Facilitator – Ben Blanquera | 01:30 — 02:45
Abstract
Transforming a large enterprise to Agile is a big undertaking. During this panel discussion, you will hear first-hand from local leaders who have led, or are currently leading, their enterprises through an Agile Transformation. Learn the different approaches employed by each company to transform their organizations to Agile, and the tips and tricks used to ensure success.
Facilitator
Ben Blanquera is the Vice President of Information Services for Progressive Medical, Inc . In his role Ben is responsible for project/portfolio management, application development, business intelligence, and business analysis. He is currently leading a wide-ranging initiative to transform Progressive’s IS group to Agile. The first pilot effort is completed successfully and now other teams are coming on-board. Progressive Medical, Inc. is a nationwide, managed care and health care cost containment company. It coordinates care for workers’ compensation, auto-no-fault and personal injury protection cases. Progressive Medical is an Inc. 500 Hall of Fame company. Ben is also the founder of TechLife Columbus – a “grassroots tribe” to build connectivity and a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in Central Ohio. Ben also writes a blog chronicling the Columbus Tech community – www.columbustech.blogspot.com
Panelists
Jeff Dennes, a nationally recognized leader in the online, mobile, and payments industry, has joined Huntington (NASDAQ: HBAN; www.huntington.com) as Senior Vice President, Chief Digital Officer. With nearly 20 years of experience in online and mobile services innovation, Dennes will lead Huntington’s efforts to expand its online banking platform with an increased focus on mobile and iTouch banking. Jeff’s teams support Huntington’s online, mobile, ATM and future digital channels by developing strategy and supporting the day to day operations. Jeff has been recognized as a leader in the mobile space for the past several years.
Prior to joining Huntington, Dennes managed award-winning online and mobile banking and payment services at USAA Federal Savings Bank. Dennes led the development and implementation of a ground-breaking Remote Deposit Capture feature that allows banking customers to take a photo of a check and make a deposit using their mobile device.
Dennes’ extensive background also includes experience in integrated banking, investments and insurance self-service strategies and solutions. He was recently recognized as one of the “Elite 8 in Banking Technology” by Banking Technology News, and was also recognized by American Banker as the number five Innovator of the Year in 2009.
Dennes earned his bachelor’s degree in Management from Texas State University in San Marcus, TX.
Michael Fergang is vice president, chief information officer of Grange Insurance and is responsible for developing and managing the company’s growing information technology department. Joining the company in 2000, Fergang has developed a team that is recognized for its excellence in the field by industry leaders, receiving the highest scores for customer satisfaction from independent insurance agents for six consecutive years.
Fergang brings more than two decades of IT experience to his position. Before joining Grange, he was chief information officer/vice president, information services and technology for Swiss Re Life & Health/Midland Life Insurance Company, where he helped increase company growth and reduce operating costs. In addition, Fergang also has worked with numerous financial companies, building their information technology departments to serve as a critical resource for creating and managing business processes more effectively.
Fergang graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in operations management and has completed graduate courses in telecommunications through New York University. He also devotes time to worthy community causes including Amythest.
Fergang and his family reside in Columbus, Ohio.
Grange Insurance, with $2 billion in assets and $1.2 billion in annual revenue, is an insurance provider based in Columbus, Ohio. Through its network of independent agents, Grange offers auto, home, life and business insurance protection. Established in 1935, the company and its affiliates serve policyholders in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.grangeinsurance.com.
Bill Gray is a former developer, tester, designer, analyst, architect, DBA, engineer, trainer, project manager, and single guy with a glorious head of flowing blonde hair…unfortunately, this was all during his waterfall days.
Bill is a current servant leader of over three dozen software craftsman/women practicing Agile at Northwoods, father of four, husband of one, and bald as the day he was born…and he wouldn’t trade it for all the blonde hair in Sweden.
As a director of IT applications at Nationwide Insurance’s Application Development Center, Dustin Potts has directed the transformation of waterfall-based software development teams to CMMI® compliant, lean, agile, high-performing teams. He has more than six years of experience leading successful agile transformations and teams at the enterprise level with more than twenty years of experience in the IT industry. He is a frequent speaker at agile conferences and has trained many on agiletechniques of Scrum and XP.
Russ Wangler has 17 Years Experience in IT, 10 with Accenture and 6 with Nationwide and currently working at Gap Inc. Direct. He has 4 years in the Agile space helping lead Agile Organizational Change – primarily in Nationwide’s Application Development Center.