Kristine Neely, zNextGen Project Manager

Software Developer, NEON Enterprise Software, Inc.
E-mail: Kristine.Harper@neonesoft.com

Why zNextGen? It was too easy for me to say yes to this exceptional opportunity. We have nothing to lose, and it is exciting to play a role in a group that I consider critical to the future of the mainframe. As a zealous newbie myself, I think there are so few resources out there for up-and-coming mainframers, and that’s what zNextGen is all about – providing those resources, the information, the connections and the friendships that will help us navigate our careers and get comfortable in whatever mainframe role we are pursuing. Why zNextGen? Why not!!

Click here to read Kristine Neely's blog

Reg Harbeck, zNextGen Deputy Project Manager

Product Manager, Mainframe Strategy, CA, Inc.
E-mail: Reg@ca.com

Why zNextGen? When I first became a mainframer in 1987, I noticed that I was over half a generation younger than my average fellow mainframer. As I’ve moved through my career, I’ve watched and listened as this generation has moved towards retirement and no new next generation was built to replace them. So, in 2005, I wrote an article (see Mainframe Management Skills: Securing the Future of the Enterprise at zJournal.com) and gave a SHARE presentation on the topic in Anaheim. Then, when I saw that zNextGen was created as part of the effort to create a new generation of mainframers, I realized it was a perfect match for my interests in this important issue – so I had to join!

Click here to read Reg Harbeck's blog

Iris Rivera, Lead IBM Project Representative

Software Engineer, IBM
E-mail: irivera@us.ibm.com

Why zNextGen? zNextGen is an excellent opportunity for me to network with peers and experienced professionals who are as passionate as I am about the mainframe. As a leader and a member of this community, I will have the chance to develop my technical skills by getting guidance on sessions I might want to attend based on my skills’ needs. I will also make contacts that will improve my overall SHARE experience, by having peers to attend sessions with, go out to lunch or dinner or participate in social events. I know that the professional relationships I build through zNextGen will benefit me at this and future SHARE conferences and throughout my career.

Mike Todd, IBM Project Representative

Software Engineer, IBM
E-mail: todd@us.ibm.com

Why zNextGen? zNextGen naturally connects with my job on IBM’s Academic Initiative, helping to develop the next generation of mainframe professionals. The idea of giving new mainframers a forum for networking and sharing ideas and experiences makes so much sense that I can’t imagine passing up the opportunity to be a part of it. I’ve already found the zNextGen community to be full of enthusiastic, talented and friendly people, and it’s only going to get better from here.

Linda Mooney, Project Officer

Sr. IT Analyst, County of Sacramento
Email: CamozziL@saccounty.net

Why zNextGen? It was irresistible! I am intensely curious and always after new things to learn. It was just natural that when the z/OS installers at my shop retired and left for new opportunities that I would leap at the opportunity to ‘step up'. Of course that means I have a lot to learn. What could be more perfect? With zNextGen I have the opportunity to learn from the best. I also have the honor of helping some of the new folks.

Justin Bastin, Project Officer

MVS System Programmer and Analyst, Sherwin-Williams Company
E-mail: Justin.F.Bastin@sherwin.com

Why zNextGen? Being new to the “Mainframe” world, zNextGen provides an excellent opportunity to develop my technical skills as well as the interpersonal skills that are needed to excel within this environment. The zNextGen organization is the future of our business and having the opportunity to collaboratively mold its future is rewarding. Networking amongst the zNextGen community represents a revolving door of learning that never ends and does not exist anywhere else. My zNextGen experiences thus far have been the breath of fresh air that allows me to know that “I am not alone!”

Marc Saracco, SHARE Staff Contact

Senior Associate
E-mail: msaracco@share.org

Why zNextGen? zNextGen is geared especially around the needs of two professional segments: students just embarking on their careers in enterprise technology, and established IT professionals increasing their responsibilities to include support and administration of mainframe systems. The spoken goal of the zNextGen community is to provide the gateway for newcomers to leverage the experience of mainframe veterans and accelerate their professional development in this important segment of the IT workforce.

Skip Robinson, SHARE MVS Program Co-manager

Systems Programmer, So. Cal. Edison
E-mail: robinsjo@sce.com

Why zNextGen? Speaking as a confirmed over-the-hiller, zNG is important because no matter how well you treat your kids, you can’t really trust them to put you in a rest home that offers affordable high speed wireless internet. Which means that some day the good and trusting folks back at the ranch will have to get along without me. I would feel so much better rocking away on the common area porch knowing that my role in stroking and feeding the mainframe has been passed on to caring and capable hands. That culture is what zNextGen is all about.

Steve Guendert, SHARE Board of Directors

FICON Practice Director/Principal Consultant, McDATA Corp.
E-mail: stephen.guendert@mcdata.com

Why zNextGen? zNextGen provides an outstanding way for me to work with some of the best and brightest people who have been in the mainframe arena, and the best and brightest people who are relatively new to the mainframe arena. These relationships will be invaluable to me as my career progresses. The knowledge I have gained by attending SHARE regularly the past 5 years has been of tremendous assistance to me professionally, and I look forward to being involved for many years to come.

Vaughn Page, Volunteer

Software Engineer, IBM
E-mail: vpage@us.ibm.com

Why zNextGen? It is indeed the perfect opportunity to network with new and experienced professionals in our mainframe world. With this new community we will all start and build professional relationships, always knowing that there is a valuable resource available to you from the community. The members of zNextGen are great and fun people and I value being a part of this group. With all of this, my SHARE experience can only be enhanced by being a part of this team and I am looking forward to it all.

Kevin McKenzie, Volunteer

Software Engineer, IBM
E-mail: kmckenzi@us.ibm.com

Why zNextGen? For a variety of reasons. One is that it’s always nice interacting with other people who didn’t grow up with the mainframe, and are thus just as confused as I am about certain things. Another is self-interest; I plan to spend the rest of my career working on the mainframe, and I want to make sure there are as many other capable people working along with me as possible.

Ashwin Venkatraman, Volunteer

Software Engineer, IBM
E-mail: venkatas@us.ibm.com

Why zNextGen? Being new to the mainframe myself, I notice that I have been running into the same roadblocks and asking the same questions as others in similar positions. I also find that many people are interested in learning the same
topics as me relating to mainframes. That is why I am a fan of the zNextGen concept. I love the networking opportunities across the industry, but I also see the benefit of a mainframe community that can progress into the future collectively.

Sandy Cureton, IBM Liaison

E-mail: scureton@us.ibm.com

Why zNextGen? If you’re new to SHARE and not sure where to find support from IBM on a different topic, I’m your guy. It’s my job to help connect you to the people in IBM who can help you.

Robert Rosen, SHARE Immediate Past President

Why zNextGen? The "z philosophy" (for lack of a better name) is all about creating industrial strength, reliable, secure computing. It's more than technology -- it's a cultural thing. As you can read in the paper almost every day, there's lots of computing sites that don't get it or do it right. As the people who created the "good" computing environments retire, we want to make sure that our good work does not disappear. Training and mentoring the next generation is the way to make sure that we continue to have computing environments that reflect the best the industry can do and not the worst.

Martin Timmerman, SHARE President

E-mail: mtimm@ist.uwaterloo.ca

Why zNextGen? The zNextGen initiative is an excellent example of SHARE and IBM working together to build community, raise awareness of the System z platform and its adherents and position a next generation of professionals to support enterprise computing. This is an exciting opportunity for SHARE in so many ways. The mainframe experts at SHARE have eager participants desirous to learn. The zNextGen community has a forum for discussion. Our technical agenda has a new method of influence to ensure it meets the needs of a diverse audience. SHARE has opportunity for a new audience. There’s lots of reasons for zNextgen – SHARE is proud to be an active participant.

Christopher Westbrook, Volunteer

Systems Engineer, Defense Information Systems Agency
E-mail: WestbroC@den.disa.mil

Why zNextGen? I have been on the lookout for a professional organization capable of helping me assimilate into the mainframe community for some time. zNextGen has been a great way for me to network with mainframe professionals
both outside of my organization and within a very large and otherwise unavailable knowledgebase. I look forward to the relationships, opportunities, and knowledge to be gained as a result of zNextGen.