Executive Leader Forum

Blake Holman is a seasoned Chief Information Officer with over two decades of executive experience leading digital transformation, cybersecurity, and technology strategy across multiple industries. He currently serves as the Past Chair of the DFW Society for Information Management (SIM) Board. He has long been recognized as a collaborative leader and mentor within the technology community.

Beyond the boardroom, Blake has a strong record of service and leadership in both professional and community organizations. He is a former President of the Dallas Rugby Football Club. Holman serves on numerous non-profit and volunteer boards, consistently demonstrating his commitment to developing people and advancing organizational excellence.

Blake is a Cialdini Certified Influence Practitioner, Coach, and Trainer, credentialed by the Cialdini Institute, where he helps leaders apply the science of ethical influence to drive alignment, engagement, and results. He is also a Maxwell Certified Speaker, Coach, Trainer, and DISC Consultant, leveraging John Maxwell’s proven leadership frameworks and behavioral communication models to help executives and teams elevate their effectiveness.

Blake combines the rigor of an IT executive with the heart of a teacher — helping leaders communicate with clarity, influence ethically, and lead with integrity in an era of constant change.

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.

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.