For this IBM Champion Spotlight, we are pleased to feature Mark Schettenhelm, Principal Product Manager at BMC. Mark has recently been named an IBM Champion, but the recognition already carries real meaning for him. After years of working closely with mainframe technology and helping move mainframe development forward, being named an IBM Champion feels like a meaningful moment of acknowledgement.
“It feels good to work hard with the mainframe, to really move mainframe development forward and then one day, it’s noticed,” he shared.
When asked about his favorite IBM product, Mark points to the foundations many in the IBM Z community know well: COBOL and the operating system. It is a simple answer, but one that reflects his long-standing connection to the core technologies that continue to support critical business applications across industries.
Advocacy is also a natural part of Mark’s work. Whether through blogs, articles, speaking engagements or webinars, he sees value in using different channels to share knowledge and help others. For him, advocacy is about getting useful information out to the community in the format that reaches people best. That desire to contribute comes from a strong sense of appreciation for those who came before him.
“I need to pay it back to all of those that paved the way,” Mark said.
One of the accomplishments he is most proud of is hearing directly from people who have read his blogs and found them helpful. Those moments, when shared knowledge makes a practical difference for someone else, are a reminder of why community contribution matters.
Outside of technology, Mark says his dream job would be museum curator. It is a fitting answer for someone who clearly values history, context and helping people connect with important ideas.
Recently, Mark attended SHARE Orlando, an event he enjoyed for the opportunity to meet with others, exchange ideas and reconnect with the wider community. For him, events like these are valuable because they bring together people who understand the technology, the challenges and the opportunities. His advice to those starting a mainframe career is thoughtful and grounded:
“Don’t think of it as a ‘mainframe’ career. You don’t serve the mainframe, you serve those that use the applications which happen to run on the mainframe. Think of the problems you are solving, not the technology.”
Looking ahead to IBM TechXchange, Mark is most excited about the opportunity to meet with peers again. He describes these events as energizing, especially because they bring together people who “get” the space and understand the value of the work being done across the IBM Z ecosystem.
Thank you, Mark, for sharing your perspective and for continuing to support, educate and contribute to the mainframe community.
Lightning round:
- What would be your superpower and why? Time Travel
- Bucket list trip? Route 66 in a vintage car.
- Ice cream or cake? Ice Cream
- Cats or dogs? Dogs
- Summer or winter? Tough one, I’m dedicated to ice skating outdoors. I live in Michigan to get both.
- Morning or evening? Morning is full of possibilities.
- eBook or paper book? eBook
- TV shows or movies? Depends on my mood.
- A night out or a night in? Normally a night in, but with the right plan a night out makes you rethink nights in.
- Cannonball into the pool or dip a toe in first? Dip a toe and check the temperature.
- Go-to karaoke song? I’ll pass.
- Drive or fly? I do love to drive, flying is for convenience.
Have a listen to the z/Action podcast episode featuring Mark: Listen here
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