Portrait
Feet on the ground
Goodyear IT manager leads a global team with a down-to-earth outlook.
by Mike Westholder
Q: Have you or someone you know ever ridden in the Goodyear blimp?
A: My daughter actually won two rides on the Goodyear blimp through a Quality Month poster contest that Goodyear held for children of Goodyear associates. She opted to take her dad on the blimp ride so I was relegated to be the official photographer that day.
Q: What will be the next big thing for your business?
A: Building on the global data strategy we’ve put in place such that both regionally and globally the business can more easily leverage analytics to provide greater opportunities for Goodyear.
Q: Has social networking impacted your workday?
A: Not in a big way, although with a global team I’ve recently been considering the idea of having our team connected through a social networking site where we could collaborate and capture ideas informally.
Q: What’s the most surprising thing your data warehouse has ever done for you?
A: It has provided me with the opportunity to manage a global team.
Q: What decision do you wish you could do over again?
A: I can’t really think of one. I tend to make a decision, then no matter what the outcome I make the most of it and move on.
Q: What possession can’t you live without?
A: My BlackBerry, because it keeps me continually connected to the important people in my life such as my family, friends and co-workers.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
A: Take the time to do things right the first time, because if you don’t have the time to do it right the first time, what makes you think you will have time to do it over?
Q: What advice would you give to someone thinking about a career in IT?
A: Go for it! It’s been a great career for me. If you enjoy the challenge of new technology and constant change, then a career in IT will keep you interested and enthusiastic about your job.
Photography by Karen Meyers