What is your current position?
User Support Specialist III in the SMPH Office of Informatics and IT currently serving the Department of Psychiatry.
When did you start working in SMPH? At UW?
I started with the Department of Psychiatry in January of 2022. Before that I worked in the private sector installing Nurse Call and A/V Systems. And before that, I worked for Field Services at DoIT from 2009 to 2015.
What does a typical day look like for you?
It can vary quite a bit. I may be troubleshooting user end problems, to building/changing our servers. Other days I help with A/V set ups and sometimes I am upgrading those A/V systems with new wiring and equipment. Recently our team has be working on integrating all our services to work with Campus Active Directory/ NetID to simplify workflows.
What is your workplace superpower?
Being able to fix things just by showing up. My “IT presence” often fixes things that didn’t work before I got there.
Seriously though, being able to explain complex IT things or ideas to others in layman’s terms. Being able to convey my knowledge or reasons to my staff lets them know I care and that helps them understand the technology they use.
What is something personal you keep on your desk? (feel free to share a photo if you’d like!)
It’s not technically on my desk, but I love good coffee, so I have a “coffee nook” with a Nepresso Machine.
Where are you from originally?
Oshkosh. But I’ve lived in the Madison area for 20 years now.
What is your favorite place to spend time in Madison? In the world?
I love the downtown/State Street area in the Summer. Lots of culture, music, and good food, especially the food carts.
What are you reading right now? (Alternatively: What 1-2 books, articles, or podcasts, can you recommend to your SMPH colleagues?)
Nothing right now; it’s video game season for me. I do love anything by Chuck Palahniuk, (Fight Club, Choke, Survivor).
Share one fact about yourself that you co-workers might not be aware of.
In addition to my knowledge of IT systems and electronics, I’m a pretty good mechanic. I do 90% of the work on my own vehicles. I once rebuilt a motorcycle I had when I was in my twenties.