CIO Announcements from U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, Proskauer Rose, and more

Plus: Former BEA Systems’ CIO Named COO of Home Automation Company

Jeff Conklin was appointed CIO of U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services within the Department of Homeland Security.  He replaces Tarrazia Martin, who left the same post to join the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Conklin, a marine, most recently served for six years as CEO of the Washington School Information Processing Cooperative http://www.wsipc.org/, a public agency that provides IT services to school districts in Washington state.  Previously, Conklin worked for the U.S. Department of Education as its director of technology services, and for the U.S. Department of Defense in an IT management position.

Control4, a provider of home control and entertainment systems, hired BEA Systems’ former CIO Rhonda Bassett-Spiers as its new COO. She is responsible for all production, procurement and service operations at the Salt Lake City-based company. Prior to BEA, Bassett-Spiers worked for Agilent Technologies as vice president of its global supply chain operations.

Philip Wisoff left his post as MIS director for lawfirm Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flop to assume the top IT spot at another law firm.  Proskauer Rose named Wisoff its new CIO earlier this week. The 20-year IT veteran previously worked for Ernst & Young in a variety of positions, including as its national director of business applications, national director of technology services, director of technology, and vice president of internet solutions. Prior to Ernst & Young, Wisoff worked in executive level IT positions with American International Group and Squibb Corp.

Paula Rosenblum, the former CIO of iParty and Domain Home Fashions, joined Retail Systems Alert Group as its executive director.  Rosenblum joins the retail technology content provider from Aberdeen Group, where she served as vice president of its retail research practice.  Prior to Aberdeen, she worked for AMR Research as director of retail industry research. Before joining the research industry, Rosenblum spent 20 years as a retail technology executive. Look for good things to come from Retail Systems. Having spoken with Rosenblum several times for different stories, I can say she really knows her stuff.