McCombs School of Business
Events

BizIT 2008 Judges

2003 Judges


Abel Banda, Brandon James & Travis Landers


Connie Fuentes, Steve Sweeney & Amy Rozell (and Connie's sister Ana)

Learn more about the BizIT's outstanding
volunteer judges.


Kavita Agrawal, IBM

Kyle Andreas Kavita Agrawal is a 2005 Bachelor of Science graduate of the University of Colorado - Boulder Computer Science Engineering program. She has been working in IBM-Austin since 2002 as a co-op and then as software engineer. Kavita has worked in Linux Technology Center, Pervasive Computing Advanced Technology divisions in the Past. She currently works in the WebSphere Quality Center of Competence as a Software Engineer in for System Test with Customer Focus. Kavita is an Early Tenure Inventor at IBM and has 14+ patents in areas ranging from business processes to cutting edge technology of RFID. Kavita’s interests lie in Innovating technology, Movies and Games.

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Kyle Andreas, Ernst & Young

Kyle Andreas Kyle graduated in 2005 from the McCombs School of Business with a BBA in MIS. After graduation, Kyle worked in the Dallas Forensic Technology & Discovery Services division of Ernst & Young’s Risk Advisory Services practice. During his 2+ years in FTDS, Kyle specialized in a variety of legal technology services including computer forensics, electronic discovery, and forensic data mining. He has gained valuable experience with large clients in the semiconductor, pharmaceutical, energy, and software industries. In late 2007, Kyle transferred into the Austin Technology and Security Risk Services practice within Ernst & Young. In the TSRS group, Kyle has assisted clients in testing their logical access and change management processes for key financial systems. Kyle resides in Austin, Texas with his wife, Julie, and their three cats, Lizzie, Lucky, and Waffles.

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Michael Arellano, Shell

Michael is a Senior Consultant with Shell. He currently works as a business analyst in Downstream IT focused mainly on Manufacturing. He has held many different positions in his 15 years with Shell; they have encompassed many aspects of IT. The roles include: Project Manager, Application Support Team Lead, Implementation Lead and Software Developer. In addition, he has been a campus recruiter for the past 8 years and is a member of the Shell UT-Austin Business Team. While at Shell he has been involved with the Shell Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) effort through various employee networks and diversity councils. He has also organized and participated in many community service efforts. Michael graduated from Lamar University with a BS degree in Computer Science in 1990. He is a veteran of the US Navy.

Eric Bates, EDS

Eric Bates As part of EDS for nearly 22 years, Eric Bates currently oversees the identification of preferred Application related tools that are used by over 30,000 EDS personnel in the field. He has performed many roles with EDS, including business analysis, technical development, technical leadership, account leadership, sales support, portfolio management and program management. Most recently, Eric led a multi-year program to establish standard Agile Application Architecture practices within EDS.

Eric has spent time with EDS in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Texas. He has supported many different clients including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Metropolitan Life, Johnson & Johnson, ITT Hartford, and the U.S. Army.

Eric has been tapped as a thought leader and innovator within EDS. Eric developed and represented a number of web related offerings – including custom web applications, portals, content management and e-commerce. He is frequently consulted on trends in the marketplace, software products, value propositions, offering development, organizational strategy and more.

Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Eric currently lives in Frisco, Texas.  When he's not chasing after his twin 4-year-olds, he enjoys riding bicycles and playing racquetball.

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Anthony Dasari, IBM

Anthony Dasari Mr. Dasari has over 18 years of hands-on leadership experience in multiple aspects of business management from strategy to execution of business plans by aligning sales, sales operations, Go-To-Market, Routes-To-Market, competitive sales plays, acquisitions, development guidance and investment prioritization.

To name a few of his accomplishments, he successfully launched and grew an IT systems integration company to $5M in 3 years; lead the strategy, portfolio analysis, investment prioritization of 29 IBM product families with revenue of $1.2 Billion.In his early stages of his career served as an Airforce officer.

He currently works as the worldwide services offering manager for IBM. In his current role he is responsible for strategy and market execution of a $300M IBM services portfolio.

Mr. Dasari graduated from UT at Austin with an MBA and Master of Science in Computer Science from Oklahoma. He has multiple patents,publications and awards to his credit.

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Lori Dipprey, Pariveda Solutions

Lori Dipprey Lori is a 1998 graduate of the UT MIS program. She joined Pariveda Solutions in October 2005. Pariveda Solutions is an IT and managerial consulting company helping companies focus on the Business of IT® with offices in Dallas, Houston, Denver, Chicago, Detroit and Seattle. Lori has nine years of management and technology consulting experience spanning the energy, transportation, software, retail and health care industries. She assists clients in planning, designing and implementing technology solutions to support their strategic vision and tactical needs. She started as a programmer, became a project manager and is now part of the Management Team at Pariveda. Her emphasis is on managing large scale projects and delivering enterprise solutions utilizing Microsoft .NET. Lori has taught courses in development methodologies, .NET development and computer continuing education. She has lead several leadership programs and served as a career coach.

Lori lives with her husband, Ged, in Dallas with their dog Hurley. She is a member of Junior League and volunteers at Children’s Medical Center. She also works with Providence Children’s Home in Ngong, Kenya and traveled there this past September to visit and document the stories of 18 orphan girls that live at the home.

Connie Fuentes, Apple

Connie Fuentes In 2008, Connie joined Apple as iPod product allocater for all of Latin America. Previously, Connie worked for Compaq/HP for over seven years. At the start of her career, Connie performed various functions such as web design and development, program management, world wide IT rollouts; trainings for supply chain web tools, and SAP Order Management (OM) analyst. Connie's work concentration is business process improvements for supply chain functions. She has worked in numerous countries, including Australia, Japan, México, Brazil, and France.

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Brian Garsson, Sense Corp

Sandeep Gonsalves Brian Garsson is a co-founder and managing partner of Sense Corp. Over the years he has served as Sense Corp’s COO, CTO, and head of business development. Brian has consulted for 18 years in manufacturing, energy, healthcare, and financial services. He has partnered with many Fortune 500 firms and has played a strategic role in helping small companies bridge the gap to large organizations. He is a former Accenture manager and holds a BBA in Finance from the University of Texas. Additionally, he has served on several advisory boards for charitable organizations, the most current being the Texas 4000 for Cancer.

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Sandeep Gonsalves, Deloitte Consulting

Sandeep Gonsalves Sandeep Gonsalves is a Consultant at Deloitte Consulting LLP in the Technology Integration service area. He graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2005 with a master’s degree in computer science. While at school, he worked part time at the SMU Cox School of Business on a content management system that managed the school’s website. Sandeep has a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from the University of Mumbai and is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery. He enjoys volunteering for the Junior Achievement program, traveling and mountain biking.

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Katie Gray, Accenture

Katie Gray In 2003, Katie graduated cum laude from the McCombs Business School with a BBA in MIS and Business Honors. After finishing her coursework at UT, she completed a Master of Science in MIS at Texas A&M University's Mays School of Business. As a Financial Analyst for Tivoli Software (a division of IBM), Katie developed software tools for the preparation and analysis of financial measurements and audit. Recently, Katie accepted a role with Accenture in the Business and Systems Integration Consulting group. She is currently staffed as a Business Analyst and Java Developer on a project for the Internal Revenue Service. Katie lives with her husband, Andrew, in south Austin. In her spare time, she is a semi-professional wedding planner and knitting instructor.

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Jenn Hartfield, Sungard Enform

Jenn Hartfield

Jenn is a 1999 graduate of the UT MIS program. She started her career with SunGard Consulting Services (formerly EnForm), and is currently a Manager in their Dallas office. She has experience in all phases of the systems development life cycle, with particular focus in business analysis, project management, and database design & development.

For the past several years she has grown her functional knowledge in the energy industry, beginning with the deregulation of the Texas electricity market. Most recently, she has managed several key initiatives for a natural gas retail client, including rollout of a new platform for billing Industrial Sales & Transport customers, leading an Engineering & Operations Program Management Office to oversee system conversions related to a major acquisition, and providing subject matter expertise for consolidating Asset Management processes across all utility operations business units.

Jenn and her husband Jon live in Plano, TX with their dog Frankie. She’s involved in many extra-curricular activities, mostly in music and church. She particularly enjoys singing in Concordia Lutheran’s praise team, and is an amateur singer/songwriter for her band Living Water.

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Brandon M. James, ExxonMobil Corporation

Brandon James Brandon graduated from the McComb's School of Business in May 1999 with a MIS concentration. He went to work in Houston for ExxonMobil where he has worked as a systems analyst, IT security auditor, and a project team leader. His work experience includes system security verification, security and controls consulting, system design and planning, project management and execution, and team leadership. Brandon's hobbies include running, traveling, reading spy novels, trying to find the perfect beach, and playing with his kids. Most recently, Brandon took his first skiing lessons in Tahoe for New Year's and is now in physical therapy to recuperate from a pulled hamstring and sprained wrist!

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Jason Kelley, IBM

Jason Kelley is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. After his time in service as an Airborne Ranger Infantryman he accepted an opportunity in the private sector with Clayton Homes in Knoxville, TN (CMH). With his work at CMH focused in marketing and business development he eventually led the successful start-up of a new subsidiary of the company, Clayton Commercial Buildings. In 1998 Jason accepted an offer to restructure the business development and marketing arm of the Department of Economic Development for Tennessee Governor, Don Sudquist. Later in 2000, he and a partner started their own marketing services firm in Nashville and Memphis, TN. After earning his MBA from the SMU Cox School of Business, Jason joined the Industry Solutions team in IBM Software Group.

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Mary Beth Kelley, IBM

Mary Beth Kelley

Mary Beth has worked for IBM for over 25 years in almost every aspect of software product development: as a programmer, test team leader, architect, functional manager, project manager, and strategic planning manager. She has also managed strategic relationships for IBM with various key partner companies. She has held division-wide responsibilities as a Business Process Reengineering Leader, Division CIO, and business operations manager. She has had revenue responsibility for a $60M software product portfolio, has advised executives on the viability of new business opportunities, and has had responsibility for the Industry Solutions asset strategy for the Software Group services team. She recently moved from IBM Software Group to IBM’s Global Technology Services team, where she is responsible for business planning for a $600M Middleware Services portfolio of services offerings.

Mary Beth earned her BA in Plan II at UT Austin, with a concentration in Math and Computer Science. She is a registered facilitator and has a Master’s Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University. She holds three U.S. patents for software inventions. She is a native Austinite and an avid, lifelong Longhorn fan. Among her many interests, she and her family raise trail horses just outside of Austin in Bee Cave, Texas.

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Tim Marsden, Hewlett-Packard

Tim Marsden Tim is a leader in Product Management & Development with over 16 years in Finance, IT and Telecomms. He has proven success in delivering innovative, profitable product strategy, and driving sustainable business growth through a targeted product marketing approach.

Tim serves as a CME CTO lead for EMEA region customer engagements, is lead interface into CME Solutions and HP Labs teams, oversight and development of the new CME Innovation Program Office (IPO), development of roadmaps with Solutions and Labs, and building relationships with CTOs in the EMEA region.

Prior to HP Tim was Head of Products for Easynet (BSkyB) and was instrumental in evolving the business from an SME to a pan-European enterprise service provider. He developed the product strategy and aligned the organisation to deliver the significant development required to translate enterprise communication requirements into a market leading IP service portfolio. Tim was previously Director of Product Management & Development at Via Networks Inc. with responsibility for a pan-European portfolio of voice and data services. Tim has also held senior product positions at Storm Telecommunications; delivering optical and IP networking services to wholesale and enterprise markets and a start-up ISP Aduronet.

Tim resides in London, UK with his wife, and 2 sons.

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Christina McMillan, Silent Technology LLC

Christina McMillan Christina McMillan is President of Silent Technology LLC, an international manufacturing and retail firm which produces educational products designed to improve student's test scores on important exams. With manufacturing outfits in China and retail distribution in over 400 stores nationwide, Silent Technology has seen tremendous growth since it's outset in 2003.

Christina graduated with a degree in Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin in 2003. As President, Christina runs day to day operations, quality control, manufacturing, finance and accounting, as well as planning and programming the necessary additions to the firms web based customer relationship and inventory management system.www.silenttimer.com

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Erik McMillan, ProAce Consulting

Erik McMillanErik McMillan is co-founder and partner of PROACE Technology Services, Inc., a full service technology consulting firm specializing in software development for medium to large corporations. PROACE consults clients on technology and business strategies with a core focus in Microsoft .NET and SQL Server. Erik graduated in 2003 with Honors from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Management Information Systems, specializing in databases, information technology, and the economic implications of information technology. He studied under distinguished professors Anitesh Barua and Prabhudev Konana during his senior year which helped form his strong foundations and alliances to technology and business. Erik is also CEO of Silent Technology LLC, which manufactures and retails educational products helping students worldwide improve their homework and testing scores. Erik currently operates PROACE and Silent Technology. Visit www.proace.com and www.silenttimer.com for further company information.

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Donna Murphy, ConocoPhillips

Donna Murphy

Donna has worked for ConocoPhillips for 15years. She is currently the Director Technical and Business Information Services. In this role she is responsible for delivering IT operational support to the upstream geoscience/engineering technology and exploration functions located at the ConocoPhillips headquarters complex in Houston. Donna has worked in many different roles and locations within the US and UK, including operations support manager, director of technical data management, major capital project IT lead, LAN system administrator, solutions analyst and application developer. She is a graduate of the University of Houston–with a Masters Degree in Computer Science.

Donna serves on the New Hire Development Network, the governing body accountable for early career development of IT professionals at ConocoPhillips. She is also lead recruiter at the University of Texas at Austin for IT disciplines and welcomes any student who has an interest in learning more about IT internships and employment opportunities at ConocoPhillips to contract her at Donna.C.Murphy@ConocoPhillips.Com.

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Racheal Okotie, Conoco Phillips

Racheal Okotie Racheal has worked for ConocoPhillips for 3.5 years. She is currently serving as a Business Solutions Analyst in the Houston headquarters location. In this role she is responsible for delivering IT operational support to the Drilling and Production Organization. Racheal started with ConocoPhillips through their intern program, and since being hired on full-time in June of 2005, has worked in a variety of roles. She worked in the leveraged SharePoint group in Bartlesville for 6 months before moving to Houston to work in a business support role. There, she finished her new hire training and began work supporting upstream organizations. Her current projects include serving as Project Manager for a conference room technology upgrade, and training to become successful in her new role as Solutions Analyst supporting the D&P organization. Racheal is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with dual degrees in Management Information Systems and Human Resource Management.

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Anil Patel, Deloitte Consulting

Anil Patel

Anil Patel is a 2001 graduate of the MIS program. After leaving UT, Anil began working for Maxim Street Consulting and eventually transitioned into a nonprofit career in Information Management for St. Edward's University in South Austin. He completed his Masters in Computer Information Systems at St. Edward’s while he helped manage the university's administrative database.

During his time working and attending St. Edward’s, Anil partnered with several other nonprofit organizations such as American Youthworks and the Central Texas Red Cross. He remains an active volunteer for both groups. After receiving his Masters degree, Anil published two articles in the St. Edward's business journal "Perspectives in Business" concerning Human Resource Practices in IT and Bluetooth Wireless Technology.

After his most recent transition, Anil became a Consultant for Deloitte's Technology Integration practice. In addition to his work at Deloitte, he also enjoys volunteering for the MIS Steering Committee and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Texas.

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Ben Pham, Southwest Airlines

Ben Pham Ben Pham graduated in 2007 from the McCombs School of Business at UT with a concentration in MIS. At UT, Ben was a Peer Career Advisor in the McCombs Career Center, TA for Elota Patton, and held numerous positions in MISA. After graduation, Ben Pham joined the Supply Chain Team at Southwest Airlines in Dallas, TX where he works as a software engineer and a business analyst. Ben’s role consists of gathering requirements from users, fixing defects, creating new features, and implementing the changes to various applications. Ben enjoys playing volleyball and doing yoga at work during lunch time. Also, Ben enjoys volunteering and participates in non profit events. For his spare times and when he has money, Ben likes to travel since he gets free flights from Southwest Airlines and buddy passes for his friends. Southwest Airlines flies to 64 cities in 32 states, so Ben’s goal is to visit each of the states and cities.

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Brent Reid, Alexandri

Brent Reid Brent Reid is President of Alexandri, a Document and Records Management consulting firm based in Austin Texas. He has been participating in the BizIT project since it’s second year, assisting in case development and judging the competition. He brings to the table over 15 years of IT experience from various industries including Internet Banking, Local Government and Federal Government, Finance, Real Estate and others.

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Greg Rybczynski, IBM

Greg Rybczynski Greg is a 2006 Master of Business Administration graduate of the University of Texas - Austin MBA program. He is also a 2001 Bachelor of Science graduate of the University of Colorado - Boulder Computer Science Engineering program. Since his graduation from the Univeristy of Colorado in 2001, he has been located in Austin working at IBM. He has held roles in software development (AIX) and AIX quality assurance. Currently a software engineer, he continues his technical and business hybrid focus as a business critical support engineer. When not directly helping customers, he's creating new solutions with over 15 patents - and more pending - on numerous cutting edge technologies, including on the subject of RFID. When not working, Greg enjoys playing competitive sports and games.

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Rory Richardson, Microsoft

Rory Richardson Before completing her MIS degree at McCombs in 2006, Rory was the Marketing Manager for a power generation start-up in England. She currently is a Microsoft SharePoint Product Manager focused on Deployment & Adoption. Rory and her fiancée share a love for food, wine, and travel. Having recently returned from a trip to southern China, Rory declared she will never, ever eat turtle again…but Taiwanese wild grape mountain wine isn’t half bad.

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