Teri Takai is the Department of Defense Chief Information Officer (DoD CIO). She serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense for Information Management/Information Technology and Information Assurance as well as non-intelligence Space systems, critical satellite communications, navigation, and timing programs, spectrum and telecommunications. She provides strategy, leadership, and guidance to create a unified information management and technology vision for the Department and to ensure the delivery of information technology based capabilities required to support the broad set of Department missions.

Ms. Takai previously served as Chief Information Officer for the State of California. As a member of the Governor's cabinet, she advised the governor on the strategic management and direction of information technology resources as the state worked to modernize and transform the way California does business with its citizens.

 As California’s CIO, Ms. Takai led more than 130 CIOs and 10,000 IT employees spread across the state’s different agencies, departments, boards, commissions and offices. During her tenure as State CIO, Teri pursued an agenda that supports viewing California’s IT operations from an enterprise perspective, including: Forming a Project Management and Policy Office, release of the California Information Technology Strategic Plan, passage of the Governor’s IT Reorganization Proposal, establishing a Capital Planning Process and directing agency consolidation activities.

Prior to her appointment in California, Ms. Takai served as Director of the Michigan Department of Information Technology (MDIT) since 2003, where she also served as the state's Chief Information Officer. In this position, she restructured and consolidated Michigan's resources by merging the state's information technology into one centralized department to service 19 agencies. Additionally, during her tenure at the MDIT, Ms. Takai led the state to being ranked number one four years in a row in digital government by the Center for Digital Government.  Additionally, in 2005, Ms. Takai was named "Public Official of the Year" by Governing magazine. She is also Past-President of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers and currently serves on the Harvard Policy Group on Network-Enabled Services and Government.  

Before serving in state government, Ms. Takai worked for the Ford Motor Company for 30 years, where she led the development of the company's information technology strategic plan. She also held positions in technology at EDS and Federal-Mogul Corporation. Ms. Takai earned a Master of Arts degree in management and a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics from the University of Michigan.

Suren Gupta is executive vice president, Technology & Operations for Allstate Insurance Company, and a member of Allstate's senior leadership team.

He is responsible for enterprisewide technology strategy, network infrastructure, enterprise applications, and technology-related governance, security and compliance activities. He also directly supports the Allstate Protection president, leading all aspects of Allstate Protection technology, and agency and customer support functions. In addition, Gupta is responsible for the integration of shared service functions.

Previously, Gupta was Wells Fargo executive vice president and group chief information officer for consumer lending. Earlier, he held a similar role for Wells Fargo's home and consumer finance group. Under his leadership, Wells Fargo re-engineered its real estate lending with new delivery capabilities that enabled the field sales force to serve customers more effectively with just-in-time information.

Earlier in his career, Gupta was a founding member of the corporate executive team of Airclic Inc., a startup wireless Internet venture, and senior vice president, information technology and operations for GMAC Residential, a division of General Motors. Gupta also has held senior operations, sales, marketing and strategic development roles at INTELSAT, a telecommunications company, and at Thomson Corp., an information company.

Gupta is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. He also received a master's degree in computer engineering from West Virginia University and an MBA from George Mason University.

Thomas (Tom) Murphy is the Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer for AmerisourceBergen, an $80 billion pharmaceutical services provider, working with manufacturers of branded & generic pharmaceuticals, biotech and specialty drugs, over-the-counter remedies, and health and beauty aids.  In May 2008 he was assigned the additional responsibility for leading the company’s SAP-enabled Business Transformation (BT) program.  The back office go-live was completed in October 2010.  The customer order management platform went live in June 2011.

Tom has had a remarkable run during his 27 years of information technology leadership.  He was named a Top 10 Breakthrough Leader at the Global CIO Executive Summit in 2011, and was elected to the CIO Hall of Fame in 2010, one of 55 CIOs to be so recognized since 1996.  In 2008 Tom was recognized at the Global CIO Executive Summit as a Top Ten Global CIO for Leadership & Innovation and he was named one of ComputerWorld’s 2002 Premier 100 IT Leaders.  Tom’s organizations have been recognized for Innovation, Resourcefulness and for being Best Places to Work in the IT industry.

Tom began his career with Marriott Corporation, and assumed roles of increasing responsibility with Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Omni Hotels, Avis Rent a Car (Cendant), Bristol Hotels & Resorts, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.  He joined AmerisourceBergen in May 2004.

Tom builds high-performance organizations from under-performing groups using shared organizational values and purposeful culture.  He brings leadership authenticity to his teams and has been successful in accelerating the human and financial returns to the companies for whom he has worked. 

Simon Szykman was named Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Department of Commerce in May 2010. As the Department’s CIO, Szykman is responsible for providing leadership, establishing policy, and maintaining oversight for the information technology investments that support the diverse portfolio of programs across the Commerce Department’s dozen bureaus. Szykman most recently served over three years as the CIO of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where he began his professional career as part of the agency’s technical staff.

Prior to his work at Commerce, Szykman served as the Director of the National Coordination Office for Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD), where he was responsible for the coordination of planning, budget, and assessment activities for the Federal NITRD Program. In this role, Szykman reported directly to the National Science and Technology Council and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) – where he also worked temporarily as a Senior Policy Analyst, focusing on technology-related issues including cyber security and high-end computing.

Szykman has also worked at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the Department’s first Director of Cyber Security R&D. There he led the development of cyber security R&D plans, programs, and budgets in support of the Department's mission, as well as the development of the Government's first interagency Federal Plan for Cyber Security R&D.

Szykman received Ph.D. and Master of Science degrees from Carnegie Mellon University, a Master of Engineering Management degree from George Washington University, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Rochester.

Michelle McKenna is Chief Information Officer at Constellation Energy.  Constellation Energy [NYSE: CEG] is a Fortune 125 company, headquartered in Baltimore, MD.  Constellation is a leading supplier of energy products and services to wholesale and retail electric and natural gas customers, and conducts its business through various subsidiaries, including competitive energy businesses and Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE).

Previously, Ms. McKenna was President of Vision Interactive Media Group, a division of Vision 360 based in Orlando FL where she was responsible for marketing, technology, business development, operations and finance. 

She has deep experience in the media and entertainment industry as SVP and CIO at Universal Orlando Resort where she was responsible for the oversight and leadership of technology at Universal Orlando Resort, including the recent launch of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Michelle was also SVP and CIO of Centex Destination Properties and had a 13 year career with The Walt Disney World Company in a variety of executive positions in Resort Development, Finance, Marketing, Operations and Technology.  As Vice President, Information Technology, Ms. McKenna led the company’s largest ever technology investment – Destination Disney.   Destination Disney was a multi-year company strategic initiative to transform the company’s marketing, sales, on-line, and customer relationship management processes.  Prior to Disney, Ms. McKenna held positions at MetLife and Coopers & Lybrand (now Pricewaterhouse Coopers).

With over 20 years in the media and entertainment industry, a former CPA and controller, Ms. McKenna is a CIO with a strong business background who has a strong record of driving company growth through process and technology innovation.

Ms. McKenna holds a MBA from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College in Winter Park Florida, and a B.S. in Accounting from Auburn University. 

Jason Birnbaum is chief information officer of SIRVA, Inc., responsible for providing vision, direction and leadership for all information technology (IT) applications and operations.

Birnbaum joined SIRVA in 2011 from GE Healthcare, where he was CIO/Global Supply Chain for two years, responsible for all IT processes and developing a strong, customer-focused IT team.  Prior to GE Healthcare, his career at GE included 14 years working in IT positions for a variety of GE operating units.

Birnbaum holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Missouri and an MBA in finance and MIS from the University of Illinois. He is a Six Sigma Black Belt in information technology quality.

Bryan Ball is the Vice President and Principal Analyst for Aberdeen’s Supply Chain Management (SCM) research practice, responsible for developing Aberdeen's research coverage within the practice and delivering findings via published works, speaking engagements, on-line events and media interaction.

With over 30 years of supply chain, operations and materials management experience acquired across multiple product lines and serving several markets, including retail, wholesale, commercial, OEM and private brand customers, Ball brings a high level of knowledge and insight on the challenges and opportunities facing supply chain practitioners worldwide.

Ball’s career encompasses a range of experience areas including system implementations, startup operations, consolidations, and outsourcing, all while delivering value in the form of cost reductions, improved inventory turns and enhanced efficiencies attained through process improvements. His professional accomplishments cover a wide range of disciplines including sales and operations planning, risk mitigation, strategic sourcing, product sourcing, change management, purchasing management, cost reduction, and lean manufacturing.

Prior to joining Aberdeen, Ball served as Vice President of Supply Chain for FuelCell Energy, a manufacturer of stationary fuel cells for the distributed power generation market. Before that, he served as Vice-President, Global Supply Chain for FluidMaster, Inc., responsible for all aspects of the Supply Chain serving major customers including retailers The Home Depot, Lowes and OEM's Kohler and American Standard. Previously, Ball was Director of Supply Chain for Dover Industries Unified Brands where he directed sales and operations planning, sourcing and procurement across all plants. He has also held leadership roles in Stanley Mechanics Tools and software provider i2 Technologies.

Ball holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Industrial Engineering from Auburn University, and is an APICS Certified Fellow in Production and Inventory Management (CFPIM).

Malcolm D. Jackson is EPA’s Assistant Administrator for the Office of Environmental Information and Chief Information Officer. In this dual role, Mr. Jackson is responsible for IT operations and security, information quality and collection, and access to environmental information including the Toxics Release Inventory. His leadership focus includes IT strategic planning and governance, IT investment management and government transparency.

Malcolm D. Jackson was appointed to serve this role by President Barack Obama. Prior to being confirmed by the Senate in June 2010, Mr. Jackson served as the Senior IT Business Unit Director of CIGNA Group Insurance. At CIGNA, he managed all IT aspects that supported short term disability, long term disability, life and accident insurance products and services. From 2006 to 2008, Mr. Jackson also served as the Senior IT Business Unit Director for CIGNA Insurance Corporate Business Functions. During this tenure, Mr. Jackson directed the development of IT applications for Human Resources, Finance, Legal and Public Affairs, and Investments. In addition, Mr. Jackson had IT oversight for Corporate-Owned Life Insurance, Reinsurance, and Settlement Annuities.

Prior to joining CIGNA Insurance, Mr. Jackson held various positions in the areas of IT, engineering, marketing and general business management at Monsanto, Quaker Oats, General Dynamics, and Shell Oil Company. He has a broad business background which included consumer packaged goods, defense contracting, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and the oil and gas industries. Throughout his career, Mr. Jackson has developed expertise in IT strategy, large-scale enterprise resource planning, performance metrics development, and business process re-engineering.

Mr. Jackson was a Board member of the Children’s Literacy Initiative in Philadelphia and the Jackson State University National Alumni Association, where he chaired the membership committee. Mr. Jackson holds a B.S. from Jackson State University and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University, J.L. Kellogg School of Management.

Pablo A. Vegas is vice president and chief information officer for American Electric Power. From 2008 to 2010, he was president and chief operating officer for AEP Texas, overseeing distribution operations serving more than 900,000 AEP customers in central and north Texas as well as the operating unit’s safety, customer services, marketing, communications, community affairs, governmental affairs, and regulatory functions.

Prior to this, Vegas served as director of strategic planning, working cross functionally to formulate AEP’s short and long term strategic plans. Since joining AEP in 2005, Vegas has held leadership positions in Information Technology and Finance, leading both the Corporate IT Planning and Commercial Operations IT Planning organizations. In these roles, he focused on continual process improvements and driving increased value through AEP’s technology investments.

Before joining AEP, Vegas held senior leadership positions with IBM, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Andersen Consulting. In his last position with IBM, as associate partner - communications sector, Vegas had responsibility for delivering process and technology solutions within the energy sector.

Vegas has served on the Board of Directors of the United Way of the Coastal Bend, the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation, the U.S.S. Lexington, the Association of Electric Companies in Texas, the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association and St. James Episcopal School. He has also served as Vice President of the Board of Trustees of the Del Mar College Foundation.

Art Lofton is sector vice president, Information Technology Solutions, and chief information officer for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems.

Lofton is responsible for establishing the strategic direction and leadership of all information system and information technology activities for the Aerospace Systems sector. Previously, he had the role of sector vice president, Information Technology, and chief information officer for the former Integrated Systems sector.

Prior to assuming the assignment of chief information officer, Lofton served as deputy program manager for the Long Range Strike program at Integrated Systems. He was responsible for the successful integration of projects, programs, integrated product teams (IPT), and infrastructure responsibilities across the IPT in support of the customer for execution of LRS upgrades, support and depot activities.
H
e also served as director of Operations Rapid Development and Production Processes. His areas of responsibility included the rapid development elements of Quality, Manufacturing, Materiel, Lean and Six Sigma, Facilities, Planning and Control, and Information Technology in addition to production processes.

Lofton’s other assignments have included director, Operations Strategic Planning and Integration, responsible for long-range and annual operating strategic planning, advanced manufacturing technology development, and process integration across Operations; and manager of Strategic Planning and Integration for Advanced Systems Development.

He joined Northrop Grumman as a flight test engineer on the B-2 program in 1990, and has held management positions of increasing responsibility. This includes his role as the site manager for Integrated Systems at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, in a partnering venture with the Air Force while executing the B-2 composites statement of work. In addition, he served in several positions on the B-2 program, including manager of Production Support; B-2 Block 30 IPT leader; manager of the air vehicle managers, foreign object elimination, and IMPCA; and manager of Production Flight Operations.

Lofton has a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. He has completed several advanced management programs, including the Program Management Seminar and Advanced Program Management Course.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.