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OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     

President – Bill Powers, CBAP, AAC, CBDA

Bill Powers, CBAP, AAC is a Business Analyst at Cincinnati Insurance Companies. He is a highly accomplished, innovative and team spirited professional with several years of experience in Business Analysis, Project Management, Client Service Management, Operations and Benefit Administration. Bill has experience in Data Analytics, Operation Efficiency, Project Implementation, UAT and QA testing efforts. Bill was born and raised in the Northern Illinois suburbs and relocated to Louisville, KY with wife Andrea, son William and daughter Alison. Bill obtained his Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP®) certification in October 2018; his Agile Analysis Certification (IIBA®-AAC) in March 2021; and his Certification in Business Data Analytics (IIBA®-CBDA) in June 2022. Bill would like to see Bluegrass IIBA Chapter continue to advocate for the consistent use of the IIBA techniques and for our practitioners to always challenge the status quo.  

Email: President@bluegrass.iiba.org

Vice President of Administration and Finance – Aaron Whittenberger, CBAP, CSPO, AAC, CPOA

Aaron Whittenberger has over 30 years of Business and Information Technology experience, including 19 years of business analysis and 15 years as a Consultant. He earned his Certified Business Analyst ProfessionalTM (CBAP®) certification in 2008, his Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO®) in 2018, his IIBA® Agile Analysis Certification (IIBA®-AAC) in 2019, his Certificate in Product Ownership Analysis (IIBA®-CPOA) in 2021, and his ICAgile Certified Professional - Agile Product Owner (ICP-APO) in 2022. Aaron is the Founding President of Bluegrass IIBA Chapter, as well as has served the IIBA® as Regional Director of the Americas Eastern Region and the Chairperson of the Role Delineation Committee, responsible for the relevancy and validity of the IIBA® certification program. He is a 2016 Inductee into the Bluegrass Business Analysis Hall of Fame.

Aaron lives in Independence, KY and has four children. Just a few years ago he participated in his first ever game of cricket with his co-workers. For himself, Aaron enjoys a good round of golf, we’ll see if he ever has one.

Aaron hopes that the Bluegrass IIBA Chapter brings a business analysis educational program to the area to spark innovation and creative thinking and raise the level of business analysis performed for organizations in the Bluegrass area. This will raise the awareness of the value of business analysts as change agents to allow organizations to gain competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Email: Finance@bluegrass.iiba.org

Vice President of Community Outreach and Engagement – Stephanie Hawkins, MSIA, CISA

Stephanie Hawkins has over 25 years of experience in the Information Technology field focusing on enterprise IT transformation, business analysis, project management, data governance, IT risk, and controls. She holds a Master's degree in Information Assurance (MSIA) from Walsh College and is a Certified Information Security Auditor (CISA).

 


Email:  Community@bluegrass.iiba.org

Vice President of Marketing and Communications – Will Powers 

Will Powers graduated from Northern Kentucky University (NKU) in May 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology with a minor in Information Systems. He currently works at Fidelity Investments and the NKU Museum of Anthropology. He has held positions of responsibility with he Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity in member retention, finance, growth and alumni relations.

Will would like to provide his marketing and digital expertise to see the Bluegrass IIBA Chapter to continue to grow and provide excellent events and service to its community. He plans to grow the chapter’s presence both online and offline, with targeted social media messaging as well as look for potential new social media platforms that can be utilized to grow the chapter’s presence. As a recent college graduate, Will will be happy to help develop connections with local universities to grow the chapter college-age presence.

 

Email: Marketing@bluegrass.iiba.org    

 

Vice President of Membership - Bronson Zell, CBAP, AAC

Bronson Zell, CBAP, AAC is the Business Analyst Manager for the Business Continuity at Republic Bank & Trust in Louisville, Kentucky. He has a decade of business analysis experience, and specializes in process improvement, data analysis, data visualization, and both informal and formal documentation. He considers himself an Efficiency Specialist with experience in Project Implementation, UAT, QA, Experienced Customer Service Manager, Professional Writer, Payments Processing, Banking, Claims Adjudication, Graphic Design and Layout, and Technical Support.

Bronson obtained his Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP®) certification in August 2018; and his Agile Analysis Certification (IIBA®-AAC) in December 2021. Bronson is currently Director of the Kentuckiana Branch for the Bluegrass IIBA Chapter. He would like to see the Bluegrass IIBA chapter further grow and develop the Business Analysis discipline within the corporate culture of Kentucky.  There are several companies with robust, mature BA practices, but there are also many that do not have a formalized BA team nor a PMO.  I believe we have the opportunity to promote the profession and to improve the strength and health of business in Kentucky. 

Email: Membership@bluegrass.iiba.org  

Vice President of Professional Development - Retta Witter, MBA

Retta Witter, MBA Is a Consultant with J. Geiger Consulting with over 20 years of Business and Information Technology experience implementing ERP systems.  She has earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and her MBA degree from University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

Retta lives in Kimberly, Wisconsin with her husband, son and dog.  In her free time, she loves hiking, photography and volunteers her time with the youth at her church.

Retta wishes to help IT professionals understand all the opportunity available and help them increase their skills so they can achieve their career goals.

Email: Professional@bluegrass.iiba.org 

Vice President of Sponsorship - Kathy Leigh, CBAP

Kathy Leigh, CBAP is a Certified Advanced Facilitator and a Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP®). She has 30 years of experience in Information Technology, including 25 years in project and program management, and IT business analysis. Kathy earned a BS in Chemical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Kentucky. She currently dedicates her time to teaching college students at University of Phoenix to prepare them to find fulfilling jobs in IT and Project Management. Kathy also volunteers for Junior Achievement. She loves thoroughbred horse racing and has been to tracks all over the United States, Canada and UK, but thinks Keeneland is the best racetrack in the world. Kathy is a 2017 Inductee into the Bluegrass Business Hall of Fame. When asked what she wants the Chapter to bring to the surrounding community, she responded: “I want the Bluegrass IIBA Chapter to raise the quality of business analysts in the area as well as to provide a place where they can network with each other and with potential employers.”

Email: Sponsorship@bluegrass.iiba.org 

Kentuckiana Branch Executive Director - Isis Phillips, MBA, MS

Isis Phillips is a Gas Business Analyst for Louisville Gas and Electric - Kentucky Utilities, a PPL Corporation, that provides gas and electric services throughout Kentucky. Passionate about technology, Isis acquired a Master’s of Science in Applied Information Technology from Bellarmine University which stimulated her interest in Business Analysis. She participates in community service projects as often as possible and is an avid believer in servant leadership. Isis has been a member of IIBA international since 2014. Isis would like for Bluegrass IIBA Chapter to help secure some volunteer projects, for members or those entering the field of Business Analytics, can obtain some hands on training.  This will help individuals acquire a more in-depth skill set in business analytics as well as help them make steps toward gaining their Business Analysis certifications.

  

 Email: Kentuckiana@bluegrass.iiba.org  

Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati Branch Executive Director - Sarah Poynter, CBAP, CBDA

Sarah Poynter is currently a Software Engineering Manager for the Core Systems at USBank, where she has been employed for 23 years.  She started her career in the branches in 1999, then moved to a Branch software help desk role until 2002. She moved into a Business Analyst role at that point in Tech Services when USBank and Firstar merged.  That was the beginning of her journey as an IT Business Analyst. At one point she was in a Programmer Analyst role for 3+ years before moving back into a Senior Business Analyst on her team since working with both the technical folks and business lines is her passion.  She loves being the ‘bridge’ between those two groups.   Sarah has an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science (Computer Science) from Southern Ohio College where she took two Cobol coding courses. Those two courses alone have served her well the past 20+ years while working on USBank’s Core Systems team.  Sarah has been CBAP® certified since October 2015, and earned her IIBA®-CBDA in 2022.

When she isn’t working or participating in IIBA functions, she enjoys down time with her 3 dogs, Fancy, Hay Hay and Neno, catching up on the latest episodes of her favorite TV programs and putzing around the house and yard.  She and her family are based in Florence, KY.  Sarah is very thankful for the growth and development in business analysis that IIBA® has provided over the years and would like to utilize her time in this new role to share that knowledge with other business analyst professionals in the Greater Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky area and beyond.  She is is looking forward to helping launch the NKY/Cincy branch of the Bluegrass IIBA chapter along with her fellow chapter leaders.


Email: NorthernKentucky@bluegrass.iiba.org 


Bluegrass IIBA Chapter thanks our past Chapter Leaders for their service to the Chapter and Business Analysis Community of the Bluegrass region. Thank you for laying the foundation to make this Chapter what it is today!

Eric-Stephan Neill, PMP, CSCP

Vice President/Director

Certification

2013-2022


Lori Son, CBAP

Vice President

Membership

2021-2023

Judeth Tarter, CBAP

Vice President

Community Outreach

2016 - 2021

 

Terry Sundy

President

2016 - 2017

  

 

John Batts

Vice President

Community Outreach

2013 - 2016

 

 Bud Ratliff, PMP, MCSE, MCTS

Vice President

Administration and Finance

2013 - 2015 

Diane Teague, MBA, CCBA

Vice President

Membership

2020 - 2021

 

Joann Sims, CBAP

Vice President

Membership

2016 - 2019 

 

Jason Ballard

Vice President

Professional Development

2015

 

Daryl Keltz, PMP

Vice President

Marketing and Communications

2013 - 2015

LeShai Phelps

Vice President

Sponsorship 2018 - 2022

Marketing 2016 - 2018

 

Richard Power, CBAP, PSM

Vice President

Administration and Finance

2017 - 2019 

Brandy Phelps

Vice President

Marketing and Communications

2015 - 2016

 Naresh Shah 

Vice President

Professional Development

2013 - 2015

Kathy Leigh, CBAP

President

2017 - 2022


Sarah Sechrist

Treasurer

2013 - 2021


 

Holly Thompson

Vice President

Administration and Finance

2016 - 2017

 

Aaron Whittenberger, CBAP

President

2013 - 2016 

  


                       

Based in Lexington, Kentucky and serving all interested Kentucky Business Analysts    

Mailing address:  Bluegrass IIBA Chapter | 1588 Leestown Road, Suite 130-111 | Lexington, KY  40511

Email: info@bluegrass.iiba.org

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