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Atlanta Tech Leaders

Month: September 2014

Sanjay Bhatia with Izenda, Michael Halbert with Mindtree and Cynthia Morneweck with Great Parents Academy

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Sanjay Bhatia / Izenda Linkedin Twitter

Michael Halbert / Mindtree

Cynthia Morneweck / Great Parents Academy Twitter

Cynthia oversees the overall strategic and operational responsibility of the three core areas of the company: Learning, Technology and Business. She provides leadership and coordination to the senior management team and is on the Board of Directors keeping them abreast of strategies progress and challenges.

Prior to GPA, Cynthia worked for PointClear Solutions, a consulting firm in the healthcare vertical. She was the Director of Operations for the UX practice. She also worked for Northrup Grumman as a Lead UX practitioner on a CDC contract. Before that she worked for the CTO of Georgia Institute of Technology as a UX practitioner promoting and helping the IT team produce a more user-centered approach to building applications.

Even though her roles have changed over the years, her love of User Experience stays with her. She applies the core principles of the discipline (HCI) to all aspects of her life. “I can’t turn it off. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t. I breathe it. It has served me well.”

Cynthia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Psychology from Smith College as well as a Masters of Science in Human Computer Interaction (Computer Science) from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Along with her GPA responsibilities, Cynthia is a wife and mother (daughter and son).

 

 

Michael Tavani with Switchyards and Slingput

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Michael Tavani / Switchyards and Slingput Linkedin Twitter

Michael Tavani recently launched Switchyards, a design-focused consumer startup incubator based in Atlanta.

Michael was named one of 20 People to Watch in 2014 in Atlanta by Creative Loafing, has been awarded Top Up-and-Coming Entrepreneur at TiECON Southeast 2013 and 2010 Mobile Marketer of the Year by the Tech Marketing Awards and is a frequent speaker on startups. He has been quoted in/on Wired, CNN, CNBC, The Washington Post, Businessweek, Mashable, NPR, Travel + Leisure, CBS, and Fast Company, among others. He is the host of On Doers, a conversation about founders and beginnings.

He’s also a Co-Founder of Scoutmob, a venture-backed & nationally recognized ecommerce & local mobile company that was named one of the top apps in all categories by Wired and Mashable and one of the country’s most promising companies by Forbes.

Prior to Scoutmob, Michael co-founded SkyBlox, a local Wi-Fi marketing company that became the first company to ever raise financing via Twitter. SkyBlox was named to Network World’s list of 2009 mobile/wireless companies to watch. He previously worked in professional sports marketing for the Atlanta Hawks, Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) and Major League Soccer (MLS). In 2002, he started Tavani Soccer with his father and brother, a successful youth soccer camp company that has hosted thousands of campers and still runs today.

Michael lives in Atlanta with his wife, Stephanie and sons, Jarrett and Hudson, and holds a Juris Doctorate from Barry University School of Law and a BA from Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.

James Douglas and Samantha Abrahams / Band of Coders

 

 

Special Edition: Women in Technology

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Monica Glass Thornton / Women in Technology (WIT)

Monica Glass Thornton serves as President and CEO of Women in Technology (WIT), the Atlanta-based association known for championing women and girls in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.

Prior to joining WIT, Monica was Senior Vice President/Chief Marketing and Development Officer at Piedmont Park Conservancy. While there, she led the organization’s Marketing and Development initiatives, a $42 Million capital campaign, logo and website redesign, the creation of a pace-setting corporate giving program, sponsorship sales, media buys and many other efforts — all while directing its frontline communications effort. Monica also held leadership positions at United Way of Metro Atlanta, Fox 5 Atlanta, CBS Atlanta, WSB-TV and Georgia Public Broadcasting, where she continues to volunteer as a spokesperson during live telethons.

In addition to her work responsibilities, Monica serves as a member of the Georgia Robotics Board, Million Women Mentors Steering Committee, Southeast Museum for Women Planning Committee and the Georgia Conservancy Board. She is also a member of several professional organizations, including Public Relations Society of America, National Society of Fundraising Professionals, National Association for Women and Women In Film.

A native of Atlanta, Monica holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgia State University in TV/Film and an associate’s degree in Marketing.

 

 

Special Edition: Georgia CIO Leadership Association

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Anil Cheriyan / SunTrust Banks, Inc. Twitter

Anil Cheriyan is chief information officer for SunTrust Banks, Inc. He is responsible for SunTrust’s Enterprise Information Services (EIS) division, the organizational unit that provides the company’s overall technology, operations and information-related support.

Prior to joining SunTrust in April 2012, Cheriyan was senior partner at IBM Global Business Services, where he has served financial services industry clients and led a variety of business systems transformation, technology and process re-engineering initiatives. Before joining IBM in 2002, he was a partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting and served in increasingly responsible leadership roles on a variety of systems, customer information, data warehousing and e-business engagements. Previously he was a senior consultant with Electronic Data Systems (EDS) and information services manager for TVS Clayton, Ltd.

Cheriyan earned master of science and master of philosophy degrees in management as well as a bachelor of science in electronic and electrical engineering from Imperial College in London.

Bobby John / Band of Coders

Jay Ferro / American Cancer Society

Jay is currently Chief Information Officer for the American Cancer Society (ACS), a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the American Cancer Society has more than 900 local offices nationwide and a presence in more than 5,100 communities. Jay is responsible for the people, strategy and operations of the Global Information Technology organization.

Prior to joining ACS in 2012, Jay served as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for AdCare Health Systems, a rapidly growing and recognized innovator in health care facility management. Jay spent the previous 7 years at AIG (American International Group), most recently as VP and CIO for AIG Aerospace, a leading global aerospace insurer. At AIG, Jay implemented numerous improvements that have delivered substantial value to the organization while managing significant organizational change in a turbulent market environment. In addition to his role as AVP of Information Technology with AIG Personal Lines, Jay was selected as CFO for Operations and Systems in 2006 and led multiple global IT Finance and Governance Standards initiatives that resulted in millions of dollars in savings for the organization.

Jay continues to be a thought leader in the Information Technology arena and is a frequent guest speaker and panelist, both in Atlanta and Nationwide. In recognition of his accomplishments, Jay was selected as Georgia CIO of the Year in 2011, and is currently serving as Chair for the Georgia CIO Leadership Association.

His commitment and dedication to community involvement is evidenced by the time and energy he contributes. In 2007, he founded the non-profit group, Priscilla’s Promise, in honor of his late wife, which raises funds for cervical cancer education and research, and currently serves as its Executive Director. In 2011 he was elected to the Board of Directors for TechBridge, an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization which helps other nonprofits use technology to improve their capability to serve the community, and in 2013 was named Board Chair.

Jay earned both his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and his Masters of Business Administration from The University of Georgia. Jay continues to be involved with his alma mater, both as a mentor for young alumni and as a member of the Alumni Board of Directors for the Terry College of Business.

Jay lives in the Metro Atlanta Area with his 3 sons: Trey, Connor and Alex.