The Relationship Playbook – Two Part Session in Partnership with SIM Wisconsin

Join us as we hear from successful leaders on how relationships were, and continue to be, the backbone to their career success. This session in hosted in partnership with SIM Wisconsin, and will be two parts.

Session 1: 2-4pm

Title: The Relationship Playbook: Lessons from Sports, Business, and a Career Built on Trust

Speaker: Brian Lammi

Before the executive IT panel explores the future of relationship-building in technology leadership, Brian Lammi shares the personal story behind a career shaped by relationships. As a longtime sports executive and leader of a global sports and talent agency, Lammi has built partnerships with athletes, brands, teams, and organizations where trust, credibility, and long-term connection determine success.

In this candid conversation, Lammi will reflect on how relationships opened doors, helped navigate high-stakes decisions, and created opportunities that strategy alone could not. Drawing lessons from the sports and entertainment world—where reputation and trust move at the speed of business—he will share practical insights on networking with intention, earning trust over time, and building a relationship ecosystem that fuels lasting success. This session sets the stage for the broader discussion on why relationships remain one of the most powerful currencies in modern leadership.

 

Session 2: 3-4pm

Title: Session Title: Relationship Capital: Why Modern IT Leadership Is Built on Trust

Moderator: Ken Garfinkel

Panelists: ChaChi Gallo, Dr. Oliver Degnan, Celeste Cuffie

As automation, AI, and hybrid work reshape how organizations operate, the most effective IT leaders are discovering that their greatest competitive advantage is not technology—it’s relationships. In this executive panel, senior technology leaders will explore how intentional relationship-building is becoming essential to driving innovation, influencing strategy, and aligning complex organizations around digital transformation.

Panelists will share how they cultivate trust across business units, navigate vendor ecosystems, and lead initiatives where authority is limited but impact is critical. Through real-world examples, the conversation will examine how strong relationships help IT leaders move beyond order-taking to become strategic partners—balancing speed with trust, enabling healthy conflict, and creating the alignment needed to deliver meaningful business outcomes. Looking ahead, the discussion will also explore the evolving relationship capabilities IT leaders must develop to remain effective in an increasingly automated and distributed world.

4-6pm – Join us for a post-event networking happy hour

 

Speakers:

Brian Lammi is an entrepreneur and owner of six companies, including the Founder and CEO of TEAM LAMMI. TEAM LAMMI has produced events featuring talent such as ESPYS Jimmy V Perseverance Award Winner Rob Mendez, Jordy Nelson, Donald Driver, Michael Strahan, Anthony Anderson, Brett Favre, Bonnie Blair, Gladys Knight, Pat McAfee, Dan Patrick, and Biz Markie. Brian is the Executive Producer and Creator of twelve media properties, including Inside the Huddle (TV/Radio/Social/Digital). In the last 25 years, Inside the Huddle has aired more original episodes than Seinfeld, M*A*S*H, Game of Thrones, Modern Family, or most weekly television shows in history.

The Milwaukee Business Journal named Brian as a top 100 Power Broker in each year of the list’s existence. Brian is a member of the NFL Player Marketing Collaboration Committee. The University of Wisconsin – La Crosse honored Brian with a Rada Distinguished Alumni Award. Brian has also been awarded the Ethical Business Leadership Award by Concordia University Wisconsin.  Brian was honored with a Milwaukee Business Journal Forty Under 40 award at the age of 28. He has served on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Donald Driver Foundation, Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame Foundation, and Special Olympics Wisconsin.  Brian was named a Susan G Komen Big Wig and he co-hosted a fundraiser for Adam Craig and the Hope Community Foundation. Brian Lammi and TEAM LAMMI have helped to lead charitable causes to raise over $10,000,000.

Brian has been an expert panelist and guest lecturer at seven universities.  Brian’s expertise, accomplishments, and sports relationships have been cited in Sports Business Journal, Sports Illustrated, Chicago Tribune, Sporting News Today, Fox Sports, Milwaukee Business Journal, iHeart Radio, Audacy Radio, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Green Bay Press-Gazette, and USA Today.

 

ChaChi Gallo is the Vice President of Information Technology, responsible for the Global IT services and solutions, at Michels Construction. ChaChi has over 25 years of experience in global technology leadership, he has architected digital transformations for prominent organizations, including previous leadership roles as Vice President of Enterprise Architecture and Cloud Operations at Generac Power Systems and Senior Director of Cloud Services & Cyber Security at NTT Data. His career is built on a foundation of Enterprise Architecture, which is the high-level design of a company’s IT systems, and Cyber Security. He leverages this expertise to create resilient digital ecosystems and scalable operational frameworks that support mission critical operations.

ChaChi specializes in leading high performing teams through complex technical landscapes, focusing on strategic mergers and acquisitions, global platform implementations, and the development of secure, data driven operating models. His approach aligns technical roadmaps with strict governance and compliance frameworks while fostering a service-oriented culture that bridges the gap between IT and business objectives. Beyond his professional roles, he is deeply committed to the growth of the Milwaukee tech community. He serves on the Advisory Board for i.c.stars Milwaukee, where he mentors nontraditional talent and works to foster a culture of yes within the industry and is on the Advisory Committee of SummerFest Tech. His goal is to nurture the next generation of IT leaders and talent while building the secure, intelligent landscapes required for Michels to thrive at a record pace.

 

Celeste Cuffie serves as the Chief People Officer and Co-Founder of Cream City Cyber, where she is dedicated to building a diverse and innovative workforce in the cybersecurity sector. In addition to her role at Cream City Cyber, she is the Founder and CEO of Life Empowered Consulting Services, LLC, focusing on corporate education, executive coaching, and organizational development to help individuals and organizations reach their full potential.

Celeste earned a Bachelor’s degree in Management and Communication and a Master’s in Business Administration. She is a proud member of the John Maxwell Leadership Team, where she trains and supports emerging leaders. Throughout her career, Celeste has held leadership positions at notable organizations, including Continental Savings Bank, Associated Bank, and Johnson Controls.

In 2012, Celeste founded Life Empowered Consulting and transitioned to full-time in 2016, allowing her to fully invest her leadership and communication skills in helping others succeed. Her consultancy work includes collaborations with prestigious institutions such as the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and American Family Insurance. Additionally, she is an accomplished author, having published four books, including “The Risk to Be Great,” which outlines strategies for achieving success through risk-taking. She also founded the Entrepreneur in You Conference, which has raised over $30,000 to support minority students in their educational journeys.

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Celeste continues to contribute to her community through education and mentorship. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in Strategic Management at Liberty University, further enhancing her expertise. Despite her numerous professional achievements, Celeste is most proud of her family. She has been married to her childhood sweetheart, Sheldon, for over 30 years and is the proud mother of two exceptional adult children, Alyssa and Zachary.

 

Oliver is a career executive leader passionate about technology innovation, entrepreneurship, and business strategy. He holds technology patents for breakthrough inventions cited by Fortune 100 companies, such as Apple, Google, and Intuit in Silicon Valley.

Over the past 20 years, Oliver has led more than 1,600 employees worldwide to disrupt the status quo in healthcare innovation to help prevent physician burnout and improve people’s health. He founded several businesses in Germany and the United States with successful multi-million-dollar exits.

Oliver coaches and mentors CIOs, CTOs, and startup CEOs worldwide to reach their fullest potential in their careers and lives. He draws from his work in the trenches of the C-Suite and his scientific research during his doctoral studies at the University of Wisconsin.

Dr. Oliver Degnan published research articles on AI culture and innovation with Berkley University and is the author of “NEVER BURNOUT AGAIN,” a self-help and corporate workshop that teaches readers how to boost their productivity to new heights without risking burnout. The book is based on Oliver’s own journey and experience from climbing the corporate ladder from a software developer to Chief Information Officer and PE Venture CEO.

 

Ken is the Chief Information Officer for Broan-NuTone based in Hartford, Wisconsin.  Prior to joining Broan NuTone in 2016, Ken has held CIO and IT leadership positions at Piston Automotive,  Energy Conversion Devices, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Sun Chemical.  Ken began his professional career as a CPA at Arthur Andersen and held leadership positions in both finance and operations before becoming an IT executive.  Ken also holds Board positions for i.c.stars, Society for Information Managers, and The Baldwin Center.