Announcements

IT Leaders, Businesses Recognized for Their Contributions to St. Louis’s IT Leadership Community

Awards Presentation, CIO Panel Among Highlights as 60 Emerging IT Leaders Graduate from The Technology Leadership Experience, St. Louis

At the graduation program for The Technology Leadership Experience (The TechLX) in St. Louis on December 9, 2019, four emerging IT leaders and three businesses were recognized for their commitment to the growth of technology leadership in the St. Louis area.

Ouellette & Associates, the company behind The TechLX, along with local partner Technology Partners, presented the following individual awards, as selected by the TechLX participants:

John Heartlein of St. Louis University, Leader Amongst Leaders Award
Mike Luebbers of Vi-Jon, Leader Amongst Leaders Award
Tushar Shelar of Murphy, Mentoring Excellence Award
Steve Schmidt of MiTek, Mentoring Excellence Award

The Leader Amongst Leaders Awards are given to the TechLX participants who best personify the leadership qualities covered in program. The Mentoring Excellence Awards are presented to TechLX mentors who best exemplify the ideal image of a mentor.

Ouellette & Associates also presented Community Leadership Awards to MiTek, Panera Bread, and Technology Partners for going above and beyond to contribute the program’s success and demonstrate a passion and commitment to nurturing and developing the IT leadership community.

“The goal of The TechLX is to put high-potential IT professionals on the fast-track to leadership,” says Dan Roberts, CEO of Ouellette & Associates. “Thanks to the outstanding contributions of these individuals and organizations, it’s also helping to strengthen the technology leadership community in St. Louis and establish it as ‘the place to be in IT.’”

The graduation program was the culmination of a 22-week in-depth leadership development experience for 60 emerging technology leaders from organizations throughout the St. Louis area. These leaders participated in leadership development workshops to increase their strategic business acumen as well as networking, peer problem-solving, and one-on-one mentoring with local CIOs and senior IT leaders.

As part of the graduation event, a CIO panel of IT executives, including Jeff Schuchart, VP IT of Enterprise Fleet Management, David Hackanson, CIO of St. Louis University, and Mike Prusaczyk, VP Enterprise Architecture and IT Strategy for Panera, discussed how to fulfill the need for strategic IT representation in local C-suites.

“In the digital era, the spotlight is on IT leaders,” says Roberts. “They have to be more than just technical experts and solution providers. They need to be strategic business partners and ‘innovative anticipators’ who can drive the business forward. The organizations taking part in The TechLX are leading the way by prioritizing the core skills, networking, and mentorship opportunities that are vital for preparing today’s emerging leaders to step up to tomorrow’s C-level roles.”

The December 9th graduation, held at St. Louis University, honored participants from the first two TechLX cohorts to launch in St. Louis. Three additional cohorts are currently underway or coming soon to the area. TechLX cohorts are also being launched over the next six months in Kansas City, Mo.; Sydney, Australia; Raleigh, N.C.; Phoenix; Philadelphia; Atlanta; Southern California; Denver; and Pittsburgh.

About The Technology Leadership Experience

Presented by Ouellette & Associates, The Technology Leadership Experience (The TechLX) provides an in-depth learning journey for a cohort of mid-level technology leaders within a single city. Through a combination of classroom workshops, peer networking, problem-solving, and mentoring, the program does more than build the next generation of technology leaders; it creates a powerful technology leadership community. For more information, visit thetechlx.com.

About Ouellette & Associates

Over the past 35 years, more than 3,500 organizations worldwide in business, education, and government have relied on Ouellette & Associates (O&A) to fuel their transformation. O&A is the only professional development firm focusing exclusively on developing the human side of technology to unleash the power of IT. Through IT talent development workshops, The Technology Leadership Experience, and IT Skill Builder — a cloud-based assessment, personal development and workforce analytics platform — O&A equips IT organizations, leaders and teams for success in an ever-changing business environment. Learn more at ouellette-online.com.

Ouellette & Associates Launches The Technology Leadership Experience, Leadership Development for the Digital World

Ouellette & Associates has launched The Technology Leadership Experience (The TechLX) a comprehensive leadership development experience designed to strengthen the business acumen and increase the influence of emerging technology leaders in communities across the country and around the world.

“As the technology agenda grows bigger and bolder, there’s a new urgency to get today’s high-potential and emerging IT leaders prepared to take on tomorrow’s C-level roles,” says Ouellette & Associates CEO Dan Roberts. “CIOs are realizing that technology is the engine in our organizations, and if we don’t have the leadership pipeline in place, it’s going to run out of gas.”

The TechLX brings together technology professionals from multiple companies in a city or community who participate in a cohort-based program that includes world-class professional development and skill-building workshops, peer networking, collaborative problem-solving, and a mentoring component that matches participants with experienced leaders in the community for ongoing coaching and real-world advice. The goal is to transform participants from solution providers to strategic business partners and innovation anticipators, while helping them build the networking and problem-solving skills that will serve them in an increasingly disruptive environment.

“There’s never been a better time to be in the technology profession,” Roberts says. “But the pace of change demands a ‘learning agility’ culture. The successful technology leaders will be the ones who are constantly learning and growing, especially when you consider the half-life of a skill today is just 18 months. That’s why this program isn’t just a one-time event. It’s about developing long-term, mutually supportive technology leadership and learning communities.”

The learning journey includes the equivalent of four days of on-site workshops focusing on leadership and soft skills training; three sessions of collaborative brainstorming and problem-solving; three individual meetings with business mentors; several informal sessions with sponsors, mentors, and participants; and individual study.

The professional development workshops address such skills as leading technical people, consulting and becoming a trusted advisor, and marketing IT’s value. These are among the critical leadership needs identified by the 2019 Deloitte Global Human Capital Trends report, Leading the social enterprise: Reinvent with a human focus, as well as a year-long study Ouellette & Associates conducted with Babson College on the “secret sauce” of high-impact IT teams.

The program is currently or in the process of launching cohorts with local partners in St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Charlotte and other cities. To learn more, or to bring it to your community, contact Casey Scheinler, Executive Director, Client Success, Ouellette & Associates, 603-782-7473, cscheinler@ouellette-online.com.

Visit The TechLX online

About Ouellette & Associates
Over the past 30+ years, more than 3,500 organizations worldwide in business, education and government have relied on Ouellette & Associates to fuel their transformation. We are the only professional development firm focusing exclusively on developing the human side of technology to unleash the power of IT. For more information, visit ouellette-online.com.

Ouellette & Associates Announces a New Workshop on Influence, Diplomacy and Organizational Agility

To bring the IT Influence & Diplomacy – Building Organizational Agility workshop to your team,
call O&A at (603) 623-7373 or email Tracy Dinu at tdinu@ouellette-online.com.

BEDFORD, NH; June 21, 2018 - Today’s IT executives are expected to drive innovation and thought leadership as organizations face digital transformation and an accelerating industry disruption cycle. Hierarchical organizations and IT control of technology are giving way to IT in an advisory role with more collaborative relationships. Cross-functional teams, joint projects and company politics blur the lines of authority.

This challenging work environment can bring chaos, confusion and conflict at a time when all IT professionals need to build trust, credibility and respect with their business partners. Unfortunately, this is exactly the time that many IT folks will resort to their technical comfort zone.

Dealing with workplace dilemmas is an unavoidable fact of life, no matter where you sit on the company org chart. Many IT folks experience office challenges because they fail to realize that managing their work environment is just as important as managing their daily technical tasks and projects.

IT professionals who recognize the need to build high-level support are able to develop key alliances, deal with opposition and influence critical decisions. They are more likely to be perceived as high performing leaders, according to research, and move ahead in their careers.

O&A developed this engaging, highly interactive and fast paced workshop to provide you with the awareness, skills and tools to apply influence, diplomacy and agility in your complex work environment. And you’ll see how these will help your IT organization move up the IT Maturity Curve and become recognized as Innovative Anticipators.

At This Workshop You Will Learn How To:

Read the currents, decision networks and power players in your organization
Utilize a range of influence strategies for leading a new direction, breaking through barriers and accessing powerful people
Operate in the best interest of the client and company while increasing your own ability to influence others
Display confidence, credibility and trustworthiness
Demonstrate flexibility in adapting to changing situations and overcoming obstacles
Sense others’ emotions, understand their perspective, and take an active interest in their concerns
Recognize your own emotional triggers and keep disruptive emotions under control
Understand others’ personal interests, motives and business WIIFMs to build relationships with influential people
Recognize individual and group dynamics and tailor messages to appeal to and gain commitment from individuals and groups
Build a clear picture of the people in the organization who can affect outcomes
Understand and maneuver the political, social, cultural climate of the organization

To bring the IT Influence & Diplomacy – Building Organizational Agility workshop to your team,
call O&A at (603) 623-7373 or email Tracy Dinu at tdinu@ouellette-online.com

Building Your Influence, Diplomacy and Organizational Agility

We will help you become adept at the skills needed to influence without direct authority. During this highly interactive, two-day workshop, our goal is to expand your radar screen and increase your comfort zone when dealing with challenges and dilemmas in the workplace.

Changing the Conversation
O&A focuses on Developing the Human Side of Technology. We prepare every member of the IT team to take their game to the next level, becoming Strategic Partners and Innovative Anticipators ™. We are changing the conversation about IT strategy, culture and talent by employing the new "core" competencies and an attitude of "we ARE the business."

Get Started Today!
Bring the IT Influence & Diplomacy – Building Organizational Agility workshop to your team by calling O&A at (603) 623-7373 or email Tracy Dinu at tdinu@ouellette-online.com.

Ouellette & Associates Celebrates Five Milestone Employee Anniversaries

BEDFORD, NH; December 6, 2017 - Ouellette & Associates Consulting, Inc. (O&A) recently celebrated five milestone employee anniversaries, ranging from five years to 25 years with the company.

Anita Leto, West Coast Practice Leader received her 25 year trophy, along with Karen Keller, Director of Operations at 20 years. Casey Scheinler, Relationship Manager and Tracy Dinu, Customer Experience Manager celebrated 10 years, and Chris Costa, Logistics was honored for five years.

O&A president and chief operating officer, Larry Wolff, said “we are honored to have such dedicated and talented people in the O&A family. Their commitment to their teammates is as intense as their dedication to our clients.”

Dan Roberts, O&A CEO, added “These are the people that built this company and I am so proud to honor them today. It’s amazing that we have 70 years of experience among five team members.”

O&A is changing the conversation about IT strategy, culture and talent by “Developing the Human Side of Technology.” Since 1984 the firm has helped more than 3,500 IT organizations worldwide move up the IT Maturity Curve and build a world class IT Talent Brand. O&A’s clients are becoming Strategic Partners, Trusted Advisors, and Innovative Anticipators that are driving new revenue sources, orchestrating new customer experiences, and disrupting their industries.

For more information on O&A, visit www.ouellette-online.com, call 1-800-878-4551 or email Tracy Dinu at tdinu@ouellette-online.com.

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Ouellette & Associates Names Lorraine Ludwicki Relationship Manager

BEDFORD, NH; September 18, 2017 - Ouellette & Associates Consulting, Inc. (O&A) announced today that Lorraine Ludwicki has joined the firm as Relationship Manager. Lorraine is serving the increasing demand for O&A Talent Development services as IT organizations continue to shift their focus to developing the human side of technology.

Lorraine's knowledge and experience spans 25 years in Information Technology, with the past 15 years managing some of IBM's largest legacy and strategic clients. During her career she has also developed deep skills in program management and marketing communications. A highly interpersonal individual, Lorraine has a proven reputation for building deep client relationships and is dedicated to their overall success. Partnering with O&A clients, she will deliver a comprehensive array of proactive services to help IT leaders transform their IT Talent and Culture.

“With a natural curiosity for knowledge, I am thrilled to be part of the O&A team whose core beliefs in continuous learning, professional development and mastering IT core competencies equal my own”, said Lorraine.

“Lorraine brings a solid track record of outstanding client service to the O&A team and our ecosystem of strategic partners. She will play a critical role supporting our clients in their journey up the IT Maturity Curve" said O&A President and COO, Larry Wolff.

Dan Roberts, O&A CEO, added “Lorraine brings the experience, knowledge and spirit to serve that has defined O&A for more than three decades. She will carry on our tradition of outstanding client service as demand or our services continues to increase.”

O&A is changing the conversation about IT strategy, culture and talent by “Developing the Human Side of Technology.” Since 1984 the firm has helped more than 3,500 IT organizations worldwide move up the IT Maturity Curve and build a world class IT Talent Brand. O&A’s clients are becoming Strategic Partners, Trusted Advisors, and Innovative Anticipators that are driving new revenue sources, orchestrating new customer experiences, and disrupting their industries.

For more information on O&A, the IT Maturity Curve and Talent Brand model, visit www.ouellette-online.com, call 1-800-878-4551
or email Tracy Dinu at tdinu@ouellette-online.com.

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Ouellette & Associates Announces Lou Markstrom as Australia Strategic Partner

BEDFORD, NH; May 25, 2017 - Ouellette & Associates Consulting, Inc. (O&A) announced today that seasoned Talent and Culture Development specialist, Lou Markstrom and his company Results Group International have become O&A’s Strategic Partner for continued growth and expansion into the APAC market.

Over the past 25 years, Lou has worked with over 35,000 individuals in a wide variety of companies, organizations and industries to improve results, transform cultures and drive outcomes.
Lou is the co-author of the Australian Edition of "Unleashing the Power of IT: Bringing People, Business and Technology Together" (Wiley, CIO Series, 2014) and writes a monthly article for the on-line edition of CIO magazine. He is currently working with CIO's, IT and HR Leaders to transform their cultures and develop their talent. Lou specializes in working with organizations and individuals to assess their current state, identify future state vision, and create a talent strategy to help them get there.

"There is a tremendous appetite in Australia for O&A's series of IT Talent development services and SaaS-based Talent Management platform. With Lou, we have a strategic partner who is a highly respected thought leader in the CIO community," comments O&A CEO Dan Roberts. "Our expansion in Australia and the APac region will be integral to our plans to triple the size of our company by 2020."

“I’m extremely excited to partner with O&A and to expand and support the talent development and culture transformation of IT organizations throughout Australia. Having known Dan Roberts for many years, it’s a pleasure to partner with someone with such a similar philosophy, mindset and commitment to making a difference in IT organizations throughout the world.” Markstrom said.

O&A is changing the conversation about IT strategy, culture and talent by “Developing the Human Side of Technology.” Since 1984, the company has helped more than 3,500 IT organizations move up the IT maturity curve, shifting from an order taking solution provider to one that is positioned as a strategic partner and "Innovative Anticipator."

For more information on Ouellette & Associates Consulting, Inc., visit www.ouellette-online.com or call 1-800-878-4551. In Australia and New Zealand, contact Results Group International at www.resultsgroupinternational.com or call +61 2 9375 2266.

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Ouellette & Associates Names Anita Leto West Coast Practice Leader

BEDFORD, NH; April 5, 2017 - Ouellette & Associates announced today that Anita Leto has been promoted to West Coast Practice Leader. In her new role, Anita is serving the rapidly increasing demand for O&A services in the western third of the U.S. as IT organizations continue to shift their focus to developing the human side of technology.

Anita has been helping leaders and their teams transform the way they work for over 25 years. She is a contributing author of the book Unleashing the Power of IT: Bringing People, Business and Technology Together (Wiley, 2nd edition). This Amazon best-selling book has defined the new mindset and “core” skill set critical for IT to become “part of the fabric” of today’s ever changing, increasingly complex, business environment. She has also authored and co-authored a variety of articles for industry publications. “I'm so pleased to be in this larger role with O&A, working with our terrific clients and helping them develop the human side of technology” notes Leto.

“With IT becoming the engine of business, CIOs today need to accelerate their journey up the maturity curve. Anita has a unique ability to quickly understand an organization's culture and provide the guidance and thought leadership to bring about positive cultural and performance changes. She has worked extensively with technical professionals and across the C-suite, positioning her very well to continue to expand our business” comments O&A CEO, Dan Roberts.

“At O&A, we have decades-long client relationships and pride ourselves on the lifetime value of these relationships. Anita’s ability to know her client’s business with intimacy and relevance is what keeps her clients highly satisfied, and has served her well in developing long term, sustaining relationships” said O&A President and COO, Larry Wolff.

O&A is changing the conversation about IT strategy, culture and talent by “Developing the Human Side of Technology.” Since 1984, and with laser focus on Culture and Talent, the firm has helped more than 3,500 IT organizations worldwide move up the IT Maturity Curve and build a world class IT Talent Brand. O&A’s clients are becoming Strategic Partners, Trusted Advisors, and Innovative Anticipators that are driving new revenue sources, orchestrating new customer experiences, and disrupting their industries.

For more information on O&A and their research-based IT Maturity Curve and Talent Brand model, visit www.ouellette-online.com or call 1-800-878-4551.

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Ouellette & Associates Names Larry Wolff  President and Chief Operating Officer

BEDFORD, NH; January 3, 2017 - Ouellette & Associates Consulting, Inc. (O&A) announced today that seasoned IT veteran, Larry Wolff has been named President and Chief Operating Officer (COO). Wolff will have responsibility for all of the Company's operating units worldwide. He will report to Chief Executive Officer Dan Roberts.

Wolff has more than 20 years of experience as a CEO, CIO, CTO and management consultant in public, private, international and emerging growth companies. He specializes in corporate and IT strategic planning, IT business alignment, business transformation through IT, business and IT turnarounds, merger integration and large-scale project rescues. His methodologies span industries and scale to companies of all sizes.

Wolff has reported to Boards of Directors in multiple companies and has advised CEOs, CFOs, CIOs and Boards on corporate strategy and IT, driving revenue and earnings growth, cost reductions, customer satisfaction and employee retention.

“O&A is experiencing high demand for our services as the mission of IT organizations evolves. We needed a heavy hitter to run the day to day operations of the company. Larry is a former client of O&A and a very successful CIO. He brings thought leadership with a proven framework for IT strategy that complements our service offerings and creates more value for our clients. Larry is uniquely positioned to take us to the next level, giving me more time to spend with our clients and help them improve the skills and performance of their IT organizations” comments Roberts.
“I am thrilled to be part of an organization that has had such an amazing impact on IT organizations as they prepare to transform their businesses. Having worked with O&A, I intimately understand the quality and value of our services,” said Wolff.

O&A is changing the conversation about IT strategy, culture and talent by “Developing the Human Side of Technology.” Since 1984, the company has helped IT leaders in more than 3,000 IT organizations build a workforce and culture that is recognized by their business partners as not just adding value but leading business transformation.

For more information on Ouellette & Associates Consulting, Inc., visit www.ouellette-online.com or call 1-800-878-4551.

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O&A Announcements