Community Leaders

Meet your Community Leaders

We are the IBM TechXchange Community Leader team, and we're pleased to meet you. 

Our job is to provide our members the best possible Community experience. We are here to listen, make connections, provide useful resources, boost your knowledge, and help you expand your eminence. We're looking forward to getting to know you!

Sarah Cogley

Program Director and Community Team Manager

Personal fun fact: I am a crazy cat lady and grow my own food in my English garden

The most unexpected thing I have learned from the community members: How our members are willing to help each other, by setting up local User groups and using dynamic problem solving.

Nicklous Plowden

Communities I manage: watsonx.ai, watsonx.governance, planning analytics, watsonx assistant, AI & DS Skills, Global AI & Data Science, Data Integration, Data Governance-Knowledge Catalog, Global Data Lifecycle - Integration and Governance, Governance, Risk and Compliance  - OpenPages

Personal fun fact: I love roller blading

The most unexpected thing I have learned from the community members: How to make presentations more engaging and compelling

Wendy Batten

Communities I manage: IT Automation (AIOps, Integration & Application RunTimes)

Personal fun fact: I love to ski and have a house in Vermont

The most unexpected thing I have learned from the community members: How amazing our members are and how supportive they are of our mission

Aine Lenihan

Communities I manage: Asset & Facilities Management, ESG Data and Environmental Intelligence, Sterling Data Exchange, Engineering, Supply Chain, Cloud

Personal fun fact: I am in Mensa

The most unexpected thing I have learned from the community members: Reading the discussion threads posted by the community members,  I am always surprised that they not only have incredible technical prowess, but are creative and resourceful. Our members are not just users of IBM technology; they are pioneers who push the boundaries of what’s possible. Their willingness to share these insights and collaborate openly has created a rich, supportive environment where we all can learn and grow together. The unexpected part for me was realizing just how much collective wisdom and experience we have at our fingertips within the community. It’s a constant reminder of the power of collaboration and the incredible things we can achieve when we come together to solve problems and share knowledge.

Krista Summit

Community I manage: Financial Services Cloud Council and Forum

Personal fun fact: I enjoy doing a boxing workout called Fight Camp. (Think Peloton, but for boxing.) Workouts are streamed on your phone or tablet in their app. All the instructors are professional boxers and/or kickboxers. There are fresh workouts every week, and there are sensors in your hand wraps to track punch speed, number of punches, and impact. It is great fun, a good stress reliever, and a complete workout.

The most unexpected thing I have learned from the community members: I enjoy doing a boxing workout called Fight Camp

Austin Rexroat

Communities I manage: watsonx.data, watsonx.ai, Cognos Analytics, Cognos Controller, SPSS, watson Assistant, watson Discovery, IBM Advanced Studies

Personal fun fact: I love exploring the outdoors! My favorite forms of meditation include golfing, fishing, hiking, snowboarding, and sailing!

The most unexpected thing I have learned from the community members: That everyone is so willing to help others, contribute, and share useful tips!

Christopher Vollmar

Community I manage: IBM Storage

Personal fun fact: My hobbies include (but not limited to) Golf, Dancing Argentine Tango, Aikido, Model Railroading

The most unexpected thing I have learned from the community members: Not unexpected but I always am thrilled by how much creativity and interesting things that Community members do. All we have to do is take the time to get to know each other!

Cameron Clarke

Community I manage: IBM Security

Personal Fun fact: I am a former professional actor and I still enjoy utilizing creative methods in my work.

The most unexpected thing I have learned from the community members: I have been able to communicate much more deeply with many Security experts both inside and outside IBM, including our IBM Champions, which has been a great experience for me!

Libby Ingrassia

Communities I manage: IBM Champions

Personal fun fact: I'm a mom of twins, published author, yoga instructor, and have been both a teacher and magazine editor in my past.

The most unexpected thing I have learned from the community members: They have some amazing recipes - award winners! - and they share them.

Kathryn DuPont

Communities I manage: IBM Champions

Personal fun fact: Horse Groomer (age 13)

The most unexpected thing I have learned from the community members: Community members provide real and usable advice.

Namitha K

Communities I manage: IBM Champions

Personal fun fact: I am a fan of horror movies, but I watch them with my eyes closed!

The most unexpected thing I have learned from the community members: The consistent enthusiasm towards new learning and engagements.

Linda Alkire

Communities I manage: IBM Power and Power Developer eXchange

Personal fun fact: When I’m not working, I enjoy time in my garden, going to concerts, and suffering the unending disappointment of being a Minnesota Vikings football fan.

The most unexpected thing I have learned from the community members: The extent users are willing to help each other and share their knowledge.