Board of Directors 2021–2023 Election
It’s that time of year again—time to vote for the ODTUG Board. Articles IV and VI of the ODTUG bylaws call for an election of two (2) members to the 2021–2023 Board of Directors. Voting opens on October 6, 2020 and ends on November 1, 2020 at 11:59 PM PDT. Submission of accepted votes of five percent (5%) of the membership in an election, whether submitted by mail or electronic means, shall also constitute a quorum.
This year, we have nine (9) candidates to choose from for two (2) positions. Be sure to read all the campaign statements and biographies of the candidates to learn about their passion and drive for ODTUG.
One of the many benefits of being an ODTUG member is the opportunity to vote for the leaders of ODTUG. If you are an individual or corporate member of ODTUG, you should have received an email from Association Voting providing you with an email address and Member ID. Please use that information to log in. Can't locate the email? Click here and then click on the help button to request the information be resent.
*To be eligible to vote, your ODTUG membership must have been paid and up-to-date as of September 30, 2020.
| Gary Adashek | Karen Cannell |
| Jim Czuprynski | Tim German |
| Andrew Jorgensen | Debra Lilley |
| Andrew Tauro | Wayne Van Sluys |
| Neviana Zhgaba |
Gary Adashek, GE |
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Campaign Statement For the past two years I have had the privilege and honor of being a Kscope Conference Committee chair for both the Oracle EPM and Analytics tracks. I also served for two years as the EPM Community lead and volunteered on multiple abstract review committees to ensure that Kscope continued to deliver outstanding content to attendees. As a board member, I would champion the importance of exceptional board leadership and believe—as we do—that each and every organization needs a strong and effective board to fully realize its potential for good. In addition to the standard roles and responsibilities, our board members are active advocates and ambassadors for the organization and community at large, and I can promise to join with them in order to do what is necessary for ODTUG to advance its mission. In doing so, I will work to:
Over the past 10 years, it is hard to consider what my career would have been without the ODTUG community and the many people that I now consider good friends as a result. I am asking for your vote and the opportunity to serve the Oracle community as a member of the ODTUG Board of Directors.
Biography Gary Adashek is a Finance Systems leader with over 15 years of experience in Enterprise Performance Management systems & Analytics. Gary’s career is built on an accounting, finance, and economics base with a focused concentration of financial systems. Gary has experience with Enterprise and as an Essbase administrator, building and architecting complex EPM solutions. Gary has also co-authored three Oracle Analytics extensions—Elbow Dendrogram, Vertical Waterfall, and Butterfly-Tornado. Gary has progressed in his career to leadership roles and enjoys being able to mentor, teach, and coach across all levels of experience. User Group Volunteer Experience
Questions How would you describe ODTUG in 10 words or less? A network of professionals eager to share similar technology interests. My motivation to become a board member is simply to be able to give back to the entire organization and all of its members, not just a single track of my own professional aptitude or interests. What attributes do you feel you would bring to this position? Deep passion for the ODTUG organization. I am a current volunteer as the Analytics Conference Committee track lead and bring a reputation of balanced, sound, and logical decision-making. Please describe the traits, qualities, and experiences that qualify you to serve on the ODTUG Board. I have the ability to lead and influence others and use strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. I am trustworthy and have the ability to manifest discretion. |
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Karen Cannell, TH Technology
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Campaign Statement I seek your vote for reelection to the ODTUG Board of Directors so I may continue to actively position ODTUG as the world’s premier Oracle developer user group. ODTUG has a spark, an indescribable vibe not found elsewhere. We are technical, committed, passionate, and fun. Something special happens when ODTUGers gather with Oracle product teams to share and talk tech. I want that spark to continue.
Biography Karen Cannell is president of TH Technology, a consulting firm focused on Oracle technology. She has over 30 years of design, development, delivery, and lifecycle experience on Oracle technologies, lately APEX and Visual Builder. Karen is an Oracle ACE Director, ODTUG vice president, editor emeritus of the ODTUG Technical Journal, an Oracle Developer Choice finalist, 2012 ODTUG Volunteer of the Year, and co-author of Expert Oracle APEX, Agile Oracle APEX, and Beginning Oracle APEX 4.2. Karen is a long-time APEX gal, uniformed ODTUG cheerleader, part mermaid and frequent user group volunteer and conference presenter. She has volunteered for ODTUG since 2005 and seeks your vote to continue securing ODTUG as the world’s premier Oracle technology user group. kcannell@thtechnology.com User Group Volunteer Experience Karen has been an active volunteer and paid member of many Oracle user groups since 2005. Some highlights: Questions How would you describe ODTUG in 10 words or less? ODTUG is the community for technical excellence for Oracle developers. What is your motivation for joining the board? I wish to continue steering ODTUG forward, through COVID-19 challenges, to resume vibrant, active, in-person, hybrid, and virtual events that engage and educate our members. ODTUG has been—and remains—an integral part of and significant positive influence on my career. ODTUG is my home group. Since 2007, I have served ODTUG as conference material reviewer, technical journal editor, Editor’s Choice and Innovation Award panels, on the board of directors since 2017 and in many other capacities, even cheerleader. I have the knowledge, drive, and depth of experience to guide ODTUG onward through current virtual-only period to even better networking and educational offerings. I want to keep the ODTUG spark alive. What attributes do you feel you would contribute to this position?
I will employ the above experience and attributes to implement the best options to serve ODTUG communities. Do you have a principal goal you would like to achieve as a board member? I have several important goals for ODTUG for the coming term:
Please describe the traits, qualities, and experiences that qualify you to serve on the ODTUG Board. Traits and Qualities
Experience Over the past terms as an ODTUG Director, I have served in many capacities, and essentially done anything I can behind the scenes to assist where needed in ODTUG operations:
I have experience across just about all that ODTUG is involved in and insight into what is required to move forward and deliver quality learning and networking events for all our communities. Please see more information at ODTUG and the ODTUG Board, Why I Care, Why Vote. If you have any questions on my qualifications or on ODTUG in general, please contact me by email kcannell@thtechnology.com. I look forward to serving ODTUG in the coming years, hopefully on the board of directors. Thank you, happy coding, Karen |
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Jim Czuprynski, Zero Defect Computing
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Campaign Statement Over the past few years, I’ve engaged deeply with ODTUG members and leadership as I progressed from a speaker at Kscope events to filling the role of the Database Community lead. Biography Jim Czuprynski has nearly four decades of professional experience in his career in information technology, serving diverse roles at several Fortune 1000 companies before becoming an Oracle DBA in 2001. He has been an Oracle ACE Director since 2014 and is a sought-after public speaker on Oracle Database technology features, presenting often at Oracle OpenWorld, COLLABORATE, ODTUG Kscope, Oracle CODE events, Oracle Development Community tours, and Oracle User Group conferences around the world. User Group Volunteer Experience COUG presenter, 2014-2020 Questions How would you describe ODTUG in 10 words or less? A professional team dedicated to expanding its members’ technical expertise. What is your motivation for joining the board? I stand on the shoulders of others who have volunteered their valuable time to make ODTUG the preeminent Oracle User Group in North America. As I’m now focusing my career on volunteer causes, it’s the perfect time for me to finally honor their commitment by giving back to the community that is so hungry for creative, exciting, accurate, and relevant knowledge about our ever-changing IT industry. What attributes do you feel you would bring to this position? First, my 40 years of IT experience in numerous roles—from application developer to business analyst to DBA—gives me deep insights into the challenges of each position from “the trenches” and in real-world scenarios. In addition, the connections I’ve made within the Oracle community as an ACE Director gives me access to valuable resources—both ACEs and product managers—that we can leverage to provide excellent and accurate training and knowledge across the spectrum of ODTUG membership. Finally, my experiences as a public speaker at numerous OUG events and an author/editor of numerous technical articles since 2003 provide in-depth knowledge on what contributors and consumers alike expect ODTUG to provide at future events and publications. Do you have a principal goal you would like to achieve as a board member? The main thing I’d like to accomplish as a board member would be to actively assist the Oracle DBA/DevOps community as IT shops around the world transition to a new equilibrium state that’s focused on being digitally driven. That’s going to involve significant re-education of a large swath of our profession, and we’ll need to provide training and support to everyone from old-school Oracle DBAs to the youngest intern on our teams. Please describe the traits, qualities, and experiences that qualify you to serve on the ODTUG Board. I’ve run my own consulting business since 1993 as an independent contractor and consultant, so I understand how important it is to focus on generating revenue and keeping expenses under control, especially in trying economic times and during periods of technological tectonic shifts in the IT industry. And I’ve also worked as an FTE, so I’m aware of the challenges our membership faces during normal day-to-day battles “in the trenches.” I’m also keenly focused on elevating the IT work we do to the level of a profession; in so many ways, accomplishing our daily IT tasks requires a commitment not unlike that of a surgeon or airline pilot, because if we make a serious mistake, a person’s well-being, livelihood, or even their life may be seriously harmed. Lastly, my contributions as an ODTUG Kscope presenter since 2017 and my ongoing efforts as the Database Community lead to revitalize our offerings through the TechCeleration portal has demonstrated my commitment to ODTUG’s goals of providing high-quality technical knowledge to our community. |
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Tim German, Qubix
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Campaign Statement Hello ODTUG! For the past four years it has been my privilege to serve you on the board of directors, an experience that has only deepened my appreciation for the ways ODTUG benefits us as members. ODTUG has taught me the value of knowledge sharing, deep personal networks, and especially the power of community. I have learned through the peer education ODTUG supports, gained colleagues and friends across the globe, and seen the positive impact ODTUG has on all of us. Without ODTUG—and most importantly without you, my fellow members—none of this would have happened. I hope that I have successfully expressed my appreciation to ODTUG and the community of fellow technologists through serving in broad range of volunteer roles—content reviewer, track lead, Conference Committee member, director and, most recently, ODTUG president. Biography Tim grew up in the UK and now lives with his family in Chicago, Illinois. He has worked with Oracle tools since 1998 and is currently a director at Qubix, an Oracle partner focused on EPM/BI solutions. Tim’s particular area of expertise is the design of systems built on the Essbase platform. He was recognized as an Oracle ACE in 2015 and became an Oracle ACE Director in 2018. User Group Volunteer Experience
Questions How would you describe ODTUG in 10 words or less? Supportive, open, growing—the very best community for Oracle professionals. What is your motivation for joining the board? ODTUG has given so much to me: learning opportunities, new skills, and friends and colleagues from all over the world. None of this would have possible without ODTUG, and I'm grateful. I've given back through speaking, serving on the Conference Committee and (since 2017) on the board. Given your vote, I'd like to continue representing you as an ODTUG director. What attributes do you feel you would bring to this position? I love ODTUG, and I know how it's helped me grow in ways both professionally and personally which would literally never have happened otherwise. My passion for and understanding of the power of the community makes me an advocate for all ODTUG members. I know the positive power of ODTUG, and I want to see ODTUG do ever better. Do you have a principal goal you would like to achieve as a board member? ODTUG is a family of communities. I want every member of this family to share the benefits I have enjoyed. I want to continue to encourage cross-pollination of people and ideas across communities, bringing the same focus I've had on EPM to all the communities and making sure that the board as a whole continues to take the same holistic view. And I want to see us continue to find creative ways to share experience and knowledge before we can meet again in person. Please describe the traits, qualities, and experiences that qualify you to serve on the ODTUG Board. I am deeply committed to our community and understand the benefits it brings. I have experienced ODTUG in all the overlapping roles in the organization—member, speaker, and volunteer. I have learned about and adapted to the special challenges and opportunities presented by leading a volunteer, not-for-profit organization. And finally, after the past six months, I can add that I have experience helping to lead ODTUG with determination even through very difficult times. |
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Andrew Jorgensen, MindStream Analytics
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Campaign Statement After 25+ years in the EPM space, Andy has seen a lot of technological change. His goal for ODTUG will be to get our users the educational resources in terms of papers, webinars, conference sessions, and support that they need to adapt to those changes and take full advantage of Oracle’s technical innovations.
With 25+ years of experience in Enterprise Performance Management and technology solutions, Andy has led over 200 successful engagements at world-class customers such as AT&T, Bristol Myers Squibb, CBS, Cisco, J.P. Morgan Chase, Merck, Pfizer, and Verizon. Prior to joining MindStream Analytics, Andy was the president of the OAUG Hyperion SIG and the former CEO of Pinnacle Group Worldwide which he founded in 1995. He has previously held positions at Hyperion Solutions and Control Data Corporation. Andy holds a BA in accounting and information systems from Pace University in New York and has been a speaker at numerous Oracle/Hyperion and financial reporting conferences. Andy is also a mentor and investor with BoomStartup and VentureCapital.org. User Group Volunteer Experience President of the OAUG Hyperion SIG Questions How would you describe ODTUG in 10 words or less? An independent community of Oracle technical focused on continued education. What is your motivation for joining the board? I’ve been a member of ODTUG for years and want to give back. What attributes do you feel you would bring to this position? Strong organizational leadership with over 25 years of Oracle Hyperion experience. Do you have a principal goal you would like to achieve as a board member? Bringing a variety of cutting-edge content in multiple formats to our user community. Please describe the traits, qualities, and experiences that qualify you to serve on the ODTUG Board Deep roots in the community, the ability to get things done, and a strong marketing background. |
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Debra Lilley, Accenture
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Campaign Statement I believe I can bring much value to ODTUG. I am a passionate volunteer, having led the new Modern Application Development Stream for ODTUG Kscope this year and spoken at many of the 10 previous ODTUG Kscopes I have attended.
Biography As an Oracle ACE Director since 2008, I have spoken on many different topics at over 200 conferences worldwide, including the last 15 Oracle OpenWorlds. I have written many white papers and blog about my experiences and thoughts http://debrasoracle.blogspot.com. User Group Experience
Questions How would you describe ODTUG in 10 words or less? My go-to happy place for learning how Oracle products work. What is your motivation for joining the board? Long-term passion for user groups, not just to share knowledge but to influence product development. What attributes do you feel you would bring to this position? Experience, relationships with Oracle Product Development, and the ability to encourage and facilitate others to grow. Do you have a principal goal you would like to achieve as a board member? Champion cross-track content. We never use a product in isolation. Widening our scope at an understanding level makes us better at what we do. Encourage more people to share their knowledge. Please describe the traits, qualities, and experiences that qualify you to serve on the ODTUG Board. I have more than 25 years of experience in Oracle. As a passionate believer in user groups, I have been an active volunteer for 20 years. I am still a volunteer and a past president of UKOUG. I have volunteered at ODTUG Kscope for many years, often as ambassador or assisting with tracks. I petitioned for a return of middleware development and last year led the Modern Applications Development track that housed this. Under the global user group community, I led the group who worked with Oracle on behalf of all user groups during the design of Fusion Applications. I have presented all over the world on Oracle, authored several whitepapers, and am a guest blog author for Oracle. |
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Andrew Tauro, Performance Architects
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Campaign Statement My driving mantra is to make technology easy in the hands of the user to solve business problems, making it a tool of progress rather than a hurdle to success. I have been fortunate enough to have been an ODTUG member and attend events such as ODTUG Kscope where I have gained new skills and takeaways. With these new skills and takeaways, I am constantly learning and want to give this back to the ODTUG community; I believe that all ODTUG members should have a meaningful experience where they learn, network, and grow. One particular way I want to achieve this is by communicating ODTUG member wants and needs to Oracle leadership to make the best products possible. Additionally, with this being a record year, it is important for the board of directors to develop creative solutions for engagement and networking for future events to continue to provide the meaningful experience that ODTUG has provided for many years. I am prepared to work hard to develop creative solutions for ODTUG to provide the meaningful experience that I have received. I am thrilled about the opportunity to get to work more closely with the ODTUG members, Boards of Directors, and Oracle leadership. Biography Andy Tauro is a director of technology at Performance Architects, Inc, with over fifteen years of experience in information management systems. He has previously been a part of storied enterprises such as Verizon, IBM, and Infosys Technologies Ltd. His wide-ranging expertise has taken him through many industry domains, including higher education, finance, construction, and food & retail, while working on various kinds of relational databases and analytical and data-gathering systems. He specializes in getting disparate systems to talk to each other, such as Oracle DB/EPM/BI, MS SQL Server DB/IS/AS, using tools such as Groovy, REST API, JDBC, VB, and Java. Andy holds his MSE from Wright State University and his BS in electrical and electronics from Visvesvaraya Technological University. He has presented at a variety of events including ODTUG Kscope and is a frequent content contributor for Performance Architects including blog and webinar content. User Group Volunteer Experience I have previously presented at many conferences and events such as ODTUG Kscope, OATUG’s Collaborate, and webinars for OATUG’s Analytics, BI, and Big Data SIG Group. I have also previously volunteered my time towards the OATUG EPM/Hyperion SIG Group in a domain lead role. Questions
How would you describe ODTUG in 10 words or less? |
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Wayne Van Sluys, interRel |
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Campaign Statement I am here to ask for your support and vote to serve on the ODTUG Board of Directors. Whatever profession I have been in, I look to the professional organizations as one of my primary pillars in my professional development. Oftentimes this centered around the first obvious means, attending and presenting at conferences. Early in my professional career, I sought to become more involved in shaping the direction of conference presentations by submitting abstracts and serving on content selection. Biography First and for foremost, I am an educator who enjoys technology. I enjoy being able to share my knowledge with others. Secondly, I have been an Oracle ACE Director since September 2020, an Oracle ACE since 2017, and Oracle Ace Associate since 2015. Being an ACE is all about giving back to the community and sharing knowledge, which are part of my core beliefs. User Group Volunteer Experience I have participated in the Community Service Day every year since my first ODTUG Kscope in 2010. I have served on the Content Selection Committee for BI/Analytics for seven years and two of those years as content track lead for BI. Questions How would you describe ODTUG in 10 words or less? A community of professionals that feels like family. What is your motivation for joining the board? I have been a volunteer in various capacities primarily centered around ODTUG Kscope for the past 10 years; I feel it’s time to expand my involvement within ODTUG and serve at a higher capacity. What attributes do you feel you would bring to this position? As a consultant who specializes in data analytics, I will bring those skills to the ODTUG Board. I believe that there is an opportunity to leverage data analytics to help ODTUG be more efficient as an organization. Do you have a principal goal you would like to achieve as a board member? COVID has forced us to rethink what it means to be a community. I will work to expand the meetups, both virtual and physical, throughout the year and to geographic regions where membership or conference attendance is low. I believe the regional community meetups are the best place to introduce people to ODTUG and bring them into the larger ODTUG community. Please describe the traits, qualities, and experiences that qualify you to serve on the ODTUG Board. I have been involved in the professional organizations as a contributing member in every industry I have worked in since I started my professional career over 25 years ago. I work well with all different personalities. My greatest strength is including others. Additionally, I do not believe in the phrase “That is how we have always done it.” I look for unique and outside-of-the-box approaches to problem solving. |
