Robert X. Cringely has been making or writing about high-tech history since 1977 when he was the 12th employee at Apple Computer. He was field editor at InfoWorld, a computer industry trade paper, from 1987-95. His best-selling book Accidental Empires: How the Boys of Silicon Valley Make their Millions, Battle Foreign Competition and Still Can't Get a Date was published in 18 languages. His PBS documentaries, including Triumph of the Nerds and Nerds 2.01: A Brief History of the Internet, have been shown in 78 countries.

A blogger since 1997, he has 500,000 weekly Internet readers of his web page and more than a million words in print. A former columnist for Worth and Inc magazines, Cringely has written for Forbes, NewsWeek, MIT Technology Review, the New York Times and many other publications.

Most recently Cringely was a co-founder of an Open Source mortgage company, a revolutionary disk drive startup, and an Open Source-based video sharing site for World Cup enthusiasts.

Cringely lives in Charleston, SC where his kids use Ubuntu.

Mayor Bob Coble was elected as Mayor of Columbia in 1990. Mayor Coble has received numerous awards including Ambassador of the Year (2004), and Central Midlands Council of Governments Regional Leadership Award (2007). He was inducted into Richland One’s Hall of Fame in 2007. Mayor Coble was the also the recipient of the Global Vision Award presented by the World Affairs Council in October 2008. He is currently a board member with the River Alliance, Central SC Economic Development Alliance, and Engenuity.

Randal M. Senn is the Chief Information Officer for SCANA Corporation, responsible for overseeing their technology services and strategies. Randy has been employed by SCANA for 33 years. He initially assumed his current responsibilities as General Manager of Information Services and Technology in August of 2001 and in May of 2003 he was named Chief Information Officer for SCANA Services, Inc.

Randy initially worked as a student intern from the USC Business School. After graduation, he started his full time career as a computer programmer.

Prior to his current role, he has served as a manager in the company’s Accounting Department, Customer Billing Department and Shareholder Services Department. Randy has served as project manager for a general ledger system implementation for the company, project manager for the company’s Year 2000 compliance project and project manager for the information technology consolidation project associated with the merger between SCANA Corporation and Public Service Company of North Carolina. He currently has responsibility for leading SCANA’s Smart Grid efforts.

SCANA Corporation:

SCANA Corporation is a $10 Billion Fortune 500 energy-based holding company whose businesses include regulated electric and natural gas utility operations and other energy related businesses. SCANA has 12 subsidiaries who serve approximately 623,000 electric customers in South Carolina and more than 1.1 million natural gas customers in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Ravi is responsible for current and future technology architectures including Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) to leverage mainframe assets, technical strategy, product roadmaps. Ravi was instrumental in bringing Linux on zSeries within a short period of time working closely with IBM implementation team. Today, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina hosts most of its web applications in a Linux virtualized environment using industry standards like Web Services, SOA, Portal Frameworks, Content Management etc., on the Mainframe.

Prior to joining BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Ravi served as Chief Technology Advisor at the Global CIO office, Siemens AG, where he was responsible for developing Architectural Governance, Roadmaps in several technology areas for all Siemens companies worldwide as part of its standardization efforts. Prior to Siemens, Ravi started a technology consulting company to provide architectural expertise, eBusiness technologies for several startups, brick and mortar companies. Ravi also worked at Prime Computer/Computervision Corp.in Boston for 10 years where he held several Customer Service and management positions.

Khush Tata is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the SC Technical College System (which consists of sixteen Technical Colleges, a Center for Accelerated Technology Training and a System Office headquarters). Prior to coming to the System, Mr. Tata was employed with the SC Department of Insurance as CIO and the SC Governor's Office as Director of Information Technology. 

Khush is the former Vice-Chair for the SC Enterprise Architecture Oversight Committee, the current Chair for SC Information Technology Directors Association and a Board member for EngenuitySC, The CIO Forum, Columbia Chamber of Commerce – Information Technology Council. He is a graduate of the Governor’s EXCEL Leadership Institute, SC Executive Institute, Leadership SC and the Riley Institute’s Diversity Leaders Initiative. He is involved with and has assisted several civic groups and government organizations with policies, issues and projects.

Khush possesses a BS in both Physics and Computer Science. 

Dr. Hogue has been Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer for the University of South Carolina System since 2000. He is responsible for the development of IT and distance education strategy, policy, and practice for approximate forty-three thousand USC students, faculty, and staff. The IT division provides strategic leadership and operational support for the University in information technology, instructional services, and e-learning services. The mission of the Division of IT is to support teaching, research, and service missions of the University.

Dr. Hogue represents USC in regional and national forums such as EDUCAUSE, Southeastern University Research Association (SURA), Health Sciences South Carolina (HSSC), and the national Cyberinfrastructure Task Force. He regularly publishes and delivers presentations on information technology issues and is a frequent guest lecturer in the classroom.

Dr. Hogue began his IT career as an evening shift computer operator at USC in 1979. Prior to returning to South Carolina to assume his current role, he held IT leadership positions at Vanderbilt University, the University of Wisconsin System, and MIT. He holds undergraduate and masters degrees from the University of South Carolina and a doctorate from Harvard University.

Director Simonowicz has been in the engineering and technology fields for over 30 years and has been an integral participant and leader for building complex digital service automation and control systems during this period. This includes designing and implementing copper and fiber network infrastructures, network security systems, data centers, machinery automation controls, disaster recovery systems and end user application delivery systems and services. Throughout his career he has had the challenge to address the need for frugality in cost accounting with a well balanced need for risk awareness and tolerance so as to develop industrialized solutions for maintaining business continuity and high performance in servicing his customer's business requirements.

He currently orchestrates and leads the Department of Information Technology (DoIT) for the City of Columbia by providing the leadership, strategic vision, and organization to promote the City's initiatives. His forte is to provide solid enterprise based solutions that multiply effect, efficiency and fiscal responsibility, while enhancing performance and the overall benefit of his organizations investment dollars. With a total commitment to quality and continuity of service he leads his team in promoting collaboration and strategic integration discipline to archive the City's goals and objectives. His motto is ‘Invest in doing it right the first time, for it pays dividends over the long haul'.

Director Simonowicz is a graduate of the University of Houston, Electrical Engineering & Technology & is a Certified Governmental Chief Information Officer, School of Government UNC

David is a strong proponent of the use of open sharing to facilitate secure code reuse, best practices, and in-depth security and visibility concepts in a collaborative environment as a fundamental requirement to a stronger overall digital ecosystem. Building upon a solid network security infrastructure, he and his team have completely re-developed, over the past four years, an extensible Offender Management System (OMS) and Parole Information Center (PIC) which is able to consume and publish secure web services as a focal point to manage the life-cycle of offenders and to enhance the organization's overall effectiveness in providing services to the community.

Prior to joining SCDPPPS in 1997, O'Berry served as Network Manager at the Department of Juvenile Justice. Since his move to SCDPPPS, David has been directly involved with South Carolina's Information Technology Solutions Committee in various capacities working towards standards and solutions in all areas of technology throughout the state. During his multi-year role as Chairman of the Security Sub-Domain Committee he, in 2007, co-led the effort to adopt a state-wide security policy achieving that goal with a unanimous vote in December of 2007 while substantially progressing and completing the initiative to establish comprehensive baseline security standards for South Carolina Agencies.

David has served as the Membership Director for the Midland's Chapter of the ISSA, the group's Director of Corporate Relations, and currently serves as the President for the chapter. He currently serves on the McAfee Cybersecurity Experts Council while working with standards driven organizations, like the Trusted Computing Group, to further the goals of practical, flexible, and open information security frameworks. He is also a member of the National Association of State CIO's Security and Privacy Sub-Committee as well as the Enterprise Architecture Committee. He currently serves on the Executive Committee for the MS-ISAC as well as on Legislative Sub-Committee. In 2008 he was awarded Technologist of the Year for the South Carolina IT Director's Association after being named an Honorable Mention for the same award in 2007. Mr. O'Berry holds an honors degree from the University of South Carolina Honors College as well as numerous professional certifications including CISSP-ISSAP, ISSMP, MCNE, CNE-I and CSPM.

As Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Dale Johnston is responsible for managing all aspects of Edens & Avant’s technology initiatives and monitoring security of information platforms.

Johnston oversees the Information Technology team as it implements systems that improve internal operations, enhancing the Company’s ability to deliver and maintain state-of the-art retail projects. He holds numerous certifications, including an Applied Science Technologist designation with the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists.
Previously the Vice President of Information Services for Canadian Real Estate Investment Trust in Ontario, Canada, Johnston developed and managed the technology vision for the company and supervised major system upgrade projects.

Johnston is a native of Ontario, Canada, and received a Bachelor of Applied Science from Bemidji State University and a diploma in Computer Electronics Engineering Technology from the Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology.

Lee assumed the Chief Information Officer position approximately 16 months ago after joining the bank in 2005. Lee possesses tremendous collaboration skills and has been successful in leading both technology and business units to a higher level of performance and efficiency. Lee’s 25+ years in technology provide a solid base for overseeing a complex yet flexible technology infrastructure. Her passion around managing change, supported by her insistence on detail planning, has led to multiple key accomplishments over the past year. Much of Lee’s initial time as CIO has been focused on organization and standards, establishing metrics to measure and improve performance, and reducing IT cost while managing appropriate risk.

In addition to the CIO role, Lee has served in several leadership roles over the past 5 years for TSFG.  Her ability to grasp complex concepts and focus on the end result have helped progress a number of priorities – all supporting a vision of excellent service, effective results and a true “sense of urgency” on customer related matters. In her previous role as Director of Application Services, Lee led a reorganization effort which improved the stability and throughput of the Applications Services team.

Lee has recently completed the bank’s executive leadership program, Leaders Teaching Leaders, and is now working in a mentoring capacity to coach other excelling leaders. Lee’s education includes a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Drexel University. In addition, she has completed 30 hours towards her MBA and holds a Project Management Professional certification from the Project Management Institute.  Prior to joining TSFG, she spent several years as the Director of IT for Netbank Business Financing.  Lee has over 20 years of combined financial services and technology expertise.

John has 20+ years of information technology management, engineering, and project management experience and has earned multiple industry certifications from Novell, Microsoft, VMware and Cisco. John was selected by ComputerWorld Magazine as one of the “Top 100 IT Leaders in the country” and was also recognized by VMware Corporation as a “vExpert 2009” for outstanding achievements in the area of virtualization. He was also recognized the July 2009 edition of CIO Digest. John has spoken at local and national conferences and has written numerous case studies and articles for publication in technology publications.

John’s experience spans the legal, healthcare, financial services, state government, and manufacturing fields. He says that AgFirst Farm Credit Bank is the best place that he has ever worked. As a top technology leader for three different corporations over the past 12 years, he has accomplished enterprise-wide technology overhauls involving Citrix, virtualization, SAN, Microsoft, Cisco, Video Conferencing and innovative LAN/WAN/Telecom infrastructure. John was appointed by Senator Glenn McConnell to serve on an advisory panel for the state's Education Oversight Committee. John earned a BS degree in Physics from Wofford College and a BME degree in Engineering from Georgia Tech.

Janet Claggett has over 20 years working in the field of Information Technology. About half of her experience has been in the public sector and about half in the private sector. She currently serves as the Chief Information Officer for Richland County, SC. Under her tenure, the National Association of Counties has twice rated Richland County as number one in the nation for digital excellence in its population category, and the Chamber of Commerce has twice awarded Richland County first place in the prestigious Palmetto Pillar award for technological innovation.

Janet received her MBA from the University of South Carolina. In California, she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelors degree in Mathematics and a double minor in Geography and Spanish. In 2008 she received the National Government CIO certification from the UNC School of Government at Chapel Hill. She is a former President of SC.GMIS and was the Educational Coordinator for the 2006 International GMIS conference held in Charleston, SC. She is an active member of the Metropolitan Information Exchange (MIX) whose membership is by invitation only and which has a membership cap of 60 IT leaders in the North American continent. She continues to serve on the South Carolina CIO Forum Advisory Council and for the last several years has served as one of three conference chairs. She is also active in the South Carolina county IT organization (SCCFT). Janet has given dozens of speeches on various IT topics with a focus on IT leadership.

Matt has been involved with open source since 1998 and is one of the open source industry's leading business strategists. He writes C/NETS open source blog, The Open Road and currently serves as chief operating officer (COO) of Canonical Ltd., the commercial sponsor of Ubuntu. At Canonical he's responsible for aligning strategic goals and operational activities, the optimization of day-to-day operations, and leadership of Canonical marketing and back-office functions.

Prior to Canonical, Matt served as VP, Business Development for Alfresco. Prior to joining Alfresco, Asay was one of the founding members of Novell's Linux Business Office in 2002 and was an early influencer and participant in the company's shift to open source. In 2003 he founded the Open Source Business Conference, the industry's premier open source strategy event, and has served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence for Thomas Weisel Venture Partners, focusing on open source investment opportunities.

Before Novell, Asay was General Manager at Lineo, an embedded Linux software start-up, where he ran Lineo's Residential Gateway business. He is an emeritus board member of the Open Source Initiative (OSI).

Asay earned his Juris Doctorate degree at Stanford Law School, spending two of his three years studying software licensing and innovation, and specifically the GNU General Public License, under Professor Larry Lessig. He also holds Masters and Bachelors degrees from the University of Kent (Canterbury, UK) and Brigham Young University, respectively.

Lee Congdon is responsible for Red Hat's global information systems, including the technology strategy, enterprise architecture, information technology governance, solutions delivery, and systems operations supporting the company. His role includes enabling Red Hat's business through services such as knowledge management, technology innovation, technology-enabled collaboration, and process improvement.

Congdon has over 26 years experience as an information technology leader. Prior to joining Red Hat, he was Managing Vice President, Information Technology at Capital One where he developed and delivered information technology solutions for the firm's corporate functions and Global Financial Services group. Before Capital One, Congdon was Senior - Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, at Nasdaq, where he led the organization's efforts to identify, implement, and operate technology solutions for Nasdaq Japan, Nasdaq Europe, and other strategic global ventures. Earlier, at Citicorp, Congdon led multiple global technology initiatives for the private bank and the corporate bank.

Congdon began his career at IBM as an operating system developer and held several technology and technical marketing positions of increasing responsibility with that firm. Congdon holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Computer Science from Purdue University and a Master's degree in Business Administration from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University.

Deborah Bryant is Public Sector Communities Manager at Oregon State University's Open Source Lab (OSU OSL) Through annual production of the Government Open Source Conference (GOSCON) and ongoing facilitation of state, local and federal government initiatives, Deborah has a unique and pioneering perspective and has earned an international reputation for expertise in the adoption and use of open source software and models in the pubic sector.

Deborah serves on the national Steering Committee for the recently launch Open Source for America (OSfA); as a Board Director for DemocracyLab.org; as a Board Advisor for the Open Source Digital Voting Foundation: as a Board Advisor for the Oregon Virtual School District.

Deborah's background includes over twenty years of management experience in information technology in the private and public sectors. Before joining OSU to create a public sector program at OSL, Deborah served as Oregon’s Deputy State Chief Information Officer. Her private sector background includes management positions in several emerging technology areas; parallel and high-speed computing and commercialized internet and web applications in the 80s, commercial wide area networks, advanced telecommunications and data/voice convergence in the 90s.

Mark Anzani is Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for System z. He has the responsibility for driving long term product technical strategy, as well as enabling innovative client projects involving System z. He joined IBM in Poughkeepsie in 1983 and during his career has had positions in a variety of product development disciplines, primarily focused on IBM large systems. In January 2004, Mark was appointed Vice President, System z Hardware Products with the responsibility for the development and launch of the hardware products within the System z Portfolio. In January of 2007, Mark was appointed Vice President of System z Technical Support and in March of 2009 added the Chief Technology Officer responsibilities to his role.

Covering ALM, Web 2.0/RIA and OSS, Jeffrey serves Application Development & Program Management professionals. He is a leading expert on software modeling techniques, integrated development environments, and the emergence of new rich Internet application development practices and tools. Jeffrey holds a B.S. in economics (finance) from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

David Nalley is a sysadmin by day, open source software contributor by night. David works at Confluence Watersports in Easley SC, as a Unix Administrator.. Contributing to the Fedora Project for the past 4 years, David writes documentation, packages software, and occasionally proffers a patch to external projects. In addition to the Fedora Project David is or has been involved with other free and open source software projects including Cobbler, Zenoss, and OpenGroupware.org.

David is a frequent speaker at free and open source software conferences and writes often for technical journals about a variety of technical topics.