Articles
BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE
Q: What led you to become a partner at Green Leaf? What inspired you to take on this role?
A: After consulting and directing consulting teams for many years, I was looking for the opportunity to put my stamp on what technologies we focus on, how we put our teams together, and define how hands on I want to be.
Q: What experiences earlier in your career most shaped your leadership philosophy?
A: Working with people at all levels in an organization. I worked as a civilian for the Navy at Fort Detrick for a summer and holiday job while in school where I supported everyone in the command – from data entry personnel to the XO and CO. My first job out of school I worked in the MIS (management information systems) department of a medical device manufacturer, where I supported technology for all employees from the manufacturing floor up to the president of the company.
Q: Looking back, where have you found the most meaning or success in your professional journey?
A: Always have a willingness to learn new things and take on new opportunities.
VISION AND LEADERSHIP
Q: How would you describe your vision for Green Leaf’s future?
A: Continue what we’re doing; hiring the best people and embracing the latest and greatest technologies.
Q: What do you see as the biggest opportunities for our clients in the next few years?
A: Take a calculated approach to implementing the latest trends. Things change too quickly to make blanket statements like, “Let’s do it with AI”. Clients should work toward maturity levels where evaluating, testing, and implementing new technologies is part of their process.
Q: In your view, what qualities make a consulting team stand out in today’s market?
A: Someone that is accountable, reliable, accessible, and deliver on their commitments, makes use of the tools and resources available to them, provides honest opinions and assessments, and works within the parameters of the client’s environment while also offering suggestions for continuous improvement.
Q: How do you approach mentoring and developing future leaders within Green Leaf?
A: I encourage people to set their own path, try new things, and find their sweet spot. I hope I can provide the help be it through project opportunities, formal or informal training, or we can put together a lunch and learn together.
ROLE AT GREEN LEAF
Q: What aspects of your work as a partner do you find most rewarding?
A: Seeing a vision for a project come to fruition for our customers.
Q: Is there a project or client engagement that has been especially impactful for you and why?
A: Obviously, Lutron. We’ve helped them grow from spreadsheets and Access Databases running key portions of their business, to applications with built-in change management that extend their data to customer-facing applications and improve customer service.
Q: What personal philosophy guides you in serving clients and leading teams?
A: We’re there to not only solve a business problem with technology, but to elevate their teams and processes.
INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE
Q: What emerging trends or technologies are you most excited about, and how should organizations prepare for them?
A: The obvious 600-pound gorilla is AI. I hear too often “Can we just do that with AI”? As with any new technology trend companies should have investigation, adoption, and implementation as part of their processes. I believe in IP (Innovation and Planning) sprints and hackathons where time is carved out for development teams to spark creativity and come up with practical use cases. This benefits both the team and the organization.
Q: What challenges do you think will be most important for our clients to navigate in the years ahead?
A: Managing the pressure to implement a technology that they have not vetted or made sure is a fit for their organization.
CLIENT AND TEAM IMPACT
Q: How do you approach building trust and long-term partnerships with clients?
A: I think we all have a responsibility to be trusted advisors to our clients. Being involved early in the sales cycle makes it a bit easier, but you must approach it with the trusted advisor mindset from the beginning. Sometimes this doesn’t win us the biggest contract to start, but more of a “foot in the door” project. But in the long run we do what’s best for client and that will give us consideration for the next project, and the next project….
Q: What do you think is the key to delivering sustained value over time?
A: Providing the “right” team to deliver the project that has the mix of skills and works together to deliver a successful outcome.
LOOKING AHEAD
Q: What are you most excited about as you look toward the future of Green Leaf?
A: How we embrace new technology and bring it to fruition for our customers. And the next happy hour.
Q: What advice would you share with someone aspiring to grow into a leadership role in technology consulting?
A: Be a sponge; find the time to check out new technologies and present them to your peers.
PERSONAL: INTERESTS AND HOBBIES
Q: If you could have dinner with any figure from the world of technology, who would it be and why?
A: Trey Parker and Matt Stone – you wouldn’t initially think “technology” but it would be fascinating to learn more about the technology behind the scenes to bring an episode of South Park to air in six days. It would also be hilarious.
Q: What do you enjoy outside of work that helps you recharge or stay inspired?
A: I enjoy barbecue and grilling, trying recipes from several chefs I follow and modifying my go-tos to see if I can improve them.
Q: Is there a book, podcast, or resource that’s influenced you recently?
A: The Phoenix Project should be required reading for anyone in IT and is a good yearly refresher.
Scott Hanselman has a great blog, podcast, and hosts Azure Fridays and is an amazing presenter.
Q: What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
A: One of my guilty pleasures is watching the Below Deck series. I have a problem when the football season comes around and conflicts with Monday Night Football, thank goodness for DVR (MNF gets priority).
Q: Green Leaf is a place where there’s a good balance of serious business and good-natured humor. Can you give a fun example of when you’ve either doled out or been on the receiving end of some of that humor?
A: Something might have happened at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival while attending the Microsoft Ignite conference, but I don’t remember for some reason. I just recall Chuck buying a new shirt in England.