ACG CIN FEB LUNCH: Leading with Digital Strategy in the Professional Service Industry

Brian has over 20 years of tax and business advisory experience, serving as the primary relationship leader for middle market companies. Prior to joining RSM, he served as the local managing partner of another global firm.

Brian’s primary responsibility is to serve as the client’s trusted advisor. He consults with companies primarily in technology, software, e-commerce, professional services and life sciences.

Brian prides himself on being a servant leader, both in the office and in the community. He is passionate about innovation, education and supporting economic development.

Brian is a recipient of Northern Kentucky University’s Haile/US Bank College of Business Leader of the Year Award, for distinguished accomplishments in leadership;; LEAD Cincinnati’s C-suite Award, recognizing leading executives in Greater Cincinnati; comSpark’s Power 500, recognizing top executives championing innovation in Greater Cincinnati; Northern Kentucky Legacy’s Next Generation Leader Award and Cincinnati Business Courier’s Forty Under 40 Award.

As Director of Practice Services, Katherine Lowry leads BakerHostetler’s innovative legal R&D team, IncuBaker, and serves as the Co-Chair for the Emerging Technology practice team where she helps lawyers and clients navigate the intersection of digital business, emerging technology and law. Her focus is equally divided on providing BakerHostetler attorneys with tools that will allow them to deliver more effective service to clients as well as helping clients make the best decision on which technologies they should invest in to achieve their digital strategy. She manages transformational technology initiatives such as augmentation of legal services using AI and intelligent automation, increasing enterprise data maturity and data literacy, developing smart legal contracts, and the delivery of information and research services. Notably, Katherine has led the team in extensive analysis, market research, and development to solve issues that can be automated for businesses post-signature using smart legal contracts and blockchain-based solutions to streamline operations and improve client service.

Education:
J.D., University of Dayton School of Law, 2001
B.A., Political Science, Stetson University, 1998

Matt Thompson is the Chief Digital Officer at First Financial Bank and joined the company in this role in April, 2019.

As Chief Digital Officer at First Financial, Matt has responsibility for Digital Product Management, User Experience, Digital Analytics, and Digital Partnerships for client- and associate-facing Digital experiences and CRM across all Consumer and Commercial lines of business.  Before joining First Financial, Matt was Vice President, Digital and eCommerce at The Kroger Co. where he led the strategy and rollout of online ordering and grocery pickup and delivery nationally.  In addition, he has experience in digital and eCommerce across multiple products and services at Sears Holdings and IBM.

Matt earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, MN and a Master’s of Public Policy from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA.

As the national leader of RSM’s Data Analytics practice, Jim is responsible for sales, delivery and profit and loss of RSM business intelligence, advanced analytics and corporate performance management solutions across the country.  Jim is also responsible for all technology consulting services across nine states in the Great Lakes region of RSM. These practices include Management Consulting, Business Applications, Application Development, Infrastructure and Outsourcing.  Jim also leads RSM’s internal data and analytics acceleration team as part of RSM’s quest to innovate in the professional services industry.

Jim has 30 years of experience developing and delivering technology-inspired solutions to business problems for the middle market and Fortune 1000. With an in-depth knowledge of the Microsoft technology stack, Jim has been delivering Microsoft-based solutions for over 30 years.

A frequent speaker and trained facilitator, Jim has led countless strategy and innovation sessions for clients in the professional services, retail, consumer/industrial products, technology, financial services and state and local government industries.