My latest interviewee was David Ziemba:
David Ziemba
1) What brought you to CC?
I found an ad in the paper (back when everything was still in the paper) for a part-time Help Desk person. I applied while I was still in school and got the job.
2) How long have you worked here?
Fifteen years in May (my work anniversary is May 8).
3) Give a brief description of what it is you do here.
I support the network. I actually provide operational support by making sure all devices are connected to the resources they need. My focus is to not only provide a stable and reliable network, but also to always consider future planning and growth. Lately, with the network upgrade we are currently working on, I have also been doing procurement, design, and architecture.
4) What’s your ITS: word (or words) and why?
My words are Innovations and Solutions. Innovations in that I am always looking for new things and working to make them happen. Solutions in that I am fixing issues and working on specifics projects that need to be done. These are two pieces to the puzzle of what I do.
5) Who’s your hero and why?
My wife. She challenges me and pushes me to do things out of my comfort zone. She encourages me to live more and go further with everything I do.
6) What sound or noise do you love?
Lately, I have been into binaural beats. These are different tones that align the wavelengths of the brain and organize the brain by task. There are different tones for different things like sleep, meditation, work, etc. These were discovered in the 1830s, are often a part of alternative medicine, and have a strong basis in science. It’s the scientific part of them that I find interesting. (You can find out more here.)
7) What sound or noise do you hate?
I don’t like silence…I at least need some sort of white noise to give me a point of reference. I also don’t like alarms or really loud things.
8) Name one or two of your hobbies.
I love to tinker with anything technology related. I am one of those people who love to take things apart and put them back together again. This all started at a young age…my parents tell me stories of how I used to carry around extension cords when I was about a year old. I’d carry them around, stretch them out, and then coil them up again.
I also love to swim. Just last week I swam 10,000 meters. I enjoy exercising and being active, as does my wife and oldest son, Chase. My wife and I did an indoor triathlon last fall; even Chase is interested in doing one at his age!
9) When others describe you, what do they say?
I’m not privy to what people say about me. I do know that most people are happy to see me when I come to fix a problem. If I had to say, I think people think I am cheerful and funny, as well as dedicated to my work.
10) If you could have a super-power, what would it be?
I thought a lot about this and the only thing I could think of would be infinite understanding. However, to me, this would be cheating, as there would be no work involved in solving a problem. I have always been a hard worker, and I prefer to have a challenge. If I actually had infinite understanding, there would be no challenge.
11) How would you use that super-power in ITS:?
See question 10.
Thank you, David, for making time to be interviewed for the blog! We are grateful to have you as an integral part of the ITS: team, as well as the Colorado College community! Thank you for everything you do!
ITS:Always fun, never boring
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Petro
