About Our Co-Host
For more than fifteen years, The CIO Initiative has brought senior technology executives together for candid dialogue, peer learning and genuine connection. Its peer-first approach makes it a natural co-host for a Charlotte evening where leaders can speak plainly about shared pressures, compare what is working and leave with ideas they
can put to use.
WHO ATTENDS
Senior Technology Leaders Only
Seats are reserved for CIOs, CISOs, CTOs, VPs of IT, and IT directors. Forty-five leaders, one facilitated peer discussion and no one presenting to you.
Our Facilitator for the Evening
David Cannon is a globally recognized authority on IT service management, digital transformation, and IT operations. Over his three decade career, he has led consulting practices at Forrester, Hewlett-Packard, and BMC Software, co-authored six ITIL books, and served as chair of the itSMF. A lifetime achievement award recipient and sought after keynote speaker, David brings a practical perspective on connecting technology, operations, and business strategy.
- The Evening
- Thursday,
- November 19, 2026
- |
- 4:30 PM TO 10:30 PM
- 1928 South Boulevard, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28203
Sullivan’s Steakhouse sits in South End, a few minutes from uptown Charlotte with parking on site. Guests meet in a private room for the facilitated discussion, the stay for dinner and drinks. Places are capped at 45.
What we'll discuss
AI is creating new possibilities across IT operations, but it’s also forcing leaders to rethink risk, resilience and accountability. This private dinner gives Charlotte technology leaders the opportunity to compare how they’re moving from experimentation to practical use, strengthening the foundations beneath AI and keeping business priorities at the center of every decision.
TOPICS WE’LL COVER
- Turning AI experiments into repeatable operational value
- Building the data, governance and security foundations needed to scale
- Modernizing IT operations while protecting resilience and the customer experience