BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A key goal of the Center is to foster economic development and to support the IS industry generally and the State of Louisiana Government specifically. In the Center’s reformation, it was felt that a critical element to realizing this goal was to establish close and lasting links to both business and key governmental offices. It was also felt that planning and development of the Center should proceed under the direction of a carefully selected Board of Directors who could provide quality governance to the endeavor.

As a result, during the 2002-2003 academic year a good bit of time was spent constituting the initial Board. Its members whose names appear below are an invaluable resource for the Center. One organizational board meeting has taken place and a second will occur shortly. The purpose of the upcoming meeting is to finalize the strategic plan of the Center by focusing on specific program elements and benchmarks.

While there currently are ten members of the Board, the intent is to have a Board of fourteen members. Recruiting efforts for the other members is continuing. The Board is actively engaged in developing a viable strategic plan for the Center with special focus on the DECIDE Room. This plan will define the specific structures of the major elements of the Center.

Steve Uffman Chairman and Chief Executive Officer APRO Systems Edward Ashworth President Louisiana Technology Park Paul A. Dykes Senior Vice President and Chief Administration Officer Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Dr. Amelia A. Maurizio Director, Education Alliances SAP AG Global Communications Shawn Usher Owner Sparkhound Howard McMurrian, CPA Chief Executive Officer P&N Technologies Chad McGee Chief Information Officer State of Louisiana G. Patrick Thompson, Jr. Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer The Shaw Group, Inc.