Maryfran Johnson was named Editor in Chief of CIO magazine and events in January 2009. A longtime journalist and editor, she brings more than 20 years of experience covering IT leadership, technology and business trends to her role, along with an extensive network of CIO contacts from previous leadership positions at Computerworld and CIO Decisions magazine.

The Dallas Regional Chamber is proud to partner with CIO Magazine for CIO Perspectives, a one-day IT executive event packed with informative sessions and professional networking opportunities.  Maryfran will moderate the February 16^th event in Dallas, and we were fortunate enough to catch up with her to ask a couple questions about the latest buzz.

• The CIO Perspectives events are taking place in 9 U.S. cities in 2012. Why did you choose Dallas as your first stop?
  We’ve been starting our CIO Perspectives series out in Dallas since 2009 and it somehow sets the tone for the rest of the year.  The CIOs and the IT leader community here in Dallas is so friendly and welcoming, it’s always an incredibly upbeat, enjoyable day for us all. “We’re all like family here,” is how one CIO put it at our Dallas event last year, and everybody in the room nodded in agreement.

• What is at the top of every CIO’s mind right now?
  In my experience, CIOs are always thinking about three things: innovation, leadership and business strategy. Everything they do somehow connects to those big-picture topics, especially since the way companies use IT today can determine their success in the future.  The big tech trends that are having the greatest impact on businesses today – and therefore very ‘top of mind’ for CIOs – include “cloud” computing (what everyone used to call outsourcing), mobility, social media, consumer devices (smartphones and tablets, etc.) in the workplace,  and data security/customer privacy protections.

• What do you think the technology interface will look like in five years?
  Five years is like five lifetimes in the IT industry, so it’s awfully hard to predict anything at all. But I think we’re seeing the first wave of intuitive, human-friendly interface designs showing up on smartphones and tablet computers now. In five years, I’d guess that voice- and facial-recognition technologies will be much more advanced than today, which could make the whole interaction with our technologies so much easier. Personally, I’d love to see someone invent the “Replicator” from the TV series Star Trek Enterprise. Remember how the Captain could just saunter up to a hole in the wall and order “Earl Grey tea, hot?” And pffft, it would appear. Now there’s a technology interface to love!

•  Just last week SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act) were kicked into oblivion.  What is your take on the proposed bills?Oblivion can be short-lived in politics, and these bills could always resurface.  I think the lack of due process and government censorship aspects in both Acts had great potential for harm, and the massive, unprecedented online protests prompted a lot of second thoughts – even among supporters.  No law-abiding citizen is in favor of online piracy or theft of intellectual property, of course, but SOPA and PIPA were clearly not the right answer.

• What are CIOs worried about in the social-media world?
  Data security and privacy protections around customer information and intellectual property would be the No. 1 concern, followed quickly by the back-end integration complications that arise with some of these social technologies. What looks simple to us as consumers and users can be quite a tangled mess to deal with behind the scenes.  Most midsized to large companies have incredibly complex IT infrastructures and legacy systems (remember mainframes? 90% of corporate data still lives there) that were never built to manage all this “unstructured” data from multiple sources. But I have every confidence that CIOs will figure it all out – they always do!

Please join the Dallas Regional Chamber and CIO Magazine on Thursday, February 16^th for CIO Perspectives.  Event information can be found at www.cioperspectives.com/2012Dallas.  Qualified DRC members can register at www.cioperspectives.com/DallasChamber  for complimentary tickets.

Roundtable

On Friday, December 2nd, the Dallas Regional Chamber and the Innovation & Technology Council hosted its 11^th Annual State of Technology Luncheon & Innovation Showcase at the Irving Convention Center, featuring keynote speaker Paul Mascarenas, Chief Technical Officer and Vice President of Ford Research & Innovation at Ford Motor Company.

Prior to the luncheon, Mascarenas hosted a private roundtable discussion with member CIO, CTO’s and VIP’s for a peer-to-peer discussion about the role of innovation in their industries and how to better leverage new technology to advance their organizations.

Innovation Showcase

Also prior to the luncheon was an exhibit hall featuring more than 50 booths showcasing innovative products and services which included an electric vehicle, the newest mobile gadgets, and even a company that created art from brain waves! The North Texas RCIC hosted 20 local companies for our Entrepreneurial Aisle!

During the luncheon, Mascarenas discussed how Ford Motor Company has utilized technology and innovation to further excel in the global marketplace and the challenges and opportunities the future holds for industry. Mascarenas said, “We have come to think of ourselves as a technology company – rather than simply a car company.”

Luncheon

Read more from the Dallas Morning News at http://www.dallasnews.com/business/autos-latest-news/20111202-ford-working-to-develop-smart-cars.ece?action=reregister.

Thank you to all who attended and contributed to the success of this event.  We hope to see you all next year!  A complete list of all exhibitors and event sponsors can be found www.dallaschamber.org/sot.  Click here to view photos from this event.

Hi, my name is Charity and I am a senior at Berkner High School in the Richardson ISD. This semester I was given the privilege of interning here at the Dallas Regional Chamber through Richardson’s professional internship program. After being selected for the program through a combination of applications and interviews I was assigned to work here, not knowing much, if anything, about the Chamber’s mission. Throughout my experience, I have learned how much the Chamber supports growing businesses in the area giving them great opportunities to network and establish a respected name; and that this really does make Dallas a great place to live for businesses and families alike. The consistent dedication of the employees here makes the every part of what they do seem easy and enjoyable.

Personally, I have helped with the production of three events; the Momentum Awards held in October, the Sustainable Innovation Summit held in November, and most recently the State of Technology just last week. Each of these gave me unique experiences and skills that I can now take with me (and continue to develop) to virtually any future job I might acquire. From making phone calls to printing name tags, I have accomplished tasks that have really allowed me to contribute to each different event, and then eventually see the final results. I am so thankful to each employee I have worked with, and am especially glad that I have been given the opportunity to intern here at the Chamber.

As my senior year rushes by, I am determined to select a college that will give me the best opportunities possible, hoping that they will include study abroad programs and further internships. As of now, I have applied to SMU, Austin College, TCU, Baylor, and the University of Texas. I have not decided on a specific field of study yet because I believe that it is more important for someone who is unsure, like me, to gain some experience in many different areas before committing to just one. This experience here at the Chamber is definitely one that I will remember when making any decisions because I know that it will guide me on the best path for my future.

The Dallas Regional Chamber is regularly recruiting interns to support Chamber staff and our membership. The DRC’s internship program offers the opportunity to work with a diverse group of hard-working, organized, and dedicated individuals and provides an opportunity to work in an environment that fosters collaboration, outstanding opportunities for professional growth, and a chance to make a positive impact in our Region.

If you are interested in applying for this volunteer internship opportunity, please contact Amy Gibson at agibson@dallaschamber.org or 214-746-6724.

Erica Flores, Industry Clusters & Economic Development

On December 2^nd, Ford Research & Innovation’s  Chief Technical Officer and VP, Paul Mascarenas will host a private members-only CIO Roundtable to discuss how Ford keeps pace with consumer technology as well as Ford’s research initiatives including: the cloud connected car, in-car health and wellness technologies and car-to-car communications.

The Dallas Regional Chamber invites all member-company Chief Information and Chief Technical Officers to participate in this exclusive event, being held in conjunction with our 11^th Annual State of Technology Luncheon & Innovation Showcase on December 2^nd.

To request an invitation, please email Anakarina Pina at apina@dallaschamber.org and your RSVP will be confirmed.  To learn more about the 11^th Annual State of Technology, including registration, please visit www.dallaschamber.org/sot.

About the CIO Roundtable
The CIO Symposium brings together chief technology executives for private, peer-to-peer, networking and educational programs.  These invitation-only events feature high-profile executives addressing issues impacting the industry and the technology role within companies.  Past topics have included: social media and its effect on the chief technology executive; innovation during uncertainty; and the five technology sectors that are driving the future.  Approximately 70 executives attend each event and attendance is strictly limited to CIO, CTO and direct reports only.  Companies in attendance have included Microsoft, AT&T, Mary Kay, Siemens PLM Software, and 7-Eleven.  This program is hosted by the Dallas Regional Chamber’s Innovation & Technology Council.

Joseph Vranich, a Pittsburgh native and 15-year California resident is a business relocation expert that specializes in business growth and relocation with clients located throughout the United States. We met with Vranich at coffee shop in Orange County in an effort to better understand why California companies are taking their business elsewhere.  The Irvine-based coach was recently interviewed for a series called “Saving the California Dream” that aired this week on KTTV News in Los Angeles (click here to view the video.)  In his interview, Vranich bluntly explains the business exodus from California calling it “the most regulated state in the United States” and goes on to give a list of reasons why companies are fleeing the Golden State for more business-friendly states like Texas.

The thing I appreciated most about Vranich was his honesty. While it may seem that he’s against businesses moving to or staying in California, he’s just stating facts. The fact remains that Texas is wide open for business. Come one, come all.

To learn more about Vranich, visit his website at www.businessrelocationcoach.com.

To view the “Saving the California Dream” series visit www.myfoxla.com/.

Author: Lane Sorgen, General Manager, South Central Enterprise District , Microsoft

For businesses, Dallas boasts a host of competitive advantages, including a central location, low cost of living and a skilled workforce. What’s more, it’s becoming an increasingly telework-friendly city, according to a recent survey commissioned by Microsoft. The survey assessed the attitudes and opinions of information workers across 15 major U.S. metropolitan areas and found that Dallas ranks second in terms of telework adoption.

Fifty-seven percent of Dallas information workers surveyed report that their companies provide formal remote working policies. Seventy-six percent of these respondents say their companies supply the technology needed for working remotely.

If you’re among those business decision makers who hasn’t yet embraced the new world of mobile work, it’s important to consider its many advantages and the ease with which a company can adopt a remote working strategy. Remote working benefits employers and employees alike – for employers, reduced office expenses, access to a larger talent pool and better business continuity are all advantages remote working can make possible. For employees, remote working makes it easier to strike that elusive work-life balance, cuts down on commute time and office distractions and even can improve customer relations by providing a means to respond more quickly to customer needs.

In my work at Microsoft, I’ve seen the power of remote working at play in the way my team, which is scattered across four states, is able to connect and collaborate without ever having to get on a plane. We can easily commence video conferences, share desktop, and gauge one another’s availability from desktop PCs, laptops and mobile devices. These abilities have improved team relations, heightened productivity and saved us travel expenses.

Thanks to advances in technology, establishing a remote working strategy doesn’t necessarily involve reinventing the wheel. It might be that your business already has the majority of technology it needs to mobilize its employees, especially given the power of today’s cloud-based technology. Cloud computing solutions give employees access to software and applications anywhere there’s an Internet connection, making it easier than ever before to establish an effective remote working strategy. You’ll also want to consider equipping employees with mobile devices that run commonly used office applications, such as e-mail and document creation.

In today’s 24/7, global marketplace, remote working is no longer a corporate perk. It’s now a business imperative. More than half of information workers Microsoft surveyed nationwide say their company has a formal policy allowing employees to work remotely, meaning that the majority of companies can respond quickly to customer needs and operate more efficiently in challenging economic times. For more information technologies that will enable your company to gain a competitive edge through a remote working strategy, visit www.microsoft.com/business.

Steve Fluckiger, Partner with Jones Day and Chair of the Dallas Regional Chamber’s Life Science Council shares his personal connection with innovation.

Tell us what innovation means to you in the comments below or click here to access our micro-site and enter for a chance to win two tickets to attend the 11^th Annual State of Technology Luncheon & Innovation Showcase on December 2, 2011 at the Irving Convention Center.

What does innovation mean to you?  Tell us your definition in the comments below or click here to access our micro-site and enter for a chance to win two tickets to attend the 11^th Annual State of Technology Luncheon & Innovation Showcase.

Innovation & Technology Council Co-Chair and Vice President of Huawei USA, Yi Zhao explains how his company utilizes “customer centric innovation” as a business tool.

Click here to tell us what innovation means to you and you’ll automatically be entered for a chance to win two tickets to attend the 11^th Annual State of Technology Luncheon & Innovation Showcase on December 2, 2011 featuring the CTO and VP of Ford Research & Innovation, Paul Mascarenas.

What Does Innovation Mean to You?  Tell us your definition in the comments below or click here to access our micro-site and enter for a chance to win two tickets to attend the 11^th Annual State of Technology Luncheon & Innovation Showcase on December 2, 2011 at the Irving Convention Center.