Efm Events

Jack Wilson
Assistant Vice President
Amerisure Mutual Insurance Company

Virtualization has become a “hot topic” in IT circles. The question becomes, does the hype come anywhere close to reflecting the reality? Hear the stunning reality from an organization took the “Think Big” approach and has successfully made the complete Strategic Virtualization transformation (implemented and functioning in production for over two years). Learn the approach they took to overcome the technology and “cultural” issues, critical elements along the “roadmap” to success and learn from the Enterprise Architect’s experience the “must do’s”, the “avoid at all cost” and “better than anticipated” results.

In this session we will discuss how strategic virtualization can streamline, simplify and remove layers of technology (including the “Vista issue”). We will consider this approach in contrast to the normal technology evolution, where new technology is usually layered on top of or along side of existing technology, creating an ever more complex and fragile infrastructure. How implementing a strategic virtual environment for the main reason of creating business value, business flexibility and increased productivity has significant other benefits in the areas of cost-savings, performance, manageability, security, business continuity, disaster recovery, standardization and governance.    

The flexibility and adaptability that the strategic virtualized environment creates, means that the infrastructure won't lag behind the business strategy. With a virtualized infrastructure in place, business strategies changes can now be accommodated without having to make changes to the infrastructure.

Amerisure Insurance will be considered as the case study of a company that made the metamorphosis from a typical complex, inflexible, high cost, physically limiting infrastructure to a streamlined, flexible, efficient and agile virtual infrastructure. Once Amerisure made the initial transformation, other areas for further virtualization became obvious and desirable. This included, servers, mobile notebooks, information assets (documents, video, and audio), faxes and softphones. Take advantage of this opportunity to question and challenge the expertise of an experienced virtualization transformation expert.

Visualizing the Vision of Video Conferencing

Sponsored by Sun Microsystems

Joseph Cassis
Deputy Director
Iowa Communications Network

With the advent of new IP technologies, video conferencing has exponentially offered great opportunities to permit users efficiencies as well as saving significant amount of time and money. Unfortunately, there are several challenges that need to be overcome. This presentation will address how the Iowa Communications Network is facing these challenges and pursuing the opportunities.

Sponsored by Cast Iron Systems

Kurt Althen
Western Region Manager
Wellpoint, Inc.

You’re considering outsourcing your desk side services and are unsure how to go about it…  What process do I use to assure that I select the right supplier?  How do I write a good Service Level Agreement?  How do I get service delivered to all corners of the US? Kurt Althen, from WellPoint, Inc. (one of the top two health insurers in the US) will describe the process, critical success factors, challenges and opportunities encountered in WellPoint’s recent outsourcing acquisition.

Sponsored by Border River

Michael Wyffels
Vice President, Chief Technology Officer
QCR Holdings, Inc.

• Anatomy of an Enterprise Storage Business Proposal
• Use of an Organization Structure to Facilitate a Conversation
• Selling the Concept
• Know Your Audience
• Identify Your Key Stakeholder Champions
• Know Their Interests
• Prepare For Objections
• Identifying Strong Credible Solutions          
• The Business Proposal is About the Business, Not I.T.
• Presenting the Financials
• Q&A

Sponsored by SunGard

Sponsored by Involta