Keynotes and Speaking Engagements

Harwell Thrasher, Founder of MakingITclear, Inc., is an experienced public speaker, and welcomes the opportunity to do presentations on information technology topics. Harwell's specialty is explaining complicated issues in simple terms, whether the issues are technical or people-related (or both). Here are some topics you might want to consider:

• Boiling the IT Frog: How to Make Your Business Information Technology Wildly Successful Without Having to Learn Anything Technical [a summary of the book]
• Technology is Not Enough – What's Needed to Make Today's IT Organizations Successful [This topic is available both as a presentation and as a 1-day workshop for IT and business people.]

• Information Technology (IT) Secrets for the Non-Technical Business Person: What's Important to Know
• Why Magic in IT is a Bad Thing, and What to Do About It

• Where Can IT Best Contribute to the Business?

• Information Technology Strategy: Why, What, How

• How to Reduce Risk in Information Technology Projects

• The impact of Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures on IT

• Information Technology Due Diligence: Why, What, How

• Other topics you suggest (call, or send requests via email)

Some previous speaking engagements:

• In May, 2008, Harwell was a speaker at a TechBridge event on the subject of "Make IT More Successful in Your Non-Profit." Click here for more information.
• In March, 2008, Harwell led a seminar for the Atlanta chapter of SIM, the Society for Information Management, on "How to Reduce Risk in IT Projects." Click here for more information.
• In September, 2007, Harwell was the speaker for a webinar hosted by Cogentes. The topic was "Technology is Not Enough - How to Make Business IT Successful." Streaming video of the webinar (in Windows Media Player WMV format) is available here
• In October, 2005, Harwell was the keynote speaker at the 34th Annual Computing Conference of the University System of Georgia (USG). The conference was sponsored by the Board of Regents of the USG for technical faculty and staff of the USG's 34 public colleges and universities, including Georgia Tech, the University of Georgia, and Georgia State University. The conference had more than 670 attendees from all the institutions in the system, plus over 35 participating vendors. Registrants included Directors of Computer Services, computer services staff, faculty and library staff.
  
  The topic was “Technology is Not Enough – What's Needed to Make Today's IT Organizations Successful.”

• In February, 2005, Harwell spoke to the Atlanta chapter of STC, the Society for Technical Communication, on "IT Secrets for Non-IT People"
• In May, 2004, Harwell spoke to the Atlanta chapter of SIM, the Society for Information Management, on "Things about Information Technology that I Wish I Had Known 30 Years Ago."
• In April, 2004, Harwell spoke to the Atlanta chapter of the Project Management Institute on "How to Reduce Risk in Information Technology Projects."
• In October, 2003, Harwell spoke to the Technology Executive Networking Group in Atlanta on "Acquisitions & Divestitures— How Information Technology Organizations Can Prepare."
• In June, 2003, Harwell spoke to the students of the University of Georgia Terry College of Business Executive MBA Program on "Things about Information Technology that I Wish I Had Known 30 Years Ago."
• Speaker at 2002 Microsoft CIO Summit in Redmond, WA
• Speaker at 2001 Intranet Content Management Summit in Atlanta, GA

Harwell will sometimes waive a speakers fee if:

• The audience for a speaking engagement represents a cross-section of people from multiple companies, or if

• The audience size is significant.

In most cases, reimbursement for travel and hotel expenses will still be required if travel is outside the metro Atlanta area.

If you would like to discuss potential speaking engagements, please contact Harwell at the phone number or email address given at the left of this page.