fox Interactive Media (News Corporation) where he is responsible for setting Talent Acquisition strategy and leading a professional team of recruiters based in Beverly Hills, San Francisco, Seattle, and New York. Mr. Harmsen is also responsible for managing enterprise-wide contingent workforce program consisting of nearly 250 temporary staff. Mr. Harmsen has 19 years of professional experience, and prior to joining FOX he has held leadership roles in Human Resources for global Financial, Technology, and Media/Entertainment companies like Chase Bank, Microsoft, Disney, ABC Television, and TV Guide. Mr. Harmsen holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Arizona State University in Organizational Effectiveness and Public Administration.
Tak Fujii
Senior VP/CIO
The Olson Company
Optimizing Your Career Search: How to Use Your Network and Technology to Get Noticed
Tak Fujii is a proven leader with over 20 years of experience establishing strategic technologies for high growth companies like Hearthstone, BuildNet, Wamington Homes and The Olson Company. Tak has a long history of delivering transformational enterprise level initiatives like ERP, BI, CRM, scheduling, eBusiness, ITIL, disaster recovery, SOX compliance and outsourcing. Taks' experience spans several industries including institutional investment, commercial banking, software, consulting, real estate development and higher education.
A native of Southern California, Tak has a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and a MBA in eBusiness from the University of Phoenix. He is a Board member of the Southern California Society for Information Management (SIM) and an Adjunct Professor with the University of La Verne
Carole Schlocker
Queen of iSpace
Optimizing Your Career Search: How to Use Your Network and Technology to Get Noticed
Carole Schlocker currently reigns as the Queen of iSpace. Her previous positions include Princess of Metro Information Services and Sr. Peddler at D.P Specialists. Prior to this she was actually somewhat technical-as Manager of West Coast Technical Support for Candle Corporation. Realizing that she could only bluff her way so much technically, she moved into sales. She has been in the IT staffing and Solutions business for over 20 years. Never seen dressed uncoordinated she believes in building solid clients based on their proximity to Loehmann’s. Carole firmly believes in building strong client relationships and selling on value, humor, trust and ethics and NOT price.
Carole is currently on the Board of the Westside Center of Independent Living, The National Association of Computer Consultant Business’ and Association of IT Professionals. She is also a long time member of the UCLA I.S. Associates and has served on their board. She was the Co-Director of the Los Angeles Chapter of Women in Technology and helped to build the chapter from the ground up. Carole holds a Bachelors Degree in Social Work from Temple University. She strongly believes that she is practicing social work every day in the IT staffing business. Her future aspirations include a position with Empress in the title.
Ryon Harms
Internet Marketing Director
efi Sports Medicine
Optimizing Your Career Search: How to Use Your Network and Technology to Get Noticed
Ryon Harms created the The Social Executive (www.thesocialexec.com) career and networking blog with a singular mission: help executives better utilize technology and social media to grow their networks and create more meaningful professional relationships.
Ryon started TSE to give back to all the professionals that so openly provided him with the contacts, referrals and empathetic support that eventually lead to his current position as a marketing executive at EFI Sports Medicine.
Ryon also serves as a consultant for the McDermott & Bull Executive Network, where he is creating innovative ways to help senior executives help others and help themselves find their next career opportunity. He is a sought-after social media consultant for companies looking to build online communities for improved customer engagement, customer service and more cost-efficient marketing initiatives.