Cast Your Vote for the First-ever SIM Leader of the Year

One SIM Member, who has demonstrated leadership in his/her professional role and/or has contributed to the IT community, will receive the first-ever SIM Leader of the Year Award at SIMposium 08, Magic of IT: Bridging the Past, Present, and Future, November 9-12 in Orlando.

Based on the criteria of business innovation, leadership, and value,* 11 Chapters nominated one leader from their community for SIM Leader of the Year. If you are a SIM Member, who's registered for SIMposium, you are eligible to participate in the voting process.** Simply cast your vote for one of the candidates listed below via the survey link that was emailed out to you. The deadline to cast your vote is Wednesday, October 15.

SIM Leader of the Year Nominees

David Berg, Leadership Executive, SIM Utah	Michael Pellegrino, CIO, FUJIFILM U.S.A., Inc.
Tim Crawford, Director of IT Operations, Stanford School of Business, Stanford University	Bob Rouse, Affiliate Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Washington University
Conrad Cross, CIO, City of Orlando	Merv Tarde, Vice President & CIO of Information Technology, Facilities and Property, Interstate Batteries
Les Johnson, VP IT/CIO, North Coast Electric Co.	Dr. M. Lewis Temares, Vice President IT, CIO and Dean Emeritus, College of Engineering, University of Miami
Kristen Lamoreaux, Senior Recruiter, Jarvis Walker	Phil Zwieg, VP, IS Operations, Northwestern Mutual Insurance Company
Paul Love, Director, Information Security & Business Continuity, The Standard

David Berg, Leadership Executive, SIM Utah (Utah Chapter)

Business Innovation
David Berg has developed and implemented an innovative IT Leadership Development Program for SIM Utah, which is a four-month program that's conducted twice a year for approximately 20 Utah IT professionals.

Leadership
Berg recognized a local development need for Information Technology professionals, and created a program with the help of other CIOs to fill this need. Under his leadership, this program was developed and delivered to raise the leadership level of IT professionals in the Salt Lake City area. This program has also helped improve the professional image of SIM Utah.

Value
Sixty four participants completed the program thus far, and on a scale of one to five, participants rated the program's usefulness in terms of leadership as 4.8. This program has positively impacted its 64 participants, and will continue do so for future IT professionals. Moreover, it has also been valuable to the CIO instructors, who helped develop and conduct the program.

Tim Crawford, Director of IT Operations, Stanford School of Business, Stanford University (San Francisco Bay Area Chapter)

Business Innovation
Tim Crawford has developed dozens of ideas to help improve the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter’s operations.

Leadership
Crawford has been a tireless leader, always improving on what the Chapter has already attempted. Due to the immense contributions of time Crawford has made to membership growth, the San Francisco Bay Area has seen record growth. 

Value
Tim Crawford has been responsible for the growth of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter during the past few years.

Conrad Cross, CIO, City of Orlando (Central Florida Chapter)

Business Innovation
Beginning in 2006, Conrad Cross began communicating to the Mayor and City Council that many of the city's telephone systems supporting more than 2,500 lines and 160 plus facilities were reaching their economic and physical end-of-life. Rather than simply upgrading individual systems, Cross and his team evaluated architectures, technologies, vendors, and costs. He determined that it would be advantageous for the city to implement voice-over-IP (VoIP) city-wide, providing new functionality, better flexibility, and lower cost.

Leadership
Building on the credibility that Cross has with his Mayor and Council, he prepared the organization for the potential project: communicating the expected end-of-life, budgeting for the potential project in advance, and planning a migration that least impacted users, while introducing the least risk.

Value
Working closely with the city's purchasing department and regular bid process, Cross selected a Nortel system supported by Ronco Communications & Electronics. The $2.3M project is expected to have a 4.5 year economic return, in addition to expanded functionality and flexibility.

Les Johnson, VP IT/CIO, North Coast Electric Co. (Seattle Area Chapter)

Business Innovation
Les Johnson has improved employee communication service at his company, improved customer service at his company by using integrated tools and triggers, and helped in the development of new markets through integrated web-commerce tools.

Internal long- and short-term results from these improvements include: growing annual sales more than 50% and almost quadrupling profits via the new ERP conversion, redesigning a commercial, self-service business intelligence product with a vendor, and redirecting 75% of system reporting to lower-cost platforms, reducing time-to-deliver standard and ad-hoc reports from days to minutes.

Moreover, the internal tracking service that is tied directly to transactions and business entities has improved issue resolution metrics, partnerships with key vendors have helped with fast-tracking the company's technology requirements into commercial packages, and electronic-based solutions have reduced the cost of doing business for customers who also are also embracing new technology.

Leadership
Johnson's leadership is demonstrated through his demand for excellence in vendors' products and services, while he works with them to increase their profitability through quality-control measures and meeting management skills, as well as his help with marketing their successes.

Moreover, Johnson has had broad stakeholder involvement, as he has had open communication with management and users, as well as business partners, including suppliers, associations, and customers.

Furthermore, for 20 months, Johnson has chronicled the highs and lows of rolling out an ERP system for CIO Decisions magazine.

Value
The results of this project include: improving margin per sales order, increasing lines per sales order, and reducing processing costs, as well as increasing the Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) product lines and associated purchase dollars and reducing processing and freight-related expenses.

Because of his contributions, there's more timely and accurate information for intelligent management decision making, there's an opportunity for higher revenue dollars per associate ratio, there's improved ability to respond to acquisition opportunities, and there's a stable IT environment, which will keep costs in-line with industry standards and allow for expansion.

Kristen Lamoreaux, Senior Recruiter, Jarvis Walker (New Jersey Chapter)

Business Innovation
N/A

Leadership
Recognizing the need for a forum dedicated to creating networking opportunities for women in the IT field, Kristen Lamoreaux created the SIM Women community, which promotes communication, mentorship, and career development among women IT professionals.

She worked to secure the necessary Chapter support and funding and led the efforts of the organization as it grew from it modest beginnings to the existing base of 120 active SIM Women members.

The long-standing concept of "women helping women" is a testament to Lamoreaux's selfless desire to serve others and improve the value proposition for all SIM Members.

Value
The creation of the SIM Women special interest group within the New Jersey Chapter, and ultimately SIM International, has created a forum for women IT professionals to voice their concerns and share ideas with one and other.

Paul Love, Director, Information Security & Business Continuity, The Standard (Portland Chapter)

Business Innovation
Paul Love helped with the innovation in the use of Information Security, with the focus on alignment and integration with all areas of the business. Prior to his involvement, the InfoSec group was irrelevant, and marginalized. By focusing on the customer, InfoSec provides value and is has an impact on business decisions.

Leadership
Information Security has become a key player in the organization, due to alignment with the business. InfoSec is no longer a group to be avoided, but one whose counsel is sought after. Credibility has been established through actions, and value has been shown via marketing efforts.

Value
Information Security has reduced the amount of incidents directly, but more importantly, has been a part of the culture at the company, resulting in an extension of influence and advocacy for security-minded principles around the organization.

Michael Pellegrino, CIO, FUJIFILM U.S.A., Inc. (Fairfield/Westchester Chapter)

Business Innovation
N/A

Leadership
Michael Pellegrino has provided leadership and has contributed to the membership growth of the Fairfield/Westchester Chapter. He volunteers much of his time and has a great amount of impact on the programs the Fairfield/Westchester pursues.

Value
Under Pellegrino's leadership, the Fairfield/Westchester Chapter has significantly increased membership during the past year. 

Bob Rouse, Affiliate Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Washington University (St. Louis Chapter)

Business Innovation
During his years at Washington University, Bob Rouse has held a wide-range of administrative and academic positions, including at: the Center for the Study of Data Processing/Center of Innovative Application of Technology, where he and staff organized and conducted projects like artificial intelligence applications, job market analysis, and project management, Academic Information Services, where he established one of the first academic (faculty and student) computing support centers in the country, the Center for Intelligent Computer Systems, where he proposed and directed the first advance computing center in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, Washington University On-line Alumni and Development Application, where he led a project to revamp the business processes and to develop an on-line system to support a major fundraising campaign.

Other examples including Strategic Planning for the Washington University Medical School, creation of a School of Technology and Information Management, and development of undergraduate and graduation programs in MIS and management assignments that rebuilt three medical school departments.

Leadership
Rouse has provided both technical and managerial leadership. The transformation to personal computing and leading the alumni development project required significant leadership in changing the way the Washington University viewed new technologies and the processes they enabled.

Rouse has also made a major impact on the RLF program. He helped lead the growth of RLF from 150 to 260+ participants, recruited/developed five new facilitators, and created new leaders in the St. Louis community.

Value
Rouse's leadership has resulted in ongoing contributions to the university and SIM. Beyond these are a multitude of students, RLF graduates, and IT leaders whom he has impacted over time. He is always willing to lend his expertise to benefit the community, organizations, and others, while never requiring recognition. Rouse has played a large part in developing others, so they can excel at their jobs and make lasting contributions to their communities.

Merv Tarde, Vice President & CIO of Information Technology, Facilities and Property, Interstate Batteries (Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter)

Business Innovation
Merv Tarde helped implement three significant projects in the last two years: New ERP, CRM and Warehouse Management System, Data Warehouse Business Intelligence System, and New Wireless Handheld Route Management System.

The new ERP, CRM and Warehouse Management System implementation for all company business was a year-long project, involving setting the business strategy, defining and documenting the business requirements, the systems selection process, pilots, development/configuration, conversions, and implementation.

The new Data Warehouse Business Intelligence System was used to analyze the growth, erosion, and attrition of 300 distributorships and more than 200,000 dealers that sell Automotive/Marine & Lawn/Garden types of batteries.

The New Wireless Handheld Route Management System was architected, designed, and developed, and manages the truck and dealer inventories, billing, and CRM functionality for more than 200,000 dealers.

Leadership
Tarde has transformed the way his organization conducts business, as demonstrated by its commitment to improve customer service or vendor relationships. He has developed and deployed several web based applications and more than 100 enhancements to a custom wireless handheld system that manages the inventory, pricing, and billing for 1,100 route trucks.

Furthermore, he has elevated information technology to a proactive role as part of the firm's strategy, rather than as a passive response to necessity. One example is the previously-mentioned New Data Warehouse Business Intelligence System, which enabled the firm to drastically reduce the amount of time it takes to generate growth, erosion, and attrition data. Another example is the New Voice over IP Telephone System, which resulted in savings on long distance, more efficient dialing plans, integration of voicemail and email, and reduced administrator time compared to the previous PBX system.

Leadership roles include: Past SIM President, Dallas/Fort Worth Worth CIO Roundtable Association member, Information Systems Research Center at the University of North Texas Board member, Computer Information Student Organization at the University of North Texas Advisory Board member, and many more.

Value
Tarde improved the organization's capacity to manage quality through improved measurements, more responsive corrective actions, and more effective preventative processes via the New Optum Data Warehouse Management System, New Commissions/Rewards System, more than 300 enhancements to the custom distributor Warehouse Management System, and the new version of the distributor Audit System.

He also increased the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization via the more than 300 new enhancements to the custom distributor Warehouse Management System, the New Web Conferencing System, Asset Tracking System, and upgrade to Microsoft's new Active Directory and Exchange 2003 System.

Dr. M. Lewis Temares, Vice President IT, CIO and Dean Emeritus, College of Engineering, University of Miami (South Florida Chapter)

Business Innovation
Dr. M. Lewis Temares established the University of Miami's Information Technology Executive Institute (ITEx) in 2005 to provide IT-specific leadership mentoring and training for South Florida IT professionals, who found it difficult to leave the area to pursue professional development. Under his guidance, ITEx created an entire suite of short courses and services for CIOs and IT professionals for honing their leadership skills. Since then, Dr. Temares has guided the expansion of ITEx into the global marketplace, the most recent expansions being Panama, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, and the Dominican Republic.

His vision to introduce Executive Education in Latin America has been recognized by the University as a strategic initiative and the leadership theme has been adopted by other Divisions and Departments. Just recently, Dr. Temares participated on the Host Committee and organized IT support for the 2008 Annual Meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the premier forum on finance, trade, and development in Latin America and the Caribbean. This helped raised the University of Miami's profile in the Americas as a partner in IT, innovation, and economic development.

Leadership
Dr. Temares is the first CIO appointed among the nation's 4,000 colleges. In 2006, he co-founded an interdisciplinary Leadership Institute with Dr. Johnson A. Edosomwan, a nationally-known expert in leadership, which offers best practices-based programs and products to aid aspiring and experienced leaders to develop their leadership skills and create strategic competitive advantage for their companies and organizations.

He originally founded the NGJ Information Systems Institute (IT training) and  Information Technology Executive Institute (IT leadership) at the University of Miami to bring world class instructors and training to his staff and the South Florida IT community, while managing its cost to the University. He extended the reach of these Institutes to Latin America and the Caribbean Basin to share what has been developed and to further stimulate economic development.

Dr. Temares was named CIO of the Year in 2003 by the South Florida Business Journal and received the first Annual Technology Leader of the Year Award given by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce in May 2007.

Value
Dr. Temares' business and leadership initiatives as CIO have resulted in many positive, measurable results, including: the increase in recruitment and retention rates within the University of Miami IT Department, the increase in membership growth within the SIM South Florida Chapter, the expansion of University of Miami's presence in Latin America and the Caribbean educational and business markets, and many successes with ITEx. Some include: training and services in the United States and abroad to multinational corporations, a partnership with Telefonica USA to market bSure™ a suite of business continuity services designed to assess and prepare businesses for disasters of all kinds, a partnership with the American Chamber of Commerce in the Dominican Republic to make a presentation for its IT leaders about aligning IT with Business in 2007, and the recognition by ITFlorida as a nominee for its 2008 Excellence in Leadership Award.

Additionally, under Dr. Temares' guidance, the UM IT Institutes are revitalizing their education and service offerings under a single, new brand name, the University of Miami Executive Information and Technology Institute (UMEITI). Customizable IT and business skills classes are being offered in South Florida and in partnership with universities and educational organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean basin. Satellite locations for the Institute are scheduled to complement University of Miami engineering, medical, and business marketing campaigns and projects in these locations.

Phil Zwieg, VP, IS Operations, Northwestern Mutual Insurance Company (Wisconsin Chapter)

Business Innovation
Phil Zwieg, recent retiree of a vice president position with Northwestern Mutual Insurance Company, is currently a RLF Facilitator. He is one of this program's innovators and is involved in the Taste of RLF Program and related activities. He is also one of the originators and key instructors in the Future Potential of IT Program.

Leadership
Zwieg is a past president of the SIM Wisconsin Chapter and is currently President-Elect for a new term. He is also a past member of the SIM International Board.

Value
Zwieg has contributed value to his company, community, the local SIM Chapter, and SIM International.

*Criteria for choosing SIM Leader of the Year nominees was based on:

• Business Innovation:
  • To what extent has the nominee’s organization used IT in a new way or enabled new ways of doing business, whether internally or externally?
  • What impact has this project or initiative had on the organization, both in the short- and long-term?
  • How has this project or initiative improved processes internally or among the organization's partners and/or customers?
• Leadership
  • How has the nominee raised the bar in leadership excellence?
  • Has the nominee demonstrated technical leadership (in the use of IT), management leadership (in the execution of the project or initiative) or market leadership (in its impact on the organization's position within its industry)?
• Value
  • What are the specific measurable results attributed to this initiative or project?
  • How will these results affect the organization today and in the future?

**The total from the "popular" vote will count for 20% and the remaining 80% of the final decision is determined a committee comprised of the current and incoming SIM Presidents and the current and incoming SIMposium Planning Committee Chairs.

If you have any questions on the voting process, please feel free to contact simposium@simnet.org.