SIM National Board Elections

It is time to vote for the 2026 SIM National Board of Directors.

Of the eleven Board positions, five Officer positions are up for election and there are two Director seats currently open to new Board Members.

Officer positions are two-year terms and the Director positions are three-year terms with terms begin on January 1, 2026. 

The Nominations Committee and SIM Board of Directors present the following slate of nominees for your approval:

• Chair Emeritus - Joe Bruhin
• Chair - Rich Hook
• Vice Chair - Joan Holman
• Treasurer - Jeff Stovall
• Secretary - Susan Malisch
• Director - Rick Lindberg
• Director - Michael Seals

Please review the nominee's biographical information below.

A link to the ballot will be emailed to active SIM members. If you did not receive a ballot, please email sim@simnet.org for assistance.

Voting will be open until 6:00 PM ET on December 15, 2025. Click here to view the current SIM National Board of Directors.

Joe Bruhin

Chair Emeritus | Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President for Breakthru Beverage Group

Joe Bruhin has nearly 30 years as an information technology professional and leader.

Currently, he is Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President for Breakthru Beverage Group, serving on Breakthru’s Executive Leadership Team. Joe is responsible for overseeing the implementation and execution of a holistic IT Strategic Plan, driving Breakthru’s increased focus on digital transformation and developing a world class IT organization.

Prior to this, he was the Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President of Constellation Brands Inc, responsible for all aspects of people, process, technology and business leadership for Information Technology across the Globe. He directed all aspects of the organization’s information technology activities supporting the organization's overall strategic goals

He is an innovative, top performing Senior Technology Executive with progressive experience identifying and implementing innovative technology to drive growth. His superb academic preparation (MBA), combined with his inherent ability to lead has fostered a reputation as the “go-to” leader for IT strategies, solutions and implementations. Aligning organizations to the right IT strategic imperatives, creating engaged IT teams and empowering both IT and non-IT employees to succeed is a specialty.

He has a passion for new, innovative digital technology solutions. Coupled with his uniquely strong ability to partner with top leaders across global organizations to develop and implement innovative business technology solutions, he has earned the reputation of a truly transformation IT leader who will dependably deliver value to any area of a global business.

Mr. Bruhin has served as Vice President of Information Systems at Diageo, where he developed technology vision, strategy, and business process and systems solutions for the North American business. He served as VP of Global HR Systems where he was responsible for developing and implementing Diageo’s custom Global People Performance Management System, aligning several large global organizations onto a single unified People Performance Management system.

Mr. Bruhin also served the CIO for Diageo’s Australian business in Sydney, Australia, where he created and implemented an IT strategy to transition from legacy applications to state of the art technologies, bringing the technology footprint into alignment with global solutions and creating a high performing IT team.

He serves as Treasurer on the Society for Information Management (SIM) National Board of Directors. SIM is the largest international network of senior IT leaders, consisting of nearly 5,000 members across approximately 40 chapters in the US and Canada. He is a graduate of the SIM Regional Learning Forum (RLF), and a long-standing member of the SIM Advanced Practices Council (APC) which is a CIO think-tank that focuses on research related to emerging and new to world technologies and IT practices.

Mr. Bruhin is a transformational business leader with a track record of creating business value by leading breakthrough performance in IT. He is recognized as a motivational leader and mentor who creates an environment for success, creates high performing teams and inspires technology leadership.

He earned his undergraduate as well as his Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Connecticut.

Joe is the Chapter Representative of the following Chapters: Albany, Central Florida, Detroit, Minnesota, Northeast Ohio, Research Triangle Park, South Florida, Toronto and Western NY.

Rich Hook

Chair | CIO, Penske Corporation

Richard A. Hook is the Chief Information Officer for Penske Corporation and Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: PAG). Penske Corporation is a closely-held, on-highway, diversified transportation services company whose subsidiaries operate in a variety of industry segments, including retail automotive, truck leasing, transportation logistics, transportation component manufacturing and professional motorsports. Penske Corporation manages businesses with consolidated revenues of $39 billion, and employing more than 70,000 people worldwide.

Rich has over 20 years’ experience as an information technology professional and business leader. Prior to being named CIO, Rich was the VP of IT Infrastructure for Penske Automotive Group and before joining Penske in 2009, he held various positions at Arthur Andersen LLP, H&R Block Financial Advisors and Federal-Mogul Corporation.

Rich holds a BBA from Western Michigan University and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). Rich is also a member of the Society for Information Management (SIM) Detroit chapter and SIM Advance Practices Council (APC).

Joan Holman

Vice Chair |   CIO, Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Joan Holman is the Chief Information Officer at Barnes & Thornburg LLP in Dallas, Texas. Joan joined the firm in 2023 and is responsible for all strategic and operational aspects of Information Technology. Prior to Barnes & Thornburg, Joan spent 10 years in legal at Clark Hill and Strasbuarger. Joan also has experience in life sciences and environmental services, telecomm and financial industries. Joan has over 20 years of experience leading Information Technology, Strategy, Development, and Operations for several public and private companies in the Environmental Services, Telecommunications, and Financial Services industries. 

Outside of the workplace, Joan promotes STEM initiatives and gives back to her industry and community through her efforts in the Society for Information Management, participation in Dallas CIO, and as an active member of T200, an executive women in technology peer group. She is the Board Chair of Make-A-Wish North Texas and participates in the Executive Women’s Roundtable as part of the Dallas Regional Chamber. Joan holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from the University of Texas at Dallas. In August 2016, Joan was recognized by the Dallas Business Journal as one of its 2016 “Women in Technology” for her contributions to the technology community both professionally and philanthropically. 

Jeff Stovall

Treasurer | Chief Information Officer

Jeff Stovall is the Chief Information Officer at Abt Associates, a global leader in research, evaluation, and program implementation which aims to improve the livelihood of individuals and equity worldwide. Jeff manages core IT solutions and enables operational information exchange across the enterprise in more than 30 countries. Prior to joining Abt, Stovall served as an Industry Executive Director at Oracle Corporation, focusing on cloud enablement in state and local governments. Before Oracle, he was the CIO for the City of Charlotte, NC, for a decade. Jeff received his MBA from the Darden School at the University of Virginia and his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Jeff has been a national board member since 2021. He is a founding member and past president of the Charlotte Region SIM Chapter. He initiated the chapter’s Member-In-Transition program in 2016, was co-chair of the 2015 SIMposium, and was named a 2015 SIM Leader of the Year. Jeff is also a member of the Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF) and has been a member of its membership committee since 2010. Jeff was recognized as the 2022 ITSMF Executive Member of the Year.

Susan Malisch

Secretary | SVP and Chief Information Officer for American Medical Association

Improving the health of the nation is at the core of the American Medical Association’s (AMA) work to enhance the delivery of care and enable physicians and health teams to partner with patients to achieve better health for all. Susan Malisch currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for the AMA. In this capacity, Susan leads the enterprise information technology organization and serves as thought leader and senior-most technology officer driving a comprehensive strategic agenda across diverse business units in a federated IT model. Prior to joining the AMA, Susan was Vice President & CIO for Loyola University Chicago, and has extensive operating experience in diverse industries including higher education, telecommunications, professional services, and the high-tech market. Known as an excellent collaborator and problem solver who builds high performing teams with a stellar track record of successful execution and driving for results, Susan frequently contributes in organizational leadership roles beyond IT. She is the recipient of several industry awards including CIO of the Year (2010) in Chicago and Leader of the Year (2016) with SIM National. Susan is a board member for the SIM Chicago Chapter and the SIM National Board of Directors.

Susan has a BSBA in Computer Information Systems from Rockhurst University and was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame for Women’s Basketball. She is the proud parent of three sons. Personal interests include basketball, outdoor activities, wine tasting, cooking, and music.

Rick Lindberg

Director  | Fractional CIO and Senior IT Advisor, Stern Solutions LLC

Rick Lindberg is a Fractional Chief Information Officer and Senior IT Advisor at Stern Solutions LLC, providing strategic technology leadership to private equity firms and other organizations seeking to enhance enterprise value through digital transformation. A seasoned technology executive, Rick has a distinguished record of driving business growth, developing high-performing teams, and implementing cost optimization strategies that strengthen profitability and operational efficiency.

Rick’s career encompasses senior leadership roles at ASTM International, where he served as Chief Information & Technology Officer and Vice President of Product Development and Publication Services; Guardian Life Insurance Company as Chief Information Officer; and Mercer, Inc. as Chief Information Officer. He possesses extensive global experience leading IT and business transformations that enable enterprise modernization and sustainable growth. His areas of expertise include digital transformation, IT carve-outs, SaaS modernization, cybersecurity, enterprise applications, and technology strategy and governance.

In addition to his professional responsibilities, Rick serves on the Board of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Society for Information Management and the PHISIM Foundation Board. He is a recognized speaker and advisor on digital transformation and IT leadership. Rick holds credentials as a Professional Engineer (PE), Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and Leading SAFe Certified Agilist, and was named CIO of the Year by ORBIE.org in 2012.

Michael Seals

Director  |   Advisor & Independent Board Director, NSiT

Michael Seals is an accomplished executive with deep expertise in business strategy, M&A, digital transformation, and IT leadership. Throughout his career, Michael has operated at the intersection of strategy and technology, leading company-wide strategic initiatives and delivering high-impact insights that have guided market expansion through mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. His career includes senior roles at Hussmann, Anheuser-Busch, and PepsiCo, where he managed large P&Ls, developed high-performing teams, and led transformational strategies. Michael brings robust expertise in IT leadership, including enterprise application modernization, cybersecurity, and SOX compliance, with specialized knowledge in CRM, ERP, and digital tools.

Outside of the workplace, Michael serves on the Dean's Advisory Council for his alma mater and sits on the Audit Committee for the St. Louis Science Center. He is actively involved with the Society of Information Management's Strategic Research Advisory group and is a sought-after guest lecturer and mentor to aspiring leaders. Michael holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Missouri – St. Louis, where he researched leadership practices essential to digital transformation success. He also earned an MBA from St. Louis University and a bachelor's degree in business with a minor in mathematics from the University of Missouri – St. Louis. Michael co-authored a patent in digital innovation.