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John F. Barrett Tells CIOs IT Is Key Catalyst for Change

Western & Southern Financial Group •
John Barrett at podium at CIO Symposium

John F. Barrett, Western & Southern Financial Group chairman, president and chief executive officer, gave the closing address at the Nov. 13 Greater Cincinnati IT Symposium at the Sharonville Convention Center.

Following an introduction by Karen Chamberlain, senior vice president and chief information officer, Barrett discussed the changing business climate and how IT must continue to be a catalyst for change if organizations are to overcome challenges and respond to the ever-increasing pace of change demanded by customers. He also encouraged attendees to find ways to drive IT talent growth and help Greater Cincinnati continue to evolve as an emerging hub for technology talent.

Earlier in the day, Michael Speas, vice president and chief information security officer, served on a panel highlighting our region’s growing need for information security professionals and the training needed to attract and retain the tristate’s future security workforce.

More than 250 IT professionals from across the region, including many from Western & Southern, attended the annual event sponsored by the Cincinnati CIO Roundtable. The day closed with a networking reception featuring music from Rock IT, a band made up of 28 IT professionals, including our own Steele Harding, Service Now engineer, IT.