IBM Chooses Power Systems Champions

Published: October 24, 2011

by Dan Burger

Real innovation and emerging trends can get lost in the IT world where buzzwords show up and disappear like the phases of the moon. The IBM Power Systems universe is no different. Maybe the buzz isn't as deafening and maybe the innovation and trends sometimes get buried under the weight of "if it ain't broke don't fix it" status quo--a place where "No Innovation" signs are nailed to all the fence posts--but the Power Systems users have their moments of glory.

Giving the innovators a bigger stage is the idea behind the IBM Champions, a group of IT professionals, developers, and educators who might be considered movers and shakers, if that term was used in these modern times. It's partly recognition for jobs well done, but it's also the basis of a group that is expected to intermingle and cross-pollinate ideas that have traditionally been captive to their individual silos.

There's a Power Systems group of Champions who most of you IT Jungle readers know because they have been vocal advocates of the IBM i platform. (I'm tempted to dreg up the previous system names here because these people advocated for those, too, but I won't. Call it a tip of the hat to Trevor Perry.)

The initial group consists of Trevor Perry, Jon Paris, Susan Gantner, Pete Massiello, David Gibbs, Roxanne Reynolds-Lair, Brian May, and an equal number of folks representing the AIX side of Power. Photos, short biographies including areas of expertise, can be accessed at the IBM Champions for Power Systems website. Notice that the people are all connected digitally and social networking is encouraged.

These folks will soon be joined by others, says Linda Grigoleit from the IBM Power Systems marketing squad. "We are hoping to create 'conduits of information' with this program," she says. The idea is that Champions within the Power Systems group will be more likely to communicate with one another and with the Champions of other groups, which include business analytics, collaboration solutions, enterprise content management, information management, Lotus, Rational, storage, System x, System z, Tivoli, and WebSphere.

Speaking specifically about the Power Systems Champions, Grigoleit says, "The initial selections were made by IBM and were based on contributions to and impact on the Power Systems community, but this group is definitely going to grow."

Self-nominations and nominations by proxy are being accepted on the nomination website. As the nominations pile up, a committee within IBM (Grigoleit included) will periodically evaluate them and make its selections based on the quality of the individual's contributions and participation across a variety of community activities. There is no set time for the next selection, but Grigoleit estimated that new additions would be made soon after the first of the year.

IBM Champions do not formally represent or speak on behalf of IBM and IBM employees are not eligible. They receive no compensation from IBM.

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