In recent years, IT software and services have changed dramatically. How are these changes affecting the building of back office systems and infrastructure? CIO Doug Smith will discuss how his company built, with very limited human and capital resources, an end-to-end, automated back-office environment in a very short period of time.

During the course of the presentation Doug will also give attendees an overview of WiMAX, covering how it works and its advantages..

Speaker: Doug Smith is the CIO of DigitalBridge Communications, the first WiMAX operator to deploy a production WiMAX network in the United States. Doug has more than 18 years of IT and IT management experience across a number of industries including manufacturing, publishing, distribution, insurance, and Internet/telecommunications. Before joining DigitalBridge Communications, Doug was Vice President of Business Systems Development at America Online, where he was responsible for AOL's back office systems, including billing, marketing, customer care, and online advertising.

DigitalBridge Communications (DBC) provides broadband wireless services (including high-speed data, voice over IP, and locally hosted community content) to consumers and businesses in underserved rural, suburban, military, and university communities. It utilizes WiMAX technology to provide portable high-speed connections anywhere in its service area. DBC is committed to working with local communities and schools to make broadband services and content available to residents and students often left behind.

With WiMAX, DBC is able to offer a broadband wireless service that is reliable, portable, affordable, fast, and easy to install. Setting up DBC service involves "plug-and-surf" installation, enabling customers to set up service on their own in minutes. When DBC launches service in a community, it deploys base stations that use licensed radio frequencies to reach each customer through small, wireless modems. Because no wires are required to establish service, DBC's service is portable throughout its service area, and customers can use the service inside or outside their homes and offices.

Location: One-half block south of the Cineplex Odeon Uptown movie theatre on Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC.

Metrorail--Cleveland Park Station on the Red Line (on Connecticut Avenue, just 1.5 blocks north of meeting site) 

Parking: Very small lot, off Macomb St., to left of library. 

Free and open to all 

Several times a year a smaller group (usually about 8 to 12) goes to Nanny O'Brien's (directly across the street from the library at 3319 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 202-686-9189, open noon Saturday to 2 am Sunday) or another local establishment for continued conversation, networking, and refreshment following the meeting. (Participants pay for their own beverages and food.) 

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