Houston CIO Community
Inner Circle
September 23, 2026 | Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse Houston
September 23, 2026
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse Houston
Expand your network and engage with peers
Join the Gartner Houston CIO Community Inner Circle, an intimate dinner event offering facilitated, roundtable discussions and informal networking with CIO peers. Explore a timely, peer-driven topic and exchange ideas in a collaborative setting designed to surface candid perspectives and actionable insights.
Engage with peers to discuss the most critical issues impacting CIOs today:
Enabling innovation and productivity through human-AI collaboration
Adapting vendor strategies to meet changing enterprise demands
Empowering organizational transformation with effective change leadership
Houston 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
David Cain
CVR Energy
VP & CIO
Vagesh Dave
McDermott International
Global VP & CIO
Kara Pelecky
American Bureau of Shipping
SVP & CIO
Michael Thompson
Gulfport Energy Corporation
VP & CIO
John Varkey
WM
SVP & CIO
Agenda
September 23, 2026
4:30pm - 5:30pm Executive Networking Reception
5:30pm - 6:30pm Discussion Topics
Navigating the New Era of Collaboration and Change
Keith Campbell
CIO
Superior Energy
Alexis Collins
CIO, US
Norton Rose Fulbright
David Domine
CIO
Christian Brothers Automotive
Kenneth Ford
CIO
Planned Parenthood
LeeBrian Gaskins
Senior AVP, IT & CIO
University of Houston - Clear Lake
Abhi Gite
CIO
HealthEquity
Kerri Holt
CTO
Houston Independent School District
Sindhu Menon
Executive Director & CIO
Harris County, TX
Kara Pelecky
SVP & CIO
American Bureau of Shipping
Gautam Roy
SVP & Chief Technology Officer
Unum Group
Stuart Wagner
CIO
Enterprise Products Partners
James Watson
CIO
Perry Homes
As AI agents and digital copilots become part of daily work, CIOs face a pivotal challenge: building a culture where humans and AI not only coexist but collaborate to drive innovation and productivity. This shift requires more than technical integration—it calls for reimagining roles, workflows, and executive expectations.
CIOs must balance the promise of AI-augmented work with the realities of change management, ensuring employees feel empowered, not displaced, and that agent interfaces are intuitive and secure. At the same time, leaders must navigate evolving vendor ecosystems, budget constraints, and the ongoing buy vs. build debate.
Discussion Questions:
- How are executive expectations changing with AI?
- How are you supporting teams in human-AI collaboration?
- What change management strategies have worked best for you?
- How do you approach vendor risk and buy vs. build decisions?
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
More Information
Parking Information
The Blue and Yellow garages are complimentary self-park.
Complimentary Valet.
Your Community Sponsors
Global Thought Leader
Key Sponsors
Program Sponsors
Community Program Manager
For inquiries related to this community, please reach out to your dedicated contact.
