Scott Pettit

Scott Pettit joined the Applied Information Management Institute (AIM) as Vice President of Business Services in July of 1994. Scott brought to AIM an extensive knowledge of information systems and technology, managerial leadership and credibility gained from a highly successful career in the Farm Credit System. Having joined the Federal Land Bank MIS department in 1972 as a computer programmer, Scott advanced to Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of the merged Farm Credit Banks of Omaha and Spokane. During this period, the System was consolidating and merging both association and bank operations. Even in this unsettled environment, Scott led the banks through several software and technology changes providing stability to required information systems. He gained national respect throughout Farm Credit during this time of significant change.

To accomplish AIM's mission of "supporting economic development around issues related to information technology," Scott's knowledge of the people and institutions in the state were invaluable. To many, Scott was the "face" of AIM. He was the keeper of AIM's list of Who's Who in Nebraska information technology. He led AIM's annual Technology Awards Banquet that brought national speakers to the city, while recognizing the CIOs, professors, gurus, and firms leading the information technology initiatives in the state and region. As an officer at the Association of Information Technology Professionals, Scott provided leadership to the annual infotec conference that draws thousands of participants each year. Working with the AIM technical staff, he participated in the development of some highly sophisticated web-based human resources systems now used by many of the area's largest firms. Scott was also recruited by the Agency for International Development (AID) to help automate financial systems for Polish lending institutions following Poland's independence from the Soviet Union. He served on the board of directors for DOT.Comm and AITP as well as numerous technology councils and committees.

Scott was one of those rare individuals who flowed effortlessly through the generations of technology from the mainframe to the PC to the internet. He was an engaging individual liked by all, not only because of his personality, but also because of his informed, optimistic view of the future and a strong sense of lessons learned in the past.