IT Matters: Recent Episodes
Aaron Bock
Welcome to the IT Matters Podcast, where we discuss the important matters within IT as well as the importance of IT across many different industries and responsibilities.
In this episode of the IT Matters podcast, host Keith Hawkey delves into the complexities of change management with Meridith Fix, the former CIO of Lendlease. Meridith shares her extensive experience and unique perspectives on how organizations can successfully navigate technology changes from a human-centric approach.
Conversation Highlights:
[00:00] Introducing our guest, Meridith
[03:34] Building the foundations for a technology change
[06:32] Navigating organizational changes
[09:46] Cultivating continued learning
[15:35] Understanding communication styles
[24:59] Generative AI and change management
[27:43] Meridith's message to IT leaders
Notable Quotes:
"People resist change out of fear, out of fear and distrust because our brains are wired to keep us safe. We have this sort of natural inclination to lean towards the status quo to prioritize the present." Meridith Fix [04:58]
"One of my favorite quotes of all time is 'Be the change you want to see in the world.' I think that's what I would encourage IT leaders to be, really any leader." Meridith Fix [28:12]
Connect With Meridith Fix
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meridithfix/
The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT. It is produced by Opkalla, a technology advisory firm that helps their clients navigate the confusion in the technology marketplace and choose the solution that is right for their business.
In this episode, Keith is joined by Darrell Stinson, VP of IT & Security at Cohere Health, a software startup in the healthcare space. Darrell and Keith dive into a strategy for building and implementing security compliance plans for startups.
Conversation Highlights:
[00:39] Introducing our guest, Darrell Stinson
[03:37] Darrell's journey with startups
[05:51] Experimenting with open source technology
[07:13] Strategizing in a new ecosystem
[14:08] Evaluating MDR providers
[20:35] Compliance requirements to adopt
[24:23] Utilizing artificial intelligence
Notable Quotes:
"Communication helps build your credibility, helps build your buy in, and people are more inclined to support decisions that you make." Darrell Stinson [16:55]
"(Artificial Intelligence) is gonna give you an outline and then you can go and sprinkle Keith in it, you can go and sprinkle Darrell in it, and fill in the blanks with the things that are appropriate." Darrell Stinson [25:48]
Connect With Darrell Stinson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrell-j-stinson/
The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT. It is produced by Opkalla, a technology advisory firm that helps their clients navigate the confusion in the technology marketplace and choose the solution that is right for their business.
In this episode, Keith is joined by Chintan Patel, Chief Information Officer at National DCP, a supply chain management company serving the franchisees of Dunkin'. Chintan delves into the hurdles and opportunities she encounters in the logistics industry, highlighting the role of technology in overcoming these obstacles.
Conversation Highlights:
[00:41] Introducing our guest, Chintan Patel
[02:16] High level challenges in the logistics industry
[04:02] Technologies making an impact
[07:35] Discussing remote labor opportunities
[13:20] Artificial Intellegence and Operations
[23:18] Lessons learned in digital transformation
[32:06] Understanding your target audience
[35:41] Chintan's message to IT leaders
Notable Quotes:
"At the end of the day, technology is a data journey from A to B, and how efficiently you get there." Chintan Patel [19:59]
"Don't forget to sell for yourself, you've got to be your own marketing champion." Chintan Patel [36:15]
Connect With Chintan Patel
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chintan-patel-atlanta/
The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT. It is produced by Opkalla, a technology advisory firm that helps their clients navigate the confusion in the technology marketplace and choose the solution that is right for their business.
In this episode, Keith and special guest Jesse are joined by Anthony Kent,
VP of Information Technology at Four County EMC, an electric membership cooperative in North Carolina. Anthony shares insights into the technological advancements and challenges faced by electric cooperatives, particularly focusing on the integration of new technologies and AI into their operations.
Conversation Highlights:
[00:17] Introducing our guests, Anthony Kent and Jesse Erickson
[01:17] How Jesse and Anthony met
[02:46] Anthony's career journey and background
[06:32] Explaining what an electric co-op is
[09:18] Technologies impacting Anthony's role
[15:27] AI in the EMC industry
[19:30] Anthony's integration challenges
[24:51] Learning from failures in his role
[29:13] Innovations in the OT space
[33:41] Anthony's message to IT leaders
Notable Quotes:
"You need to have some buffers in place to help protect yourself, your data, and your organization, but AI is here to stay. And it's going to be a bigger part of the future going forward." Anthony Kent [12:23]
"Just keep moving along. We're all human. We all make mistakes. All we can do is just try to be better." Anthony Kent [34:53]
Connect With Anthony Kent
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-k-b3ab0b5/
Off the Wire: https://open.spotify.com/show/4hTvTSA935imZPY41wXS39?si=0c7eb684d6754b51
The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT. It is produced by Opkalla, a technology advisory firm that helps their clients navigate the confusion in the technology marketplace and choose the solution that is right for their business.
William MacMillan serves as the Chief Product Officer at Red Cell Partners, an incubation firm building rapidly-scalable technology-led companies. After nearly two decades of military service, he transitioned into the role of Chief Information Security Officer at the CIA, safeguarding our nation against cyber threats. In this episode, we discuss the process of implementing Zero Trust Architecture in your organization and its importance.
Conversation Highlights:
[00:23] Introducing our guest, William MacMillan
[01:26] MacMillan's experience in the service
[04:02] Transitioning to the CIA
[06:14] CIA in the film industry
[11:38] Origins of Zero Trust Architecture
[18:09] Zero Trust Strategy in the CIA
[26:19] The impacts of Generative AI
[29:00] Introducing Red Cell Partners
[34:45] Advice to young people interested in cyber
Notable Quotes:
"We're starting to see Gen AI harnessed in ways that are going to help the overworked and overwhelmed cyber defenders that need to operate a lot more efficiently." William MacMillan [28:05]
"I can't emphasize enough, I don't know why people wouldn't want to work in cybersecurity. It's where the action is." William MacMillan [35:27]
Resources Mentioned:
Spycraft Entertainment: https://spycraftentertainment.com/
Jerry O'Shea
John Sipher
Kari Amelung
Phil Reilly
Connect With William MacMillan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-macmillan-b835714/
The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT. It is produced by Opkalla, a technology advisory firm that helps their clients navigate the confusion in the technology marketplace and choose the solution that is right for their business.
Brennan Manion serves as a Senior Account Executive at Red Canary, a Managed Detection Response service providing 24/7/365 protection for their customers. Through Red Canary's innovative approach, which integrates AI and human expertise, organizations can effectively mitigate cyber threats while minimizing false positives, providing peace of mind in an ever-evolving threat landscape. In this episode, we discuss the significance of MDR and the intricate differences between EDR, MDR, and XDR.
Conversation Highlights:
[01:39] Introducing our guest, Brennan Manion
[07:12] Defining MDR
[12:30] Discussing the origin of Red Canary
[13:32] Adopting a cloud-first model
[15:39] False positives in MDR
[18:09] Comparing EDR, MDR, and XDR
[21:16] Partnering with Red Canary
[24:25] Leveraging AI in MDR services
[27:10] Brennan's message to IT leaders
Notable Quotes:
"The number one core value at Red Canary is we do what's right for the customer." Brennan Manion [15:19]
"If you feel strong about something, push the button. You'd be surprised at the amount of greatness that you can bring the world." Brennan Manion [28:30]
Connect With Brennan Manion
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brennan-manion-5a916639/
The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT. It is produced by Opkalla, a technology advisory firm that helps their clients navigate the confusion in the technology marketplace and choose the solution that is right for their business.
Todd Capriotti serves as the Chief Information Officer of Wahiawa General Hospital, a community-owned, non-profit hospital serving Central Oahu and Oahu's North Shore. Hand-picked as the first-ever CIO for Wahiawa, Todd pioneered a comprehensive transformation strategy, reversing a 5+ year negative trend of delivery outages and service interruptions. In this episode, we discuss the unique challenges of revamping IT infrastructure and cybersecurity protocols in the healthcare industry.
Conversation Highlights:
[01:02] Introducing our guest, Todd Capriotti
[06:08] Solution providers in Hawaii
[09:15] Accepting the CIO role at Wahiawa
[10:36] Todd's biggest struggles in the role
[16:32] Aligning with the other C-Suite leaders
[19:48] Stretching the IT budget in a non-profit
[23:07] Protecting data in the healthcare system
[26:42] Discussing public cloud service
[30:12] Todd's message to IT leaders
Notable Quotes:
"We have to fix the infrastructure before we can worry about fixing security." Todd Capriotti [14:24]
"It's not about being right. It's about getting it done correctly." Todd Capriotti [32:23]
Connect With Todd Capriotti
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-capriotti/
The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT. It is produced by Opkalla, a technology advisory firm that helps their clients navigate the confusion in the technology marketplace and choose the solution that is right for their business.
Kristopher Moniz serves as the National Data & Analytics Lead for Centric Consulting, an international management consulting firm with unmatched expertise in business transformation, AI strategy, cyber risk management, technology implementation and adoption. Kristopher's focus is helping his clients tackle their Data & Analytics challenges, specifically in the insurance industry, where he has concentrated the last fifteen years of his career. Today we discuss the importance of a data strategy in your organization and the steps to building one.
Conversation Highlights:
[00:40] Microsoft Copilot updates
[02:14] Introducing our guest, Kristopher Moniz
[04:23] Explaining data strategy
[09:49] Building an organizational data strategy
[13:36] Utilizing a business plan
[23:04] Data and AI
[25:27] Security risks with LLMs
[30:19] Compliance laws in the modern landscape
[34:39] Cloud first approach
[39:19] Emerging tech in data and analytics
[42:12] Kristopher's message to IT leaders
Notable Quotes:
"You can't have AI without data." Aaron Bock [23:33]
"Every bit of data has value, you just don't know exactly what that value is yet." Kristopher Moniz [43:16]
Connect With Kristopher Moniz
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristophermoniz/
The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT. It is produced by Opkalla, a technology advisory firm that helps their clients navigate the confusion in the technology marketplace and choose the solution that is right for their business.
Matt Huffman serves as the Information Technology Manager for Reinders, Inc, one of the Midwest’s largest full-service distributors of products to the commercial green industry. Matt has both administrated cybersecurity audits during his tenure at Wipfli and navigated them on the customer side. Through the years of seeing both ends, he developed a simple methodology to successfully save time and pass audits when they come around. Today we discuss those tips and tricks to help the IT leader manage what is traditionally a painful process.
Conversation Highlights:
[01:47] Introducing our guest, Matt Huffman
[04:11] How Matt came about his role
[08:38] What makes a good auditor
[11:28] Audit organization strategy
[13:38] Changes within audit processes across decades
[15:14] Challenges in preparing for audits
[23:49] Writing policies with ChatGPT
[30:39] IT career paths for students
[37:10] Matt's thoughts surrounding future tech
[39:55] Matt's message to IT leaders
Notable Quotes:
"You shouldn't have to prepare if you're organized." Aaron Bock [11:25]
"Know your value. No one's gonna do it for you." Matt Huffman [40:35]
Connect With Matt Huffman
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-huffman-47baba18/
The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT. It is produced by Opkalla, a technology advisory firm that helps their clients navigate the confusion in the technology marketplace and choose the solution that is right for their business.
On this episode of the IT Matters Podcast, Keith Hawkey and Becca Black discuss the nuances of Technology Advisory. Becca reflects on her journey into the IT world, the significance of authentic relationships, and the importance of effective communication. Tune in for a candid discussion on building connections and achieving success in the IT realm.
Conversation Highlights:
[00:35] Introducing our guest, Becca Black
[02:07] Becca's path to the tech world
[05:55] Transitioning to Opkalla
[08:54] Differences between Technology Advisors and Sales Reps
[12:27] A Day-in-the-Life of a TA
[14:08] Solving problems with our customers
[17:48] Building positive relationships
[21:50] Understanding buying timelines
[25:45] Implementation of solutions
[27:44] Becca's message to IT leaders
Notable Quotes:
"As technology advisors, we try to focus on seeing the world through the end users eyes and understanding the problem from their scope because we are not focused on a particular technology necessarily." Keith Hawkey [11:34]
"It's just incredible how an organization has a heartbeat in the way it operates." Becca Black [27:11]
Connect With Becca Black
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beccaarobertson/
The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT.
Denver Hunter serves as the Director of Information Technology at PenServ Plan Services, a full-service, third-party administrator offering retirement plan recordkeeping and administration services. In addition to his role leading their IT team, he shares perspectives on technology trends, writing for the Forbes Technology Council. Today we discuss practical applications of AI to automate tasks for the technology leader and the possibilities for help desks. We also dive into why hyperconverged technology makes sense in a cloud-centric world.
Conversation Highlights:
[02:14] Introducing our guest, Denver Hunter
[04:45] AI and banking
[09:32] Safe AI usage
[12:04] Introducing Microsoft Copilot
[15:36] Leveraging AI features
[21:49] Hunter's Forbes article
[22:55] Wins with hyperconverged technology
[29:49] Measuring project ROI
[32:10] Hunter's message to the world
Notable Quotes:
"My mindset with AI is that this hype is gonna cool a little bit and there's still going to be some amazing things to come out of it." Denver Hunter [8:14]
"The grass is greener on the other side, but the water bill is higher." Denver Hunter [33:33]
Connect With Denver Hunter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-anderson-74894a5a/
Hunter's Small Town Blog: https://smalltownco.com/
The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT.
James Anderson is a Senior News Editor for digital news outlet Channel Futures, which hosts the largest IT Partner Event in North America, Channel Partners. In this episode we dive into the beginnings of the Technology Services Distributer (TSD) Industry and how discontent resellers and customers paved the way for the modern Technology Advisor role.
Conversation Highlights:
[01:11] Introducing our guest, James Anderson
[04:52] The history of TSDs
[08:49] Leveraging onboarding tools
[09:48] Biggest players in the TSD world
[12:35] The role of the Technology Advisor
[15:26] Discussing data aggregation
[17:52] Benefits of the Technology Advisor
[23:37] Changing priorities within organizations
[26:56] Discussing Channel Futures
[28:36] Camaraderie in the cybersecurity world
[31:10] Anderson's message to the world
Notable Quotes:
"There is this phase, trusted advisor, that you will hear in our industry, and who doesn't want a trusted advisor, right?" James Anderson [17:53]
"You're trying to be an ally, and you're trying to not make it about the sale, not make it about rushing it, not any quarterly quotas, it's just about being present and vulnerable for your customers." James Anderson [32:02]
Connect With James Anderson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-anderson-74894a5a/
X: @JamesAndersonCP
The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT.
Matthew Martin is a seasoned cybersecurity leader with over a decade of experience in the financial services industry. Matthew is currently focused on advising and consulting as a Fractional CISO. Most recently, he was Deputy CISO at LPL Financial. He holds advisory positions on boards of Ironscales, Trustwise, Stealth and Surge Ventures. Today we discuss AI hallucinations and the practical steps any organization could take before going down the path of AI adoption.
Conversation Highlights:
[01:04] Discussing AI article
[03:28] Introducing our guest, Matthew Martin
[03:58] Martin's introduction to security
[05:11] Why Martin chose security
[07:09] How the tech landscape has changed
[09:33] Discussing Generative AI
[11:55] The sunk cost fallacy and AI
[13:47] Generative AI use cases
[16:49] Insuring responsible use of AI
[18:25] Defining hallucinations
[20:26] Risk averse AI technology
[25:52] AI advice for students
[28:21] Discussing how Gen AI works
[35:13] Martin's message to the world
Notable Quotes:
"Don't chase the hype cycle, it all changes so fast." Matthew Martin [27:35]
"Figure out what you want to do, what you want to be, and don't stop until you get it." Matthew Martin [35:53]
Connect With Matthew Martin
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmartin/
The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT.
Today we are joined by Ryan Lee, who is the newly appointed Director of IT at Allegiance Group. He has an extensive background in M&A and is a wealth of knowledge for any IT leader challenged with integrating disperse technologies and IT teams. In this episode, we discuss strategies and tips to streamline this process and the power of the words “Yes ... but” as it relates to the relationship with business leaders.
Conversation Highlights:
[00:16] Introducing our guest, Ryan Lee
[02:00] Discussing learning platforms
[02:38] Favorite childhood video games
[07:22] Discussing Lee's funniest day in IT
[10:44] Lee's exposure to M&A
[19:27] Navigating difficult conversations
[23:26] Discussing the Language of Business
[24:24] Approaching a new team
[25:55] Impactful new technologies
[30:41] Adopting the "Yes ... and" mindset
[33:09] The cycle of cloud adoption
[38:44] Lee's message to the IT community
[44:03] How to connect with Lee
Notable Quotes:
"'Yes, but' makes a huge difference when you're trying to build relationships and when you're trying to have these discussions." Ryan Lee [17:24]
"Let's have a little bit of empathy for what it is that others are good at, and not expect them to know everything there is to know about IT." Ryan Lee [42:26]
Connect With Ryan Lee
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-lee-it-leader/
The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT.
Matthew B. Parks, Sr., is the VP of IT and Security for The Pace Center for Girls and has been involved in IT since 1995. In this episode, we discuss old technologies as well as mindsets and how they trap the modern IT leader into doing things the same way in an evolving environment. Matthew is bullish on flip phones and a diverse workforce, which he thinks are both going to play important roles in future technology.
Conversation Highlights:
[00:26] Introducing our guest, Matthew B. Parks, Sr.
[04:16] Discussing the technology of the 90's
[05:37] Parks' first computer build
[08:07] Favorite childhood video games
[10:49] Exciting personal tech on the horizon
[16:01] Discussing Parks' worst day in IT
[19:19] Recruiting a diverse IT force
[25:14] Creating well rounded leaders in IT
[37:56] Refining discussions with vendors
[40:08] What to avoid in the IT space
[43:00] How to connect with Parks
[44:42] Closing thoughts
Notable Quotes:
"I always get asked, 'What would you tell your younger self?' Networking and relationships, do it earlier." Matthew B. Parks, Sr. [27:14]
"The motto that I live by personally and professionally is 'If you stay ready, you don't have to get ready'." Matthew B. Parks, Sr. [41:16]
"One thing we need to do is we need to redefine STEM, and we need to embrace vocation." Matthew B. Parks, Sr. [44:57]
Connect With Matthew Parks
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-b-parks-sr-b507a813/
Twitter: MatthewBParksSr
The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT.
Operational technology cybersecurity is an emerging industry due to the life-threatening consequences of compromised systems. The biggest question operations managers need to ask themselves is: What does a bad day look like, and how can I detect it coming? On today's podcast, we highlight Dragos and cutting-edge solutions to mitigate the risk of operational technology compromise.
Conversation Highlights:
[01:15] Discussing ChatGPT article
[02:47] Introducing our guest, Jason Christopher
[03:47] Differences in IT and OT
[05:57] The largest OT breach to date
[09:19] How OT security systems have evolved over the last 10 years
[11:20] The catalyst for the adoption of another layer of OT security
[14:13] How would Dragos advise a new CEO concerned about OT security
[19:35] Which industry will be the next one to adopt this technology
[24:04] Where Dragos has thwarted attacks
[26:28] How cloud enters the OT conversation
[27:40] Consulting with Dragos
[30:22] Introducing IIOT
[31:52] IOT within the food industry
[33:33] Where the industry is going
[36:11] Government regulations in OT security
[38:02] Jason's message to the world
[39:01] Getting in touch with Dragos
[40:53] Closing thoughts
Notable Quotes:
"So prevention is ideal; detection is a must. I'd further qualify detection without response is probably of little value, right?" Jason Christopher [13:24]
"If it looks and feels like a maintenance event, when would you ever know it's a cyber event?" Jason Christopher [28:59]
Mentioned Links:
ChatGPT Article- https://www.reuters.com/technology/chatgpt-maker-openai-says-it-is-doubling-down-preventing-ai-going-rogue-2023-07-05/
Dragos- https://www.dragos.com/
DISC Registration- https://hub.dragos.com/disc-2023
Connect With Jason Christopher
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdchristopher/
The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT.
Some say cloud investments are not meeting their promised ROI potential. Today our guest Anthony Darden speaks about how to sell the vision of moving to the cloud to a board by formulating the proposals as initiatives other departments need to perform better. We also discuss how AI is affecting application development teams and what young college students should consider post-graduation as AI continues to impact the job market.
Conversation Highlights:
[00:07] Intro
[00:33] Discussing the Microsoft lawsuit in Europe
[03:50] Introducing our guest, Anthony Darden
[04:37] How to communicate the value of the cloud
[07:39] Whether the pendulum will swing back to the traditional model
[14:06] Delivering a vision of digital transformation
[19:41] Comparing cloud conversations to infrastructure conversations
[24:30] How AI is impacting IT workflows
[27:47] Advice for students interested in tech
[30:05] A new role within the IT space
[34:19] The biggest (!) debate in the history of our podcast
[36:36] Thoughts on AI-generated resumes
[40:42] Anthony's message to the world
[42:24] Closing thoughts
Notable Quotes:
"There's one phrase that I think resonates for this conversation. It's that every company is a technology company now. That being said, that means you're touching every corner of your organization." Anthony Darden [18:44]
"Look around, everything's changing. So you either adapt and adopt or you kind of age out. And that's kind of what we're seeing." Aaron Bock [31:39]
"Listen to your coworkers, be empathetic. Not everything requires a snarky reaction in return. I just think we need to get back to that. And I think we would all be better off both personally and professionally." Anthony Darden [42:08]
Join the conversation with John Rouda as he shares his thoughts on bringing AI and ChatGPT into the workplace and schools. We also cover the importance of learning the basics before using AI, how John approaches adopting other new technologies in his role managing an IT department, the impact of streaming services on content ownership and more.
John is VP of IT at INSP, LLC. He comes with over 20 years' experience in IT leadership and is an expert in software engineering, networking, and cyber security. He has honed his skills in all aspects of project life cycles, including agile methodologies. Aside from leadership positions at some of the most deemed IT companies, John has also served as an IT professor at York Technical College and an adjunct professor at Winthrop University. In his spare time, John hosts his own podcast - A Geek Leader.
Conversation Highlights:
[00:07] Intro
[02:41] A bit about our guest, John Rouda
[03:14] What it’s like adopting new technology in an old industry
[07:42] What computer science majors are learning today
[11:59] The importance of real-life experience in college education
[16:18] Current changes in the media industry
[21:08] The future of AI and how it will impact the media industry
[26:16] John’s experience with GPT and false narratives
[30:03] AI prompt engineering course on LinkedIn learning
[34:08] Blocking Twitter and putting a six month hold on it
[36:27] John’s message to the whole world
[37:56] Closing thoughts
Notable Quotes
- “Back when I was in college, we had to learn operating systems. You had to learn compilers. You picked a language or two that you studied courses on and that's what you went through. Now there are different areas that you can go to. There are a lot of different options within a Computer Science degree.” John Rouda [08:40]
- If I'm hiring someone out of college, I don't want to see that they just took classes. I want to see that they were involved and that they have a portfolio of some sort, or some kind of history of work, whether it's an internship, whether it's being able to do these projects.” John Rouda [12:28]
- “Five years ago, we were saying everyone is cutting the cord, but I actually think it's kind of coming back where people are starting to go back to the cable companies because there are too many streaming services.” Aaron Bock [19:22]
Connect With John Rouda
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnrouda/
The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT.
Advancing in the field of information technology requires a combination of technical knowledge, problem-solving skills and an understanding of the future of technology. IT professionals must stay up-to-date on new technologies and trends as the world rapidly evolves. Join the conversation with Scott Finkhouse as he shares more about how he got to be a CIO. We also discuss how you can advance in IT and some of the challenges you'll likely face along the way - including one of the bigger challenges, balancing budget and risk.
Scott is the Vice President and Chief Information Officer at NN, Inc. He joined NN in 2017 and was appointed Vice President and Chief Information Officer in 2021. Prior to joining NN, he held several IT positions with Tier 1 automotive companies, leading technologies, resources, information systems deployment, and development divisions for high-growth organizations. Scott holds a Bachelor of Science in Management and Computer Information Systems from Ferris State University and has earned his Chief Information Security Officer certification.
Conversation Highlights:[00:01] Intro and a bit about our guest, Scott Finkhouse
[01:37] Scott’s personal and professional backstory
[08:14] How Scott navigated the difficult task of selecting a college course
[13:57] The path that a very technical person should follow in studies and leadership
[16:22] Why technical wizards should be involved in every sector of the business
[20:03] Scott’s strategies of balancing risks and investing in manufacturing
[27:50] Tips IT leaders can implement to have their ideas listened to by executives
[31:34] The power of honesty in your IT job
[37:00] Trends in IT for manufacturing that Scott has started paying attention to
[42:30] The one message about the future of technology that Scott will give
[45:56] How to reach out and connect with Scott
[46:38] Ending the show
Notable Quotes
- Most of the people that really excel, if they're technically driven, will become level three Cisco engineers- high-level windows engineers. Scott Finkhouse [14:47]
- Technical wizards should be involved in all stages and levels of a business because that's how they will learn cross-functional aspects of a business. Aaron Bock [16:22]
- At its core, business is all about relationships. Aaron Bock [18:56]
- No matter what we do, there is always a risk. We only need to have the right balance between risk and investments. Scott Finkhouse [25:18]
- It’s important, to be honest. It won’t help you and will only make your job harder if you don't. Aaron Bock [31:37]
- Technology was made to help us do our jobs better, not do our jobs for us and not do life for us. Aaron Bock [45:02]
Connect With Scott FinkhouseLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottfinkhouse/
Email: scott.finkhouse@nn.com
In preparing our teams for the next step in digital transformation, how do we map the best path? Without understanding each person’s needs and challenges, we cannot use technology effectively to assist them and move our business forward. Throwing technology at problems without understanding team needs is a Recipe For Disaster. On the flip side of that, learning how to build an effective collaboration between your wider business and IT is the key to staying ahead in digital transformation.
In this conversation with Kevin Hughes, he shares about the “digital transformation” buzzword and strategies to get IT and your business working together more effectively. Kevin is an innovative and decisive Vice President of IT Operations at Sharonview Federal Credit Union with extensive progressive experience directing and supervising IT operations. In his role, he leads a high-performing team of driven IT professionals committed to giving internal and external customers an efficient, secure, and engaging digital experience.
Conversation Highlight;
[00:01] Intro and a bit about our guest, Kevin Hughes
[01:43] Kevin's career background and how he got to where he is today
[04:09] Lessons Kevin has learned working in different roles, including at Sharonview
[07:23] What makes a credit union unique from a technology perspective
[09:37] What inspired Kevin to transition into technology and leadership roles
[11:50] How to nudge people into their passion and stretch them outside the backroom roles
[17:51] Kevin's success stories interfacing technology with different departments
[20:52] What happens when the business and IT don’t work together effectively
[22:10] Shadow IT, what it is, and why it doesn’t work
[24:07] Using communication to simplify things between business and IT
[26:03] Digital transformation - not just a buzzword, what it means, and how to apply it
[29:16] Impactful digital transformations that Kevin has led recently
[33:25] Trends in IT you need to look out for in the credit unions and rural banks space
[36:55] Blockchain technology and how it’s expected to affect financial institutions
[38:54] Kevin's advice on how to integrate technology into your business
[39:51] How to reach out and connect with Kevin
[40:37] Ending the show
Notable Quotes * People don't care about what you know until they know you care; it's caring about your people and making sure you're growing them as well. Kevin Hughes [09:57] * If a business is not getting involvement from IT in getting the technology it needs, it’s going to find it on its own. Kevin Hughes [20:49] * If you want to oversimplify things, enhance communication between business and IT. Kevin Hughes [24:09] * Digital transformation is driving efficiency; it’s driving innovation to improve efficiency and make it sustainable using technology. Kevin Hughes [26:15] * The only way you can drive efficiency is by understanding what the business is; you cannot improve what you don't know. Kevin Hughes [26:36] * Unless you have conversations with people, unless you understand what their needs and challenges are, you cannot use technology to assist them. It will be a disaster to just throw technology at problems. Kevin Hughes [39:16]
Connect With Kevin HughesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-hughes-824764ba
The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT.
In this episode of IT Matters, host Aaron Bock interviews Jeremy Campbell, VP of Technology at Velogica US, a SCOR Global Life Americas company.
Conversation Highlights:
- The challenges of working in IT at a local county government (4:57)
- How Jeremy went from programming as a young boy to a VP of Technology (9:16)
- Jeremy’s advice for young people who want to pursue a career in IT (14:35)
- What SCOR Global Life Americas does and how reinsurance works (17:00)
- How Jeremy prioritized the process of digital transformation at SCOR (22:03)
- Challenges that the complex regulatory environment of reinsurance creates for IT innovation (25:02)
- Why SCOR decided to migrate to the cloud in 2014 (27:43)
- How the cloud has evolved over the past 8 years (32:48)
- What technology trend Jeremy is most excited to follow over the next 5-10 years (36:16)
- The #1 piece of advice Jeremy would give to millions of people, in his technology state of the union address (39:20)
About Jeremy Campbell:
The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT.
In this episode of IT Matters, host Aaron Bock interviews Jim Marascio, Principal & Chief Executive Officer of Equals 11.
Conversation Highlights:
- How attending a coding camp in fourth grade led Jim to a career in IT (0:43)
- What the organizational structure of a company reveals about their IT department (05:31)
- Jim explains what Equals 11 is and how they help businesses with CRM (8:45)
- What CRM means to a company and how it will evolve in the marketplace (13:21)
- Why Jim chose to work with Salesforce and how the product works for businesses (16:01)Trends and predictions with Salesforce (23:50)
- Challenges that businesses face with implementing Salesforce and misusing the software (30:22)
- How Salesforce is leveraging AI (36:52)
- The #1 piece of advice Jim would give to millions of people, in his technology state of the union address (42:32)
Resources Mentioned:
- 24:07 – Salesforce Report
- Quality data proves critical to business performance – Experian Data Quality
About Jim Marascio:
Jim Marascio is the Principal and CEO at Equals 11, a certified Salesforce Consulting Partner. Prior to launching Equals 11, Jim served as the Chief Delivery Officer for Accelerance, a global software advisory and consulting firm, Chief Technology Officer at both DART Innovation, a retail technology company, and 11Giraffes, a globally deployed SaaS company in the digital signage space, and CIO at Portrait Innovations, a national retailer.
Jim’s career has been built around the software engineering space, particularly in SaaS platforms generating and processing large volumes of data, as well as systems integration, and global software outsourcing. He loves to build software products, and to help other companies to build and manage software engineering teams
In his free time, Jim loves to travel and explore. He spends a lot of time volunteering on advisory and charity boards. He is an avid sports fan, especially of college football and NHL hockey.
The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT.
In this episode of IT Matters, host Aaron Bock interviews Will Friedrich, Director of Strategy and Consulting at Experis.
Conversation Highlights:
- Will explains how he began working with the cloud and how the cloud has evolved over the past two decades (4:08)
- Why companies should consider adopting the cloud (8:15)
- The general use cases for the cloud (13:08)
- What the cloud actually is, and how business leaders should look at it (16:43)
- How cloud fin ops increases cross-functional efficiency within an organization (18:53)
- The challenges of scaling appropriate cloud spend to an organization (25:19)
- Who is usually championing cloud fin ops in an organization and how that role is evolving (30:12)
- Advice for smaller companies looking to adapt the cloud (33:15)
- Will’s prediction for the landscape of cloud competition in the next 5-10 years (37:23)
- The #1 piece of advice Will would give to millions of young people starting their career in IT, in his technology state of the union address (47:44)
Resources Mentioned:
- FinOps Foundation
About Will Friedrich:Will Friedrich is the VP of IT Solutions with Experis, a global leader in IT professional resourcing and managed services. For the past 17 years, he has forged a career in technology, serving and leading in various PMO functions as well as product marketing, software portfolio delivery, IT infrastructure, cloud, and tech business management consulting functions. Will is a husband, proud father of two fantastic kids, and loves golfing, surfing, and college football Saturdays.
**In this episode, host Aaron Bock interviews Mike Privette, CISO (Chief Information Security Officer) of mobility management platform Passport.
Conversation Highlights:**
- How Mike got into security on accident (4:25)
- What Mike recommends to people wanting to shift their career into security, and why thoughts on degrees are changing (7:57)
- Mike's thoughts on going deep vs. broad on a topic (10:38)
- Mike's thoughts on the responsibility an organization holds in training their workforce (11:05)
- What it really means to be a CISO, and how Mike's experiences have differed across being in security at tech firm and in the financial sector (12:41)
- Challenges with security being a necessary business component but not having an ROI (17:06)
- Misconceptions people have related to IT and security, and why open communication across business departments is so important (21:13)
- What security basics need to be covered to make sure majority of risks are mitigated (24:47)
- What to do first in instances where you walk into an organization as CISO and everything is a vulnerable mess (hint: it begins with a general maturity assessment and incident response plan) (27:27)
- The value in iterating and assessing an organization's security posture to understand capabilities and gaps (31:05)
- The security mantra you should always say in a job interview (35:31)
- Upcoming IoT technology trends and vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure and public works that inspire them (35:49)
- Supply chain security as another big trend (39:18)
- Urging companies to use SaaS instead of running software themselves (41:35)
- How impending recession/depression influences cyber attacks (44:44)
- How impending recession/depression influences funding and investor decisions (45:21)
- The #1 piece of advice Mike would give to millions of people in a technology state of the union address (47:02)
Publications and Technologies Mentioned:
- Security, Funded Newsletter of Return on Security, written by Mike himself
**In this episode, host Aaron Bock interviews Sean Farrell, CEO of financial services technology company QDS.
Conversation Highlights:**
- The cause for QDS's technology evolution (5:24)
- Considering IT in the organization vs. as part of the solutions provided (8:46)
- Communicating effectively internally as a team set up across 12 states and growing (11:32)
- Cool ways people connected through technology during COVID (13:18)
- Where local community banks and credit unions are struggling with technology (16:28)
- Who is getting most involved in IT decisions from the financial services side, and where QDS is seeing the most objections (18:28)
- What differentiates the technologically advanced financial services organizations (20:39)
- The difference between ITMs and ATMs (23:25)
- Why managed services is one of the trends financial services organizations need to be paying attention to (24:19)
- And why Bitcoin, cryptocurrency and blockchain are other trends to keep up with (26:42)
- Predicting where QDS will be in 5 years, how that will be different than today, and what it means to have a shortening technology cycle (29:06)
- How prioritizing technology is even more important with COVID-induced supply chain issues (32:13)
- Sean's favorite technology that he uses day to day (33:15)
- Why making sure people understand "why" is Sean's overall best piece of advice related to technology (34:43)
Technologies Mentioned:
- Vidyard - video messaging to boost remote sales
- BombBomb - similar to Vidyard
- Bonusly - solution for internal company rewards programs
About QDSFounded in 1983, QDS is proud to be a family-owned cash automation company that specializes in helping financial Institutions and retailers use the latest technology to automate cash handling. Their decades of experience and variety of products allow them to serve their customers by providing the best solutions to solve their specific needs. They are committed to helping their banking and credit union clients identify and deliver their Branch of the Future strategy. Their goal is to demonstrate how technology can impact their bottom line and deliver a better customer experience. QDS works with retail clients to create efficient cash handling processes and reduce the risk of theft with automation tools and technology.
In this episode, host Aaron Bock interviews Tanner Fritz, cofounder and VP of Customer Success at accounting firm software company Anduin.AI.
Conversation Highlights:
- Challenges in the accounting and professional services industry from a technology perspective. (3:09)
- What he sees varying decision makers at accounting and professional services firms view IT as. (6:28)
- One of the biggest myths about what IT does in the accounting world. (10:17)
- Whether IT is seen as a subset of technology, and how Tanner defines IT, both professionally and personally. (13:42)
- How to better position IT as an investment. (16:27)
- IT trends people need to start paying attention to, as well as technology game changers for Anduin. (22:02)
- A technology many accounting firms aren't using now, but should within the next five years. (28:54)
- Advice for someone getting into IT. (32:52)
- Overall best piece of advice related to technology. (36:42)
Technologies Mentioned:
- Loom - video messaging for work
- Zoom Bots for Transcribing - like Otter
- Reclaim - smart time blocking for your calendar
- Superhuman - for increased email efficiency
About Tanner Fritz:Tanner is cofounder and VP of Customer Success at Anduin. A former college basketball player, Tanner's career in tech and product management began in Charlotte — first in product leadership roles at Mood Media and Tykoon, leading to the Chief Technology Officer role at Speed Digital (motorsports-focused platform). Tanner then became Chief Technology Officer of Sona MedSpa, a private equity–backed network of dermatology practices, where he oversaw digital transformation and tech-enabled growth. Outside of work, Tanner enjoys playing basketball, fly fishing, volunteering at his church, and watching his three kids grow up with his wife Jenny.
About Anduin.AI:AI for an EASIER | FASTER | SMARTER work-to-cash cycle.Anduin helps accounting firms fix their billing process, speed up their cash flow, and delight their clients (without replacing their PM system). Their Intelligence-Based Billing™ solution automates and improves time-consuming back-office finance processes such as invoice prep, collections, and payments, and liberates high-value partners and staff to focus on delivering value to clients. Intelligence-Based Billing™ also integrates data from across firm systems to centralize best-practices and deliver predictive insights to firm leaders. Benefits to clients include a superior, delightful, and easy billing and payment experience. Benefits to firms include saving partners time and shedding administrative headaches, reducing firm costs and fees for finance leaders, and gaining insights and controls for executive leaders to better protect their firm's financial health.