This week, we're shining our Champion Spotlight on Frank Tate! Frank is the CEO of Gulf Breeze Software Partners and was kind enough to let us ask him a bunch of questions to help introduce him to the community. Keep reading to learn more about Frank, and make sure to reach out to him and say “hi”!
How do you interact with IBM’s products on a daily basis?
My company, Gulf Breeze Software Partners, specializes in implementing IBM’s ITSM suite of tools. This includes tools in the areas of monitoring, event management, service desk, software deployment, and all of the integration that goes into all of that. As the CEO, I have chosen to wear multiple hats, one of which is researching new products and new capabilities within existing products. So I use and explore tools like Netcool OMNIbus, Impact, ITNM, NOI, BigFix, Cloud Orchestrator, DB2, WebSphere, BPM, and others every day.
What do you like to do outside of work?
My wife and I enjoy traveling, so we try to go on short trips pretty often. On a more regular basis, I lift weights and run just about daily.
What do you see as the hottest trends in technology today?
Artificial Intelligence is probably the hottest topic in tech today, and I believe it will be in that top spot for a while.
How can an organization stay relevant five years from now?
Constantly improve your customer service. Find new ways to help make your customers’ lives easier without pestering or spamming them. Of course your offerings need to remain relevant, but I consider that statement to be glaringly obvious.
What do you consider most promising in the era of cognitive computing?
Providing customers with truly relevant and timely information as they need it.
What app couldn’t you live without?
Feedly. That’s my blog reader of choice, and I use it every second I have downtime to keep up with the latest news and technology.
What was the worst job you’ve ever had?
I have to go all the way back to my junior high days to find manual labor: roofing, mowing lawns, etc. in the deep south in the summer. I’ve gotten very lucky with my adult jobs. They’ve all helped me grow in some way or another.
If you could meet any historical figure, who would you choose and why?
Lewis Grizzard. Not terribly historical, but he was my favorite author for years, and he died before I ever had the chance to even attempt to meet him.
And lastly… If you woke up tomorrow as an animal, what animal would you choose to be and why?
A peregrine falcon. The ability to fly blindingly fast, along with the whole “death from above” capability would make for a great day.
Thanks for taking the time to share with us, Frank! We’ll see you around the community!