Advocacy Committee

Mission and Activities

The Mission of The Advocacy Committee of ICoast CIO Council is to promote, supplement and influence the educational content and delivery of class room and extracurricular material to enhance the educational quality of [LAC] Business Technology students. "Educational Quality" is based on the business needs of companies in the South Florida market with specific interest in the Information Technology management and staff.

The audience of the Advocacy Committee are South Florida Colleges and Universities and their Business Technology students. The input to the audience spans technical and business skills and career paths that are essential for the "modern" Business Technology professional. The committee's mission is achieved through collaboration with colleges and universities and students through the support and active participation of the iCoastCIO Council membership.

Your Advocacy Committee is making inroads in the South Florida Colleges and Universities thanks to the active participation of the Committee members.

Today, the Advocacy Committee is working with:

Florida Atlantic University (FAU)
Broward College
Florida International University (FIU)
Miami Dade College

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) both as presenters to students and the formation of an Advisory Board in the Barry Kaye College of Business.

Johan Vaz, Biotest Pharmaceuticals and Kevin Brady, Corporate Services, Inc., presented to two groups of approximately 125 students each - over 85% of the students surveyed stated they found the presentations worthwhile.

Bill Hicks, Ultimate Software; Johan Vaz, Biotest Pharmaceuticals; Rami Singh, Citrix; Eric Berkowitz, Trade King and Kevin Brady, Corporate Services are the inaugural members of the FAU Advisory Board under the direction of Qing Hu, Professor & Chair of the Information Technology and Operations Management Department.

Broward College -- CIO Council members - Richard Yanke of SeaCoast National Bank, Ashley Coke of Cross Country Home Insurance and Kevin Brady of Corporate Services, Inc currently serve on the Information Technology Advisory Board for Broward College. The CIO Council members provide input into skills and knowledge that member CIO Council company's desire in the IT market place.

Broward College has recently invited CIO Members to make class room presentations to Students. The topics will include "Life in the IT Department" and "Life of a CIO".

Florida International University - Bert Hucks, For Eyes Optical; Herb Payan, Sony BMG; and, Jeff Wollach, Sinnot Wollach will be presenting to two student groups.

Miami Dade College has offered the Advocacy Committee access to their TV channel. We are working on the details.

Other Colleges and Universities that the CIO Council Advocacy Committee desires to meet and or are in discussions with include: