
Chicago CIO Community
Inner Circle
February 26, 2025 | The Metropolitan
February 26, 2025
The Metropolitan
Collaborate with your peers
Join Chicago'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
Chicago 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

Rita Fisher
Reynolds Consumer Products
CIO and EVP, Supply Chain

Ron Guerrier
Save the Children
CTO

Rajeev Khanna
Aon Corporation US
Global Chief Technology Officer

Laura Kohl
Morningstar
CIO

Mike Parisi
ITW
VP CIO

Jane Possell
CNA
EVP, Chief Information Officer, Analytics, Operations

Gagan Singh
Ascension
Chief Information Officer

Tom South
Northern Trust
CIO
Agenda
February 26, 2025
4:30pm - 5:30pm Executive Networking Reception
5:30pm - 6:30pm Discussion Topics
Strategic Leadership – Maximizing Digital Investments Amid Unprecedented Advancements

Adit Jain
Co-Founder & CEO
Leena AI

Adam Garey
Senior Vice President & CIO
COUNTRY Financial

Anuj Gaur
VP Global Information Technology
The Marmon Group

Paul Niser
CTO
Walton Street Capital

Mike Parisi
VP CIO
ITW

Pat Quint
CIO
Duravant

Jason Skaria
Global CIO
Foundever

David Todd
SVP & Chief Information & Security Officer
White Lodging

Gerry Tumbali
CIO
Regional Transportation Authority

Tim Winders
AVP & Deputy CIO
Purdue University
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 - 7:00pm Networking Break
7:00pm - 8:00pm Summary Discussion & Dinner
8:00pm - 9:00pm Social Hour
Apply to Participate
Apply to participate in the Chicago CIO Community Inner Circle.
Gartner facilitates exclusive, C-level communities by personally qualifying and understanding the priorities, challenges and interests of each member.
Our selective approach maintains the high quality of the network and ensures top-level discussions with peers from the world’s leading organizations.
Each application will be reviewed, and once your participation is confirmed, you will have access to year-round community programs.
Location
Venue
The MetropolitanMore Information
Parking Information:
Parking validation by Evanta for "Traders Self Park Garage"
329 S Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60606
3 min walk to Willis Tower
Community Program Managers
For inquiries related to this community, please reach out to your dedicated contacts.