Michael Carper
SVP & CIO
Reddy Ice Holdings
Dr. Michael Carper has 30 years of experience in telecommunications and information technologies. He led major global technology transformation projects, including transitioning a larger retailer to fully cloud-based systems within a year. Before joining Reddy Ice, he held key technology roles in several industries including telecommunications, financial services, healthcare, retail, and mining. Mike's technology leadership has been recognized in industry publications and conferences.
Learn more about the Dallas CIO community here.
Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.
I was looking for a leadership role that would allow me to contribute at a strategic level while being able to deliver business value more quickly through digital transformation. Reddy Ice is at a pivotal time in their history where the environment is ripe for significant modernization.
What is one of your guiding leadership principles?
People are more motivated by the opportunity to succeed than the fear of failure.
With disruption being a key theme of recent years, where do you see the CIO role going in the next 1-2 years?
I believe that technology leaders will need to embrace AI to enable their organizations to become more predictive and proactive. This gives CIOs an opportunity to contribute most directly to tangible business outcomes.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out as a CIO?
Take the time to learn the business and develop solid relationships before making dramatic changes. Things are the way they are for a reason. It's best to understand them fully, gather feedback from stakeholders, and report back findings first.
Tell us three fun facts about yourself.
- I've been an FCC licensed ham radio operator since the age of 13 (WA9PIE).
- I played music professionally for several years in an "80's hair band" before attending college.
- My wife and I lived in Australia from 2019 to 2023.
What is the value of joining an Evanta community?
Networking for the purpose of learning from others.
Evanta Governing Body members share their insights and leadership perspectives to shape the agendas and topics that address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.
by CIOs, for CIOs
Join the conversation with peers in your local CIO community.