In this episode of the "I Am a Mainframer" podcast, host Steven Dickens interviews Dusty Rivers, a revered mainframe expert with 47 years of industry experience. Dusty recounts his remarkable journey from a COBOL programmer to his current role as Senior Director of US zSystems at Mainline Information Systems. He delves into his extensive work with database management systems, notably his contributions to the implementation of Db2 version one. Throughout the conversation, Dusty reflects on the evolution of the mainframe community and underscores the significance of modernization within the industry. He stresses the importance of pragmatism and the ability to embrace new technologies. Looking ahead, Dusty envisions a robust future for mainframes, predicting their continued growth and increasing power.