Technology Council of Northwest PA

 

 

 

 

Advanced Registration is Required for this presentations, seats are limited.

 

Presenter: Jim Thor, Network Engineer/Technical Instructor
 

Presenter Bio: Mr. Jim Thor has over 12 years of experience across many facets of Information Technology. Before joining WildPackets, his expertise in information security has placed him within Fortune 100 companies in various technology roles. In addition, Jim has a strong background in network architecture and systems administration, working and consulting in companies of all sizes. Jim possesses a thorough understanding of data communications, from the network infrastructure and the software applications that traverse it - to the procedures and controls that help promote the secure, stable, and efficient use of corporate intellectual property. Jim has obtained certifications from (ISC)², Cisco, Checkpoint, and Nokia.

SESSION 1.3
Unified Communications Discussion with Gartner Group

Presenter: Mr. Bern Elliot, Vice President, Gartner Group

Presentation Description:  Unified Communications: The Next Strategic Advantage
Cisco, Microsoft, IBM, Google, AT&T, Avaya, and scores of others are aggressively adding unified communications applications to their portfolios. Functionality includes telephony, VoIP, Audio-web-video Conferencing, IM & Presence, Messaging, and Mobility. Here we consider how enterprises can develop a vision and plan to leverage these investments for productivity improvements and competitive advantage.

KI 1 - What are the business advantage of unified communications and collaboration?
KI 2 - Which solutions and approaches are most successful?
KI 3 - How should enterprises evaluate, select, and justify these solutions?

Presenter Bio: Bern Elliot is a vice president and distinguished analyst with Gartner Research. He has been with Gartner for more than 10 years, and he is currently the lead analyst in Unified Communications. He was formerly the lead analyst in Contact Centers. Mr. Elliot's research interests are broad, and they include the areas of communications infrastructure, VoIP, SIP, speech recognition, organizational development, and collaboration issues.

In his more than 20 years of IT experience, Mr. Elliot has served in a variety of technical and managerial roles, including a computer telephony and messaging architect for three Fortune 100 financial services firms, a call center strategic assessments specialist for major North American and European switch vendors, and a telecommunications systems designer for major computing firms. He has also been product manager with several Internet startups. Mr. Elliot was the founding chair and coordinator for several Internet messaging and directory standards initiatives, including Voice Profile for Internet Messaging (VPIM).

"I particularly enjoy supporting clients as they work toward their business objectives, and the chance to expand my understanding of both the technology and how to apply it in a business setting. I also enjoy client contact, including telephone interactions and face-to-face interactions, as well as collaborative work on projects. While my interaction with end users is different than that with technology providers, both are highly satisfying."

 

 

SESSION 2.1                                                                                      

 

 

 

Presenter: Angie Singer Keating, CISA, CIPP, CISM, VP of Compliance & Security - Reclamere, Inc.

 

Litigation is a fact of life. Now that the economy has begun to recover, litigation is again on the rise. E-Discovery is also a fact of life. Discoverable information is no longer limited to hard-copy documents stored away in boxes. ESI (electronically stored information) is rampant throughout our networks and on our mobile devices. What role does the IT professional play in litigation preparedness and response? What things does today’s IT professional need to know to help protect his or her organization from e-discovery risks. This seminar will answer these questions and more. Attendees will leave this presentation with a solid understanding of the areas of highest risk and common-sense solutions to mitigate risks and bring value to their organization.

 

Presenter Bio: Angie Singer Keating is a co-founder of Reclamere, Inc., a security focused I.T. asset management, data recovery and computer forensics company servicing Fortune 1000 as well as small and medium accounts. She has a broadly diversified background with over 18 years of experience in engineering, project management, litigation support and regulatory compliance. Keating is recognized as a Certified Information Systems Auditor and a Certified Information Security Manager by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA). Also, she is recognized as a Certified Information Privacy Professional by the International Association of Privacy Professionals.

 

 

 

 Presenter: Bill Balint, IUP

 

Presentation Description: Cloud computing and 'software as a service' (SaaS) continue to dominate the pages of information technology-based publications. Unlike many IT developments in which leaders can remain confident in waiting until the cutting edge becomes the mainstream before engaging, these developments are being hyped primarily for their intense cost saving potential. As a result, some IT leaders are feeling compelled to either embrace or discount these trends before they normally would have comfortable doing so.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) has developed a set of basic best practices surrounding the migration of traditional application deployment into cloud and/or SaaS environments. This presentation will include a brief overview of these environments and why they have received so much attention, followed by a review of IUP's methodology for considering their usage based upon the specific application in question - with a focus on legal and technical considerations. The presentation's target audience is the IT professional with some basic knowledge of cloud computing and SaaS concepts seeking assistance in deciding when and how to use these environments.

Presenter Bio: Bill Balint has been the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) since 2006. Bill has 22 years of information technology experience, including 20 years at IUP in a variety of technical, project management and IT management positions. He is a former president of the Pennsylvania Banner User Group and is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s Chief Information Technology Group. He has presented on IT organizational and project management issues on numerous occasions and testified before a Pa. State Senate sub-committee investigating IT’s impact on personal privacy. He co-authored a chapter in a 2009 Thomson Reuters’ “Inside the Minds” publication focused on cutting IT costs

 

Presenter: Susan Zwillinger, GISP - 4CGeoWorks/4CTechnologies

 

Presentation Description: This presentation provides a detailed overview of what GIS (Geographic Information Systems) is -- and how your company could “get smart” with GIS solutions. This technology utilizes maps and information management tools to show relationships, patterns and trends to help companies make smart decisions about the growth or downsizing of their business – critical information that could help direct key decisions such as store closings, expansion opportunities and customer service.

4CGeoWorks uses software provided by ESRI, the world’s leader in geographic information system technology. ESRI fosters relationships with more than sixty-five (65) software, technology, data, hardware, system integrator, and consulting companies to ensure product compatibility and to explore new technologies.

 

Susan is a certified Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Professional with almost 15 years of experience in the GIS industry. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science with a Secondary Education Certificate from Cedarville University, with graduate courses in GIS from Ohio University. Taking her dedication into the field, Susan quickly gained experience as a GIS Analyst within a local engineering firm. In her role as Principal Consultant, Susan consults and develops the scope of each project, coordinating proposal development with sub-contractors, designing project plans, and developing deliverable schedules. Skilled at client communication, Susan consults with a variety of clients ensuring that expectations are met throughout the project.

 

 

Developing a robust security model without impacting usability

Presenter: Tim Beamer, Technology Evangelist, Dell GICS

Presentation Description: A look at the “Defense in Depth” strategy from the outside in. This session would examine new trends and technologies in securing the IT landscape from the firewall to the datacenter, desktop and application environments. Including a look at tools like Identity Lifecycle Management, Application Layer Security, Desktop Encryption, and Information Rights Management.

Presenter Bio: Tim Beamer has been in the IT industry for over 17 years both as a senior administrator for several organizations as well as a consultant working in many vertical industries. Tim currently serves with Dell as a Technology Evangelist, educating customers on Microsoft’s technology platforms as well as on the capabilities the Dell services team has to implement solutions with Microsoft technology. Tim is widely regarded as a highly controversial speaker, often looking at the IT landscape from a unique perspective, based on his wide variety of experiences over the course of his career.

 

 

 

On the verge of the federal government’s single largest investment in telecommunications infrastructure, people are asking how this will change the landscape and how do I benefit? Our panel will explore new technologies, growing infrastructure and the new landscape for broadband deployment.

 

 

 

Many organizations implement technology and associated processes with the expectation that they will lead to increased productivity, reduced costs, better time to market, and greater capacity. Unfortunately, things don't always turn out as planned, and even when they do, business needs can change over time and systems can become obsolete prompting the question, "Is my technology helping me to be as effective as I can be?" Business technology assessments are a great way to determine whether you are getting the most out of your technology and the people who use it.

This session will present a high level framework for determining if a business technology assessment could improve your operations and the most effective way to approach it.