You've Been Heard

John Burk is an IT consultant and mentor who helps organizations and individuals find purpose and passion in their work. With experience spanning auto mechanic, sales executive and CIO roles, John understands firsthand the challenges of finding a fulfilling career. He now focuses his energy on guiding others to define success for themselves, take accountability, and have the courage to take a new path if needed. John most enjoys solving complex technical puzzles but gets the greatest satisfaction from empowering people to discover their dreams.

Host Mike Kelley has a candid conversation with IT leader John Burk about finding career purpose and passion. You will hear John’s personal story of achieving outward success but feeling unfulfilled. He opens up about overcoming self-doubt, expectations of others, and figuring out what motivates him most. John explains creating a career focused on helping people and solving puzzles. Those feeling stuck or unsure if they’re in the right field will find inspiration in John’s transparency about mistakes and lessons on his journey. Tune in for an enlightened perspective on aligning your dreams with your daily work.

Larry Furman is an IT leader with over 25 years of experience driving technology initiatives. He holds the rare Project Management Professional certification and recently led his company in attaining CMMC Version 2 Level 2 compliance. Furman has spearheaded numerous security, infrastructure, and disaster recovery projects for organizations ranging from financial services firms to the US Military. His technical expertise combined with strong communication skills make him a sought-after speaker and trusted advisor to IT executives and decision makers.

Get ready to dive into the complex world of CMMC compliance with IT expert Larry Furman. In this engaging episode, Furman takes us on an in-depth tour of DoD cybersecurity requirements. He breaks things down in an accessible way, providing the nitty gritty details behind locking down data and attaining CMMC certification. From encryption tools to physical security, Furman covers it all. If you want to strengthen your organization’s security posture and become CMMC ready, tune in. Furman lays out best practices and tangible takeaways you can apply. Expect great insights that cross the cybersecurity T’s and dot the compliance I’s. Our minds will be expanded and skills sharpened as we discuss the ins and outs of CMMC mastery.

Daniel Domberger is an IT leader from Austria now overseeing operations in the US for Greiner Bio-One. With experience spanning both European and American IT cultures, Daniel provides a valuable perspective on blending diligent planning with quick implementation. His insights on change management, leadership, and cross-cultural communication are informative for any IT organization with an international footprint. An avid surfer, Daniel appreciates the American openness to new experiences.

Strap in for an enlightening convo with Daniel Domberger, the Austrian IT expert now steering operations stateside. Drawing on his experience bridging methodical European and fast-paced American tech styles, Daniel’s got unique insights for maximizing international IT ops. We’ll pick his brain on change management, cross-cultural comms, project planning, and even Arnold Schwarzenegger’s leadership secrets. Daniel’s forged his own path to blend diligent Euro-style planning with rapid American execution. His innovative approach will illuminate how to extract the best from both worlds. Daniel drops serious wisdom for optimizing global IT teams.

JohnE Mullin is Director of Information Technology at Trenton Systems, a leading provider of specialized servers and hardware. He has over 25 years of experience spanning IT operations, infrastructure, security, networking, and telecom. Johnny has helped guide companies through ransomware attacks and complex government procurement processes. His technical expertise combined with business acumen offers IT leaders an invaluable perspective.

Get an eye-opening look at cybersecurity, government contracting, and using IT to drive revenue. JohnE Mullin, Director of IT at Trenton Systems, joins host Phil Howard, bringing decades of experience. Learn about pressing security threats and complex DOD certification. JohnE shares real ransomware war stories and advice on getting security buy-in. Expect candid takes on IT’s challenges along with tips for making security a revenue generator. Tune in for an unfiltered backstage pass to IT security, government procurement, and opening new revenue streams.

Will Perazzo is Director of Information Technology at Yonkers Contracting Company, a major construction firm based in Yonkers, NY. He has led efforts to modernize IT infrastructure and services, including migrating the company’s systems to the cloud after an IT crisis. Will is passionate about using technology to drive business outcomes and values developing his team’s skills. An innovative leader, he spearheaded implementing new systems and processes to transform Yonkers into a modern, cloud-first IT organization. Will holds BA in Information Science & Policy from SUNY Albany and an MBA from Northeastern.

Geek out as Michael Moore and Will Perazzo dive into Yonkers’ IT transformation after a catastrophic system failure sparked a cloud-first future. Hear Will’s first-hand account inheriting complex legacy infrastructure and technical debt. Learn how he shored up fundamentals and gained trust through transparency and ownership. This transparent glimpse behind the IT curtain reveals the technical, leadership and change management acumen required to steer large-scale migration. The battle-tested tips inside will inspire any IT pro leading digital change.

James Huval is the Director of Information Technology at Johnstone Supply-The Petit Group. He leverages 15+ years of experience to drive innovation and partnerships. James previously led technology modernization with limited resources at St. Martin’s Episcopal School. He has secured systems and investigated threats at LSU. Earlier roles included web development, systems administration, and help desk support. James balances operational excellence and strategic vision as an IT leader.

In this episode, host Philip Howard is joined by James Huval, Director of Technology at Johnstone Supply-The Petit Group. They discuss how James is spearheading digital transformation initiatives to modernize systems and processes in order to gain operational insights and better serve customers. James provides perspective on leading developers, analysts and administrators to drive innovation. He shares how he partners cross-functionally to align technology projects with business goals. Learn how James leverages resources like AI/ML to maximize efficiencies and gain insight on how to balance managing IT operations with executing strategic projects to enable growth.

Gary Maynard is an IT industry veteran with over three decades of experience spanning roles from IT operator to director. His career has given him broad exposure to a wide range of platforms and technologies including mainframes, client-server architecture, virtualization, cloud computing and more. He currently serves as Director of Information Technology at Crowther Roofing and Sheet Metal. Gary enjoys staying on top of emerging tech trends and figuring out how they can be applied to improve business processes and add value.

Join us for an insightful discussion with IT industry veteran Gary Maynard. With over 33 years of experience spanning mainframe computing, client-server architecture, virtualization, and cloud platforms, Gary shares invaluable perspectives. Learn how IT has evolved over the decades and get Gary’s take on where it’s heading. We cover telling war stories from the IT trenches, the pros and cons of different eras in tech, and thoughts on emerging trends like AI and IoT. Tune in for a thoughtful reflection on the past, present, and future of enterprise IT from someone who’s seen it all.

With over 13 years of experience, David Cole is passionate about IT service management and its impact. He has held various roles in IT service delivery, including Internet Support Specialist at AT&T, Service Desk Analyst and Lead at enpro Industries, and now IT Director at RadSource Technologies. David focuses on building collaborative teams, gathering metrics, and providing excellent customer service. He believes proper ITSM implementation enhances workflows, communication, and security across organizations.

Get the inside scoop on IT service management from our seasoned guest David Cole. With over 13 years in the trenches, he’s an open book when it comes to optimizing workflows and customer service in IT support. You’ll get David’s takes on help desk vs service desk vs ITSM—hear how they differ and complement each other. David has tested various ITSM platforms, so he’ll share which ones have helped his organization enhance reporting and accountability. And he’ll give us his prediction on how AI will shake up ITSM. Whether you’re new to the field or a longtime leader, this episode is chock-full of actionable advice to step up your IT service management game.

Lee Goodrich is an IT leader with over two decades of experience driving large-scale SAP implementations. Beginning her career as a chemical engineer, Lee quickly demonstrated a knack for solving business problems with technology. She led cross-functional teams to successfully deploy ERP systems across manufacturing, finance, and other functions. Lee’s passion for listening, collaborating, and educating users makes her an invaluable partner for optimizing processes and adoption. Her portfolio covers industries from chemicals to banking.

Get ready to dive into the world of ERP with SAP expert Lee Goodrich. Drawing on decades of experience spearheading implementations, Lee unpacks invaluable insights for IT executives and decision-makers.

You’ll learn how she pivoted from chemical manufacturing into helming mission-critical IT initiatives. Lee maps out navigating change management, sharpening training, and sparking innovation.

She lifts the curtain on vital steps like master data cleanup and integrated testing for go-live readiness. Expect wisdom on building user trust, portfolio development, and the importance of listening to learn.

Join us for a masterclass in real-world IT leadership from an industry veteran. Lee distills battle-tested lessons that will undoubtedly enhance your next rollout.

Dan Roberts is a sought-after IT leadership advisor with over 30 years of experience developing leaders and teams. His firm coined the term “Developing the Human Side of Technology” in 1984. Dan believes there’s never been a better time to be in IT and has mentored thousands of CIOs on elevating the profession.

Through his podcast Tech Whisperers  (https://www.ouellette-online.com/techwhisperers.html), writing, and consulting, he helps technologists embrace new mindsets and skillsets to differentiate themselves as strategic business partners.

In this engaging discussion, veteran IT leader Dan Roberts, host of Tech Whisperers podcast (https://www.ouellette-online.com/techwhisperers.html) shares his decades of wisdom to help IT professionals thrive in leadership roles. You’ll hear Dan’s insights on critical skills like active listening, coaching team members, leading with heart while still delivering results, and progressing into more strategic roles. Expect candid advice on avoiding common mindsets like “victim-itis”, having courageous conversations, and becoming an innovative anticipator within your organization.