About the Panelists
Gene Barskiy: As Vice President, Technology, Gene is responsible for ensuring that ADL’s assets are secured, systems support our strategic goals and that our IT team provides top-notch service to our employees. Gene is a seasoned IT professional with extensive experience leading high-performance teams in both Fortune 1000 and mid-size private companies. He has a track record of implementing cloud-based systems, cybersecurity programs and leveraging technology to improve business decisions. Prior to joining ADL, Gene spent 18 years at International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. in various global roles.
Most recently he led IT functions at mid-size private international companies Fisk Alloy Inc., an international wire and conductor manufacturer for medical devices, aerospace and defense industries, and Berje Inc., a global specialty chemicals manufacturer and distributor. In addition to his extensive experience and leadership skills, Gene is also an active member of several IT industry organizations, including serving on the Board of Directors for SIM NJ and SIM NJ Foundation.
Gene received a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Baruch College CUNY and an MBA from Rutgers University
Dutt Kalluri: Dutt Kalluri is a visionary technology executive and globally recognized thought leader in artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and operational modernization. With over two decades of experience at the intersection of business strategy, technology, and innovation, he has guided Fortune 500 enterprises through transformative journeys that redefine how organizations operate and create value.
As Chief Digital Officer at Celsior, Dutt leads the firm’s mission to architect digital operating platforms that fuse data, automation, and agentic AI to deliver measurable business impact across financial services, healthcare, and industrial sectors. His work centers on building intelligent enterprises that integrate human ingenuity with AI-powered systems, accelerating decision velocity and operational resilience.
Previously, as a C-Level Executive at Broadridge Financial Solutions, Dutt spearheaded modernization initiatives that advanced automation, analytics, and cloud adoption across global financial operations — driving efficiency, compliance, and competitive differentiation. Earlier, as Global Practice Leader at Deloitte, he led multidisciplinary teams across North America, Europe, and Asia in delivering large-scale digital programs for banking, insurance, and manufacturing clients — establishing himself as a trusted partner to boards and C-suites navigating digital reinvention.
Dutt is the author of Mastering Digital Transformation, a seminal work that bridges the gap between legacy enterprise systems and AI-native operating models. His writing and speaking engagements emphasize pragmatic innovation—how to turn disruption into disciplined execution and sustainable growth.
Renowned for his balanced perspective that values both human craftsmanship and technological advancement, Dutt continues to shape the global dialogue on the future of work, digital labor, and intelligent enterprises. He is a frequent keynote speaker, advisor to venture and private equity firms, and mentor to leaders driving the next wave of digital reinvention.
Val Thomas: Val is a CIO, non-executive Board Director, and technology executive with more than 20 years of experience turning IT organizations into strategic engines of growth. In addition to his startup experience, he has led enterprise wide transformations across companies ranging from $250M to multi billion dollar scale, specializing in technology turnarounds, AI integration, and building high performance teams.
His recent AI work includes developing a combined Claude/OpenAI powered student tutoring platform, automating AI sentiment analysis across 18,000 quarterly surveys, and developing a paperless admissions, financial aid, and document workflow system for a large trade school. All saving thousands of manual processing hours weekly. As a former CISO for a publicly traded company, he leveraged AI to help maintain zero SOX audit findings while overseeing 24×7 security operations processing over 10 million events per hour.
Val has led technology teams across the full spectrum—from startup environments to large, complex enterprises and advises executives and boards on technology strategy, cybersecurity posture, and AI adoption. He sits on the SIM NJ Chapter and Foundation boards and also serves on the Advisory Board to Squad-Up. He holds an International Board Director Competency Designation (IBDC.D), a B.S. in Computer Informational Science from NJIT, and a M.S. in Business Analytics from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.
Our Moderator
Zaheer Master, Zaheer is the president and founder of Accelerated Information Systems, a consulting-led automation firm that helps organizations translate technology investments into measurable business outcomes. With more than twenty years of experience, Zaheer is known for bridging the gap between complex business processes and practical, scalable solutions using electronic forms, workflow, document management, and system integrations. Zaheer’s approach is rooted in a simple principle: technology alone does not solve problems.
Rather than leading with tools, Zaheer focuses on understanding people, processes, and desired outcomes, recognizing that technology succeeds only when those elements are aligned. He works closely with organizations to surface hidden complexity, identify edge cases, and determine which approach delivers the best ROI.
Zaheer and his team have delivered impactful solutions across higher education, government, and regulated industries, with a particular focus on improving the experience of end users. In education, his work has reduced administrative friction for nontraditional students by enabling mobile, self-service processes that remove unnecessary barriers to access.
Zaheer is a trusted advisor to executive and IT leaders who value results over hype, especially in emerging areas such as applied AI and cross-application automation. He brings a calm, open minded leadership style and a practical perspective grounded in real-world delivery.
