Houston CIO Community
Inner Circle
April 2, 2025 | Haywire
April 2, 2025
Haywire
Collaborate with your peers
Join Houston's top CIOs for an intimate networking dinner and facilitated discussion on key business challenges. Enjoy a relaxed evening of dinner and drinks with your peers to share best practices, make new connections and build professional relationships.
Join your peers to discuss the most critical issues impacting CIOs today:
Creating user-friendly platforms that inspire the co-leadership of digital initiatives
Overcoming common interdepartmental challenges to derive maximum value from technology investments
Houston CIO Governing Body
The Governing Body Co-Chairs shape the discussion topics and agenda, ensuring that all content is driven By CIOs, For CIOs®.
Governing Body Co-Chairs

David Cain
CVR Energy
VP & CIO

Vagesh Dave
McDermott International
Global VP/ CIO

Kara Pelecky
American Bureau of Shipping
SVP, CIO

Paula Smetana Stuart
Crescent Energy
CIO

Michael Thompson
Gulfport Energy Corporation
VP & CIO

John Varkey
Waste Management
SVP, CIO
Agenda
April 2, 2025
4:00pm - 5:30pm Executive Networking Reception
5:30pm - 6:30pm Discussion Topics
Strategic Leadership – Maximizing Digital Investments Amid Unprecedented Advancements
Eric Helmer
SVP & CTO
Rimini Street
Kayoor Gajarawala
Chief Digital & IT Officer
LyondellBasell
Maria O'Neill
Chief Information Technology Officer
Oceaneering International
Soumya Seetharam
SVP & Chief Digital and Information Officer
Corning
Laura Tibodeau
CIO
DAI
Alexis Collins
CIO, US
Norton Rose Fulbright
Kara Pelecky
SVP, CIO
American Bureau of Shipping
Darwin Jebha
VP & CIO
Thermon Manufacturing
Rapid innovation and widespread AI implementation in the past 18 months is presenting unmapped opportunities and hitherto unseen challenges for organizations across industry and geography. Determining digital priorities to drive the business forward is complex, and the pressure on technology leaders to maximize their digital investments is higher than ever.
Gartner's 2025 CIO survey reveals that so-called “digital vanguard” CIOs drive growth by enabling their peers across the C-suite to co-lead digital initiatives and facilitate collaboration between IT and business staff to build digital capabilities that work. This approach maximizes the value of digital investments, gives direction to digital priorities and enhances organizational effectiveness.
Join this conversation to discuss strategic approaches for leveraging partnerships to ensure the best ROI on technology investments.
Discussion Questions:
- Do you consider yourself a “digital vanguard?” How can CIOs create inclusive, user-friendly platforms that encourage IT and non-IT collaboration for secure solutions?
- What challenges do you face in getting the rest of the organization to understand the technology roadmap, especially when it comes to setting realistic expectations around AI use cases?
- How do you envision capturing the maximum value from your AI strategy? What role will other stakeholders play in making sure you are successful?
- How are you approaching developing business and IT skills, ensuring accurate tech skills forecasting?
- Based on tonight’s conversation, how well equipped do you feel your department and you, as a leader, are to act on these insights?
6:30pm - 8:00pm Summary Discussion & Dinner
8:00pm - 9:00pm Social Hour
Apply to Participate
Each application is carefully vetted to ensure members meet established criteria, preserving the quality of the network and enabling meaningful, peer‑level discussions among leaders from the world’s leading organizations.
Once you submit your application, a Community Program Manager will schedule a conversation to understand your priorities and interests and complete onboarding, including access to year‑round community events.
Location
Venue
HaywireMore Information
Parking:
Complimentary Parking
Parking Garage- Located behind the restaurant
Self park, take elevator to the 1st floor and enter Haywire through Whiskey Lounge door
Community Program Manager
For inquiries related to this community, please reach out to your dedicated contact.
