December 2, 2022 My very first full-time IT gig was as at the University of Tulsa, as the manager of campus computer labs (75-80% — which was essentially a specialized form of desktop support), followed by general campus desktop support…
Culture vs. Strategy in Iowa
February 4, 2020 It’s noon on the day after the Iowa caucuses, and we have yet to know who “won” thanks to a snafu with a smartphone app. Officials in Iowa have announced they’ll have an announcement by 5 pm.…
Thank God I Work for People, Not a Company
“Man, the world ain’t supposed to work like this. I mean, maybe you don’t know that yet. I’m supposed to be able to do my job without having to ask you if I can. That dude is supposed to be…
Avoiding slow motion failure
May 2, 2017 You know when you’re driving down a familiar street and you suddenly notice a favorite store or restaurant is gone? While you feel a palpable sense of loss, the demise can often be attributed to the following:…
Atoms, then Bits
March 7, 2017 A word to prospective employees: If you fancy a career in technology, you’re probably going to start off in tech support, maybe the Help Desk. You may find yourself better able to do the job if you’re…
Disruption Stories
Stories abound about ways in which the Internet has been a disruptor to business and the status quo. Back in the early 90s I got to witness the carnage and bloodshed firsthand at the University of Tulsa. As I said…
Big Solar comes to Big Oil Country
This is very cool — my alma mater (and former employer) the University of Tulsa is installing an HUGE solar array on the roof of the Case Center in Tulsa. My Leadership Tulsa #49 colleague Jason Grunin tells me that…
The Kids Are Alright
From earlier: I joined TU in 1990 to run the campus computer labs. Since I was still young-looking, when Bob Chappelle hired me my first task was go undercover — bring a backpack and visit all the computer labs masquerading as…
The Internet comes to TU: A history
I started working in higher education IT in February of 1990, when the Internet was still the private playground of academia. Because of our computer science faculty requiring access to supercomputer sites for their research, the University of Tulsa was connected…
Adventures in ERP migration
August 6, 2015: Today I had a great phone call with a former colleague in the Washington State Community College system. He joined our little band of 32 IT Directors about a year after I did, and was at a similar-sized…