Chicago CIO Community
Inner Circle
September 18, 2025 | Joe's Live
September 18, 2025
Joe's Live
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:
Driving innovation while bracing for potential budget cuts
Fostering innovation and collaboration with an eye on the bottom line
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
Trucordia
CIO

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
September 18, 2025
4:30pm - 5:30pm Executive Networking Reception
5:30pm - 6:30pm Discussion Topics
Balancing Budget and Technological Advancements Amidst Global Uncertainty
Jeff Douglas
SVP, CIO
Potbelly Sandwich Works
Eric Foster
EVP & CIO
DFIN Solutions
Neeraj Kumar
CIO
Roosevelt University
Susan Malisch
SVP & CIO
American Medical Association
Kuldip Mohanty
CTO
Sargent & Lundy
Irene Oh
CIO
Network Services Company
Raj Sampoornam
SVP & CIO
Byline Bank
Michael Shay
CIO
Illinois State Toll Highway Authority
Kevin Steele
CIO
Feeding America
In today's unpredictable economic environment, enterprise CIOs are tasked with driving technological innovation while managing financial constraints. The pressure to deliver cutting-edge solutions that drive competitive advantage is greater than ever. However, this must be balanced with prudent financial stewardship as budgets tighten due to economic fluctuations.
Technology leaders are already leveraging advancements in AI, cloud and data analytics to optimize business processes and create value while maintaining a keen focus on cost. But they must also foster a culture of collaboration across departments to ensure that technology initiatives are strategically aligned with broader business objectives.
This session will delve into strategies that CIOs can employ to advance technology initiatives without compromising fiscal responsibility, ensuring that their organizations remain agile and resilient.
- Has the global economy caused you to reprioritize your technology initiatives? If so, what is staying at the forefront and what are the first items to go?
- How are you balancing the demand for innovation with the necessity of cost control in technology deployment?
- What role do you play in driving technology innovation and highly productive teams while ensuring fiscal responsibility across the enterprise?
- What resources are you leveraging to keep pace with shifts in regulation?
- What best practices have you uncovered for communicating the associated impact on technology strategy with the broader business?
- How are you collaborating with your CFO to align technology initiatives with financial strategies for shared success?
- What role do your existing vendors play in how you (re)prioritize new technology initiatives?
6:30pm - 7:00pm Networking Break
7:00pm - 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
Joe's LiveMore Information
Parking
FREE parking is available in the garage at Parkway Bank Park. Please bring your ticket with you to validate at a machine located inside Joe’s Live.
Community Program Manager
For inquiries related to this community, please reach out to your dedicated contact.
