Ignite IT forum to spark new ideas, directions in industry

By Stephanie Held, media relations intern

The upcoming Ignite IT forum promotes a passion for change and forward-thinking in the way information technology is used and developed, and is set for Friday, Aug. 5, from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center.

Professionals in the field are given the opportunity to share their innovative ideas as a part of a one day business-academic exchange event, which in turn, is a part of the 2011 Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS). 

Ignite IT is an afternoon of IT-themed presentations with a twist. Speakers will have exactly five minutes to enlighten, inspire and share their story with the Ignite audience. Time ticks down quickly, as the speakers are backed by 20 slides that auto-advance every 15 seconds.

“This forum supports those techy, geeky, out-of-the-box thinkers out there,” said Mohan Tanniru, dean of the Oakland's School of Business Administration. “I want people to come because it is interesting and entertaining to listen to a big idea.”

According to Tanniru, the main goal of this forum is to provoke people to think big and to step away from the mundane moments and everyday thoughts, and to push participants to actually use these ideas to make a dramatic change in their business operations.

Speakers at the Ignite IT event include:

Charlie Wollburg, Curve Detroit
Gary Morin, Elm Analytics & Oakland University
Doug VanSlembrouck, OU alumnus, The Social Philanthropists Foundation
Nick Britsky, i3Detroit
Mike Edwards, OU alumnus, New World Systems
Sean Kramer , Volkswagen
Benn Konsynski, Emory University
Paul Czarnik, Compuware

The 2011 AMCIS event is set for Aug. 4-7 at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance. The conference will welcome more than 800 participants interested in how IT innovations have reshaped the way people and organizations from around the globe interact and collaborate with each other.

The conference is focused on innovations and research in information technology and how they impact information systems curriculum and the education of future workforces and is hosted by Oakland and the Association for Information Systems.

For more information or to register for Ignite IT, view the website. To learn more about programs and events through Oakland's SBA, view the website at oakland.edu/sba.