Outstanding alums to be first inductees into MSIS Cloud of Honor
Thursday, February 17, 2022
Media Contact: Terry Tush | Director, Marketing and Communications | 405-744-2703 | terry.tush@okstate.edu
Four to be recognized during MSIS Department’s 20th Anniversary Gala
Four distinguished alumni of Oklahoma State University’s information systems program will be the inaugural inductees into the Management Science and Information Systems (MSIS) Cloud of Honor on March 25 at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center.
Behfar Jahanshahi, Barbara Osteen, Brad Smith and Russ Teubner will be inducted during the MSIS Department’s 20th Anniversary Gala.
The Cloud of Honor is being established to recognize and honor graduates from OSU’s information systems programs that date back to the 1970s, and which has been administered by the MSIS Department since its creation in 2002.
“We are excited that Behfar, Barbara, Brad and Russ are our inaugural members of the MSIS Cloud of Honor,” said Dr. Rick Wilson, head of the MSIS Department. “Each has had a tremendous impact on the information technology field as well as fostering economic development in the state of Oklahoma. We are proud to call them alumni from our long-standing, nationally prominent information systems-related programs of the Spears School of Business.
“Their continued participation in the life and work of our MSIS Department will allow us to create the next generation of outstanding leaders and innovators in the information technology, cybersecurity and data science fields.”
Jahanshahi is the founder and CEO of InterWorks, a global IT and data consultancy based in Stillwater. While growing up, Jahanshahi’s parents both pursued their doctorates, eventually teaching at OSU. He spent a lot of time in their offices as well as the computer labs on campus. As fate would have it, he would receive his bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems (MIS) in 1998 and a master’s degree in Telecommunications Management (MSTM) in 2000 in the very same buildings. He founded InterWorks during his time as an OSU student.
InterWorks has grown steadily in size and scope the past 26 years, creating valuable jobs in Stillwater and beyond. Today, InterWorks employs over 250 individuals across the globe, including 75-plus OSU alumni. They serve hundreds of clients across virtually every industry, ranging from Twitter and Nike to OSU and Stillwater Medical Center.
Outside of InterWorks, Jahanshahi remains heavily involved with OSU and the broader Stillwater community. He currently serves on the OSU MSIS Advisory Board and has taught several analytics courses as an adjunct professor.
Osteen retired after 41 years in information technology, including serving as a managing director at Deloitte Consulting, as well as leadership positions with Cities Service Oil Company, American Airlines and others. She graduated from OSU’s business school in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in general business with an emphasis in data processing. As a pioneer in the IT industry, Osteen led the day-to-day coverage and operation of then cutting-edge applications such as Travelocity and AA.com, oversaw the development of innovative cloud-based HR/Payroll systems for some of the world’s largest retail stores, along with many other technology firsts.
Osteen was very visible at OSU in class presentations and recruiting at career fairs during her career, and her family has endowed a scholarship in the MSIS Department. As has been the norm throughout her career, she remains active in the community in a variety of service roles, and has been invited to participate on the Dean’s Council in Spears Business.
Smith, chief information officer at Paycom, is a 1991 MIS graduate of Spears Business. He has nearly 30 years of IT and software development experience, having been at Paycom since 2005 and serving as CIO since 2018. At Paycom, Smith is known as an innovator and an exemplary people-centric leader and mentor.
Prior to joining Paycom, he was a senior technical consultant at Bearing Point and manager of software development and business intelligence at Fleming Companies Inc. Smith serves on the MSIS Department Advisory Board and has a long history of participating in OSU student-focused events as well as being involved in many local community service activities.
For over four decades, Teubner has applied his creative energies to solving difficult problems associated with integrating large-scale IBM systems and various emerging technologies. He got his entrepreneurial start while working in the basement of the Math Sciences building while completing his Management Science and Computer Systems (MSCS) degree, graduating from Spears Business in 1978. He started his first software company in 1983, making the Inc. 500 list three consecutive years. After selling that company, he launched HostBridge Technology, where he continues to do pioneering work in the integration of IBM mainframes with other infrastructure architectures.
Teubner has been a contributing author to various technical publications, the co-author of a U.S. patent and has other patents pending. He has served in various roles as advisor and valued alumnus of Spears Business for many years, including serving on the MSIS Department Advisory Board. His community service activities are well known in the Stillwater community.
Visit the website for more information on the Cloud of Honor and the MSIS Department’s 20th Anniversary Gala: https://business.okstate.edu/departments_programs/msis/cloud_of_honor.html