The 19th Annual WIT Connect will be held on June 13, 2013 at the Georgia Aquarium. WIT Connect is a unique, auction-style fundraiser where companies come to network and bid on quality time with Georgia’s top technology executives, mostly from the C-suite. More than $1.8 million has been raised since 2007, and proceeds from the event fund WIT and WIT Foundation programs and initiatives.
Co-chaired by Intercontinental Hotel Group’s CIO Eric Pearson and jobTopia Partner Betsy Robinson, the auction at WIT Connect 2013 will feature meetings with multiple executives from four live auction companies: American Cancer Society, Carter’s, Intercontinental Hotels Group and SunTrust.
Eric Pearson/IHG 
Eric Pearson is Chief Information Officer for IHG. In this capacity, he is accountable for all technology systems supporting IHG hotels and corporate offices globally. This includes the development and application of all global systems supporting our day-to-day business of driving top-line revenue.
Previously, as Chief Marketing Officer for the Americas division of IHG, Eric was accountable for all sales and marketing activities across IHG brands in the regions, including brand marketing, global sales, and revenue management. In addition to his responsibilities, Eric became interim Head of Global Brands in July 2011.
Prior to this, Eric served as Senior Vice President, Distribution Marketing, where he was responsible for overseeing IHG’s worldwide channels including reservation centers, e-commerce, 3rd party intermediaries, global revenue management, and channel marketing. Under his leadership, IHG launched several industry firsts including the Lowest Internet Rate Guarantee, Web language support for 12 languages including Japanese and Chinese with full booking and loyalty program integration. IHG also launched the first wireless services products enabling researching and booking capability on hundreds of mobile devices and platforms.
Betsy Robinson/jobTopia 
Betsy Robinson is a Partner at jobTopia and serves as a Director of IT Services. She co-founded the Information Technology staffing division, and is responsible for new business development, building and expanding existing client relationships, recruiting strategy, managing high performing teams, strategic planning, sales support and wearing any hat that needs to be worn in a growing company.
jobTopia is a full service contract staffing and direct hire search firm specializing in Information Technology and Accounting Finance. Because they’ve limited their focus to the Finance & Accounting and Information Technology industries, their professional advisors are deeply familiar with the common challenges people experience. Their expertise allows their clients to spend less time worrying about hiring decisions and more time focused on improving the performance of their team.
Jay Ferro/American Cancer Society 
Prior to joining the American Cancer Society in 2012, Jay Ferro served as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for AdCare Health Systems, a rapidly growing and recognized innovator in health care facility management. Jay spent the previous 7 years at AIG (American International Group). In recognition of his accomplishments, Jay was selected as Georgia CIO of the Year in 2011, and is currently serving as Chair for the Georgia CIO Leadership Association.
The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the ACS has 12 geographic Divisions, more than 900 local offices nationwide, and a presence in more than 5,100 communities.
Vicki Hamilton/The Wright Answer 
Vicki Hamilton is a Senior IT / Operations Executive with The Wright Answer who comes up with new IT strategies to take care of old workplace problems. An award winning technology executive with over 20 years of senior level experience, Vicki’s strategic, multidisciplinary competencies include conceptualizing, designing and executing innovative technology strategies for high value results ($20M+.)
Recognized three years in a row by CableFAX magazine as one of the “Most Influential Minorities in Cable,” Vicki and has been named to the “Top Women in Cable Technology” and “Most Powerful Women in Cable.” She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Urban League’s Black Executive Exchange Program, Foundation Board of Directors for Women In Technology, she is Executive Team Leader for Global Exec Women and is a Growing Leaders Board Member.
