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APRIL 8-14, 2022B1SPONSORED CONTENT2022The annual Alabama CIO of the Year ORBIE Awards program honors chief information officerswho have demonstrated excellence in technology leadership. Winners in the Large Enterprise, Enterprise,Large Corporate, & Corporate categories will be announced April 14 at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham.SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALABAMACIOFROM OUR CHAIRKEYNOTE SPEAKERLEADERSHIP AWARDChris Morrow: TechnologyLeaders are the X-Factor A3Bob DeRodes, Founder andPresident, DeRodesEnterprises, LLC A4Ellen Holladay, CIO,Motion Industries (ret) A10

B2 2022 AlabamaCIO ORBIE AwardsSPONSORED CONTENTCONGRATULATIONS 2022 ALABAMACIO ORBIE NOMINEESANTHONY WILLIAMSSurgical Care AffiliatesBEN ROSEBROCKDAVE SLIFKAEBSCO IndustriesDAVID COXAlabama CommunityCollege SystemAlabama Power CompanyBILL STEPHENSDENNIS DREWPhiferMsparkBILLY HELMANDOLLARDCH Health SystemBOB SARNECKIChildren’s of AlabamaED LAWRENCESimplified MedicalManagementEDDIE MESSICKCMX CinemasJOAN HICKSUAB MedicineJOE HARVEYSouthern CompanyTechnology OrganizationLATESHA BLAIRERIC STEADMANStewart SignsCoca-Cola Bottling UnitedMedical Properties TrustLEE DANIELRAY HARRISSATEESH DONTILYNN LOVELADYRICK ORCUTTKEYSYSMcWaneMARK CARONAlabama College ofOsteopathic MedicineSRIKANTH KARRAAlabamaONE Credit UnionJefferson County CommissionMARK CHESEBROROLF VAN RIJNSTEPHEN DAWEMARK HUTTERRONALD BLAHNIKTOM WALDROPRed DiamondCity of OpelikaH2L Solutions Inc.CLAUDIUS MOOREJAMES O’CONNORAuburn UniversityKEVIN POLIQUINHyundai AutoEver AmericaDAMIAN CLARKEJANICE RAYLANDON NELSONHibbett Retail, Inc.KEVIN WARRENProtective LifeMAURICIO PAREDESP & S Transportation, Inc.RUSS DORSEYTOMMY MCNEALKassoufHargrove Engineers ConstructorsRYAN LOYVERONICA TUCKEREBSCO IndustriesSouthern ResearchESHTLEADORK Taco MamaMATTHEW KOHLERJim n Nick’s BBQW RROBERT LONGRxBenefitsJONATHAN HARDWhatley Health Services (frmr)SPIRECIOINSHARON TATUMNapco/Vulcan InformationPackagingJOHN ABRAHAMBank IndependentPhiferThe Onin GroupJOHN MCGOWANGREG SOLOMONAlabama A&M UniversityO’Neal SteelUniversity of AlabamaCHARLES EVANSAmerican Family CareADTRANJOHN BARNHARTAmerican Cast Iron PipeCompanyLandingCommand AlkonRYLAND BYARSEast Alabama HealthO’Neal ManufacturingBOB FREEMANOLIVER BANTABurr Forman LLPEIP NTHE ANSWER IS IN THE ROOM. ARE YOU?Leadership Unscripted isInspireCIO’s quarterly nationalprogram where members connect,build relationships and meetleading CIO’s from chapters acrossthe country.INSPIRECIO.COM/UNSCRIPTEDNGL, an exclusive InspireCIOmember benefit, is a cohort-basedIT leadership developmentexperience designed forup-and-coming, high potentialleaders in your organization.INSPIRECIO.COM/NGLALL BENEFITS ARE EXCLUSIVE TO INSPIRECIO MEMBERSHIPThe ORBIE Awards digitalexperience is powered byImaginate. Host compelling,digital online experiences withImaginate.Imagine it. Done.WWW.IMAGINATE.EVENTS

APRIL 8-14, 2022B3SPONSORED CONTENT2 02 2 C I O O F TH E Y E A R2022 ALABAMACIO CHAIR LETTERTECHNOLOGY LEADERSARE THE X-FACTORSincerelyChris Morrow2022 Chair, AlabamaCIOCIO & Member, Warren AverettLEADERJULY 27 - 28, 2022 ATLANTA, GATOGETHER WE LEAD.CONVERGE.INSPIRECIO.COMEXCLUSIVE TO INSPIRECIO MEMBERSW SPIRECIOINORK industries and size may be different, butwinning approaches to effective leadershipare transferrable. Every leader’s perspectiveis valuable and contributes to the conversation — and everyone wins when leadersengage, share ideas, experiences and bestpractices.For over twenty years, InspireCIO hashelped CIOs succeed in their challengingC-suite role. By joining AlabamaCIO, technology executives take their leadership tothe next level through year-round, member-led programs and interaction. The powerof CIOs working together — across publicand private business, government, education and nonprofit organizations — createsenormous value for everyone.Together, we are transforming our economy using technology and enriching ourregion and our world. On behalf of AlabamaCIO, congratulations to the nominees andfinalists on their accomplishments and thankyou to the sponsors, underwriters, and staffwho make the ORBIE Awards possible.SHTTechnology is at the center of modernbusiness transformation and leadership isthe X-factor between surviving and thrivingin today’s digital economy.AlabamaCIO brings together leadingCIOs of Alabama’s largest organizations tohelp CIOs maximize their leadership effectiveness, create value, reduce risk and sharesuccess. Through member-led, non-commercial programs, CIOs build meaningfulprofessional relationships with colleaguesfacing similar challenges, solving problemsand avoiding pitfalls.AlabamaCIO members collaborate locallyand nationally with CIOs across industriesbecause, successful CIOs understand the‘superpower’ of trusted relationships. In anygathering of CIOs, the answer is in the room.The challenge one CIO is facing has likelybeen solved by another CIO.There is no textbook for how to be agreat CIO. The best way to sharpen yourleadership acumen is by collaborating withother leaders facing similar challenges. TheEIP N

B4 SPONSORED CONTENT2022 AlabamaCIO ORBIE Awards2 02 2 C I O O F TH E Y E A R2022 KEYNOTE SPEAKERBob DeRodesFounder and President DeRodes Enterprises, LLCIT executive sharesinsights from over50 years in the industryBy Laura NewpoffBob DeRodes has worn many hats over the courseof his 50-year career in information technology. He’san accomplished senior executive who helped shapeIT for some of the world’s most well-known companies, including Target Corp., First Data, The HomeDepot, Delta Airlines, Citibank and USAA.DeRodes’ experience touches seven decades,from his first job as a computer operator in 1969 torunning his advisory firm DeRodes Enterprises, LLCuntil the early months of 2020. Today, he remains arecognized leader in IT and business operations withan established track record for innovation, operationalexcellence, transformations and cyber security andenterprise resiliency.DeRodes also serves on the board of Privafy, aninnovative cloud-based security startup, and recently retired from the NCR Board of Directors after12 years. He has served on the board of numerousearly-stage technology companies and remains anactive advisor. He was named one of the top 25 technology officers by Information Week in 2006 and wasawarded the 2005 Information Services executiveof the year by the Lattanze Center at Loyola CollegeMaryland. He received a Lifetime Achievement awardin 2018 from the Georgia CIO Leadership Council.DeRodes will be the keynote speaker at the Alabama CIO of the Year ORBIE Awards on April 14. Herecently talked with the Birmingham Business Journalabout his technology career.What attracted you to technology as a career?DeRodes: Having lost my college football scholarship due to a wrestling accident, I was working onesummer on a shipping dock and noticed someone atthe time clock wearing a shirt and tie. I discovered heworked in an air-conditioned room as the computeroperator. Shortly thereafter, he quit and I applied forand got my first technology job. That was 1969, and itwas totally serendipitous.Describe your leadership style and any leadershipmentors/influencers?DeRodes: My style changed over the years as Ilearned to adapt to numerous company cultures andchanging social norms. Throughout that evolution Inever lost sight of my moral compass, nor the importance of understanding the impact of my decisions onothers. I was incredibly fortunate to have worked forso many well-know, highly respected leaders. Everyone of them had a profound impact on my leadershipstyle by demonstrating leadership skills I admired anddesired, as well as some traits and behaviors that Iwanted to avoid.What would you consider your greatest careerachievements?DeRodes: First off, I have never considered mytechnical accomplishments my own. I was able to surround myself with incredible people who did extraordinary things. There are six major accomplishmentsI treasure most: Opening the USAA Federal SavingsBank, the first bank of that type in the country in1983; leading the initiative at American Airlines toconsolidate four distinct IT businesses into The SabreGroup; leading the creation of a global credit cardprocessing platform for Citibank, the then-largestworld-wide card issuer; returning internal IT to DeltaAirlines, and then helping the industry recover from9/11; digitizing The Home Depot and inventingself-checkout for the hardlines industry; last, I amproud of the work I did to help Target get IT back ontrack, post their massive credit card breach in 2013.Each one a significant accomplishment in its ownright.How have obstacles/hardships made you a betterleader?DeRodes: Obstacles and hardships can not onlymake you a better leader, they can make you a betterperson. It is life’s hard lessons that teach you perseverance, test your inner strength and challengeyour values. My largest personal hardship as CIOwas laying-off people. I went through a number ofdownsizing efforts and it never became easier. It was,however, a teaching moment for those who stayedwith the company. It showed the importance of treating everyone with the utmost dignity and respect, andit called into question whether those of us remainingwere doing everything we could to help the companyand each other.What advice do you have for the next generation ofIT leaders?DeRodes: Don’t go it alone. Learn from those thatcame before you, and leverage your complete ecosystem. Always remember you can outsource your capabilities, but you can never outsource your responsibilities. Also, strive for a work/life balance. No CIO’s lastwords were, “Gee, I wish I would have worked more.”Could you share a key moment/milestone from eachof the roles throughout your career.DeRodes: I was fortunate to catch the wave ofdigitization that started in the 1960s. There weremany opportunities to leave IT and move into different roles, and I actually took one such opportunity in1982, and moved into cash management with a largeregional bank. After six months, I realized how much Iloved the reach and influence of IT. IT is special in theway its tentacles touch every aspect of the enterprise,and I knew then I would stay in the field as long as Icould.Share a few words about your community involvement:DeRodes: At every stop along the way, I wasinvolved in the local charities and sat on the boards ofthe local chapters of the Heart Association, AmericanLung Association, the Juvenile Diabetes ResearchFoundation, and my longtime favorite TechBridge,where I spent 20 years trying to help smaller outreachorganizations get IT help in Atlanta. IT leaders alwayswant a seat at the table, and I found it helps if youlead by example when it comes to your community.Over the years, I sat on numerous Boards, but themost significant for me was NCR, where I served for12 years. The role of a board member is unlike that ofan executive inside the company. You can’t put yourhand on the joystick and take control, you must leadthrough knowledge, influence, and persuasion.

APRIL 8-14, 2022B5SPONSORED CONTENTCONGRATULATESGREG SOLOMON2022 CORPORATE FINALISTOFALABAMA CIO THEYEARWe are proud of your leadership in our company and community.Thank you for living out our mission to make a positive difference in people’slives, embodying our values, and enabling us to pursue our vision to be the bankof choice and employer of choice in the communities we serve.BIBANK.COM MEMBER FDIC 877.865.5050Embodying OurOne Team Mentality.Congrats to Hargrove’s CIO Tommy McNeal—a finalist for Alabama CIO of the Year 2022.Thank you, Tommy, for truly embodying Hargrove’sideals of Team Speed, Quality, and Service.Hargrove offers expertise in EPC (engineering,procurement, construction management), controls automation, life sciences, operations, andtechnical services.Learn more at hargrove-epc.com 877.388.8356

B6 2022 AlabamaCIO ORBIE AwardsSPONSORED CONTENT2 02 2 C I O O F TH E Y E A RLARGE ENTERPRISEOVER 1 BILLION ANNUAL REVENUEAnthony WilliamsVP & CIO Surgical Care AffiliatesAnthony Williams has over 27 years of information technology experience and joined SurgicalCare Affiliates as VP and CIO in November 2018.He is responsible for providing strategic andorganizational leadership, overseeing the capitaland operational budgets and directing the dayto-day planning and execution of all IT-relatedfunctions. Prior to joining SCA, Anthony servedas the CIO at American Family Care, one of thelargest urgent care providers in the US.SUCCESS STORYOne of the greatest accomplishments in my current role is without doubt,leading and growing a high performing team through an incredibly difficultpandemic. A period in which teammates experienced the loss of loved ones,sickness, mental health challenges, burnout and other stressors. We grewcloser as a team and we leaned on and supported each other in creativeways. This was also a time in which our business grew considerably. Ourincredible teammates enabled us to meet the demands of the organizationwhile also achieving exceptional teammate experience survey results duringthe same period of time.Ryan LoyCIO EBSCO IndustriesRyan Loy currently serves as the CIO for EBSCOIndustries, where he focuses on enhancing thevalue technology can deliver, providing guidanceon target acquisitions and managing the build outof a global shared services organization.In addition to his role as CIO, Ryan also leadsglobal information security and procurementservices. He has extensive global experiencefocused on technology innovation, data privacyand mergers and acquisitions.SUCCESS STORYWhen I first came into the role, the organization had a negative Net Promoter Score. Morale was at an all-time low. The organization was fatiguedand did not trust leadership. Over the next 18 months, we lead a completecultural transformation which brought about a lot of organizational change.We went from a negative Net Promoter Score to winning Forbes Top 100Best Places to Work in IT - the only company in Alabama to win this award.People are our greatest asset and by building team which fosters growth,trust and commitment the organization can deliver far more value.Ron BlahnikSVP & CIO Hibbett Retail, Inc.Ronald Blahnik is SVP and CIO for Hibbett Retail,Inc., joining the team in November 2016. He isresponsible for strategy, innovation, and information technology. While at Hibbett, Blahnik hasspearheaded several critical programs and projects, including point of sale applications, warehouse management, digital commerce and cloudmigration. Prior to joining Hibbett, Ronald had anIT consulting business and had previously servedas SVP and CIO for Hudson’s Bay Companyand VP, Information Technology InfrastructureServices for Lowe’s Companies.SUCCESS STORYMy greatest accomplishment as the Information Technology Leader withHibbett has been the building of a digital transformation dream team thatliterally propelled the company through sustainable strategic innovation.We moved aggressively, but not recklessly, to complete thousands of criticalprojects and accomplish more in 5 years, than in the previous 25. Thesupport of the board, CEO, and executive management team resulted in theremoval of barriers and silos. We absolutely became the win-together team.Our future growth is through our people. Empowering, training, mentoringour associates, and providing stretch/growth assignments will be the key toour continued success.Sateesh DontiCTO O’Neal SteelAfter a number of career pivots, including morethan 15 years at Honda Logistics, Sateesh Dontijoined O’Neal Steel in 2020. He now overseesthe modernization of IT infrastructure, the introduction of new sales channels through e-commerce platforms, and the implemention of digitaltransformation across the organization.Alongside his background in civil architecture,Sateesh has experience implementing world classsupply chain systems, driving operations automation and leading digital strategy.SUCCESS STORYUnder my leadership, O’Neal Steel is on the path to digitally transformingourselves and our industry before others do. I have led the team to modernize IT infrastructure and processes, paying of technical debt, to build a solidIT foundation necessary to build scalable business applications at a highervelocity. The migration of on-premises business applications, including ourecommerce platform, to the cloud has freed up IT resources to focus onbuilding applications. The adoption of Robotic Process Automation to enhance customer experience and modern data architecture in the cloud havedelivered significant value to the business.

APRIL 8-14, 2022B7SPONSORED CONTENT2 02 2 C I O O F TH E Y E A RENTERPRISEOVER 600 MILLION ANNUAL REVENUEOliver BantaVP & CIO East Alabama HealthOliver Banta joined joined East Alabama Healthin March of 2019, and has responsibility forinformation services, information security,clinical engineering, and revenue cycle acrossthe organization. Prior to joining East AlabamaMedical Center, Oliver was VP & CIO at Columbus Regional Health and also served as CIO forNebraska Heart Hospital and Institute in Lincoln,NE. He proudly serves on the Board of Directorsfor Georgia HIMSS Chapter, Goodwill SouthernRivers, and the Columbus State University Alumni Association.SUCCESS STORYGoing live with Cerner ambulatory, our electronic health record, duringCOVID-19. This resulted in having more comprehensive health informationreadily available for clinicians. We did this all while supporting the organization in numerous COVID-19 activities, including the implementation of anew IT platform to support a mass vaccination clinic in partnership with thecities of Opelika and Auburn.Mauricio ParedesVP of Technology PS LogisticsMauricio Paredes has worked in technology foralmost 30 years. He is currently VP of Technology at PS Logistics and is part of the team that hasgrown the organization from 600 trucks in 2012to over 3,800 drivers in 2021. Throughout hiscareer, Mauricio has worked to expand the useof analytics to improve all aspects of the supplychain. He currently also serves as a Blockchain inTransport Alliance Board member.SUCCESS STORYMauricio ‘Mo’ Paredes and his team empower PS Logistics with technology,systems, and processes to win and serve their drivers, employees, and customers. Mo joined P&S in 2012, bringing applicable experience from a widerange of industries. During his tenure, he developed a responsive team thatfocuses on the latest technology, business intelligence, and standardizationof processes. His team has made significant contributions to PS Logistics’success. PS Logistics is one of the largest flatbed carriers in the country.Claudius MooreCIO American Family CareClaudius Moore has more than 20 years of experience in information systems, information technologies, and clinical and revenue cycle management. As CIO at American Family Care, Claudiusoversees the architecture and implementationof the firm’s operational and business supportsystems, helping to develop unique applicationsthat define AFC as a leader in healthcare.Prior to joining AFC, Claudius served as CIOfor The South Bend Clinic; a physician-ownedmulti-specialty group that has served the community for more than 100 years.SUCCESS STORYIn 2021, American Family Care treated 6.2 million patients. The spike inCovid19 was the driving force behind this surge which poses operationalchallenges. The IT team reconfigured our phone system to route calls moreefficiently to simplify how patients connect to our caregivers. IT implemented features on our electronic medical records that enabled patientsto check-in and register using their mobile devices. These changes reducedthe bottleneck at the front desk and decreased patient wait time. The use ofchatbots and secure texting increased our engagement and communicationwith patients.Rick OrcuttCIO The Onin GroupRick Orcutt joined Onin Staffing in 2005, wherehe was hired to act as an account manager, recruiting and managing workers in an automotivemanufacturing plant. Rick deployed his businessacumen and informal technological training tocreate enhancements and efficiency, and wasquickly promoted to scale his IT operation acrossthe entire company. 16 years later, he overseesa department of 32 professionals focusing onsolutions and technology. The Ōnin Group hasgrown more than 1400% during his tenure.SUCCESS STORYMy teams have created a technological ecosystem that meets our proprietary workflow and allows us to be agile in an industry that is constantlyshifting, especially over the last 2 years. We have been able to meet ourcontinued growth with scalable solutions/architecture, and a cheery disposition. Onin’s IT department is loved by those we serve and that makes us waymore effective than the stereotype.

B8 2022 AlabamaCIO ORBIE AwardsSPONSORED CONTENT2 02 2 C I O O F TH E Y E A RLARGE CORPORATEOVER 100 MILLION ANNUAL REVENUEBilly HelmandollarCIO DCH Health SystemBilly Helmandollar joined DCH Health Systemin 2015, where he serves as CIO. In his role,Billy is responsible for all aspects of strategic ITplanning, implementation, and support. Sincejoining he has overseen the restructuring of theIT department and its infrastructure, to functionmore efficiently within the organization. Prior tojoining DCH, Billy served as Director of Information Technology/CIO at Newton Medical Centerand Director of Information Technology/CIO atWallace Thomson Hospital.SUCCESS STORYOur greatest accomplishments will always be measured by the teams webuild and mentor. The growth of the team I currently oversee has beenawesome to watch and be a part of assisting. Healthcare IT can be morechallenging than other industries, especially in the past 12-24 months. OurIT Infrastructure has been designed using an agile and innovative design sowe can adapt as emergencies present. While others could be afforded theability to slow down/stop production, Healthcare actually ramped up. I amextremely proud of how the team can take my vision and make it a reality.Tommy McNealCIO Hargrove Engineers ConstructorsTommy McNeal currently serves as the CIO forHargrove Engineers and Constructors. Tommy’srole as CIO allows him to partner with technology solution providers to implement new toolsand practices, enabling Hargrove and their familyof companies to be successful in project execution. Having begun his career as a structural engineer, Tommy is able to utilize his knowledge ofindustrial design and construction tools to bettersupport and implement technology initiatives.SUCCESS STORYOne of the greatest accomplishments I’ve had the privilege of implementingand supporting has been our HELIX initiative. Over the last several years,Hargrove has focused on structuring our company to work as one integrated organization. We refer to Hargrove as “”One Team””. HELIX is HargroveExpertise Linked for Interoffice eXecution. As CIO, I ensure our HargroveTeam is able to work efficiently together by deploying tools such as Microsoft Teams, Nasuni file sharing, and virtual desktops. These tools enable ourTeams to collaborate effectively on projects from any location and createsuccessful projects for our clients.LaTesha BlairCIO Burr & Forman LLPLaTesha Blair is the CIO for Burr & Forman LLP.She is responsible for the leadership and management of the firm’s technology efforts and theinformation technology department. She directstechnology planning and implementation as wellas oversees all aspects of technology servicesand resources for all of Burr & Forman’s locations. With over 21 years in technology, LaTeshahas worked throughout the IT field in variousenvironments, including Lexington MedicalCenter and the South Carolina Department ofCommerce.SUCCESS STORYOne of my greatest accomplishments as CIO was to keep our lawyers andsupport staff working and fully functional while working remotely during theshutdown due to the pandemic. We went from having a 5 percent remoteworkforce to a 95 percent remote work environment seemingly overnight.My team stepped up to the challenge by assessing and expanding ourremote capabilities fairly quickly to accommodate the demand. With greateffort the transition was seamless and mostly painless to our end users.Eddie MessickCTO CMX CinemasJames ‘Eddie’ Messick has proudly served as theCTO for CMX Cinemas, formerly Cobb Theatres,for more than a decade. With over 20 years ofsuccessful experience in business automationand IT innovation, Eddie is a seasoned businessexecutive with a passion for leveraging cutting-edge technology in order to maximize revenues and boost profitability. In addition to hisrole as a critical senior leader, Eddie has servedas an Executive Committee Board member forfive years.SUCCESS STORYMy greatest accomplishment is leading, inspiring, and empowering my team.It is the job of the CIO/CTO to understand the functions and needs of allbranches of the organization and its customers, and to create innovationsthat further the overall goals of the company. More importantly, when bringing new visions and projects to my team, I insist on their feedback. If mycareer has taught me anything, it is I, or anyone on my team, can have goodideas that make positive advancements in the organization, but together wecreate great innovations that profoundly change the way we do business.

APRIL 8-14, 2022B9SPONSORED CONTENT2 02 2 C I O O F TH E Y E A RCORPORATEUP TO 100 MILLION ANNUAL REVENUELandon NelsonCIO Taco MamaLandon Taylor Nelson spent the majority ofhis career working as an IT professional inthe hospitality industry, combining his love oftechnology with his passion for the restaurantindustry. He has led the digital transformation ofseveral brands, leveraging his expertise in scalingthrough technology. Landon is passionate abouttransforming businesses and enriching the livesof others by building the strongest teams, providing the highest level of support, and developing solid relationships with those he serves.SUCCESS STORYThe greatest accomplishment in my current role is successfully leading thetechnology efforts to smoothly transition into the recent shift in hospitalitytrends. This allowed us to not only survive but continue to thrive during thepandemic. While the hospitality industry struggled as a whole, we successfully opened new restaurants, kept our current guests happy while alsogaining new fans, and we were able to retain our staff and even hire a fewnew smiling faces along the way!Robert LongCTO AlabamaONE Credit UnionRobert Long has been the CTO at AlabamaONE since 2017, where he also leads the firm’stechnology CUSO initiatives. After a decade ofworking in technology and risk management at alarge banking institution, Robert launched a project management consulting firm, working withvarious regional banks. His expertise and industry knowledge also led Robert to be a foundingpartner in a data analytics company, providingdata warehousing and reporting solutions tobanks nationwide.SUCCESS STORYAlabamaONE has a technology team of leaders! All facets of our group focuson solving business needs to drive our technology advancements. This teamof IT leaders has transformed our technical operating environment by successfully executing on tactical initiatives to support our business strategiesto transform and grow the institution. One very prideful point for me is myteam’s ability to work together and leverage their strengths to accomplish acommon strategic vision. We have supported significant growth of our organization and continue to be exceedingly capable of executing on innovationto support business strategies through our use of technology.Kevin WarrenDirector IT Whatley Health Services, Inc. (frmr)Kevin Warren is the Director of InformationTechnology at Whatley Health Services andloves helping people learn, gain experience, andreach their personal career goals. He has spentmost of his career in the IT industry, gainingexperiences in areas such as support, implementation, and leading successful teams. Whileleading his IT team is his primary job function byday, Kevin also enjoys coaching and mentoringtoday’s youth.SUCCESS STORYMy greatest accomplishment in my former role was successfully completing our 1.2 million dollar infrastructure project. Ripping and replacing allhardware and some software across 13 locations. Replaced all computersand laptops, firewalls, managed switches and routers, wireless access points,printers, anti-virus, transitioned to VoIP phones, new monitors, TVs in waiting areas, conference room TVs upgraded to whiteboard TVs, and upgradeall servers to 2016/2019 in about 4 months. Being able to accomplish thiswas a testament to our team and vendors working as one unit and for thegreater good of the patients we serve.Greg SolomonDirector IT Bank IndependentGreg Solomon is the Director of InformationTechnology for Bank Independent, where hedrives the management and architecture of thebank’s technology department, as well as steering technology goals, initiatives and directives.Greg joined the Bank Independent team in 2018,bringing over 21 years of corporate IT executiveexperience. His direction and focus on stronger cybersecurity, infrastructure, applicationdevelopment and support has enabled the bankas it expands in footprint, employment base andcustomer offerings.SUCCESS STORYAs an organizational leader for technology, I was challenged to help achieveseveral objectives across the organization during an unprecedented pandemic to balance risk and reward, increase cybersecurity awareness andto optimize areas of support for our retail systems. During the challengingtimes I was able to lead teams to implement a new Mult-Factor authentication platform, new VPN systems for remote work initiatives due toCOVID-19 and continue support for critical applications across the organization. I continue to lead our Technology Steering Committee to assess,research and forec

business transformation and leadership is . the X-factor between surviving and thriving . in today's digital economy. labamaCIO brings together leading A CIOs of Alabama's largest organizations to . help CIOs maximize their leadership effec-tiveness, create value, reduce risk and share success. Through member-led, non-com-