Keynote Speaker - The Art of The Story

Structured Networking - Nov 18th

Robert McDowell
Vice President, Information Worker Business Value
Microsoft

With more than 40 years of experience in the information technology industry, Robert 'Bob' McDowell, Vice President for Information Worker Business Value at Microsoft Corp., is focused on identifying critical business problems that can be solved through the application of Microsoft technologies.

McDowell joined Microsoft in 1990 to establish Microsoft Consulting Services and grew that organization to more than 1,200 people in more than 40 countries. In 1995 he became vice president of the Enterprise Customer Unit and was responsible for developing the strategies for selling and marketing Microsoft technology and services to its largest corporate customers. From 1996 through 2000, he served as vice president for enterprise business relationships, working with many of Microsoft’s strategic large-enterprise customers around the world. In 2000 he became vice president of Worldwide Services for both consulting and product support. In 2002 McDowell took on his current role in the Information Worker Group to help customers maximize their use of current Microsoft Office technologies in ways that significantly add business value to their organizations.

Before joining Microsoft, McDowell spent seven years as a partner with Ernst & Young, where he founded and managed its Strategic Business Systems practice. Before that he spent seven years as an information systems manager in the financial services industry and eight years working in information technology for the Department of Defense.

McDowell is the author of several articles on the impact of information technology on business and has been quoted in many business and technology publications, including Fortune Magazine, InformationWeek and Computerworld. He is the author of the book Driving Digital, which focuses on how companies can take advantage of the e-business era. His second book, “In Search of Business Value: Ensuring a Return on Your Technology Investment,” which deals with how to translate technology investments into business value. He has lectured at professional association meetings, universities and technology conferences around the world.

McDowell has served on the board of directors of Visio Corp., Entevo Corp. and the Virginia Military Institute Foundation and served as a member of the Virginia Commission on Information Technology. He is a member of the Board of Visitors of the Virginia Military Institute and the International Advisory Board of Scottish Enterprise. He holds a bachelors degree in economics from Virginia Military Institute and a master of science degree in business administration from Boston University.  

Keynote Speaker - Office 2010

Structured Networking - Nov 18

Quin Nikel
Director, Technical Product Management, Office
Microsoft

Quin Nikel is the Director for Technical Product Management in the Office team, based in Redmond. Quin’s team is responsible for technical outreach with the IT community, ensuring that Office meets the needs of the IT Professional including important topics such as deployment, security, and virtualization.  Quin has been working on IT related topics over his 13 year career at Microsoft including the development of large scale cloud services and mobile services. 

Microsoft Session Speakers

MS Panelist - Business Value Fireside Chat with Microsoft Business Owners - Microsoft Executive Panel

Structured Networking - Nov 19

Lisa J. Downey
Business Architect, Office Client
Microsoft

For her 10 years at Microsoft and most recently her last five, Lisa Downey has been part of the Infrastructure Business Architecture strategy team as Business Architect and Lead Program Manager supporting Office Client and Infrastructure Optimization for field, customer, and partner management and communications, program management and cross group orchestration of marketing and content development, partner development, and TCO | ROI Tools.

Lisa J. Downey has more than 20 years significant experience in software development, partner development, large scale project management, software product management and development, technology management and infrastructure development, and enterprise partner marketing and relationship management. She has worked in the software business over 20 years as programmer, product manager, customer service, quality assurance, consulting and event management.

Since joining Microsoft, Lisa has been focused on WW sales and marketing helping to define and deliver Microsoft’s annual sales strategy and enablement. She has been responsible for managing Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference and executive events, has driven development and delivery of a standard methodology for Microsoft’s sales initiatives, product launch management for global partner integration and marketing, and enterprise partner marketing content development and delivery.  

Before joining Microsoft, Lisa was VP, product development for a Y2K startup, Corporate Y2K Program Manager for Nordstrom, global product manager/publisher for Wall Data’s data-terminal services product line and started her career as lead programmer for network topology for Boeing’s Energy Management Systems division.

MS Panelist - Business Value Fireside Chat with Microsoft Business Owners - Microsoft Executive Panel

Structured Networking - Nov 19

Larry Nelson
Worldwide Managing Director
Primary/Secondary Education
Microsoft  

Larry Nelson focuses on helping to fulfill the promise of technology in Primary/Secondary education.  He leads Microsoft's Worldwide Primary/Secondary Education strategy within its Public Sector Business unit.

Prior to joining Microsoft, Nelson led strategic planning of telecom services for the University Librarian at Stanford University, and before that, he was a Director at Sun Microsystems.  While at Sun, he led the company’s Primary/Secondary Education strategy and solution partnerships helping to cement sales and strategic partnerships in the United States, Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, United Kingdom, Spain, and many other parts of the world.  Nelson also served as acting Executive Director of the Global Education & Learning Community (GELC, which is now known as Curriki) where he managed the "spin-out" of the GELC as an independent nonprofit corporation.

Before joining Sun, Nelson was Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Finance at SchoolCity.com, a web-based infrastructure provider to schools around the globe; and CEO of the Decision Development Corporation (DDC), a privately held educational software publisher.  Before entering the technology industry, he grounded his business skills at General Foods, Procter & Gamble, and Bloomingdale's.

Nelson is Secretary and Treasurer of the Curriki Board of Directors and a member of the NEA Foundation Board of Directors.  He earned a Masters in business administration from Cornell University and a Bachelors degree from Vassar College.

MS Panelist - Business Value Fireside Chat with Microsoft Business Owners - Microsoft Executive Panel

Structured Networking - Nov 19

Nigel Postings
Director, Partner Sales & Services
Microsoft

Nigel has been with Microsoft for 9 years, starting in MCS in the UK before moving to Partner first in the UK and now in Redmond.

Nigel’s team is responsible for a number of areas including Partner Marketing, engagement of Partners with Services through Services Ready, how we support Partners to build business through sales, marketing resources such as Demo Showcase on Azure through to how we support compete activities.

Session Speaker - Business Value Planning for Office 2010

MS Panelist - Business Value Fireside Chat with Microsoft Business Owners - Microsoft Executive Panel

Structured Networking  Nov 18-19

Timothy J. Rowe
Sr. Program Manager, IW Segment and BG
Microsoft Corporation

Tim is responsible for the global Office System Adoption Strategy in the Information Worker Business Group at Microsoft's corporate headquarters. He is responsible for helping people leverage the value of the Office System to become more agile, competitive, connected, and responsive to their customers' needs.

During 2006 Tim was the Infrastructure Optimization Lead on the Australian Windows Client team. He was responsible for orchestrating the subsidiary's efforts to enable customers to improve operational efficiency, security, productivity, and lower costs.

Prior to joining the Australian team, Tim led the Desktop Deployment Initiative for the US subsidiary. He led the community of 30 Desktop Deployment Specialists and the strategy, execution plan, and programs across the enterprise and mid-market segments.

During his first six years at Microsoft, Tim served in the Customer Advocacy and Technology Management organization, most recently as Director. CATM specializes in helping Global 1000 executives understand the business benefits of Microsoft products, services, and solutions. In addition to leading the team, Tim spoke at executive conferences, Microsoft's Executive Briefing Center, and customer locations .

Prior to joining Microsoft in 1998, Tim worked in several positions at Sequent Computer Systems, Inc.; a manufacturer of highly scalable multi-processor Unix-based database servers. Most recently Tim was a senior TCP/IP kernel developer. Concurrently he was the chair of an engineering-wide process improvement team. He was also the engineering representative on a project to replace the corporate CRM defect-tracking database with a Sequent/Windows NT solution.

Tim's UNIX experience spans more than 17 years in various roles building, selling, or supporting platforms for Intel Corporation, Intel-based hardware manufacturers, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

MS Panelist - Business Value Fireside Chat with Microsoft Business Owners - Microsoft Executive Panel

Structured Networking - Nov 19

Andrew Waite
Worldwide Tax Industry Manager
Microsoft

Andrew joined Microsoft in March 2007 as a member of the Worldwide Public Sector Team. This appointment with Microsoft’s Public Sector Branch continues to build on his extensive experience in the Government Industry. Prior to joining Microsoft Andrew had 33 years experience with the Australian Child Support Agency, Office of Small Business and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), where, as an Assistant Commissioner with the ATO, he was a major champion for change in their practices, processes and technology.

As a Senior Government Executive, Andrew was a key lead in a major transformational project resulting in a complete rebuild of the ATO’s technology platforms and associated business processes.

Since joining Microsoft Andrew has been heavily involved in developing solutions for the Tax Industry and for Government Industry more broadly. Most recently Andrew is accountable for the development and promotion of global solutions that will modernize the operations of government and ensure efficient fiscal management.

This extensive experience assures that Andrew is well positioned to help our government customers achieve their full potential.