About the Author
Bryan Brewer
Quest, Board Chair
VP Supply Chair & Corporate IT, Visual Comfort & Co.
Reflecting on my time with Quest Oracle Community —first as a board member and most recently as Chair—I am deeply grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to contribute to this vibrant community. Serving in this role has been an honor, and witnessing the resilience, collaboration, and innovation of our members has been nothing short of inspiring. This year has been a standout period of growth and meaningful initiatives, all driven by the collective efforts and shared vision of our community.
2024 has been another transformative year for Quest. In my role as Chair, I’ve had the privilege of observing firsthand the incredible progress we’ve made in connecting our members and fostering new opportunities. This year, we strengthened our presence across the Cloud, JD Edwards, and PeopleSoft communities while launching initiatives designed to empower our members and drive momentum.
A highlight of the year was the extraordinary successes of Quest’s BLUEPRINT 4D conference in Dallas, TX. This event united our community and reaffirmed our commitment to creating a leading platform for collaboration and innovation. In addition to this landmark gathering, we celebrated the largest INFOCUS for our JD Edwards customers and a highly rated RECONNECT Dive Deep and Cloud Fusion Days. These milestones underscore the adaptability and enthusiasm of our members, who continue to engage with our offerings in remarkable ways.
Membership growth in 2024 has been exceptional, with Quest welcoming 109 new companies, over 1,400 individuals, and 30 new vendor members. While our core community of Quest customers remains robust and active, we’ve also seen significant expansion in our Cloud community. This progress wouldn’t be possible without the invaluable contributions of our Cloud Advisory Boards and JD Edwards and PeopleSoft advisory board members, whose strategic guidance shapes the programming that serves our diverse membership.
Our commitment to giving back to the communities in which we do business remained in 2024. We deepened our efforts at the intersection of technology and underrepresented communities, including a partnership with St. Philips School and Community Center in Dallas, TX where BLUEPRINT 4D was held. This initiative, supported by vendor contributions, resulted in a $10,000 donation to St. Philips, funding an Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning elective class and hosting a Career Day experience for students at BLUEPRINT 4D.
Finally, I want to highlight the Quest Board of Directors, elected by our membership each year. These volunteer leaders, representing Cloud applications, JD Edwards and PeopleSoft products, work on your behalf to shape Quest’s strategic direction, secure resources, and oversee our progress toward fulfilling our mission. Their leadership ensures that Quest remains a thriving and impactful organization.
The following board members were re-elected to the Quest Board of Directors to a two-year term beginning in January 2025:
- Madhuri Jha, Honeywell
- Rod McDonald, Aimbridge Hospitality
- Ken Piddington, Reladyne
- Natalie Webb, Samaritan’s Purse
- Chandra Wobschall, BrightView Landscapes
Following a thorough vetting process by the Quest Nominating Committee, the following community members have been newly elected as board members for a two-year term, beginning January of 2025:
- Emily Crow, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
- Andrew Esserman, San Diego County Office of Education
- Gayle McCluskey, Providence
And finally, the following board members will be returning under their current term:
- Becky Ivy, Baylor University
- Venkat Maganti, MDC Holdings
- Josh Stauffer, Harbison Walker Int’l
- Melanie Trudell, The Wendy’s Company
- Bryan Brewer, Visual Comfort & Co. – Ex Officio
- Carole Owens, AdventHealth – Ex Officio
We also held Quest’s officer elections. Becky Ivy, Baylor University, will be assuming the duties of Chair of the Board this coming January. Joining Becky as members of the executive committee from January 1 of 2025 through December 31, 2025, include:
- Josh Stauffer, Harbison Walker Int’l, Vice Chair
- Rod McDonald, Aimbridge Hospitality
- Ken Piddington, Reladyne
- Liz Smith, J. Paul Getty Trust
- Mark Thomas, Hays Recruiting Specialists
In closing, I want to thank our members, event attendees, vendor partners, and volunteers for their continued support and collaboration. The strength of Quest lies in its people, and it is their dedication that ensures our community continues to flourish.
Here’s to continuing our collective journey of growth and innovation in 2025!
Bryan Brewer
Board Chair, Quest Oracle Community
VP Supply Chair & Corporate IT, Visual Comfort & Co.