What event(s) led to your career choice?
Following one of my life principles to always be honest, if you were to ask me back in high school if this is what I had planned to do for a career, I would have told you that you were crazy! I had always wanted to be a pediatric nurse and as you can see that was not the path that was presented before me. The day after I graduated from High School I started what was to be my summer job at Standard Oil Company of Ohio (SOHIO) in Cleveland. That "Summer Job" turned into a decade of full time employment at SOHIO then turned BP. I held various positions in Accounting, Crude Oil Operations, Vessel Management, Chartering and Retail Operations. I was fortunate enough to be placed on their global ERP implementation of Oracle Financials and that is where the "rest of th story" begins.
With that experience of implementing ERP Financials and working for a major Oil & Gas Company, I was recruited to Oracle in 1996 in a financials pre-sales capacity where I spent 10 years until making my next move to SAP in 2006. Taking my experiences from SOHIO, BP and Oracle I have been in the Oil & Gas Industry Principal role for 5 years now and enjoying every challenge that is thrown my way. I work with the best group of people there is at SAP!
What is the most fun project you ever participated in and why?
When working at BP, the global Financial ERP software implementation project was the turning point in my career. This project opened my eyes to the many facets of the software industry. The introduction to the combination of business process and technology was the catalyst that got me to where I am today. The project team was a great group of individuals that I still remain in contact with after 20+ years.
What are you passionate about Professionally and/or Personally?
I am passionate about giving 110% to my profession so that I have made a difference. Whether it be in customer satisfaction, sales opportunities, innovation, peer support, community service, etc.... At the end of every day I strive to contribute and want to make an impact.
Personally, I am all about my family. I enjoy every activity the kids are involved in and support them fully. We are always on the go and sometimes in many different directions but the organized chaos is what keeps me going!
What is the best on the job lesson learned that you would like to share with others?
Always get everything in writing and SAVE it!
joyce.swanke blogged it forward to me
I would like to blog it forward to my Process Team Family: paul.pretko; joyce.swanke; mark.carlson; perry.zalevsky; ddunn; jason.palmer
