Management Council

Howard Cohen currently serves as Executive Director for Industry Exchange at the Society for Information Management (SIM) and as Business Resilience Lead at New York Life. Previously, he was Principal Strategist and Chief Operating Officer at CX Studios, where he led the government practice and developed forward-looking solutions for complex business environments. He also served as a Department of Defense Highly Qualified Expert (HQE) in Customer Experience at the Defense Media Activity (DMA), a DoD field activity reporting to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, and advised Salesforce, Deep Water Point, Adobe, Zolon, and Xoriant.

After building a successful technology startup, Mr. Cohen joined DMA to create a startup environment for DoD web and digital customer experience, fostering innovation and a growth mindset. Beginning in 2022, he helped accelerate the Department’s next-generation web policy and platform capabilities for customer and digital experience.

Mr. Cohen has also supported SIM’s Rising Leader Forums, helping facilitate leadership development for the next generation of business leaders.

In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Cohen founded IonX to help companies navigate virtual and remote-work transitions. The technology firm grew rapidly after securing four major clients. By 2022, IonX had established major accounts and become an attractive acquisition target. Mr. Cohen sold the company and turned his focus toward public service.

Before 2020, Mr. Cohen held senior technology roles in commercial organizations, including Chubb Insurance and Bristol Myers Squibb. Earlier, he led Booz Allen Hamilton technology teams supporting U.S. Joint Forces Command at Naval Support Station Norfolk. In that role, he directed teams supporting joint-force architecture and technology initiatives.

After leaving the U.S. Navy in 1994, Mr. Cohen pursued a degree in Human Resource Management with a focus on training and development. Building on his experience as a damage controlman, he applied his training background to business and technology. After earning his MBA, he taught part time at several institutions, including Columbia University. He continued advancing his expertise in technology and leadership through certifications in cloud computing, service-oriented architecture, knowledge management, and virtualization.

Mr. Cohen is originally from Co-op City in the Bronx, New York.

Education: MBA and BA, Saint Leo University, Saint Leo, Florida.

Certifications: A+, Network+, Security+, MCP, VCP, SOACP, SOACT, CCT, CCP, CSM, CKP, CKM, and SIM RLF.

Mr. Gorham has served as CIO for REJIS since 1998 and has been a member of the REJIS team for more than 44 years. Mr. Gorham is responsible for the development, implementation, and ongoing support of IT solutions in critical government areas, such as law enforcement, courts, corrections, disaster recovery, data center operations, colocation, telecommunications, infrastructure, IT support services, help desk, and citizen services. He participates in several committees that oversee the operations of REJIS, which help guide the future direction of the organization.

In 2006, he was selected as one of Computerworld's Premier 100 IT Leaders; in 2023, a St. Louis CIO ORBIE Award Winner; and in 2026, a St. Louis Titan 100 award recipient. Mr. Gorham is a founding member of the St. Louis Chapter of the Society for Information Management (SIM) and served as the Chapter's President in 2007. He currently serves as Chair for SIM National Foundation and a member of the SIM St. Louis - President's Advisory Council. He is the former Chair of the SIM National Organization. Mr. Gorham is a graduate of the SIM Regional Learning Forum. He is a member of BackStoppers and The MASTERS organizations, has served as a Board Member for the St. Louis Community College Foundation for ten years, and is a founder and executive committee member for the St. Louis Gateway to Innovation Conference.

Education:

• Executive MBA, Beta Gamma Sigma (Honor Society for National Schools of Business) - Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, 2013
• CIO Pocket MBA, Boston University School of Management, Boston, Massachusetts
• 2009 Bachelor of Science, Organizational Administration - Cum Laude - St. Louis University

James Mavourneen is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of JDSix, a business transformation and executive advisory firm that helps organizations align strategy, operations, people, and technology to achieve measurable business outcomes. Throughout his career, James has served as a CIO, COO, and trusted executive advisor, leading complex business transformations across a wide range of industries. His experience in executive leadership, governance, strategic planning, and organizational growth enables him to help the SIM Foundation build meaningful partnerships, expand its reach, and advance its long-term mission.

As Vice Chairman of the SIM Foundation Board, James is passionate about giving back to the technology profession that has shaped his career. A dedicated SIM volunteer for more than 15 years, he has served in numerous leadership roles at both the chapter and national levels. He is committed to expanding fundraising efforts, strengthening corporate partnerships, and supporting initiatives that provide scholarships, STEM education, leadership development, and career opportunities for the next generation of technology leaders.

“Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to benefit from mentors who invested in me. Serving the SIM Foundation is my opportunity to pay that forward by helping develop the next generation of technology leaders, expanding access to education, and creating opportunities that can change lives.”

Caren Shiozaki is the Executive Director of the SIM Leadership Institute, which offers leadership programs that develop technology professionals into confident leaders at every career stage — from first-time managers to senior level executives. 

She is also a partner at Fortium Partners, the leading provider of interim/fractional technology C-Suite talent. She brings over 20 years of experience in various C-suite roles at large corporations. She also provides Board and C-suite advisory services for governance, risk, compliance, ethics and ESG. A certified e-Discovery specialist, she also holds professional certification in corporate governance, data privacy and business ethics and compliance. 

Michael Seals is a former CIO/CDO and business strategy executive with more than three decades of experience leading enterprise technology, strategy, and digital transformation across manufacturing, industrial services, and global consumer products companies. Most recently, he served as Chief Digital Officer and SVP Strategy for Hussmann Corporation, following earlier technology and strategy leadership roles with Anheuser-Busch and PepsiCo.

Michael serves on the National Board of Directors of the Society for Information Management (SIM) and as an advisor to the SIM Research Institute and Advanced Practices Council. He is also a board member, adjunct professor, executive educator, and researcher focused on technology leadership and digital transformation. Michael holds a Doctor of Business Administration from the University of Missouri–St. Louis, where his research examined leadership practices enabling successful digital transformation.

Jim Martin is Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Shepley Bulfinch, a 150-year-old national architecture practice with offices in Boston, Durham, Hartford, Houston, and Phoenix, with a focus on institutional healthcare and education design. In an environment of rapidly evolving demands and technology platforms, Jim draws on over 30 years of Information Technology experience to lead the development of strategies for technology tools that support and advance design, delivery, and collaboration.

Mary Sumner is Professor of Computer Management and Information Systems and Associate Dean, School of Business, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. Prior to that, she was on the faculty of New York University. She has been responsible for building the undergraduate and graduate programs in CMIS and has taught for 28 years in the areas of management of information technology, information systems design, project management, software systems design, and enterprise systems design. Dr. Sumner served as chief information officer for academic affairs and was responsible for organizing and managing information services to support the quality and effectiveness of academic programs at the university. She organizes business/university partnerships and executive programs in leadership, project management, and health informatics. She has taught ERP systems design at the Norwegian School of Logistics over the past five years, and teaches executive MBA courses in Hong Kong and Singapore.

She has written seven textbooks, including college texts in Management Information Systems and Enterprise Resource Planning, and has published over forty research papers on enterprise resource planning, IT workforce issues, project management, and health informatics. Her research has appeared in Database, the Journal of Systems Management, Information and Management, the Journal of Computer Information Systems, Information Resource Management Journal, the Journal of Strategic Information Systems, and the Journal of Information Technology.

Dr. Sumner has served as Conference Chair, ACM SIGCPR, 1993 (Washington, D.C.) and Conference Co-Chair, ACM SIGMIS CPR, 2007 (St. Louis, MO) and now serves as Conference Co-Chair, ICIS 2010 (St. Louis, MO). She oversees the Technology and Commerce Roundtable, a CIO forum and the Project Management Advisory Team. Her education includes a B.A. Syracuse, M.A., University of Chicago, M.A., Columbia University, and Doctorate, Rutgers University. Her certifications include Oracle Master’s and AMIA Health Informatics.

Dan Diachenko is Chair of SIM’s National Chapter Advisory Council and a longtime advocate for building strong, connected technology communities. His national leadership took on particular importance during the pandemic, when chapter leaders across the country needed new ways to remain connected, exchange ideas, and support one another.

Working alongside fellow Council members, Dan helped develop a series of national town halls that have grown into a popular and enduring forum for SIM chapter leaders. Designed to be high-energy, interactive, collaborative, and fun, the sessions allow leaders to share successful programs, discuss common challenges, ask candid questions, and gain practical guidance from their peers. Town halls help busy volunteer leaders stay connected and aligned while finding new ways to strengthen their chapters and advance SIM’s mission of helping technology leaders connect.

Dan’s national service builds on deep involvement with SIM Boston. During nearly a decade co-chairing membership, he helped develop approachable, locally focused networking programs—including informal pop-up gatherings—that made it easier for members to meet and build relationships. A familiar presence at SIM Boston events, Dan makes a particular effort to welcome new members, introduce them to others, and help them quickly feel part of the community. He also serves as emcee of the annual SIM Boston Technology Leadership Summit, bringing warmth, energy, and a strong sense of connection to the chapter’s signature event.

Professionally, Dan is Co-Founder and COO of TeamStation AI, a Distributed Engineering Operating System that helps CTOs and CIOs build and govern nearshore engineering capacity across Latin America. Drawing on extensive experience in the region, he works at the intersection of people, technology, and operations to help organizations create distributed engineering teams with greater alignment, accountability, and purpose.

Across both SIM and TeamStation AI, Dan’s focus remains consistent: bringing people together, encouraging the exchange of ideas, and creating environments where individuals and organizations can learn and grow.

Helen Norris is the former Chief Information Officer and Vice President for Information Technology at Chapman University, where she had responsibility for leading the university’s information technology strategy and services and overseeing the University Library until she retired in 2025.  Ms. Norris joined Chapman in 2014 after holding technology leadership roles at California State University, Sacramento, and the University of California, Berkeley. 

Ms. Norris is a member of the Board of Directors for the Society for Information Management and STEM Advantage. She serves on the Advisory Board of EdTech Connect, a startup dedicated to helping higher education institutions navigate the complex landscape of technology solutions. Her volunteer work includes being a member of the Executive Council for the American Cancer Society-Orange County and an advisor to EmpowHer Institute, whose mission is to empower girls in marginalized communities in Los Angeles through mentorship. She recently served a three-year term on the Data and Tools Advisory Board of the California Cradle-to-Career Data System and has previously served as a board member and chair of EDUCAUSE and the National Endowment of Financial Education.

Originally from Ireland, Ms. Norris earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, with honors, from Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, and a Master's degree in Computer Resource Management and Business Administration, with Distinction, from Webster University, St. Louis. She also holds a certification in Project Management. She has received multiple awards, including an Info-Tech Women Leading IT Award in 2025 (Info-Tech Awards | Info-Tech Research Group), an EDUCAUSE Leadership Award in 2025, a SoCal CIO Orbie Award in 2023 , and being named a Higher Ed Technology Social Media Influencer by EdTech Magazine in 2021.

Mark Griesbaum has been the Managing Partner of affinITy4U, LLC since November 2014.  affinITy4U, LLC is focused on the following key areas:  IT Strategy/Vision Development, Operational Integration, Top Line Revenue Growth, and Executive Leadership Development.  Key Clients served by Affinity4U, LLC are the following:  Burwood Group, Dominican University, Ensono, Littelfuse, Rehrig Pacific Company, True Value, Web-Smart – USA, SIM-National, and i.c.stars.   His focus within SIM is on the Advanced Practices Council.  This program is a selective, member‑driven research and networking program for senior IT executives, offering peer collaboration, confidential events, and member‑led research.

Mark is involved in various organizations in the Charleston, SC area where he and his wife Paula reside.  Mark serves as the Past Chairman of the Board of the Harbour Club in Charleston, as well as the Vice Chair of the Conservancy of the Sea Islands organization. The Conservancy of the Sea Islands focuses on strengthening the ecological health of the Sea Islands south of Charleston by preserving natural habitats, conducting research, restoring ecosystems, providing environmental education, and advocating for sustainable practices.

William (Bill) Waas is an author, executive advisor and educator with more than four decades of experience in technology management and organizational transformation, focused on how intelligent systems change work, leadership and what it means to be human. At the Society for Information Management (SIM), he is Co-Chair of the Work 4.0 Special Interest Group, Tri-Chair of the ReThink Everything! (RTE) Special Interest Group and Chair of SPARC. These groups examine emerging technologies and their effects on the workforce, and connect technology leaders with the startup community. He also advises Summit Lake Digital and serves on the advisory councils of St. Petersburg College, University of Tampa and Hillsborough College.

Mr. Waas is the creator of the Work 4.0 Index and the author of the Human Supremacy Trilogy, beginning with Human Supremacy: Being Human in the Age of Intelligent Systems. His writing examines how AI, automation and other intelligent systems are reshaping work, human identity and leadership. He is also the author of Resilience: 250 Years of American Democracy Under Strain.

Mr. Waas began his career at Grumman Data Systems Corporation, where he held leadership roles in strategic planning, finance and service management. As Senior Vice President of Service and Support at Vanstar Corporation, he led a $250 million service organization. As Vice President of Value Added Services at Dell Computer Corporation, he ran a $750 million division providing software, peripherals and system integration services.

An experienced educator, he teaches technology management at Northwestern University and previously taught at Harvard Extension School and Clark University. He formerly served as Chairman and CEO of the Illinois Technology Foundation and as Executive Director of GoodTogether, Sage Sustainable Electronics’ philanthropic initiative addressing the digital divide. He co-founded CompTIA’s Service Section and was the association’s board chair from 1995 to 1997.

Mr. Waas holds a BBA in accounting and an MBA in finance from Hofstra University. He residesin the Tampa Bay area.

Kristen Lamoreaux, President & CEO of Lamoreaux Search, LLC, is a cultivator of talent that derives joy from helping others achieve their potential. Her integrity, candor, and focus on moving things forward ensure you will always get the hard truth from her mentoring heart. A woman of energy and action, Kristen is a self-proclaimed “Inclusionist” who dedicates her efforts, both personally and professionally, toward helping people and organizations reap the benefits from a diverse leadership team.

Kristen has garnered industry recognition from her visibility as a contributor for CIO magazine and her frequent appearances as a keynote speaker at national industry conferences. Her thought leadership includes women’s leadership, technology talent, STEM Outreach, and networking through philanthropy.

Kristen is also the founder of SIM Women - a North American networking organization for over 1500 female CIOs and their direct reports. She conducts monthly webinars, regional meetings, and emcees a national conference annually where she hosts tech non-profits focused on diversity and inclusion.

Judy Arteche-Carr is currently a strategic advisor and management consultant to a select group of global companies She has extensive experience in the areas of technology consulting and financial management globally. She has worked with management teams in transformation strategies- aligning IT to the Business and global strategic programs in various financial institutions such as Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan (JPMChase) and Salomon Brothers (Citigroup) as well as worked in technology services companies such as EDS and Unisys with responsibility for relationship management, business development, solutions and delivery. Specialties: Management Consulting, Global Outsourcing, Business Process Outsourcing, Global Program/Project Management.

Brian Carey is the Senior Vice President of Client Services for Planet Technology, a national technology consulting and staff augmentation firm. Brian oversees teams in the Northeast, Southeast, and West Coast. Brian is also the Co-Chair for the SIM Boston Outreach Committee where he partners with local non-profits such as Year Up, Per Scholas, Hack Diversity, and Latino Stem Alliance to help promote STEM initiatives for underrepresented groups within technology.

John Manzanares is the Chief Technology Officer at E78 Partners and an accomplished technology executive with more than 30 years of experience leading digital transformation, technology modernization, and business growth initiatives across public, private, and private equity-backed organizations.

John currently serves as Treasurer of the SIM Foundation and as Co-Chair of SIM National Governance and Membership. He is also a long-standing board member and former chair of the SIM Southern California chapter, where he has helped expand membership, strengthen leadership development programs, and advance community engagement initiatives.

Throughout his career, John has partnered with CEOs, boards of directors, and executive leadership teams to align technology strategy with business outcomes, delivering measurable value through innovation, operational excellence, and organizational transformation.

John holds a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from California State University, Fullerton.

With over two decades of dedicated leadership in the fields of operations and information technology, Lori is an accomplished professional currently serving as the Chief Information Officer at MEFA, a quasi-state authority located in Boston Massachusetts.  MEFA was created by the Massachusetts state legislature in 1982 with a mission to help students and families access and afford higher education through education programs, tax-advantaged savings plans, fixed-rate loans, and expert guidance.  

In this role for the past 20 years, Lori has been instrumental in providing strategic direction for all aspects of technology, including IT security, information systems, programs, and infrastructure. Her responsibilities extend to overseeing the total technology spend, orchestrating the operational activities of the IT department, managing budgets and outside vendors, supervising her team,  and ensuring the seamless integration of IT solutions to enhance mission-critical business operations. Given MEFA’s mission, she also regularly interacts with others in state and local government.     

  Lori holds a Master's Degree in Education with a focus on Higher Education Administration from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Business Administration from the University of Vermont.  Having completed the SIM Rising Leaders Forum and the SIM Executive Leaders Forum, she brings a robust educational foundation and a commitment to continuous learning to complement her professional experience. Her involvement in various volunteer organizations includes co-chairing committees and serving in leadership capacities for MASFAA and SIM Boston (past Secretary, Vice-President, and President). 

Saby Waraich is a global keynote speaker, former CIO and CISO, bestselling author, with more than 20 years of experience leading digital transformation, cybersecurity, technology strategy, project management, and organizational change.

Known for his energetic and engaging style, Saby speaks internationally on leadership, digital transformation, cybersecurity, AI, and navigating complex change. He is the author of the international bestselling book SCARE to CARES: Leading Digital Transformation Without Chaos, which provides leaders with a practical, people-centered framework for leading transformation while building trust and delivering results.

Saby has been actively involved with the Society for Information Management (SIM) for many years, including leadership roles with the SIM Portland Chapter. 

Saby is also CEO and President of the Center for Transformation Mechanics.

In addition to his speaking and leadership work, Saby advises technology companies and invests in emerging start-ups, with a particular interest in technology, AI, cloud innovation, and entrepreneurship.

STEPHEN WEBSTER is a pioneering leader who creates technology-driven solutions that solve difficult business problems. He challenges norms in a constructive manner, engages others in the vision, and ultimately delivers value to an organization and its customers. Steeped in industry knowledge and accomplished at generating unconventional approaches, he delivers to the bottom line. Stephen thrives on the never-ending array of opportunities to apply technologies in the right place, at the right time, and in the right way. He has provided expert commentary on topics ranging from data security to cloud computing, and has been featured on Bauer Business Focus, CBS Radio, CNBC, and NPR. 

Stephen is engaged in helping Private Equity and their portfolio companies achieve impactful results by serving as an interim executive. Hired by the CEO of OMERS Infrastructure portfolio company Leeward Energy, he oversaw the recovery from a devastating cybersecurity incident and then established a three-year strategy to get the firm IPO ready. CEO of Energy Impact Partners portco Enchanted Rock brought him in to assist in closing their largest data center microgrid sale and lead IT through the hiring of their SVP of IT. He currently serves as interim CIO for Entara, a Becht Ventures portco, leading the technology acquisition of refining assets in Europe.

Formerly, CTO with MRE Consulting, a firm that offers both business and technology guidance and ranked as #1 consulting and system integrator for trading and risk management. He led MRE’s Information Technology Management practice area globally, creating a strong competitor with the Big Four IT engagements. Prior to MRE, Stephen founded StratITsphere Data Center Solutions, with a successful exit to Genesys Park portco Alpheus Communications.  He drove innovative award-winning solutions and achieved investor targets focused on growth of cloud, colocation, consulting and outsourcing services.  Earlier, Stephen held positions with BG Group (Shell), Accenture and Calpine Corporation in executive leadership roles in strategy, cybersecurity, enterprise architecture, infrastructure services, and operations management. 

Stephen has received numerous recognitions from the IT community, including a CIO 100 award, multiple InformationWeek 500 awards, recognition in MSPmentor250’s “Top People in Managed Services”, and CRN’s “Next-Gen 250 List of Groundbreaking Technology Companies” for his work at StratITsphere. Stephen holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Houston and a BA in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Austin.

Sanjay Khatnani is a managing partner and founder of J2 Solutions, a successful technology and business consulting firm based in the greater Philadelphia area, where he provides strategic direction to the company, forms and manages partnerships, works with clients to deploy technology solutions that drive organizational growth, and manages recruiting operations. Sanjay brings a unique combination of attributes to this role, with more than a decade of IT consulting experience, an in-depth knowledge of the sales and marketing function, and a natural ability to develop and nurture relationships.

Under his leadership, J2 saw a 554% growth over three years. The company was named one of the fastest-growing companies on the 2015 and 2014 Inc. 5000 list and also ranked on the 2015 and 2014 Philadelphia 100 list. Khatnani has been quoted in CIO Magazine and the technology business book, “Straight to the Top: CIO Leadership in a Mobile, Social and Cloud-based World,” by Gregory Smith.

Sanjay sits on the advisory council of Tech Impact, a community-based organization that empowers non-profits to use technology. He is a regular speaker for the organization’s ITWorks, an award-winning IT training program for young adults, and is a board member of the Philadelphia Society of Information Management (SIM) chapter.

Addie is a Technology Transformation Leader at KPMG US, bringing 25 years of experience leading portfolio management, strategic programs, and global teams to deliver measurable business value. Known for connecting the dots across complex initiatives, she excels at organizing teams for execution, developing people, and building strong partnerships across every level of an organization.

Addie has served on the SIM Dallas chapter board for the past four years, leading sponsorship efforts and championing the vital role industry partners play in strengthening the SIM community. She is a graduate of the SIM Leadership Institute’s Regional Leadership Forum (RLF), reflecting her ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of IT leaders.

As Sponsorship Chair for the SIM National Management Committee, Addie is honored to bring her passion for partnership development and work to build meaningful relationships between SIM and its sponsors that create value for the entire community.

Margot is an IT executive with over 30 years of leadership at both large and small companies who has now dedicated herself full time to leadership development and coaching to grow the next generation of leaders.

She spent 10 years as the VP/CIO at BAMSI, a large human service, non-profit.  In addition to her IT role there, she helped develop curriculum for various leadership and technical training programs. She participated in the development and delivery of these programs. Ensuring that the learning environment was engaging, safe, and supportive were some of the keys to these programs’ success.

Prior to that, she spent 25 years working at Kendall/Tyco Healthcare/Covidien/Medtronic, a medical supplies and device manufacturer where she was VP responsible for applications and acquisition integrations. She created a customized development program for her team including skills development, team-based coaching and exercises to enhance the leadership team.

She is an RLF Facilitator and a certified Leadership & Transition Coach, as well a board volunteer.