SIM TechExec Agenda
*SIM TechExec Agenda is subject to change. Please check back regularly for updates.
8:00 am - 2:00 pm
SIM Invitational Golf Tournament at Rookery Marco Island
Start TechExec on the fairways of JW Marriott Marco Island’s premiere championship course. The Rookery winds through pristine wetlands and wildlife habitats, offering both challenge and beauty. Enjoy stunning views, friendly competition, and valuable networking in a relaxed setting—with prizes for top play.
Register in advance to save your spot!
2:00 pm - 7:00 pm
SIM TechExec Registration Open
4:15 pm - 5:30 pm
The perfect event to kick off your 2025 SIM TechExec experience!
Hosted by: Monica Dominic, Chief Client Officer, Proteam Solutions Inc.
The 2025 Technology Leaders Speed Networking session is a dynamic event that brings together attendees of the SIM TechExec & TechServe Alliance Executive Summit for targeted networking opportunities. A pre event survey about business interests and needs will match attendees with others that meet their business profile. Participants will switch tables throughout the networking event allowing them to expand their professional network in a casual and fun atmosphere.
Invited participants will include SIM Technology leaders, IT & Engineering staffing leaders & suppliers of IT & Engineering products & services.
Advance registration is required. No additional fee.
5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Join Your SIM TechExec colleagues and TechServe executives for the 2025 Welcome Reception.
Pick up your conversations from speed networking, workshops, or even your day on the golf course, and enjoy an evening of connection and camaraderie. This reception is the perfect setting to spark new relationships while reconnecting with longtime colleagues and friends.
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Networking Breakfast with SIM & TechServe Alliance
Join executives from SIM TechExec and the TechServe Alliance Executive Summit for a morning of connection and conversation—an ideal way to expand your network and share insights before the day’s sessions.
9:00 am - 9:30 am
TechServe Executive Summit & SIM TechExec: Opening & Welcome
Mark Roberts - CEO, TechServe Alliance
Mark Taylor - CEO, Society for Information Management
9:30 am - 10:30 am
TechExec & TechServe Executive Summit Opening Keynote
Leading from the Epicenter
DeMaurice Smith - Former Executive Director, National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) & Author of Turf Wars: The Fight for the Soul of America's Game
DeMaurice Smith, the longtime Executive Director of the NFL Players Association, brings a masterclass in leadership to the stage. With a track record that includes orchestrating landmark collective bargaining agreements, championing health and safety reforms, and boosting player benefits across the board, Smith shares the strategies that guided him through the toughest negotiations in sports. His narrative isn’t just about deals—it’s about courageous, inclusive leadership in high-pressure environments.
In this talk, Smith blends personal storytelling with strategic insights, offering audiences concrete tools to navigate complexity with integrity and vision. Whether you're leading teams through disruption or forging meaningful change across industries, Smith’s talk empowers leaders to stand firm on values while adapting with agility. Expect to walk away motivated—armed with fresh perspectives on resilient leadership, stakeholder alignment, and the power of advocacy to spur progress and trust.
10:30 am - 11:30 am
TechExec Poker Run: Build Your Best Hand While Discovering Our Sponsors
Join us for a fast-paced, high-energy networking experience where everyone’s a winner. Executives will have the chance to build their best 5-card poker hand by visiting sponsor tables, making connections, and having fun along the way!
As you move between bistro tables, you’ll not only collect cards but also learn about the innovative products, services, and solutions our Summit and TechExec Sponsors offer. The more connections you make, the stronger your hand… and the greater your chances to win big!
Don’t miss this lively, interactive event that combines networking, sponsor insights, and a little friendly competition.
11:30 am - 11:45 am
Transition Break
11:45 am - 12:30 pm
The Path to Sustained Excellence: Strategy, Culture, and Team
Join Mark Turner, former CEO of WSFS Bank, as he shares the principles that shaped his success, helping businesses and individuals alike achieve sustained excellence.
All SIM attendees will receive a complimentary copy of Mr. Turner's Book.
12:45 pm - 2:00 pm
Technology Executive Leaders Women's Lunch
Join us for the 17th Annual Technology Executive Women’s Luncheon, co-hosted by TechServe Alliance and SIM. This premier event unites two powerhouse organizations in technology and staffing with a shared mission: advancing women in leadership. In a world where innovation and leadership are inseparable, we’re creating pathways for women to rise, thrive, and lead at the highest levels.
Sponsored by ClearEdge
TechExec & TechServe Executive Summit Networking Roundtable Lunch
Networking Lunch
Connect with SIM colleagues, TechServe friends and subject matter experts in an engaging lunchtime setting. Gain fresh insights, exchange ideas, and walk away with clear takeaways and actionable strategies to strengthen your business.
2:00 pm - 2:15 pm
Transition Break
2:15 pm - 4:15 pm
Work 4.0 - A Product Mindset
The Why & How behind altering the enterprise from a service to a product mindset. With threats of AI consolidating workforces, and yet expediting go-to-market strategies, leaders need to engage their teams and shift mindsets from "me" to "we" as well as redesign their organization structures from "traditional" to "product-centric" in order to remain not only competitive but also relevant.
4:15 pm - 4:30 pm
Transition Break
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
TechServe Executive Summit & TechExec General Session
The Rising Storm: The State of the State
Ron Hetrick - Principal Economist, Lightcast, University of Florida
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Coastal Connections Reception
Where networking meets live music, coastal flavors, and cocktails by the shore
Enjoy an unforgettable evening on the beach with live Yacht Rock, coastal cuisine, and the perfect setting to connect with fellow leaders and peers from both TechServe & SIM.
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Networking Breakfast SIM TechExec & TechServe Executive Summit
Start the day by reconnecting with peers and forging new conversations that build on the momentum from Wednesday. This breakfast brings together SIM TechExec and TechServe Alliance executives to spark fresh ideas and set the tone for a productive day ahead.
9:00 am - 9:15 am
TechServe Executive Summit & SIM TechExec: Opening & Welcome
Mark Roberts - CEO, TechServe Alliance
Mark Taylor - CEO, Society for Information Management
9:15 am - 10:30 am
SIM TechExec & TechServe Executive Summit Keynote
Presented by: Vijay Gurbaxani - Taco Bell Endowed Chair of Technology Management; Professor of Information Systems Director, Center for Digital Transformation, University of California, Irvine
We are entering a new era where artificial intelligence is rewriting the rules of business. AI is not just another technology—it is a force that will redefine industries, reshape work, and recast the role of leadership itself. In this talk, Vijay Gurbaxani explores the opportunities and risks of this transformation, drawing on striking examples of how AI is already reshaping companies and society. He challenges leaders to think differently about value, competitiveness, and the choices that will determine whether their organizations thrive or fall behind. This is a moment of extraordinary promise—and peril. The decisions executives make today will shape the future.
10:30 am - 10:45 am
Transition Break
10:45 am - 11:45 am
Visibility
In an era where executive visibility is essential for influence and impact, CIOs are increasingly turning to platforms like LinkedIn and podcasts to share insights, build thought leadership, and shape industry narratives. This fireside chat explores how strategic visibility not only elevates personal brand but also strengthens organizational credibility. Additionally, networking through philanthropy is emerging as a powerful avenue for CIOs to forge meaningful connections while aligning with purpose-driven initiatives. Together, these approaches position technology leaders at the intersection of innovation, influence, and impact.
11:45 am - 1:00 pm
SIM TechExec & TechServe Executive Summit Networking Roundtable Lunch
Fuel both your mind and your network during this interactive lunch with SIM colleagues, TechServe peers, and industry experts. Beyond great conversation, you’ll gain fresh insights and walk away with actionable strategies to strengthen your business. Roundtable discussion topics—designed to spark dialogue on today’s most pressing challenges and opportunities—will be shared closer to the event.
1:00 pm - 1:15 pm
Transition Break
1:15 pm - 2:15 pm
Joint TechServe and SIM Panel Discussion
The IT Workforce of 2026 and Beyond: Meeting the Needs of Enterprise Amid the AI Revolution
Technology is undergoing a seismic shift. Enterprises, fueled by the rapid adoption of AI, automation, and cloud technologies, are rethinking their workforce strategies and the skills required to move their businesses forward. Industry data underscores this transformation: demand is soaring for AI and machine learning specialists, prompt engineers, cloud architects, DevSecOps professionals, cybersecurity experts, and data storytellers who can translate complex analytics into actionable business insights.
Big questions remain: Where will the talent come from? How should IT teams be structured and staffed? And how critical will human-centric capabilities—emotional intelligence, creativity, critical thinking, adaptability—be to the IT professional of the future? Join a panel of IT leaders and solution providers who will share their perspective on the roles, competencies, and staffing models enterprises will need next.
2:15 pm - 2:30 pm
Transition Break
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Board Insights & Influence
Whether you are targeting a board role yourself or simply looking for greater knowledge around board communications and interactions, this panel of public and private board members will offer practical insights on positioning, governance readiness, and leveraging your unique technology perspective at the executive table. The discussion will equip you with the knowledge, confidence, and connections to take the next step toward mastering boardroom influence.
3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
Closing Keynote - Executive Summit & SIM TechExec
What's Next in Technical Talent Acquisition
Jeff Taylor - Founder/Inventor/Entrepreneur, Monster,Com & Boomband
4:45 pm - 6:00 pm
Closing Reception - Cheers to New Connections!
A joint Closing Reception with TechServe Executive Summit and SIM TechExec