Kick off the morning with sessions exploring how CIOs are evolving into bold strategists, culture drivers, and digital champions—leading transformation not just in tech, but across the entire enterprise.
During each session time-slot, three concurrent breakouts will be offered.
Delaware & Franklin Ballrooms
As technology becomes inseparable from business growth, CIOs are increasingly called to lead beyond IT—shaping strategy, driving value, and influencing the future of the enterprise. The modern CIO is not just a partner to the business but a strategic force at its core.
This session dives into the evolving role of the CIO as a business strategist—integrating tech and business roadmaps, guiding cross-functional priorities, and earning a decisive voice in the C-suite. Explore how today’s IT leaders are unlocking new value, enabling innovation, and helping organizations stay competitive in a dynamic market.
In a world where adaptability is as critical as agility, today’s CIOs are stepping up as strategic architects of talent, culture, and transformation. More than technology leaders, they are now shaping the workforce, championing cultural evolution, and steering enterprise-wide change.
This session explores how modern CIOs are building high-performing teams, cultivating cultures of innovation, and driving impactful change through evolving models like the Product Operating Model. Join us to uncover how IT leaders are navigating the future of work, inspiring resilient teams, and redefining what leadership looks like in a rapidly shifting business landscape.
In an era where data and technology are core business assets, CIOs are stepping into the spotlight as digital evangelists—championing transformation and rallying the enterprise around a bold digital vision.
This session brings together forward-thinking leaders to share how they’re driving digital adoption, fostering enterprise-wide alignment, and turning strategy into action. Discover lessons learned, key wins, and how CIOs are energizing their organizations for what’s next.
Join today's leading minds in technology at CIO Tomorrow.
Position your company as an innovative, valued partner with the region’s top influential business and tech leaders.
Contact Steve Hewitt,
Vice President of Sales
at Columbus Business First
for detailed sponsorship options.
614.220.5440
shewitt@bizjournals.com
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John has over 40 years of experience in executive management and applied information services leadership. This experience was acquired in the manufacturing, retail, foodservice, healthcare, banking and government industries. John is currently the Managing Director at Clipper Advisory Group, a strategic consultancy focused on technology-based business turnarounds, effective digitization strategy, modern technology organization management and the practical, value-based use of advanced analytics concepts. His most recent retail experiences include business process reengineering for supply chain, ecommerce and advanced analytics in a multi-brand, decentralized global economic model.
Prior to Clipper, John was Senior Vice President and CIO at Ascena Retail Group, a multi-brand retail enterprise that included iconic names Ann Taylor, LOFT, Lane Bryant, Justice, Maurices, Catherine’s, Dressbarn, Lou & Grey and Cacique. In that role, John was responsible for the recasting IT as a modern, eCommerce/analytics-based resource, utilizing these concepts to design and implement advanced omnichannel approaches to selling and supply chain management.
Prior to Ascena, John was CIO at Abercrombie & Fitch, where he was responsible for the global footprint of information and technology services. A large share of his time was spent in pursuit of A&F’s strategy of global expansion, its commitment to ecommerce, global supply chain and creating the practical foundation for omnichannel operations and the support of over 1,100 chain and flagship stores in 19 countries.
Before that, John oversaw Wendy’s International, Inc's over 6,500 stores as Executive Vice President, North American Operations. Leading to this, as EVP and CIO, he led the transformation of store technology services, improved IT performance, tapped opportunities through analytics and delivered product management value to store operations.
Prior to Wendy’s, John was Executive VP & CIO for Caremark Rx (currently a CVS/Caremark business), a sophisticated healthcare managed care pharmaceutical distribution business. Prior to this, he was Group Director of Internal Consulting Services at Whirlpool Corporation where he developed the first global IT strategy and capital investment function for this multinational, broad brand and product line manufacturing company.
Throughout his career, John has utilized his multiple client/industry consulting experience. His roles in major engagements while at Price Waterhouse included data and analytics development at companies like Mortgage Guarantee Insurance Corporation (MGIC), large project management for major manufacturing and service clients like the State of Indiana Unemployment Insurance Department, GE Aircraft Engines and the E.J. Brach candy company. All these engagements established John’s experience in team management, executive leadership and effective technical solution implementation.
John Chairs the Advisory Board for sensor manufacturer SmartSense by Digi, speaks at industry events, and has chaired the CIOTomorrow conference in Columbus, OH. He has an MBA from Marquette University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the Universidad Católica Argentina in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Skip Prichard is an accomplished CEO, international keynote speaker, and bestselling author. Known for transforming organizations, he has a proven track record of driving growth and enhancing corporate culture.
Skip is the CEO of OCLC, a global technology organization. Since joining in 2013, he has brought a fresh vision to OCLC, fueling growth, and acquiring seven other companies. During his tenure OCLC has won nearly 50 Best Place to Work Awards including the #1 spot on Computerworld’s best place to work in IT.
He is ranked among Inc.'s Top 100 Leadership Speakers and has been featured by the BBC, The New York Times, CNN, Harvard Business Review, and others.
He is also the author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller, The Book of Mistakes, now translated into numerous languages.
Dr. Lori Kendall is the Academic Director of the Full-Time MBA program and Senior Lecturer in Management and Human Resources at Fisher College of Business. Before entering academia, Dr. Kendall enjoyed over 30 years as a serial entrepreneur and technology executive for venture-backed and publicly traded firms in B2B software, hardware, and networking.
Dr. Kendall teaches a variety of graduate and undergraduate courses in entrepreneurship, leadership, management consulting, and executive education offerings in strategy and innovation.
Dr. Kendall received her PhD in Management from Case Western University and her MBA from Holy Names University. Her research focuses on entrepreneurial ventures and corporate intrapreneurship, with a primary interest in innovation and scaling practices from the lenses of organizational ambidexterity, managerial cognition, and relational dynamics. Previously, she was a Distinguished Fellow at the Weatherhead Fowler Center, where she led research for the United Nations NGO Goi Peace Foundation to show how to shift from shareholder models toward becoming positive impact companies. Dr. Kendall has been recognized for teaching excellence as a recipient of the Fisher College of Business Pace Setters Daniel Westerbeck Graduate Teaching Excellence Award (2021) and Fisher’s Undergraduate Teaching Award (2024).
John Hrusovsky is a Certified IT Business Strategist with 35 plus years of proven business, government, nonprofit and higher education experience in providing leadership, developing relationships, and organizing and implementing organizational, business process and information technology change through strategy and implementation projects. John has helped organizations to become best in class through increased service delivery, the application of business and industry best practices, improved customer satisfaction, and effective utilization of resources.
John is a thought leader in the IT, Higher Education, Government, and Non-profit industries through his involvement with many clients and organizations and numerous speaking engagements.
Currently, John is the Managing Director for Synexis Consulting. Synexis Consulting provides strategic, advisory and implementation services for higher education, government and non-profit organizations.
Previous to his role at Synexis Consulting, John has had several other job experiences including the following:
• Founder and President of JJH Consulting, LLC. JJH Consulting, formed in 2006, provides leadership, assurance, readiness and optimization services for IT and Systems projects and operations. JJH Consulting has worked with numerous organizations within the Higher Education, Non-Profit and Government industries.
• Program Advisor for The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business Graduate Certification in IT Business Strategy Program, an idea he brought to the university in 2020 and became operational in 2022.
• Founder and National CEO of GroundWork group. GroundWork group is a 501c3 organization that teams with the nonprofit and funding community to help them maximize every charitable dollar donated by leveraging technology in a strategic manner.
• 20 years with Accenture, the recognized leading global IT consulting organization.
John graduated in 1986 from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a double major of MIS and Accounting.
Anthony J. Foust is a seasoned executive leader with nearly three decades of experience in building and maturing organizational capabilities across talent, business process, and technology. Currently serving as the Senior Vice President (SVP) and Global Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Belron® International, Anthony leads the largest centralized IT team, focusing on IT Infrastructure & Service Operations, Application Development & Deployment, Enterprise Platforms & Applications, Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, and IT Procurement. Under his leadership, Belron® has seen significant enhancements in operational efficiencies, cybersecurity posture, and cost reductions.
Prior to this role, Anthony was the SVP and Global Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Belron, where they established a comprehensive cybersecurity and data privacy program, reducing enterprise cyber risk by over 92%. His career also includes pivotal roles at Safelite AutoGlass, United Therapeutics, AICPA, Bob Barker Company, and The Ohio State University.
Anthony's educational background is equally impressive, holding a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Elon University, a Master of Science (MSc) in Information Technology - Security and Privacy from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Information Technology from DeVry University, and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Psychology from The Ohio State University.
Throughout their career, Anthony has been recognized with numerous honors and awards, including the 2024 OrBiE CIO of the Year, Belron Exceptional People Award (BEPA), and the Safelite Spirit Award.
Anthony is committed to people-centric solutions and fostering diversity and inclusion within all levels of a company, making them a valuable asset to any organization.
David Irish is a Partner at The Berkeley Partnership in the United Kingdom. Graduating from Durham University with a degree in Politics and with over 12 years of experience at Berkeley, David has established himself as a versatile and dedicated consultant, known for his ability to tackle complex problems and deliver high-quality solutions for his clients.
David joined The Berkeley Partnership in November 2012 as a Management Consultant and was promoted to Partner in July 2020. Before joining Berkeley, he worked at Accenture as a Manager in the Border and Identity Management Industry team (EALA) from September 2005 to November 2012.
David is an expert consultant who thrives on a wide range of projects. His expertise includes cloud and product operating model, cyber security and operational resilience, IT strategy and operating model. David has worked across various sectors, including financial services, media and entertainment, retail, regulatory and compliance, and supply chain and logistics.
Outside of work, David is passionate about family, friends, food, travel, and sports. He enjoys exploring new cuisines and restaurants, especially in London, and has a deep appreciation for travel, having spent four years in New York. David is also an avid sports fan, enjoying cricket, football, rugby, and playing golf.
Tina Oelschlager is the Associate Vice President, Finance Technology within Corporate Technology at Nationwide. With over 21 years of experience, Tina is a proven leader in aligning strategies and capabilities to deliver business value through people, process, and technology. Throughout her career at Nationwide, she has served in various roles, including Software Quality Assurance Manager, Application Owner, Capability Leader, and Software Engineering Leader. These roles have provided her with a breadth of knowledge and experience from delivery, operation, and capability perspectives.
Tina holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Ohio Dominican University. She is also a certified Scrum Master and AWS Practitioner. Tina is passionate about mentoring and volunteering, contributing her expertise to various initiatives. Tina is actively involved in industry events and peer groups.
Warren Watkins is a seasoned technology leader with over 20 years of experience in various IT roles, including analysis, development, test automation, scrum mastery, and project management. Warren's extensive career spans multiple industries, including retail, insurance, and financial services, with a strong focus on digital transformation and technology innovation.
Warren is known for his hands-on servant leadership approach and entrepreneurial mindset. His top skills include data management, agile project management, and IT management. Warren's ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive technology innovation has been a hallmark of his career.
In his current role at Safelite, Warren leads the Digital Technology & Quality Assurance teams. He is responsible for overseeing technology initiatives that support Safelite's digital presence and operational efficiency. Warren's leadership ensures that Safelite's technology infrastructure is robust, scalable, and aligned with the company's strategic goals.
Prior Experience:
• Cardinal Health: Director, Software Engineering - FUSE (October 2017 - September 2021)
• Fidelity Investments: Director, Quality Assurance - Asset Management, Data Management (January 2016 - October 2017)
• Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company: Manager, Software Quality Assurance - Digital (October 2007 - January 2016)
Outside of work, Warren goes the extra mile to care for people and the community, organizing numerous volunteer activities. Warren and his wife, Megan, reside in Dublin, Ohio. If you can’t find him there, he is probably enjoying time on his boat.
Ben Naylor is a purpose-led leader. As the Vice President of Global Technology Transformation at Safelite and Belron, Ben is dedicated to driving long-term sustainable performance and empowering transformational change through technology and high performing teams.
With over two decades of experience in the technology sector, Ben has held various leadership roles, including Vice President of Run at Safelite and multiple positions at Belron International Ltd.
Ben's career is marked by a commitment to innovation, not just through new technologies but by changing behaviors and ways of working to achieve impactful results. His expertise spans IT infrastructure, cloud architecture, technology strategy and operating models. A proven track record in delivering large scale global IT programs, makes him a versatile and knowledgeable leader in the field.
In addition to his professional achievements, Ben is an accomplished athlete, representing Team Great Britain in both Triathlon and Water Polo. He also has a rich history of volunteer work, including coaching water polo and IT mentoring for various charities.
Ben studied at Basingtoke College of Technology in the UK, his studies took him wider than just IT, becoming a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development in 2008.
Ben’s personal purpose is to support and help people flourish, and he believes that innovation is about changing behavior to drive transformational change. His leadership style is characterized by empathy, collaboration, with a relentless pursuit of excellence.
Nada Aried serves as Safelite’s Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Technology Officer and is a current board member at Floor & Decor.
As Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Technology Officer, Aried leads the Safelite Technology and transformation teams. Before this role, Aried served as the first EVP and CIO for Bath & Body Works, where she was responsible for the company’s information technology organization and infrastructure. With over 30 years of specialty retail experience in leadership roles, her broad base of successful CIO experience, deep understanding of a seamless associate and customer experience, and collaborative leadership skills are paramount to the growth and evolution of Safelite.
Aried holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Toledo, a bachelor’s degree in English from The Ohio State University, and an MBA from Ohio University. Recognized for her accomplishments, she was named a Top 10 CIO in retail in 2023. Her extensive CIO expertise, focus on seamless associate and customer experiences, and collaborative leadership are pivotal as Safelite advances into its next phase of growth.
Deeply committed to community engagement, Aried has served for 12 years as Vice Chairman of the Board for After-School All-Stars Ohio, a nonprofit providing after-school programs for children until 2024. She is also a Top 10% Donor with Pelotonia since 2014.
Aried resides in Upper Arlington, OH, with her husband and their son. In her leisure time, she enjoys hiking, cooking, gardening, and traveling.
A dynamic and highly respected leader in the tech industry, Jeff continues to push the boundaries of innovation, helping organizations navigate the complexities of digital transformation while ensuring they stay competitive and forward-thinking. A trusted advisor to C-suite executives and a passionate champion of digital transformation, Jeff has successfully led complex initiatives that align technology, people, and processes to drive operational excellence and accelerate business growth.
As a Gartner Peer Ambassador, Jeff leverages industry insights and forward-thinking strategies to empower peers and organizational leaders in embracing emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud solutions, and digital transformation. A global leader with expertise across the United States, Europe, India, and the United Kingdom, Jeff has been instrumental in delivering cutting-edge IaaS and software solutions for global Fortune 50 companies, as well as smaller firms, transforming operations and driving digital innovation in sectors such as healthcare, financial services, government, and public safety.
Throughout a career spanning key executive roles, including Chief Information Officer (CIO) at organizations like OCLC, JPMorgan Chase, and Intellitech, Jeff has consistently demonstrated a servant leadership philosophy, successfully leading diverse, high-performance teams while building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, stakeholders, and partners. Known for a collaborative, inclusive approach, Jeff excels at aligning teams around shared goals and ensuring that digital and operational strategies are seamlessly integrated to produce tangible results.
As Chief Innovation and Digital Officer, Chetan is accountable for leading the company’s digital vision and maturing our enterprise digital capabilities and expertise while creating new customer-centric products and services for members and partners.
Chetan is a visionary leader who has repeatedly developed high performing teams to work towards a common vision and purpose. During his 18-year career at Nationwide, Chetan successfully delivered several of the industry’s largest transformations, with more than $1B in investment towards creating single core platforms for Policy, Claims, Customer and Data.
In his tenure as the leader of digital and innovation, Chetan and his teams have advanced Nationwide’s strategy through digitization of customer journeys and the development of a robust innovation portfolio. Leading with a people-first philosophy, Chetan has fostered a culture of experimentation and collaboration, guided by a strong commitment to customer-centricity and focus on technology based innovation. His ability to anticipate and embrace change has accelerated innovation efforts and amplified key business outcomes for Nationwide.
Chetan holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from The Ohio State University, a Master of Science in Information Systems from Miami University, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Muskingum University.
Allison Sutley is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Phoenix Retail. In this role, she leads the technology strategy, formulation, development, and portfolio of delivery supporting the Express and Bonobos brands. She has over 25 years of progressive technology experience in the software and retail industries with proven abilities to deliver results. Allison has been with Phoenix (Express) since early 2021 and is responsible for transforming the digital, commerce and infrastructure strategies.
Prior to her role as CTO, Allison spent more than 13 years leading the development organization at Designer Brands (DSW) and prior to that spent over six years leading quality assurance engineering at a software company.
Channie Mize has more than 25 years of management consulting experience and is the leader for Slalom across Ohio. In 2019, Channie opened the Slalom office in Columbus (OH) and has expanded the organization beyond central Ohio with clients also in Cincinnati and Cleveland. The growth of the team during this team has been significant and their work has important impact across the state. With this growth, Slalom is at the forefront of the GenAI revolution and how organizations, experiences and technologies will need to rapidly scale and adopt these critical technologies.
Channie’s broad expertise lies at the intersection of human and technology. With her role spanning clients globally, her work has traditionally focused on taking complex advanced analytics and enabling them to be leveraged for better outcomes at the point of decision. Firmly believing that technology is meant to serve people, she has sought to ensure that work products are intuitive, understandable, and fit seamlessly into the human process and experience.
Prior to joining Slalom, Channie was a Partner at McKinsey & Co. and Global General Manager for Retail and CPG at Periscope by McKinsey, which is an incubated SaaS startup within the Firm specializing in leveraging advanced analytics to holistically address Pricing, Promotions and Assortment Optimization. Periscope by McKinsey grew considerably during her tenure. Channie also holds tenures at Accenture, IBM, and Office Depot.
Channie is a frequent contributor to publications and a speaker at conferences. She led a panel discussion at the World Retail Congress in Dubai in 2016.
Channie graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. When she’s not working, she enjoys taking classes at OrangeTheory and CrossFit. She and her husband are the proud parents of three daughters who currently attend Columbus Academy.