Thom Rubel is responsible for spearheading all research targeted to decision-makers within government organizations and maintains direct responsibility for managing IDC Government Insights’ global research agenda. He draws on more than 20 years of experience in government and IT research organizations to deliver research specific to strategies, operations, programs, policies, and technologies unique to government markets.

Prior to joining IDC Government Insights, Thom served as Vice President of Government Strategies at META Group, where he focused on assisting government clients to more effectively communicate IT transformational value to government business processes for improving operations and policy outcomes. During his career, he also initiated and served as Director of the State Information Technology Program at the National Governors Association's Center for Best Practices, where he guided the development and implementation of an IT program that included management and procurement, electronic government transactions, enterprise strategies, and policy solutions. In this role, he managed a twelve-governor IT Task Force and a Corporate Advisory Group composed of more than 30 IT companies that served as a resource and sounding board for the governors and the Center's projects and programs.

From 1989 to 1993, Thom served as Assistant Under Secretary for Small Community and Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was Deputy Director of Intergovernmental and Consumer Affairs at the U.S. Department of Transportation from 1987 to 1989.

He is a frequent speaker at government events and often turned to by national and industry-specific media outlets – including Business Week, Federal Computer Week, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Technology, Government Computer News, and Government Technology – for his opinions on government strategy and technology trends.

As the CIO for the State of Michigan and Director for the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB), Mr. Theis heads an agency of nearly 2,500 employees providing quality, cost-effective business services through a fully-integrated information, communications and technology infused service organization. The department is responsible for the full range of information, technology, business and administrative services to Michigan’s citizens, businesses as well as the state’s 15 agencies, 55,000 state employees and retirees representing one out of every 18 Michigan citizens.

Kenneth came to the State of Michigan from the General Motors Corporation where he held several key business and leadership positions. He has extensive background in transforming business processes and developing successful teams to tackle the most complex projects. While at General Motors, his accomplishments included leading the systems implementation and IT reorganization of the sales and marketing functions within General Motors, which included the reorganization of six General Motors marketing divisions into one centralized sales and marketing organization.

Kenneth has been named to the “Premier 100” list by ComputerWorld magazine, placing him in the “Best in Class” as one of the top ten technology leaders in the country. In 1998, Ken received the General Motors Chairman’s Honors Award and he was also the recipient of the General Motors CIO Award in 1999.

During his tenure with state government, Kenneth served as the Director of the Michigan Department of Information Technology where he ushered in an era of technology fueled business solutions and budget friendly efficiencies. He also served as Deputy Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the Michigan Family Independence Agency (FIA), where he successfully implemented a statewide Child Support Enforcement System enabling the State to recover substantial federal penalties.

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.