IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - May/June 2013 - (Page 48)

Stop Run An eclectic take on the mainframe world Learn More Online Un-Comfort Zone Destination z scholarship winner travels unconventional path toward a mainframe career By Mike Westholder on’t look for Chris Richardson to take the easy road. The winner of the 2012 Destination z Enterprise Computing Scholarship’s highest honor—the Greg Zaubi Memorial Scholarship—seeks out challenges, which in part has led him to pursue a mainframe career. “Good things come to those who aren’t afraid to be uncomfortable. Embrace it,” advises Richardson, a senior at the University of South Carolina’s College of Integrated Information Technology in Columbia. As a non-traditional student, Richardson’s path toward an IT career wasn’t direct. He had planned to play college basketball after high school. “Then life happened,” he says. After suffering a knee injury, Richardson took time off from school and went to work. He also traveled through Europe. “During that time, I met my wife and started a family.” Seeking to provide for his wife, Alyona, and son, Tristan, Richardson returned to college and worked two jobs. D pg 48.indd 1 “I’ve always had an interest in technology and after looking and analyzing where technology is going, I felt this was the best arena to go into,” he recalls. “Enterprise computing is ever-changing but at the same time stable. It allows me to support my family with a secure job I’m passionate about and love.” That passion led Richardson to pursue coursework in enterprise computing and internships with IT-ology and the IBM Technical Exploration Center in Raleigh, N.C. In the past two years, he’s competed in the Master the Mainframe contest and was honored twice by the Destination z scholarship committee—most recently with its top award, worth $1,500. “As soon as I found out, I put it on my resume,” he says. “It immediately gave me reaffirmation that I’m on the right track.” Chris Richardson is the recipient of the 2012 Greg Zaubi Memorial Scholarship. For a complete list of scholarship winners or to learn more about donating to the 2013 scholarship fund, visit destinationz.org/ Academia/Destination-z-EnterpriseComputing-Scholarship.aspx. In its fifth year, the scholarship program recognized 10 college students who demonstrated academic ability and a commitment to pursue mainframe careers. (Note: MSP TechMedia, which publishes IBM Systems Magazine, also manages the Destination z website.) “While the field this year was incredibly strong, Chris set himself apart with his clear enthusiasm for the mainframe and exploration of the System z* platform both inside and outside of his coursework,” says Mike Todd of the IBM Academic Initiative, System z. “He has a great understanding of technical and practical concepts surrounding enterprise computing, and he’ll be an asset wherever he goes.” With graduation approaching in August, Richardson is looking for work and hopes to eventually become an IT manager. He offers the following advice: “Mainframe, like anything in IT, can be daunting. Dive in and put in the time. Practice and learn your craft. It’s OK to be uncomfortable.” Mike Westholder is managing editor of IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe edition. 4/15/13 4:07 PM http://www.destinationz.org/Academia/Destination-z-Enterprise-Computing-Scholarship.aspx http://www.destinationz.org/Academia/Destination-z-Enterprise-Computing-Scholarship.aspx http://www.destinationz.org/Academia/Destination-z-Enterprise-Computing-Scholarship.aspx

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - May/June 2013

IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - May/June 2013
Table of Contents
Editor's Desk: See Beyond the Silos
IBM Perspective: Keys to Successful Software Development
Dashboard: It's a Smarter World After All; Encouraging Exercise; Facebook Fatigue?
Insider: Reimagining Data Protection Requires Due Diligence and Defense in Depth
Case Study: Financing the Future: BNY Mellon increases workload and cuts costs by investing in a standardized mainframe environment
Feature: Making DevOps Real for System z: Linking development and operations for the continuous delivery of software innovation
Feature: Building a DevOps Pipeline: Automated testing to support application development reaps many rewards
Tech Corner: Software-Defined IT Infrastructure: The Next Chapter in Virtualization Benefits
Administrator: Single System Image Feature Delivers Greater Flexibility and Resilience
Solutions: CA Mainframe Application Tuner; Ivory Hub; Genius Project; CICS JS/Server; CA Workload Automation; QWS3270 Tablet
Advertisers Index
Stop Run: Un-Comfort Zone
Reference Point - Global Events, Education, Resources for Mainframe
Services Blueprint Issue 1 2013
2013 Mainframe Buyer's Guide Index

IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - May/June 2013