CHICAGO, Feb. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- On February 26, 2013 the Technology Committee of The Executives' Club will host a program on Leveraging Cloud Technology to Drive Business Value, at the IIT Stuart School of Business. Speakers include Tom Clewett, Chief Technology Officer at Exelon, Ken Corless, Executive Director of Business Applications at Accenture; Tony West, VP/CTO, Research & University Relations at Cisco Systems, Jim Ditmore, Senior Vice President Infrastructure Services and  Innovation at Allstate with moderator John Tolva, Chief Technology Officer for the City of Chicago.

Cloud computing is currently a major focus for enterprises. The global market is expected to grow from $40 billion in 2011 to more than $241 billion by 2020 with $100 billion spent worldwide on cloud services in 2012 alone. Speakers will share their insights on ways to leverage the cloud including cost reduction, scalability, data virtualization and mobility. 

Along with its many benefits, cloud computing creates a number of challenges. "CDW's customer experience and research suggests that organizations' adoption of cloud computing has grown steadily alongside increased worker mobility and the consumerization of IT," said Stephen Braat, general manager, cloud solutions at event sponsor CDW.  "Shifting IT capabilities to the cloud while keeping them integrated or coordinated with legacy systems can be technically and organizationally challenging."

Understanding how technology impacts the business is an important part of Chicago's workforce development. "As more and more businesses look to the cloud for a strategic advantage in today's economy, at IIT Stuart, we are giving tomorrow's business leaders the skills to evaluate that technology. Our students learn how to leverage technology and other items of leadership to bring a strategically competitive edge to the workplace", said Harvey Kahalas, PhD, Dean and Harold L. Stuart Professor of Management and Economic Development at IIT Stuart School of Business.

Sponsors for this program include Accenture, CDW and Cisco at the Gold Level and Baker & McKenzie at the Silver Level.

For more information or for tickets, visit http://centennial.executivesclub.org or call The Executives' Club at 312-263-3500.

Event Details: Tuesday, February 26, 2013; Registration and Networking 5:00 – 5:30 pm. Panel Discussion: 5:30 – 6:30 pm, IIT Stuart School of Business, 565 W Adams Street. 

About The Executives' Club of Chicago
One of the nation's oldest and most prestigious organizations, founded in 1911, the Club facilitates strategic relationship development, intellectual exchange and development of future leaders.  Through its Global Leaders, Women's Leadership, Chicago CEO Series and other programming, the Club brings together business, civic and academic leaders from all industries to discuss strategies that address challenges and opportunities affecting Chicago and the world.

SOURCE The Executives' Club of Chicago