IBIT

Engages with industry to develop digital knowledge and talent

Fox Information Technology Award Recipients

JOHN K. COLLIER

John Collier

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INNOVATOR AWARD

John Collier is a value-driven digital innovation leader and entrepreneur with extensive cross-industry technology design and development experience. He started as a designer and that perspective continues to guide his career in leading technology design and architecture at Fortune 500 companies.

Currently, Mr. Collier is Vice President, Chief Information Officer at Wawa, Inc. He is responsible for establishing the strategic direction for Wawa’s expanding technology and business services. John leads technology strategy, development, implementation and ongoing operations for Wawa, Inc.

Previously, Mr. Collier was Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer for TracFone Wireless, Inc., America Movil, S.A.B. de C.V. John was responsible for all aspects of technology, including identifying new business models, a Mobile Virtual Network Enabler (MVNE) commerce hosting product, and an industry leading ubiquitous multi-carrier platform featuring an unprecedented consumer mobile experience.

As Corporate Vice President – Global Chief Architect for Walmart, John led technology architecture strategy across 28 countries and was charged to establish the Intellectual Property Management and Monetization organization. He designed such public facing strategies as “Clicks and Bricks”, Pick-Up Today, Price Match Guarantee, Savings Catcher and Disc to Digital.

He is credited with several patents including an industry altering Flexible Store Fulfillment patent. John holds a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts from Ball State University.

NINETEENTH ANNUAL IT AWARDS

ANGELA HEISE

Angela Heise

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LEADER AWARD

Angela Heise is President of the Civil Group at Leidos. In this capacity, she is responsible for providing solutions to U.S. Cabinet-level civil agencies and major elements of the public and private sector across the globe. Focus areas include air traffic automation, energy and the environment, federal infrastructure and logistics, IT and cybersecurity, and homeland and transportation security.

Prior to this role, Heise served as vice president of Commercial Markets for Lockheed Martin-Commercial Cyber, where she was responsible for the delivery of a portfolio of cybersecurity and information technology solutions and services to commercial Global 1000 customers.

Heise holds a bachelor of science degree in computer science from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) and is an alumna of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.

She was recently named to SIUE’s Alumni Hall of Fame as well as Washington Exec’s Top 25 Executives to Watch in 2018, in what has been dubbed as The Year of the Transformational Leader.  Heise was also recognized in 2013 as one of Federal Computing Week’s Top 100 Executives and in 2012 as one of Aviation Week’s Top 40 Under 40.

NINETEENTH ANNUAL IT AWARDS

JOHN TURNER

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LEADER AWARD

Turner, Vice President and CIO, Information Technology, leads the global information technology organization at 3M. In this role, he oversees an array of 3M’s global IT functions, from infrastructure and applications to client-facing and digital-commerce solutions. He leads a team of more than 1,600 3Mers and 2,000 professional services resources.

Since assuming his role in 2013, Turner and his team have contributed significantly to 3M—rationalizing more than 3,000 applications with primary area ERPs, standardizing processes and reducing cost to serve with an end-to-end SAP solution. As part of 3M’s business transformation, his team has also established a robust technology governance structure and implemented new cloud solutions, global service models and digital commerce solutions.

Turner joined 3M in 1990 and has served in a variety of IT and financial roles with the company. Most recently, he was director of 3M’s global IT infrastructure services group.

Prior to joining 3M, he served in various finance roles at Honeywell.

Turner holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and marketing from the University of Minnesota, and is a Certified Professional Contracts Manager.

EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL IT AWARDS

JAMES RHEE

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INNOVATOR AWARD

James Rhee, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Ashley Stewart, is an impact-focused entrepreneur, investor, operator and educator. As both CEO and investment firm founder, Mr. Rhee has generated market-leading returns by creating bespoke capital and operational solutions through the contemporaneous application of algorithmic, technological and cultural change. He has a uniquely diverse network and knowledge base spanning the private equity, retail/consumer, venture and media/technology communities. At Ashley Stewart, as Chairman and CEO, Mr. Rhee has authored and executed upon an innovative complement of CRM, digital and organizational changes that have transformed a twice bankrupt, unprofitable brick-and-mortar retailer with decades of operating losses into an industry leader founded upon a values-based, social commerce paradigm. FirePine Group, the investment firm he founded in 2009, has invested the capital of some of the world’s most sophisticated investors and their family offices to successfully fuel transformative and impactful change in multiple enterprises, including Ashley Stewart.

Prior to this, Mr. Rhee was a senior investment professional at two leading, Boston-based investment firms, one specializing in growth and the other focused on distress. Mr. Rhee has played a leadership role in multiple platforms, including the carve-out of the Meow Mix brand from Ralston Purina, the purchase and then turnaround of Murray’s Discount Auto Stores from a bank group, the growth catalyst investment in Mattress Firm and the turnaround of Ultra Diamonds.

Mr. Rhee is a visiting lecturer at Duke Law School and teaches his proprietary valuation and happiness class at leading educational institutions and professional organizations across the country. He is a regional winner of the E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the recipient of one of five 2016 Power Player Awards granted by the National Retail Federation, and the 2017 recipient of the Black Retail Action Group Business Achievement Award. He is a member of the board of the National Retail Federation.

Mr. Rhee received his AB with honors from Harvard College and his JD with honors from Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. He lives outside Boston with his wife and three daughters. He is a former high school teacher.

EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL IT AWARDS

DAVE KOTCH

Dave Kotch, FMC

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

Dave Kotch, Vice President & Chief Information Officer, began his career with FMC in 1984.  Since then, he has held various positions within the Information Technology (IT) organization.  Dave was instrumental in leading FMC’s SAP implementation in the late 1990’s and formed FMC’s SAP competency center, which provided support for the SAP systems following the implementation.  In 2002, Dave was promoted to Director of Information Technology and served in that role until he was appointed Chief Information Officer in 2007.

During his tenure as Chief Information Officer, Dave and his organization have helped FMC complete multiple acquisitions and divestitures which transformed FMC into a leading global agricultural chemical company.

Dave is a member of the Mercy Health Systems Board of Directors and its compliance subcommittee.  He is also a member the Chemical Information Technology Center’s CIO organization and the CIO Executive Summit, belongs to various business associations and resides on several boards within his local community.

He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems with a minor in Economics from King’s College, and a Master of Business Administration degree in Marketing from Temple University.

EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL IT AWARDS