CISOA, Day Three
One of the very best things about going on these business trips with Dave is that I get to see that other side of him. I'll be walking through the vendor show, kidding around with people, and see him off in the distance, talking, leaning back slightly with his hands in the air, gesturing. And poeple are hanging onto his every word. Mike says Dave is the IT Whisperer. When we first arrived, Rod told us that he had overheard some people saying "Dave" and "Cumulus" (the name of Dave's old company) and "APOGEE," so his ears pricked up and he listened and he heard the guy talking call Dave "The King of IT." That was thrilling. (Later we found out if was Dean who said it, the guy who fades into the backgroud, but still, it impressed Rod and made for quite a bit of kidding as we told the story over and over again). And then later, our last day, Dave met with Christie, a rep from AWS (Amazon Web Services) and she said she ran into someone in the restroom who, when she found out Christie worked with AWS, asked if she knew Dave. Ha ha! He's one of those people who can be referred to by one name now! In IT, there is only one Dave! But really, everyone wanted his ear; people were complaining he was hard to get to. Mike is the same way. Very much in demand. Very calm-assertive. They make a great team.
And when talking with his clients or former employees they always have stories of times he saved the day or did something funny or amazing. Everyone has such respect for him. We met this one guy, Thurman (I told him he should have our last name), and he credited Dave with getting him his job. Dave does that, too! He is always on the look out for opportunities for people he knows and likes.
So, the idea of going for a walk or anything like that has flown out the window. I saw Marc very early this monring and we grabbed one of those stand up tables and talked for quite a while together about more personal things and that was great. After a while Eric joined us (a tall stately man who used to work for Mike at the district) and then Steve came (a newer VCCCD employee) and it was fun, the four of us. We talked about a great many things, and I could join in on all of them. This was probablly the highlight of my time there.
Later I went to a seminar on copyright infringement which was very good, except people kept interrupting to ask questions, so the presentation was rushed, which was a little irksome, but I talked to one of the presenters afterwards and got some of my own questions answered.
Then I went to Marc and Shawn's seminar on Pathify (a kind of portal software). I was suppsed to ask a question "out of left field" but I chickened out and asked a real question and then at the end when they said anymore questions? Marc pointed at me with a grin, but I was still too chicken and couldn't think of anything funny, so I just shook my head like a scared rabbit (am I a rabbit or a chicken? both, I guess), and we laughed. I shoud have said "what about the aliens?" but I didn't.
Lunch and dinners that day were open and no one was checking badges, so I ate with everyone else, Mona escorting me around. Dave was mostly with clients, so I didn't see him that much, but I was so busy, I didnt miss him. We met up at the room sometimes and I finished the crossword puzzle I was creating, texted with people (thanks, Sue, Jan and Mom!) and also got a little nap. But this day was the best.
I slept well.
And when talking with his clients or former employees they always have stories of times he saved the day or did something funny or amazing. Everyone has such respect for him. We met this one guy, Thurman (I told him he should have our last name), and he credited Dave with getting him his job. Dave does that, too! He is always on the look out for opportunities for people he knows and likes.
So, the idea of going for a walk or anything like that has flown out the window. I saw Marc very early this monring and we grabbed one of those stand up tables and talked for quite a while together about more personal things and that was great. After a while Eric joined us (a tall stately man who used to work for Mike at the district) and then Steve came (a newer VCCCD employee) and it was fun, the four of us. We talked about a great many things, and I could join in on all of them. This was probablly the highlight of my time there.
Later I went to a seminar on copyright infringement which was very good, except people kept interrupting to ask questions, so the presentation was rushed, which was a little irksome, but I talked to one of the presenters afterwards and got some of my own questions answered.
Then I went to Marc and Shawn's seminar on Pathify (a kind of portal software). I was suppsed to ask a question "out of left field" but I chickened out and asked a real question and then at the end when they said anymore questions? Marc pointed at me with a grin, but I was still too chicken and couldn't think of anything funny, so I just shook my head like a scared rabbit (am I a rabbit or a chicken? both, I guess), and we laughed. I shoud have said "what about the aliens?" but I didn't.
Lunch and dinners that day were open and no one was checking badges, so I ate with everyone else, Mona escorting me around. Dave was mostly with clients, so I didn't see him that much, but I was so busy, I didnt miss him. We met up at the room sometimes and I finished the crossword puzzle I was creating, texted with people (thanks, Sue, Jan and Mom!) and also got a little nap. But this day was the best.
I slept well.