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Houston CIO Executive Summit
December 11, 2018 | Hyatt Regency Houston
December 11, 2018
Hyatt Regency Houston
Collaborate with your peers
Get together with your peers to tackle top business challenges through peer-driven content and discussions at the Houston CIO Executive Summit.
Join your peers to discuss the most critical issues impacting CIOs today:
Investing in your people and the right technologies
Innovating with advanced technologies and new delivery models
Influencing business stakeholders and enterprise outcomes
Houston CIO Governing Body
The Governing Body Co-Chairs shape the summit agenda, ensuring that all content is driven by CIOs, for CIOs.
Governing Body Co-Chairs
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Yanni Charalambous
Occidental Petroleum Corporation
VP & CIO
![](https://access-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/bh/production/contacts/square/9743_1523996809.jpg)
James Green
Chevron Corporation
GM of IT Service Delivery
Jennifer Hartsock
BHGE
CIO
![](https://access-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/bh/production/contacts/square/494.jpg)
Lori Kittle
Landry's Restaurants, Inc.
Chief Loyalty Officer
![](https://access-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/bh/production/contacts/square/431.jpg)
Al Lindseth
Plains All American Pipeline
SVP Tech. & Risk Mgmt.
![](https://access-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/bh/production/contacts/square/75254.jpg)
Wayne Shurts
Sysco
EVP & Chief Technology Officer
![](https://access-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/bh/production/contacts/square/72778_1523997620.jpg)
Amy Suhl
Shell Global Solutions Inc
VP & CIO, Projects & Technology
![](https://access-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/bh/production/contacts/square/220647.jpg)
Laura Tibodeau
Americas Styrenics
CIO
![](https://access-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/bh/production/contacts/square/102125.jpg)
John Varkey
Direct Energy
VP, CIO
Agenda
December 10, 2018
December 11, 2018
7:00am - 7:45am Registration & Breakfast
7:45am - 8:15am Opening Comments
From the Mayor: Houston’s Innovation and Technology Push
![Sylvester Turner headshot Sylvester Turner headshot](https://access-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/bh/production/contacts/square/244807_1535582215.jpg)
Sylvester Turner
Mayor
City of Houston
Mayor Sylvester Turner shares his vision for making Houston the nation’s next hotbed for innovation and technology and tees up an innovation panel featuring his Deputy CIO, the CIO from Rice University and the leader of Texas Medical Center's Innovation Institute who will discuss Houston’s innovation hub venture.
8:15am - 8:50am Keynote
Innovation2 – Building Houston’s Hub for Next-Gen Technologies
Erik Halvorsen, Ph.D.
Director, Innovation Institute
Texas Medical Center
![Klara Jelinkova headshot Klara Jelinkova headshot](https://access-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/bh/production/contacts/square/83099_1527773671.jpg)
Klara Jelinkova
VP & CIO
Rice University
Reenie Askew
Deputy CIO
City of Houston
Representatives from key partners in Houston’s Innovation District – the city of Houston, Rice University and Texas Medical Center – discuss progress to date, next steps and how IT leaders can be a part of pushing the region to be a leader in innovation and new technologies.
8:50am - 9:20am Networking Break
9:20am - 10:10am Breakout Session
Winning With Digital in the EPCI Industry
Hosted by Celonis
![Akash Khurana headshot Akash Khurana headshot](https://s3.amazonaws.com/access-resources/evantaconnect/production/eventspeaker-photo/10185.jpg)
Akash Khurana
Global VP, CIO & Chief Digital Officer
McDermott International Inc.
McDermott is leveraging digital technologies to transform the oil and gas industry – from using AI to implementing vastly improved data management systems – and become more tactical in its efforts to accelerate efficiencies and growth.
9:20am - 10:10am Breakout Session
Leveraging Technology to Influence Program Loyalty
![Lori Kittle headshot Lori Kittle headshot](https://access-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/bh/production/contacts/square/494.jpg)
Lori Kittle
Chief Loyalty Officer
Landry's Restaurants, Inc.
The loyalty program for Landry’s Restaurants is Lori Kittle’s baby, managing all things IT-related 24-7, 365. Uptime is critical; downtime can be devastating.
Kittle shares the technological challenges and successes behind:
- Operating a web-based, highly transactional system, including mobile applications
- Managing customer analytics and segmenting data to push successful promotional programs
- Creating new experiences for program members to further increase engagement
9:20am - 10:10am Executive Boardroom
Seizing IoT’s Opportunities and Managing its Challenges
Hosted by Nutanix
![Charles Li headshot Charles Li headshot](https://access-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/bh/production/contacts/square/102548_1525359733.jpg)
Charles Li
IT Chief Data Officer for Trading & Supply
Royal Dutch Shell
![Brad Rector headshot Brad Rector headshot](https://access-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/bh/production/contacts/square/5833.jpg)
Brad Rector
CIO
Phillips 66
Satyam Vaghani
VP/GM, IoT & AI
Nutanix
For several years now, the Internet of Things has represented tantalizing possibilities for enterprise technology leaders. However, the same confluence of factors that position IoT as a tool of strategic advantage — actionable consumer data, greater efficiencies and process improvement, a paved path to innovation — also pose major challenges. Join this interactive discussion on:
- How cybersecurity threats, consumer privacy concerns and mountains of unprocessed information can derail these initiatives before they start
- Why, while opportunities still abound through IoT, CIOs must first build a clear roadmap to unlocking its full potential
- How IT leaders are addressing emerging technologies and planning for the future
Executive boardrooms are intimate and interactive sessions designed to foster dynamic dialogue around a specific, strategic topic. These private, closed-door discussions encourage attendee participation and are limited to 15 attendees (seating priority is given to CIOs).
To reserve your seat, please contact:
Mallory Paige at mallory.paige@evanta.com or 503-808-9828.
10:10am - 10:40am Networking Break
10:40am - 11:30am Breakout Session
Operating with a Business First, Technology Second, Mindset
![Ken Braud headshot Ken Braud headshot](https://access-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/bh/production/contacts/square/1196_1522764610.jpg)
Ken Braud
SVP & CIO
Halliburton
![Mike Pfister headshot Mike Pfister headshot](https://access-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/bh/production/contacts/square/16273.jpg)
Mike Pfister
CIO
ConocoPhillips
For Ken Braud and Mike Pfister, it’s business first. No matter the implications, challenges and opportunities of any technology initiative, the business strategy and a laser focus on business outcomes is first considered. Yes, there are tech standards and adoption maps, but the first question Ken and Mike ask – and are asked by leadership – is “what’s the benefit and value to the business?”
Join this session for a fresh perspective on:
- Applying process and leadership prior to moving forward with shiny-new technologies in the hype cycle
- Finding the right balance between technology and business value for your enterprise; adopting change and driving value that is measurable
- Assessing the risk and expense in either being a fast mover or becoming a slow follower
10:40am - 11:30am Breakout Session
Building Strategic Partners by Changing Vendor Relationships
![Ken Piddington headshot Ken Piddington headshot](https://access-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/bh/production/contacts/square/85735.jpg)
Ken Piddington
CIO
SGR Energy
With today’s ever-evolving and changing vendor market, why not make your vendor a key contributor to the organization? The transactional vendor relationship has limited benefits and can leave your bottom line suffering. It’s time to change your approach to vendor management.
Based on his own “Strategic Partner Program,” Ken Piddington:
- Explains his philosophy on vendor management
- Teaches how to revitalize a vendor relationship to reflect what you are truly looking for: a strategic partner
- Guides you through the stages of relationship-building with vendors to elevate their quality so they help, not hinder, your bottom line
10:40am - 11:30am Executive Boardroom
Defining Digital Transformation
![Erik Tennison headshot Erik Tennison headshot](https://access-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/bh/production/contacts/square/161779.jpg)
Erik Tennison
Associate Information Officer
AIG
Sameer Purao
VP & CIO
Austin Industries, Inc.
What is digital transformation? One thing is certain – it’s one of the hottest topics for Houston region CIOs. Digital transformation means something different for every organization, but CIOs are united in seeking to leverage the disruptive power of new technologies in their industries. As a high-level business strategy, digital transformation requires CIOs to reimagine tradition and reinvent the way companies do business. Join this interactive session to discuss:
- The definition of digital transformation, as each CIO sees it
- Ways regional organizations are identifying opportunities for digital transformation
- How they are managing the disruption those transformations create for the status quo
Executive boardrooms are intimate and interactive sessions designed to foster dynamic dialogue around a specific, strategic topic. These private, closed-door discussions encourage attendee participation and are limited to 15 attendees (seating priority is given to CIOs).
To reserve your seat, please contact:
Mallory Paige at mallory.paige@evanta.com or 503-808-9828.
December 10, 2018
December 11, 2018
Community Program Manager
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