There has never been a better time to be a mid-market CIO. Four disruptive technologies — Big Data, mobility, social media and cloud will fundamentally expand the “art of the possible,” reshaping the solution provider ecosystem; discombobulating expectations about what IT is supposed to do; redefining how IT should be managed; and re-prioritizing and re-structuring IT skills and practices. The game is afoot. Thornton May will share findings from global research about the impact of emerging technologies and what the business landscape of the future looks like.

Mitchell Joachim, professor of architecture at MIT, when interviewed about the future of mobility instantly replied, “I’m counting on being surprised.” CIOs face the unique challenge of being asked to simultaneously avoid and create “strategic surprise” with mobile technologies. Join this panel of IT leaders for an open discussion on strategies for improving employee productivity, engaging customers and creating a secure mobile environment.

With the number of attacks on cyber networks growing, it is more important than ever for businesses to work together in predicting, preventing, detecting and responding to incidents to secure our nation’s critical infrastructures. At the Houston Chapter of Infragard, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is partnering with the private sector to increase information and intelligence sharing between the FBI and business to create a secure and resilient cyber environment. In this informative session, FBI Special Agents Noel Due and Eric Smithmier will discuss current cyber threats and the necessary steps to keep your business safe.

Session discovery topics:

• Current trends in cybersecurity and counterintelligence
• Understanding insider threats — awareness and prevention
• Defining the role of Infragard — resources and onsite expectations

At GulfMark Offshore, transforming the IT organization from a break/fix culture to one that truly drives business value meant re-thinking effective technology adoption, project management, IT skill transition and stakeholder engagement. Lee Johnson led the way, implementing more effective and efficient project management strategies, cloud and mobile solutions, and global stewardship for IT investment. In this session, Johnson shares how GulfMark Offshore’s IT department partnered with HR, finance, procurement and operations to create a culture of operational excellence. The IT organization became a true change catalyst and business partner in implementing global solutions and realized business value.

Technology leaders Jesse Carrillo and Darrin Pinkham are focused on bridging the gap between IT and the business — helping their organizations achieve greater business value by improving technology assets and processes; enhancing the skills and capacity of IT staff; and communicating the value of IT to business leaders. As rapid internal growth strains IT resources, Carrillo and Pinkham are meeting the challenge and developing new systems, removing operational inefficiencies, and streamlining and reducing operational costs. In addition, they’ve achieved greater influence across their organizations by speaking the language of the business with their C-Suite peers. Join this discussion for a new perspective on maximizing your IT organization while positioning for sustainable operations and long-term growth.

Karen Robinson, CIO for the State of Texas, will kick off our special luncheon keynote presentation, sharing her thoughts on the important role mid-market IT leaders play in advancing the IT profession and growing the Texas economy.

As organizations evolve in response to emerging technology trends, CIOs must predict change and execute on business transformation at a much faster pace than ever before. Choices made today will define the path for future CIOs. As a business leader and CIO, Louie Ehrlich shares insights on how technology leaders can change the role of IT within their businesses, taking steps to maximize executive influence and preparing to lead in a global economy. It’s time for CIOs to start building the IT organization of the future.

Session discovery topics:

• Understanding the different phases of the CIO role
• Developing core competencies — living in the future state
• Building and shaping executive partnerships for tomorrow

The Houston economy continues to improve and that means CIOs are once again facing competition when it comes to recruiting, developing and retaining the right employees. It’s more important than ever for CIOs to not only find the right IT talent, but to also keep them motivated and delivering more value to the business. At LINN Energy, Patrick Seals is meeting this challenge head on. Over the last three years he’s been transforming the IT organization and creating a culture that employees find both challenging and rewarding. Seals has built an IT environment that demands innovation, is business-savvy and prizes the customer relationship. Join this session and learn how your IT organization can deliver even more value and, like LINN Energy, become a competitive advantage for your business.

As signs of economic recovery start to energize the mid-market sector, what are you doing to drive growth and competitive advantage for your business? Technology enabled innovation allows CIOs to influence the business beyond just IT operations, but achieving results from new technology investments or business process improvements requires IT leaders to work closely with colleagues throughout the organization.

At Camden Property Trust, Kristy Simonette, SVP of strategic services and CIO, and Keith Oden, president and trust manger, are proactively partnering to transform the business and drive value during tough economic times. During this inspiring session, they share best practices for effective collaboration and communication, and lessons learned about leveraging technology as a business differentiator. You’ll also gain an understanding of Camden’s corporate culture and what it takes to be #7 on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies To Work For list.