# Redefining the Role of a Chief Information Officer with Tim Dickson, CIO of Generac

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2023-05-23
- Length: 56m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-05-23-redefining-the-role-of-a-chief-information-officer-with-tim-dickson-cio-of-gener
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Tim Dickson, CIO of Generac, explains how he led the company's transformation from a 63-year-old engine manufacturer into an energy technology firm through digital innovation and strategic acquisitions. He discusses the critical need for CIOs to report directly to the CEO to drive enterprise-wide change, the use of hackathons and agile methodologies to foster innovation, and his efforts to build the Milwaukee tech community through Wisconsin CIO and Summerfest Tech.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-05-23-redefining-the-role-of-a-chief-information-officer-with-tim-dickson-cio-of-gener#t=0) Introduction: Tim Dickson and Generac's Evolution
- [9:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-05-23-redefining-the-role-of-a-chief-information-officer-with-tim-dickson-cio-of-gener#t=542) The CIO's Role in Digital Transformation
- [18:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-05-23-redefining-the-role-of-a-chief-information-officer-with-tim-dickson-cio-of-gener#t=1108) Driving Innovation via Hackathons and Agile
- [28:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-05-23-redefining-the-role-of-a-chief-information-officer-with-tim-dickson-cio-of-gener#t=1714) Leadership Development and Diversity
- [34:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-05-23-redefining-the-role-of-a-chief-information-officer-with-tim-dickson-cio-of-gener#t=2056) Building the Milwaukee Tech Community
- [45:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-05-23-redefining-the-role-of-a-chief-information-officer-with-tim-dickson-cio-of-gener#t=2705) Summerfest Tech and Sports Tech Parallels

## Topics

- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Generac (company)
- Summerfest Tech (other)
- Wisconsin CIO (other)
- InspireCIO (other)
- Women of Color in Tech (other)
- E-Plan (company)
- Motorola Solutions (company)
- Laureate Education (company)
- Microsoft (company)
- Salesforce (product)
- Workday (product)
- ChatGPT (product)
- Gartner (company)
- Forrester (company)
- United Way Greater Milwaukee (other)
- Baker Tilly (company)
- Harley-Davidson (company)
- Miller (company)
- Milwaukee Bucks (other)
- Milwaukee Brewers (other)
- Green Bay Packers (other)

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- [Why Solutions Are Key to IoT Growth | Digi International's Ron Konezny | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2024-04-09-why-solutions-are-key-to-iot-growth-digi-internationals-ron-konezny-internet-of) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [With Great Power: What other industries can teach utilities about innovation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-08-04-with-great-power-what-other-industries-can-teach-utilities-about-innovation) (Catalyst)
- [The Biotech Revolution: How Technology is Transforming Smart Buildings with Vijay Sankaran, Chief Technology Officer at Johnson Controls](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2023-05-31-the-biotech-revolution-how-technology-is-transforming-smart-buildings-with-vijay) (Over the Air)
- [Why It's Time to Formalize Innovation w/ Jeff Winter](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-08-15-why-its-time-to-formalize-innovation-w-jeff-winter) (The Manufacturing Executive)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-05-23-redefining-the-role-of-a-chief-information-officer-with-tim-dickson-cio-of-gener. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Manufacturing Happy Hour.