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Rich Malone,
Ed Glotzbach and Mark Showers (left to right below) have
long been three of the “go to” guys in the information technology
world in St. Louis. As chief information officers with diverse backgrounds,
they agree that the time is right to leverage the potential among
talented information technology professionals, companies and universities
in ways that can really benefit the region.
Monsanto CIO Mark Showers says it’s time to unlock the potential
of all the IT resources St. Louis has to offer. “St. Louis has a
great talent base in the areas of information technology and communications,
and we are now focused on how to channel the efforts of all these
talented people, local companies and institutions,” Showers says.
“Our new IT Coalition will look for synergies and ways to really
unlock the potential of these areas so the entire region can benefit.”
So why did Showers decide to take the helm of the newly formed Coalition
for Information and Communication Technology?
“The idea of an IT Coalition in this region intrigued me from the
first time I heard about the concept. About 15 months ago, an IT
summit was held and I was very impressed with the caliber and energy
level of the people in the IT industry here and felt it was the
right time to get it off the ground.”
Showers says the recent Emerging Technology Forum co-sponsored by
the Coalition is a good example of how IT industry professionals
and emerging tech companies are coming together to support the growth
of technology in the region.
Mark
Showers, CIO, Monsanto |
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During the July Forum, select emerging tech companies received a
unique opportunity to hear first-hand from CIO’s, academia and industry
executives. The Forum also provided an opportunity for discussion
on technology needs and shortfalls in the region, as well as identify
business and collaborative opportunities.
“The Forum was extremely valuable and provided direct discussions
between industry and those who bring technology to the marketplace,”
Showers says. “The IT Coalition will use the feedback to strengthen
our mission and developing actions.”
Chris Lozano, president of C4I, also a co-sponsor of the Forum,
says, “The Forum brought together a unique cross-section of entrepreneurs,
mid-sized and large companies, as well as academicians and products/services
companies.”
Lozano continues, “The group established common ground and understanding
through candid comments and insight into needs, barriers, challenges
and goals. Future meetings will provide greater definition and collaboration
as well as act as a springboard for more dialog and action. This
is only the beginning.”
Participants agreed that a critical factor for industry growth is
in providing testing, and incubator opportunities for new technology
in the region. Along those lines, University of Missouri-St. Louis
Chancellor Thomas George spoke at a July meeting of the IT Coalition
Advisory Board and described UMSL’s IT Incubator project and proposed
high-performance computer center.
George said the new IT incubator will house 12 start-up companies
and provide the necessary resources and access to the UMSL faculty
and graduates in all technology disciplines ranging from chemistry
and physics to computer science and business.
“The UMSL IT Incubator is designed to be a cross-discipline research
center serving all academic and industry researchers requiring high-performance
computing. It will be a springboard for major external funding supporting
research, technology transfer and economic development and an economic
development engine encouraging development of new start-up companies
in this high-growth industry which in turn will provide job opportunities
for graduates in the field,” George said.
He added that UMSL’s staff will be available to tenants for consulting
on technology-related research problems, and for help in solving
fundamental R&D issues. UMSL’s IT Incubator is scheduled to open
in spring of 2007.
Another key member in the new IT Coalition is Ed Glotzbach, current
president and CEO of TPI Inc. and past chief information officer,
and IT leader with SBC Communications for 33 years (five years as
CIO). Glotzbach got involved about a year and a half ago when the
RCGA began talks about the strengths of IT in St. Louis, and more
formal discussions began with RCGA leaders on ways the IT community
could work together.
Glotzbach puts it this way. “I am committed to getting the word
out because St. Louis possesses extraordinary IT talent and capabilities,
a vibrant and active IT community, and this needs to be made better
known.”
|
ED
GLOTZBACH, president & CEO, TPI Inc. |
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He continues, “Any company considering relocation or expanding relative
to IT activities should consider St. Louis as a target ‘place to
be.’ I want to be part of the St. Louis voice to herald our positive
attributes.”
“We have a critical mass of IT professionals, companies and universities,
and a great infrastructure of technology networks that all make
for a thriving IT community here. Now we have a forum for all these
groups to work together to build St. Louis into a technology epicenter,”
Glotzbach adds.
Rich Malone is another major HQ chief information officer helping
to make the St. Louis region a national leader in the IT industry.
As CIO for Edward Jones for the past 27 years, Malone recalls how
he started as a department of one at age 30 at the St. Louis-based
financial services firm. Today Edward Jones employs 1,100 IT professionals
and was recently ranked by Computerworld as one of the best places
to work in the country in the IT industry.
As someone who has been in the tech industry here for a long time,
Malone has seen the changes and gradual transformation taking place
in St. Louis.
“Things are heating up significantly now in IT in St. Louis,” Malone
says. “We have a good job market and a lot of great companies.”
|
RICH
MALONE, CIO, Edward Jones |
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Malone continues, “I would like to see St. Louis build on our strong
community of IT professionals and companies to leverage our assets
even further. We need more incubators and start-up capability. In
some ways we are an untapped market, but now we have a new effort
and are making an investment in our future.”
Showers also mentions that Monsanto was recently named by Computerworld
as the 26th best IT workplace, as well as a top 100 technology leader
by CIO magazine. These national and international awards have a
positive message for the entire region he says.
“The more companies on these lists from St. Louis, the more recognition
for the region. We want to get the word out that there are a lot
of opportunities here for IT professionals and those opportunities
are with companies that are great to work for,“ Showers says.
Showers says building on the solid reputation of the region’s many
assets and strong workforce is key. Another important area is making
sure that industry and universities have strong lines of communication.
Showers says a mentoring program will pair university professors
in the field with IT executives to help foster industry/academic
relations.
“We have lots of jobs and lots of assets, now we need to work together
better to create more synergy. We will also work to provide a good
environment for start-ups and work to attract experienced people
from outside the region.”
All three CIOs concur that keeping IT graduates in St. Louis is
a key part of the coalition’s mission. As chairman of the board
of trustees for Webster University, Glotzbach wants to keep IT graduates
in St. Louis by placing them in good companies.
Glotzbach strongly supports a new mentoring program that will match
college, and possibly high school students with IT professionals.
“The best way to nurture great talent is to get them in the middle
of the industry. That’s hard to do unless you have someone to help
open doors. It’s a great way to keep our top graduates here,” Glotzbach
explains.
He continues, “We have so many outstanding graduates and we want
to make sure they all get good jobs here. We plan to do that with
mentoring programs and social connections. We also want to encourage
start-up companies and attract new companies to our region. That’s
all part of the quality of life in St. Louis.”
Malone certainly agrees, and although he recently announced his
retirement at year’s end from Edward Jones after a long and successful
career, he plans to stay involved in the St. Louis IT community
in a number of ways.
“It’s been a great run and I have had a lot of fun. I’ve been able
to see the development of so many people in my industry and I’m
proud to have been a part of Edward Jones becoming a significant
employer of IT professionals,” Malone says.
But Malone says he isn’t retiring from helping to nurture the future
of IT and students who want to break into the industry here. “I
think St. Louis is a great community with so much opportunity. I
will stay involved and contribute in any way I can.” Malone says.
Malone, Glotzbach and Showers all have both professional and personal
reasons for wanting to make St. Louis an IT center.
Malone explains, “As someone who has had some success in my career,
I plan to share my knowledge with young people wanting to be in
the tech world and stay in St. Louis. There is so much value in
helping others, and it also makes me feel great about giving back
to the profession, and region that has been good to me,” he says.
Glotzbach adds, “There is a huge amount of civic and business involvement
in growing the IT industry here. By working together to bring in
new companies and help established ones grow, we will contribute
to our economic development and quality of life.
An Alton, Ill. native, Showers says, “I have lived in this region
essentially my entire life and am very committed to seeing it prosper.
If I can make a difference, that will be wonderful!”
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St.
Louis Coalition for Information and Communication
Technology Advisory Board Members
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CHAIRMAN
|
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| Mark
Showers |
CIO,
Monsanto |
| Jim
Brasunas |
President,
TEC |
| Ron
Daugherty |
President
and CEO, Daugherty Systems |
| Susan
Elliot |
Chairman
and Co-CEO, SSE |
| Dick
Fleming |
President
and CEO, RCGA |
| Mary
Freeman |
General
Manager-MidAmerica, Microsoft Corporation |
| Thomas
George |
Chancellor
and Professor of Chemistry and Physics, University of Missouri-St.
Louis |
| Ed
Glotzbach |
President
and CEO, TPI Inc. |
| Steve
Hassell |
Vice
President and CIO, Emerson |
| Rich
Malone |
CIO,
Edward Jones |
| Kent
Neely |
Dean,
SIUE |
| Brenda
Newberry |
President
and CEO, The Newberry Group |
| Catalin
Roman |
Professor
and Chairman of Computer Science and Engineering, Washington
University in St. Louis |
| Henry
Shannon |
Chancellor,
St. Louis Community College |
| Greg
Sullivan |
CEO,
Global Velocity |
| Kelvin
Westbrook |
President
and CEO, Millennium Digital Media Services |
| Don
Winter |
Vice
President-Engineering and Information Technology, The Boeing
Company |
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