Organizations are more global then ever and are under pressure to provide meaningful returns, faster and with fewer employees. When organizations think about how to meet these challenges, one option available is to embrace new technology and trends like social networking to promote knowledge sharing, connectivity and ultimately productivity.

Through our panel discussion we will explore how two multinational organizations, Citigroup and the United Nations Development Programme have begun to apply virtual/next gen technology solutions. The session will also examine how OD Practitioners from the Virtual Organizational Development Forum are embracing new technologies to further learning and collaboration within the OD community.

Panelists' bios:

Gabriel Accascina is the Director of the Knowledge Management Group at the United Nations Development Programme. Gabriel has worked in knowledge management, information technology and media in the development context since 1992. He was the Director of the consulting firm IT4DEV and the Regional Coordinator of the UNDP Asia-Pacific Development Information Program. Gabriel's diverse experience ranges from initiating and supporting innovative grassroots development projects in South Asia to working in Silicon Valley on IT and media and communication research. From '92 to the present he has worked in more than fifty developing countries for organizations including UNICEF, UNFPA, UNOPS, ADB and several corporations, combining information, knowledge management, technology and media in a wide range of development areas. As the in-house leader on Knowledge Management, Gabriel will look to the future to optimize KM's value in accelerating progress on human development and MDG's and determine how and where human, financial and technical resources can have greatest impact on development results. Gabriel holds a Masters degree in development communication, and has been a fellow at Harvard University Center for International Development and the recipient of the Stockholm Challenge Award.

Carl L. Jennings, a Human Systems Analyst, has worked as an organization and management development specialist for over twenty-eight years. He is founder and CEO of INFOSPAN,LLC an on and offline global organizational and communications consulting firm, and founder and CIO of the Virtual Organizational Development Forum (VODF). His practice focuses on managing change and the integration of human and technological systems in demographically complex organizations. Carl is the creator of the Way of Total Systems Transformation and Re-envisioning ™ Intervention Strategy. He has consulted to large, mid-sized and small businesses and organizations including the Aresty Institute of Executive Education, Samsung and Sunkyong corporations, where he worked with senior HR managers, the General Services Administration Sprint FTS2000 project. He has also worked with senior managers at the FAA and NASA, the OD division at the Kennedy Space Center, and he worked on a system wide survey feedback project with the US Department of Commerce’s NOAA.

Carl received his M.S. in Education from City College and his B.A. magna cum laude as an interdisciplinary major from Queens College in New York. He is a professional member of the NTL Institute for Applied Behavioral Science.

Professor Pamela Palanque North is President of Palanque & Associates, a Management and Human Capital Development Consultant firm. Pamela has been on the staff of Yale University's, Division for Training and Consultation, New York University Medical Center, The Institute for Puerto Rican Urban Studies and AT&T, Bell Laboratories. In 2007 Professor Palanque North was appointed as Chair of the Human Capital Development Committee for the US Congress, Empowerment Zone Board in New York City, NY. Last year Pamela was commissioned by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, to facilitate his annual dialog with over 100 civic leaders, public officials and business representatives from Northern Manhattan. In 2006, Pamela was selected to Co-Direct the first Global Virtual Conference on Virtual Teamwork whose faculty represented 5 continents and 13 countries and 9 different languages.

Professor Pamela Palanque North earned her undergraduate degree from the City University of New York and her graduate degrees from the New School for Social Research Graduate Faculty. She holds a certificate in Organization and Management from Yale University, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Training and Consultation. She is a registered professional member of the Center for Psychological Type located in Gainesville, Florida.

Joseph Weldon, is currently head of Learning and Development for the Institutional Clients Group within Citi. In this capacity he is responsible for all learning and development activities from entry-level and on-boarding training to leadership and professional development as well as senior executive development. He coordinates a multitude of training professionals worldwide to ensure the deliver of quality learning and development activities throughout Citigroup. He has been with Citi since August of 2005.

Prior to joining Citi, Joe spent over two years as the head of Learning and Organizational Effectiveness for the Global Corporate and Investment Bank at Banc of America Securities based in New York City. Prior to BofA, Joe spent over nine years at Merrill Lynch in a variety of organizational, executive development and learning roles. He was responsible for Learning and Organizational Development of the Global Markets business as well as the head of Executive Development for all of Merrill Lynch. Prior to Merrill Lynch, Joe spent seven years, from 1988 to 1995 at Salomon Brothers Inc. in a variety of Learning and Development roles.

Joe is a member of the Wharton Executive Education Advisory Board and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the North Jersey Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. He graduated from The American University with a Masters Degree in Organizational Development and BS degree in Business Management from Bloomsburg University.

Time:
5:30 - 6:00 pm Networking & Meet-and-Greet
6:00 - 8:00 pm Formal Program

Location:
Pfizer, 235 E. 42nd St., 2nd Floor, Tudor Room

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