Did you know in our community there's a network of 350+ User Group Leaders and IBM Liaisons who have the same goals as you? Goals to bring IBM users together to collaborate and network. In an effort to help you better connect with your peers, I'll be spotlighting Leaders and Liaisons in our community and sharing a little bit about their world!
Last time we met Bill Karounos, leader of the Philadelphia IBM User Group! This time, we're getting to know Grant Pulling, leader of the Australian NSW/ACT Maximo User Group. This user group has a lot of history, which some members going back as far as PSDI (the original owners of Maximo). Grant has run the group for the past 9 years. He says that it's a labor of love, but the comradery it generates is more than worth it.
Don't forget to connect with Grant by clicking here, then clicking this icon: 
on the left-hand side.
Let's welcome Grant to the blog!
Grant, how do you interact with IBM products on a daily basis?
As a support Engineer for Maximo at John Holland, I am the main go-to for all things Maximo. We regularly upgrade our Maximo and are currently sitting on 7.5.0.10. Our Maximo is now 5 years old, and we enjoy the flexibility in the product.
What's the most successful user group meeting you've attended?
I definitely feel each user group meeting has had unique success stories, so I do not want to single out one. We pride ourselves on site visits.
Our meetings usually bring over 40 people together from different industries. It has created a tight-knit group of Maximo users, who communicate outside of the scheduled group meetings. At one meeting we conducted a Maximo trivia competition.
What’s one of the biggest challenges as a user group leader? What do you do to overcome these challenges?
I definitely have a problem keeping the momentum. The way I overcome this is to shame myself into the prospect of doing nothing. Too many members rely on you making it happen. I think organising meetings brings out the planner in me.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I’m an Engineer, so there is lots of tinkering involved. I have a small boat that gets me out on the water (see pictured). This calms me down from the hectic pace of life. I also have a busy family where I enjoy spending the majority of my time.
What do you see as the hottest trends in technology today?
With respect to Maximo, I’ve always pushed the mobility agenda, but I find that not all companies are able to accommodate this.
What words of wisdom do you have for other User Group Leaders?
Your members rely on you, make it happen. When asking for presentations: ask for 3-5 slides, make it informal and interactive with the audience.
What’s your favorite appetizer?
Fortunately, I eat all foods.
Thanks for your time, Grant! Don't forget to connect with Grant and stay tuned for the next leader spotlight.