2021 CTO of the Calendar year: Laura Larimer

Marketing consultant, previously Indianapolis Public Educational institutions information engineering officer

Important company achievements throughout tenure

Laura Larimer was the information technological know-how officer for Indianapolis Public Educational facilities for six a long time before leaving in June to commence her own instruction and health information technological know-how consulting enterprise. The achievements she’s most happy of throughout her time with IPS had been the kinds that well prepared the college district to transfer to digital school when the pandemic struck, including choosing and applying a finding out administration method that makes it possible for lessons to be sent electronically deciding upon, employing and handling an IT support desk to guidance personnel technological innovation desires employing and then leveraging the greater capabilities of a new pupil facts system and employing the use of Microsoft Groups a few of decades before the pandemic. Larimer also aided give IPS college students on line access to the Indianapolis General public Library from any district gadget.

Functioning as IT officer for IPS is the capstone of Larimer’s occupation, which has involved additional than a ten years of community services, which include as main information and facts officer and director of IT Shared Products and services for the condition of Indiana from 1997-2005, director of IT arranging and administrative companies at Ivy Tech Neighborhood College from 2005 to 2007, and different roles with the Indiana Wellness Details Trade from 2012 to 2015.

Obstacle faced that only tech folks would comprehend

“Within my initially year at IPS, the Innovation Network was recognized, and the first innovation schools ended up announced. The plan of Innovation Network Educational institutions began with Indiana’s Community Law 1321, building a pathway for autonomous educational institutions in partnership between IPS and exterior companions. … The essential phrase here was ‘autonomous.’ Each and every IT leader understands that elevated standardization is the approach to reduce expense and boost dependability.  … In brief, IPS Technology Division experienced to innovate to guidance improved differentiation in teachers and we experienced to develop into greater communicators to set up crystal clear expectations. In executing so, we delivered much better solutions for all IPS universities and improved shopper pleasure.”

Initial computer system

A KayPro 5.25 dual floppy. Her 2nd computer experienced a 20 MB difficult travel. “Yes, that is megabyte, not gigabyte.”

The street

Larimer describes her vocation route as “circuitous.” Her bachelor’s diploma is in speech communications with an emphasis in theater. Her initially skilled job out of higher education was in radio marketing sales and she moved rapidly into gross sales management. She then joined an MBA program at IU and one particular of her first lessons was Intro to IT Management. “The section on IT architecture resonated with me so strongly that I improved my emphasis to IT management,” she mentioned. “Quite a chance given that all my prior operate expertise experienced been in product sales and advertising and marketing, but I took the leap. Appears to be that my instincts had been very excellent.”

Go-to internet sites

Google and Gartner

Favorite gadget

“I’m not considerably on gadgets. I tried a smartwatch. Did not uncover it helpful and stopped wearing it. I have an Echo Dot, but seldom use it and then only to play audio,” she explained. “But my Samsung Galaxy smartphone and I are inseparable (inquire my husband).”

Most-applied application

She enjoys all the include-ons for Outlook. “I uncovered the means to share my calendar with persons outside the house my business by way of e mail, which was a substantial productivity enhancer, permitting my admin assistant to concentrate on shopper services alternatively than coordinating calendars.”

Favored work environment

“Creative, collaborative, focused.”

My job would be a lot easier if …

“In small, my task would be easier if kids ended up less complicated. But rather, they are understanding.”

Free time?

Studying good books, performing Pilates and shelling out as significantly time with her grandchildren as she can get. Also, taking part in Cribbage, Euchre, Qwirkle, Scrabble, Yahtzee and Backgammon.•

Test out much more CTO honorees.