2009 Dallas CIO Executive Summit

Scott Albright
VP, Commercial & Corporate IT
Dr Pepper Snapple Group

Scott Albright is the VP of Commercial and Corporate IT for Dr Pepper Snapple Group. Dr Pepper Snapple is the leading producer of flavored beverages in North America and the Caribbean. Its success is fueled by more than 50 brands that are synonymous with refreshment, fun and flavor. DPS has 6 of the top 10 non-cola soft drinks, and 9 of its 12 “power brands” are No. 1 in their respective categories. In addition to its flagship Dr Pepper and Snapple brands, the DPS portfolio includes Sunkist soda, 7UP, A&W, Canada Dry, Crush, Mott's, Squirt, Hawaiian Punch, Penafiel, Clamato, Schweppes, Rose's, Venom Energy and Mr & Mrs T mixers.

 

Albright joined Cadbury Schweppes in 2004, prior to its spin-off of Dr Pepper Snapple where he held multiple positions including Global Project Director, Program Manager and Project Manager. In these roles, he oversaw, as well as delivered, multiple large scale and global projects in the sales and finance functions. He also successfully led the Americas Region in its first ever implementation utilizing a full offshore delivery team resulting in millions of dollars savings. Prior to DPS, Albright worked at several large consultancies including IBM, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Arthur Andersen and served clients such as The Walt Disney Company, British Petroleum and The Hunt Oil Company. His areas of expertise were Finance Transformation, ERP implementations, and the creation of Production Support Organizations and their associated processes.

Albright holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and a Master in Professional Accounting degree both from The University of Texas at Austin.

Barry Carter
Former CIO & SVP Shared Services
Alliance Data Systems Corporation

Barry Carter is CTO and SVP for Fujitsu Financial Data Services. Barry transitioned to Fujitsu on July 1, 2009 as part of the asset transfer and outsourcing agreement of his Alliance Data IT team. He is responsible for Strategic Account Management and Infrastructure Hosting. Carter has teams in Dallas and Columbus.

Carter is recognized for delivering solutions that anticipate the future, advancing teamwork, accelerating growth, saving millions of real dollars, and boosting productivity. Carter‘s team at Alliance Data earned the 2008 America Business Award for Most Outstanding IT Organization beating Accenture, MSA of Pittsburg and the State of Missouri. In 2009, Carter’s team was a finalist for the Most Outstanding IT Organization and Carter was a finalist for the Most Outstanding IT Executive award. The CIO Leadership Network selected Carter as one of the 2009 winners of the Global Innovation and Change Leadership award.

Prior to joining Alliance Data Systems, Carter was CIO of Capital One Auto Finance. At Capital One, Carter managed capitaloneauto.com, the world’s #1 website for auto financing; and was instrumental in building relationships with 70business partners. Before Capital One, Carter was CIO of AirTran Airways. There, he stabilized a very shaky infrastructure and provided a low cost systems environment to allow AirTran to successfully compete with Delta and US Airways. Carter’s professional experience includes various applications development leadership positions at United Healthcare, American Airlines, Sabre, and EDS. Carter has a long history of implementing large systems and conversion.

Carter’s education includes a BA degree in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics from East Carolina University. He holds an MBA in Organizations and Management from Syracuse University. Most recently, he received the MIT Sloan School of Management Executive Certificate in Technology, Operations, and Value Chain Management.

Jack Clare
VP, IT & CIO
Yum! Restaurants International

Jack Clare serves as VP, IT and CIO of Yum! Restaurants International (YRI). YRI is the largest division of Louisville, Kentucky-based Yum! Brands, Inc. with over 13,000 restaurants in more than 110 countries and territories, system sales of over $13 billion and over $500 million in operating profits.
YRI operates two major brands (KFC & Pizza Hut) as well as other smaller brands throughout the world and is currently leading the introduction of Taco Bell beyond North America. Rapid expansion in recent years is continuing, especially in parts of the developing world. YRI has opened over 750 new restaurants in each of the past three years. Over the next few years YRI will be driving growth in most existing markets as well as developing key strategic markets such as France, India, Russia, Germany, Eastern Europe, and Latin America.
Clare joined YRI in 2008 from Constellation Brands, where he held various IT positions including VP, Technical Services for North America, and CIO of Franciscan Estates. Prior to that, he held positions with consulting firm Sapient, Inc., leading client systems integration engagements across numerous vertical industries and as an engineer for the US Air Force.
He holds an MBA from the University of California, Davis, an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Dayton, OH, and B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from the US Air Force Academy.

Mike Clifford
Global VP, Information Technology
Whole Foods Market, Inc.

Michael Clifford has been Global VP and CIO for Whole Foods Market, since September 2000.

Clifford is the leader of a decentralized IT function located in twelve Regional Offices around the country and in the UK, with Central Offices in Austin, Texas. His Regional teams co-report to each Regional President, and Clifford is a member of the Company’s Global Leadership Team. He is responsible for all aspects of Information Technologies at Whole Foods Market.

As Whole Foods Market continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, Clifford's unique perspective on running a highly collaborative IT team is always balanced with promoting and protecting the Core Values of the company.

Prior to Whole Foods Market, Clifford was VP and Division CIO for Dell, Inc.’s Public and Americas International group, from 1997 to 2000. At various times, he was responsible for Dell’s Sales, Marketing and Services systems during their rapid expansion.

Before Dell, Mike spent 15 years in progressive management positions at PepsiCo, Taco Bell and Pepsi-Cola North America.

Clifford is originally from The Bronx in New York City. He is a graduate of Columbia University.

He participates in several non-profit organizations primarily focused on early childhood learning. He is invited, regularly to speak with university students regarding his experience as a CIO.

Andrew Dennis
VP IT, Supply Chain
Dr Pepper Snapple Group

Robert Dixon
SVP, Global CIO
PepsiCo, Inc.

Robert L. Dixon is SVP and Global CIO with PepsiCo. He is responsible for PepsiCo’s Business + Information Solutions, the global function that comprehends all IT, enterprise business transformation, and includes a major initiative with SAP, a top strategic priority for PepsiCo. He joined PepsiCo in 2007.

His global team of more than 5,000 supports the diverse and complex business units and brands of PepsiCo. Dixon has positioned this organization to be the business capability engine for PepsiCo, fueling performance with business solutions that connect, innovate, transform and sustain PepsiCo’s ecosystem. A member of the PepsiCo Executive Committee, Dixon is a strategic partner to all of PepsiCo's business leaders.

Prior to PepsiCo, Dixon served as VP, Global Business Services with Procter & Gamble. He founded the company’s SAP Global Center of Expertise. He was a five-year member of P&G’s Global Business Council of top executives and diversity advisor to the CEO.

Dixon is a member of two industry groups: The CIO Strategy Exchange (CIOSE), which is a small network of senior IT executives that follow industry trends and best practices and IT Senior Management Forum (ITSMF) which is dedicated to fostering the career growth of African American executives.

He earned his degree in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he serves on the President’s Advisory Board.

Rollin Ford
EVP & CIO
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Rollin L. Ford is the EVP and CIO for Walmart. He oversees the company’s global information systems division, the strategic outlook and execution of all applications and infrastructure worldwide. He assumed this role in 2006.

Ford’s previous position was EVP of Logistics and Supply Chain, where he had operating responsibility for all general merchandise, fashion, grocery, Sam’s Club, import and specialty distribution centers. He also had operating responsibility for all domestic transportation and the supply chain. Ford joined Walmart in 1983, where he worked his way up through the logistics organization, managing all aspects of the supply chain.

He currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas and is a board member of the GS1 Management Board.

Ford graduated from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, with a B.S. in Business Administration and Systems Analysis.

James Franklin
Vice President, Enterprise Business Intelligence
Dell Inc.

With more than 16 years of IT experience, James Franklin has extensive data warehousing knowledge, both in business intelligence applications and active data warehousing technologies and their use in both the marketing and sales functions. In his current role, Franklin is responsible for the Dell Data Warehouse, managing a 400+ person organization and leveraging more than 750 terabytes of data in support of global reporting and analytics.

Prior to joining Dell, Franklin served as VP, Information Security, Network and Telecom at Safeway Inc., where he lead cost reduction initiatives in networking, as well as optimized the company’s overall information security posture.

Franklin holds a B.S. in Business Administration-Finance from the University of Florida.

Virginia Guthrie
CIO, Sr. VP - IT
Dr Pepper Snapple Group

As Chief Information Officer, Senior Vice President, Information Technology for Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Virginia Guthrie leads the IT team for this leading beverages manufacturer and distributor. Ms. Guthrie helped drive the legal and technical separation from Cadbury Schweppes plc, putting in place the team and processes for DPS to operate as a standalone IT function. Prior to the de-merger, Ms. Guthrie developed the Beverages IT strategic roadmap to enable the business strategy. Ms. Guthrie joined Dr Pepper Snapple Group / Cadbury Schweppes in 2006.

Prior to joining Cadbury Schweppes, Ms. Guthrie spent 12 years at Coors Brewing Company, serving as CIO from 1999-2006 and as an executive in the Finance organization prior to that. In her CIO role, she had several notable accomplishments:

Developed an IT Vision and Strategic Plan to enable Coors Corporate Vision and Strategic Plan Led a massive SAP supply chain program and provided a corporate ROI Replaced 85% of our legacy applications, consolidating servers Integrated a large European acquisition into our systems and developed a strategy to converge the architectures long-term Successfully outsourced the data center, help desk, and desktop to a technical partner with improved service levels Standardized our hardware and software, thereby eliminating 50% of the desktop applications Lowered IT capital spending by 25% and stabilized IT cost as a percent of revenue Ms. Guthrie served in leadership roles at Frito-Lay and Celanese Corporation earlier in her career. Ms. Guthrie holds a Master of Business Administration degree from University of Dallas and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Western Kentucky University.

Doug Keeley
CEO & Chief Storyteller
The Mark of a Leader

Doug Keeley, CEO and Chief Storyteller of The Mark of a Leader, is one of North America’s leading communicators, a serial entrepreneur and a self-professed “leadership junkie.” Today his revolutionary program is inspiring leaders and workforces to improved performance with a revolutionary approach called “Five Level Leadership.”

Keeley started the first of several businesses in 1978, and quickly became a pioneer in the marketing and communications industry.

In 2004, he embarked on a journey to help create a new generation of leaders with The Mark of a Leader. This unique, story-based program uses multimedia to share insights into the success of many of the world’s greatest leaders and brands to show how they can be applied to business today.

Keeley has written a book of inspiring stories, authored many magazine features and columns, and has appeared in several books on creativity and corporate culture. He is also an inductee in the Meetings & Incentive Travel Hall of Fame.

Suzanne Kosub
SVP & CIO
Concentra, Inc.

Since August 2001, Suzanne Kosub has served in key technology leadership roles and became SVP, CIO in 2006. She provides leadership for all technology product management, business analysis, quality assurance, development, infrastructure, security and technical support services.

Before joining Concentra, Kosub worked with American Financial Group, a property and casualty insurance company, as an IT Manager and Assistant VP.

Kosub received her undergraduate degree from Incarnate Word University in San Antonio, Texas. She is an active member of the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).

Gerry Mecca
VP-IT Packaged Beverages
Dr Pepper Snapple Group

Gerry Mecca is the VP of IT, Packaged Beverages for Dr Pepper Snapple Group. DPS is the leading producer of flavored beverages in North America and the Caribbean. Its success is fueled by more than 50 brands that are synonymous with refreshment, fun and flavor. DPS has 6 of the top 10 non-cola soft drinks, and 9 of its 12 “power brands” are No. 1 in their respective categories.

Before being acquired by Cadbury, Mecca served as CIO for the Dr Pepper Seven Up Bottling Group. Prior to this, he served in a key IT strategy role at Burlington Resources Oil and Gas. He was also involved in the start-up and IPO of Ingram Micro and Applied Creative Technology, Inc.

Mecca is on the board of directors of Mecca Design, a 3D design and fabrication company in Dallas, is active numerous IT forums and volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.

Mecca holds a Bachelors degree in Communications from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Masters of Business Administration from Baylor University. He serves on Baylor's Hankamer School of Business advisory board and also serves as a director with the University of Texas at Arlington Alumni Association. He is also a frequent speaker at computer industry trade events.

Greg Miller
VP, Talent Management
Concentra, Inc.

Since July 2008, Greg Miller has served as VP of Talent Management. He provides leadership for recruiting & staffing, leadership development, performance management, and technical/functional training.

Before joining Concentra, Miller worked for Alliance Data as VP of Human Resources with responsibilities in performance management, training & development. Prior to working with Alliance Data, he worked for Leadership Research Institute as an organizational development consultant working with companies to improve their talent and talent pipelines.

Miller received his undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon, Master’s degree from San Diego State University and his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California.

Don Riley
CIO & SVP, Logistics
Mohawk Industries, Inc.

Don Riley is the CIO and SVP, Logistics for Mohawk Industries. As CIO, he reports to Jeffrey S. Lorberbaum, Mohawk's Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer. As SVP, Logistics, he is accountable to Chris Wellborn, Mohawk’s Chief Operating Officer.  The IS Mission at Mohawk is to support corporate strategies and goals through delivering cost-effective and innovative products and services that create a competitive advantage for Mohawk. The Logistics vision is to be a provider of innovative value based supply chain solutions to all channels of distribution and to be recognized as the best logistics organization in the industry while driving customer loyalty.

Riley joined Mohawk Industries from Kellwood Company, where he served for six years as Corporate Vice President and Chief Information Officer. Kellwood is a $2 billion marketer of apparel and consumer soft goods, specializing in branded as well as private label products, and marketing to all channels of distribution and sourcing products in over 40 different countries around the globe. Prior to that, he served over a 12 year period in a variety of management, sales, business development and professional positions with Electronic Data Systems (EDS) Corporation headquartered in Plano, Texas. Riley also worked for Singer: Link Flight Simulation in Houston, Texas in support of NASA's space shuttle training simulator development program.

Riley received his Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

 

 

Bill Rollwitz, Ph.D.
Organizational Psychologist & Executive Leadership Coach

Dr. Bill Rollwitz is an Organizational Psychologist working primarily with senior executives focused on executive coaching and leadership development. His practice incorporates more than 28 years of hands-on executive level experience in industry coupled with a doctorate in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. He is driven to make a difference in the lives of his clients by helping them become world-class leaders.

His industry experience includes serving as the President and CEO of a software company providing solutions to the energy sector; President and CEO of a global IT company; SVP and CTO of PG&E Energy Trading and Gas Transmission; and Regional Managing Partner for KPMG Peat Marwick's Management Consulting Division. His clients include Fortune 100 companies, C-level executives and high-profile private sector individuals.

Dr. Rollwitz conducts seminars and training classes across the U.S. in the area of Human Dynamics and Executive Performance. Additionally, he has been an Adjunct Faculty member at the University of Houston teaching courses on Leadership and Ethics in the Executive M.B.A. program.

Anand Sivasubramaniam
Chief Scientist
Tata Consultancy Services

Dr. Anand Sivasubramaniam is a Chief Scientist, heading the innovation initiatives for going green at the Tata Consultancy Services. He received his BTech from IIT Madras, and the M.S. and PhD in Computer Science from Georgia Tech. He has been a Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University where he pioneered several research projects on power optimization of high end computing devices. His research has been continuously funded by several federal grants and corporations, and he has published over 150 research papers in reputed journals and conferences. At TCS, Dr. Sivasubramaniam has set up a research laboratory for developing and piloting innovative processes and tools for Green IT.

John Sweeney
Author, Owner & Executive Producer
Brave New Workshop Theatre

John Sweeney is the owner of the Brave New Workshop, the oldest satirical comedy theatre in the United States. In his book, Innovation at the Speed of Laughter: 8 Secrets to World Class Idea Generation, he showed how the improvisational theatre principles and behaviors practiced at the Brave New Workshop can be used to develop critical business skills.

Using the eight secrets described in his book, Sweeney helps organizations increase their productivity by adapting the skills used in his world-class improvisational theatre. He has trained leaders from some of the largest and most admired companies in the world, including Microsoft, Target, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Merck, HP and Starbucks.

Sweeney was chosen by Starbucks to contribute to the company's "The Way I See It" campaign and currently has a quote from his book on millions of Starbucks cups.

With his unique background and improvisational skills, Sweeney continues to influence a new generation of great improvisers and innovative business leaders.