How will your role at AAIA change with the new title?
I am devoting more of my time to the IT policies and decisions within AAIA. My position description says I'm responsible for the entire computing environment. Like any one of our members, we're looking at server virtualization, cloud computing, and mobile devices that folks bring into the office. "Bring your own device" (BYOD) is here, whether it's a smartphone or a tablet or other device. As a CIO you really have to take responsibility for the security of those devices and other IT concerns.
I'm quickly getting up to speed on threats and concerns that anyone operating a modern network needs to be on top of. I have the highest respect and regard for members who operate far larger and more complex networks than we have here.
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Will your role with the technology standards committee change?
My duties won't change. We've got a strong staff here, and I'm fortunate to retain my responsibility with the technology standards committee. I'm joined in that effort by our newest colleague, Taylor Mitchell, who is manger of industry standards at AAIA. My first love is still working with the standards committee, and I get to keep that duty.
What's on the agenda for 2013?
Relative to standards, the new year is going to begin with revised versions of our cornerstone initiatives, PIES and ACES. Minor revisions are being released in January for both.
Then there's the sunset of the legacy standard after 15 years of service. The make/model table is going away. Some companies will be well into 2013 before they completely process that change.
I would say that most significant new tool in our arsenal is the standardization of product-specific attributes. The PAdb will be introduced early in new year, and bring order to how we describe and define performance and physical attributes of thousands of unique product types. Standardization of attributes will help sell more product, and sell more product the first time. It's a huge undertaking, and we'll be devoting a lot of resources to it in 2013.
