CSC News

Fidelity Investments "Leadership in Technology" Series Presents Keith Collins

Please join us on January 28th at 6 pm in Lecture Hall 1231 EBII for the first spring 2010 talk in the Fidelity Investments “Leadership in Technology” Executive Speakers Series.

Our special guest speaker will be Keith Collins, Sr. VP & CTO of SAS Institute. His talk topic will be “How do you Respond to a Data Tsunami?”

In this role as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at SAS, Collins is responsible for driving corporate technology strategy through a focus on customer- and partner-facing activities. Collins fosters close working relationships with marketing and sales to ensure that SAS® technologies are aligned with customer needs and market demand. He has been instrumental in leading SAS' evolution as a provider of industry-specific solutions that deliver the benefits of powerful analytic technologies into the hands of users.

A graduate of North Carolina State University with a bachelor's degree in computer science, Collins is a devoted supporter of the university. He is the founding member of the strategic advisory board of the department of computer science. In 2003, the university named him a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus. Collins also serves as a technical advisor for Southern Capitol Ventures and holds seats on North Carolina Technology Association's Board of Directors, the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

For his complete bio, click here.

Abstract: Through most of the 80’s and 90’s the primary focus of business software was on the codification of business transactions into software systems. Today the shift is to understand and act on the available information to improve the business decisions. In today’s business environment the flood of information and the complexity of interaction across business units taxes the human ability to make anymore than a best guess instead of a well informed decision.

This shift in focus is well documented by the shift in spending by businesses and the shift in strategies by software vendors. I will share my thoughts and observations about the current market and technology shifts around business analytic solutions. As well as discussing the response I believe needs to occur in research and education in Computer Science.

The event is free and open to the public.  Ample free parking is also available.

For directions and more information, visit the series page or contact Ken Tate.