Thomas Costello

Dr. Phil Laplante is Associate Professor of Software Engineering at Penn State University and the founder and director of the CIO Institute, a three-year old community of practice for CIOs in the Greater Philadelphia Metro Area.  He is also the Chief Technology Officer of the Eastern Technology Council, a business development organization for the Greater Philadelphia Metropolitan Area. Prior to coming to Penn State he was a senior academic administrator at several other Colleges and Universities.

In addition to his academic career, Dr. Laplante spent almost eight years as a software engineer, project manager, and director of a software consulting firm.  He has authored or edited 20 books and more than 140 other papers, articles and is a highly sought after mentor and coach for CEOs and CIOs.

Dr. Laplante received his B.S., M.Eng., and Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science, respectively, from Stevens Institute of Technology and an MBA from the University of Colorado.

As the CEO of UpStreme, Mr. Costello currently provides technical and business consulting to corporate CxOÕs, boards of directors, venture capital firms, angels, and investment bankers in the evaluation, planning, and implementation of technologies to meet strategic and tactical business needs.  Mr. Costello has advised both private and public sector organizations ranging from The U.S. Department of State and established top Fortune 500 organizations to early-stage/pre-funded startups.

Mr. CostelloÕs 20 year career has spanned the universe of computing challenges and solutions.  He has formerly held positions with such firms as Cambridge Technology Partners as Director of IT Strategy & Planning, CoreTech Consulting Group as Director of Management Services, U.S. Healthcare as Director of Development, AssetTRADE as both COO and CTO, the QVC Television Network, Shared Medical Systems, and GMIS.

Mr. Costello earned a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA, where he is currently a member of the Eberly College of Business Advisory Council.