Q: How long have you been involved with The Open Group?

Just getting started now.

Q: Why did you become a member and what does your involvement look like?

The Open Group is a recognized leader in architecture practice and guidance. Enterprise Architecture is very important to Chevron, and we wanted to dial up our connection to The Open Group’s guidance.

Q: How has membership in The Open Group benefited you, your organization and the industry at large?

Well, we are just getting started. But, we recognize that The Open Group’s Architecture Framework shapes and guides a lot of resources we use, such as architecture modeling tools, training programs, common vocabulary, etc.

Q: Why is it important for other organizations to join The Open Group?

Our world is hugely complex and is increasingly reliant of information systems to help keep everything operating. Open, shared constructs that bridge efforts and resources from many sources lead toward improved capacity and improved agility, benefiting our common endeavors in a broad and sustainable way.

Q: What are your hobbies?

Travel and photography would be first. Both keep one’s mind working and seeing the world in fresh, interesting ways.

Q: What book are you currently reading?

Last night I finished Under the Jacaranda by Marissa Bell Toffoli, a short work of poems revolving around experiences in southern Africa.   http://www.thewritedeal.org/bookstore/97/

Q: Any last thoughts?

Looking forward to getting acquainted.

About Tom Bell

Mr. Bell leads the Enterprise Architecture practice at Chevron, working across EA teams in IT service companies and in the operating companies. He guides the overall EA practice, including governance processes, connections to organization processes and the assurance of alignment of projects to target architectures.

In 1981 Mr. Bell joined Gulf Oil Corporation, later acquired by Chevron. He is recognized for helping lead the creation of a unified desktop computing platform that now serves Chevron operations globally in over 100 countries. Prior to Enterprise Architecture he was the IT Manager for Southern Africa Chevron exploration and production. His earlier roles included mainframe systems automation and consulting in expert systems and energy market modeling.

Before Chevron, Mr. Bell taught secondary school as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Central African Republic. He also held consulting positions at Consad Research Corporation and Energy Impact Associates.

Mr. Bell holds a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Michigan State University.