The Honorable LaVerne Council

LaVerne H. Council is the national managing principal for Enterprise Technology Strategy and Innovation, responsible for the planning, growth and execution of Grant Thornton’s U.S. Advisory business. She has more than 30 years of experience in both the public and private sector, implementing global technology solutions and supply chain strategies that drive growth and innovation. Council previously served as Assistant Secretary for the Office of Information and Technology and chief information officer (CIO) for the Department of Veterans Affairs; Corporate Vice President and first global CIO for Johnson & Johnson; Global Vice President for information technology, global business solutions, and development services at Dell Inc.; and as the global partner for supply chain at Ernst & Young LLC. She was twice named one of the Top 50 Women in Information Technology by FedScoop, and also awarded the Golden Gov: Federal Executive of the Year Award. Business Trends Quarterly named her one of the top four CIOs in America. The New Jersey Technology Council inducted her into its CIO Hall of Fame, and the Global CIO Executive Summit awarded her the Top 10 Leaders & Change Agents Award and the Top 10 Leaders & Innovators Award.