Starting out in IT
Rob, 46 years in IT. That’s quite something. How did it all begin?
It sure is! I started working in IT back in 1979, which sounds like a different world now. We didn’t know about the Internet, Cloud Services, or Artificial Intelligence. Everything had to be written manually, line by line.
When I first got introduced to Be Informed in 2009, I was completely amazed. The platform was so sophisticated and far ahead of anything else I’d seen. I remember thinking, “What is this?”, I’d done plenty of managing work before, but what I really love is creating something tangible and that’s exactly what Be Informed allowed me to do.
Why Be Informed felt like the right place
What made you stay for so many years?
I’ve always been someone who sticks around when I’m happy. Before Be Informed, I also stayed with other employers for more than a decade, so I guess I’m consistent that way. What made me stay here is the combination of great people and meaningful work.
Over the years, I’ve watched the platform evolve. When I started, we were creating what I’d call “island solutions” with small, independent applications. Now, the Be Informed platform sits right in the middle of complex enterprise environments. We integrate with cloud services, handle multiple security layers, connect to APIs, and now even explore how large language models fit in. That evolution has been incredible to see, and it keeps things interesting.
And honestly, it’s the people. Be Informed has really smart, curious, and supportive people. Working with any of my colleagues has always been inspiring. It’s a team full of knowledge, energy, and good humor.
A memorable journey with lots of fun
Are there any fun memories or stories from your time with the team that still make you smile?
There are a lot, but one that always makes me smile is from the five-day challenges we used to do.
A few of us from Customer and Partner Support (CPS) team would fly to a client, get their problem on Monday, and then build a working solution by Friday. Nobody believed we could do it, but we did! Those were intense days. We worked long hours, often late into the night, usually with a beer or glass of wine next to the keyboard. But we had such a good time.
We learned a lot, laughed a lot, and it was great team bonding. We’d travel together, enjoy nice dinners and drinks every day, and then present something real and working by the end of the week. It was hard work, but honestly, it’s one of the best experiences of my career.
What’s something you’re especially good at or proud of in your work?
I think it’s my love for puzzling things out. I really enjoy figuring out how to make something work. Every day brings a new challenge, maybe it’s a complicated query, a tricky dashboard, or an integration that needs to fit just right.
Over the years, I somehow earned the nickname “SQL Guru” in the team, probably because people come to me whenever they get stuck with data or queries. SQL has always been one of my strengths; I just enjoy exploring how information connects and finding creative ways to make it useful. I’ve also built a bit of a reputation for regular expressions, which are another kind of logic puzzle I can’t resist.
What I love most is that every project feels like a new puzzle to solve. Recently, I’ve been working on dashboarding and importing Be Informed models into Workbench, maybe not the flashiest part of a project, but essential to making things run smoothly. It’s satisfying to see everything fit together in the end.
Lessons from a lifetime in IT
After such a long career, what lessons stand out most to you?
The biggest lesson is to keep an open mind. It’s easy to stick to what you know; it feels comfortable, but technology moves fast. If you stop learning, you will fall behind.
When I look back at my career, I’ve lived through so many transitions: from punch cards to mainframes, to desktop software, to the cloud, and now AI. Each change required learning something completely new, but that’s exactly what kept my work exciting.
I think that’s also why I’ve never been bored at Be Informed. There’s always something new to explore, something new to understand. That curiosity has kept me going all these years.
A goodbye that isn’t really goodbye
That’s a wonderful reflection. Before we wrap up, any message you’d like to share with your colleagues?
This is a good goodbye but not a serious one.
Be Informed has been a big part of my life. I’ve learned a lot, had fun, and worked with amazing people. What I’ll remember most is the atmosphere here, friendly, supportive, and full of great humor.
Thank you all for the great years, teamwork, and memories. It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m proud to have shared it with you.
Thank you, Rob, for 16 great years of teamwork, laughter, and problem-solving magic.
We wish you all the best for the adventures ahead; and we’re glad it’s not a final goodbye!
