Leading to Stay Infront of Your Business and Its Technology

Join Fred and the local SIM community for an interactive discussion on ways he has seen and used that allow strategic IT leaders to stay innovative and build teams to advance their businesses to greater success, in the disruptive and constantly changing world we live in. 

Learning Outcomes:

Hear about and participate in discussions that identify activates and approaches you can really leverage to that really make a difference in your growth and legacy.

Biography

Fred Pond is a semi-retired former business executive and CIO. He currently works part time as a CIO consultant and advisor; as a Board of Directors member for companies and non-profits; and facilitates a leadership development program (RLF), a large cap CIO group (APC), and an Executive Coaching program for the Society for Information Management (SIM). 

Fred retired (February 2017) from his Vice President and Chief Information Officer role at Columbia Sportswear Company, the Oregon based designer, developer, distributor and retailer of apparel and footwear for the outdoor and active consumer with revenues of more than $3B, 6,000 employees, and operations and product sales in more than 100 countries across the globe. In this role, Fred was responsible for Global Information Services (GIS) and Technology for the company with a team of over 300 people spread across more than a dozen countries, and a capital and operating budget of more than $75M annually.

Before Columbia, Fred worked from 2006 to 2010 as Chief Information Officer of North Pacific Group (NPG) a $1.3B Portland based distributor of lumber, building materials, and food products. In his role at NPG, he led a successful and complete rebuilding of the company’s technology organization and infrastructure. 

Prior to NPG, Fred worked from 1997 to 2005 leading the Information Systems and Technology organization for the Schnitzer Group of Companies; a Portland, Oregon based group of six independent but related companies made up of: Schnitzer Steel Industries (self-service auto parts, recycled metals and steel manufacturing), Schnitzer Investment Co. & Schnitzer Northwest (real estate development and management), Lasco Shipping & Liberty Maritime (ocean shipping and freighter owner and operators), and Island Equipment Company (real estate and gas products manufacturing & distribution). These diverse businesses comprised approximately $1.2B in annual revenues and $1.8B in assets. In his role he and his staff completely replaced the majority of all technology infrastructure, hardware, networking, and application software & systems throughout these six businesses. 

Prior to the Schnitzer Group, Fred worked from 1990 to 1997 in various roles including Leading the Information Systems and Technology Organization for Stevedoring Services of America (SSA), now SSA Marine/Tideworks Technology. SSA is one of the largest shipping terminal operating, cargo logistics companies and technology providers in the U.S. and also have significant operations in ports in more than 40 locations globally. In his role at SSA, he was responsible for significant improvements in technology infrastructure and development of complex custom cargo management and cargo logistics systems that gave SSA major competitive advantage, and to this day continues to differentiate their business from their competitors under the Tideworks Technology brand.

Prior to his 27 years of IT management in industry, Fred worked as an accountant and consultant with the Arthur Andersen & Co. and then Andersen Consulting for more than 7 years. His roles there included progressive responsibilities from staff accountant and consultant to consulting manager with responsibility for multiple clients and engagements mostly in the manufacturing and distribution industry sectors.

Fred was born in Logan Utah, but grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho, he graduated cum laude from the University of Idaho in 1983 with a B.S. in Business with a major in accounting and a minor in computer science.  He is a former CPA.

Fred has been married to Cherie for 36 years, they have two grown children Natalie and Allison. They all love travel, sports, outdoors and getting together with family.  

Fred has participated and led advisory boards in the past including: Society for Information Management (SIM), the CIO Forum of the Technology Association of Oregon (TAO), Quest JD Edwards Global User Group, the Operations and Technology major at the Pamplin School of Business at the University of Portland and been on local company boards SourcePanel, Gear Up Sports and IGNW. He currently participates in boards of local business - Shelter Products and a not-for-profit vacation property the Sawtelle Club.

Fred has and continues to be active and volunteer with a number of organizations including: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Providence Cancer Center, Meals on Wheels for Kids, and The University of Idaho. 

Fred was honored as one of ComputerWorld’s Premier 100 IT Leaders for 2003. This award annually recognizes 100 Industry IT Leaders that have made significant changes and contributions to their company.  For more detail refer to www.premier100.com.

Agenda for Chapter Events:

5:15 – 6:20:  Cocktails & Networking

6:20 – 6:50:  Dinner

6:50 – 7:00:  Announcements

7:00 – 7:05:  Speaker Introduction and talk

7:05 – 7:50:  Keynote Presentation

7:50 – 8:10:  Q&A

8:10 – 8:15:  Wrap-up & Conclusion

Events are usually sold out. Secure your seat and take advantage of the early-bird pricing by registering by 9/4/2024, one week before the event.