Software Council of Southern California

It is rare to have an opportunity to hear directly from CIOs of major southland corporations. Because of that, both AITP and SCSC will hold their first ever joint meeting. We hope you will join us for this special event.

About the Speakers

Babak Aghevli, Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Candle Corporation
Babak Aghevli manages Candle's worldwide IT resources and directs all operational technology programs. With more than 20 years of experience in IT and program management, Aghevli owns an impressive record of directing IT initiatives that increase operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Prior to joining Candle, Aghevli served as a senior manager for BearingPoint Inc. (formerly KPMG). In this capacity, he designed and directed the implementation of business process reengineering and IT solutions. He also held executive and management positions at MCI Telecommunications, Excel Telecommunications and e.spire Communications. Aghevli was integral to designing and managing one of the world's largest Wide Area Networks while at MCI Telecommunications.

Janet Parr is Executive Vice President, IT Services, for Countrywide
Janet Parr is Executive Vice President, IT Services, for Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. (CHL), the nation's leading residential mortgage lender. Parr has direct responsibility for the Central Information Technology Services Division, which includes eBusiness Technology, Messaging, Information Security, Technology Risk Management, Systems Process Engineering, Central Project Office and the Strategic Planning areas. She began her career at Countrywide in 1993, and has served as Senior Vice President, Central Information Technology Administration and Senior Vice President, Groupware and Messaging. Prior to joining Countrywide, she was a Business Systems Consultant for Johnson & Higgins. Janet holds a BS, Management Information Systems from California State University, Northridge. She is currently pursuing her MBA at California Lutheran University. She is on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Simi Valley, and an active member in WITI (Women in Technology International) and the UCLA-Anderson Information Systems Associates.

Fred Held, Partner, Tatum Partners, CIO Partner
Fred Held is currently engaged as an Executive Consultant assisting Danone Waters of North America plan for a joint venture with the Suntory Water Group. The engagement includes acting as the project lead of a team of top management planning the transition activities necessary to effectively operate the JV. Fred Held is a Partner in the Information Technology Leadership practice of Tatum Partners and acting CIO at Donone Waters of North America. He brings over thirty-five years of senior executive leadership skills and technical expertise to Tatum's clients working in multiple platforms, high volume environments, servicing high transaction, and high availability enterprise wide-systems. Executive management and leadership have been demonstrated by building and leading effective enterprise-wide IT, Marketing, Manufacturing and Distribution teams in complex high growth and turnaround and start-up situations. Fred earned a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering, Concentrations in Systems Analysis and Operations Research, University of Southern California 1964 and 1961. Fred teaches e-business, Ecommerce, Marketing, Information Technology, World Class Manufacturing, Statistical Process Control, Rapid Prototyping, Financial Planning and Control for the University of California at Los Angeles, the University of California at Riverside and the Art Institute of California at Los Angeles.

Moderated by Tony Karrer, CEO & CTO, TechEmpower