Ron J. Ponder

Ron Ponder began his career at Mississippi State University's College of Business and Industry. He also previously worked at FedEx Corp., where he helped introduce an ambitious worldwide package-tracking system, and at AT&T Corp., where he supervised major reorganizations.  At FedEx, his employer for 17 years, he orchestrated the creation of the package-tracking system that propelled the company to the $13.3 billion success story it is today. Next stop was Sprint Corp., where he put together an ambitious universal billing system; then AT&T Corp., where he oversaw the implementation of a critical customer billing and marketing system.

In 1997 Ponder accepted the position of president and CEO of Beechwood Data Systems-then a 400-employee, $56 million telecom systems and services vendor. The company grew by nearly 40 percent a year, and was ultimately purchased by the Cap Gemini Group. The merger instantly vaulted Beechwood to 750 employees and $130 million in revenues.

Ponder recently retired from his position as CIO and executive vice president of information services at WellPoint Inc., using his experience to help one of the nation's largest health care providers navigate an industry facing vast IT changes and opportunities.  Ponder also helped lead WellPoint's Physicians Technology Initiative, a project through which doctors in four states receive their choice of wireless or desktop systems, free of charge. The $40 million initiative is intended to improve physicians' ability to communicate with patients and pharmacists, enhance care and reduce administrative costs.