Where are you from?
My Mother & Father. Born in Plainfield, NJ and lived in “The Garden State” until the end of 2001. Now about 30 minutes south-west of Richmond, VA in the grand metropolis of Moseley, VA.
How long have you been a Project Manager?
Since I was a Boy Scout. I’ve always loved projects. I received my Project Manager Professional (PMP) Certification in 1996 from the Project Management Institute (PMI). I’ve also been involved in developing Project, Program and Portfolio Management standards for PMI. I’ve been doing system implementations since the late 80’s (1980s)
When you work on a project, what are your responsibilities?
Beat the team until the morale improves! Analogy #1: Play the parent to ensure all the parties play nicely together in the sandbox to build the solution. Analogy #2: Conductor of the orchestra. And for the tougher clients (definitely not UNC), analogy #3: Cat herder.
Project management is more of an art and relationship role than a technical one. I’ve been very blessed to have some great team members that do all the real work- and that goes for this team! I do a lot of listening to understand what the client wants and then coordinate the work with all the players to get it done. Ultimately, we get the project done in scope, on time, in budget that meets the clients needs.
What is your favorite thing about working at CIBER?
Team work and a consistent method that is well thought out. I spent a lot of time in the project management and software engineering world as it relates to application development and international implementation process standards. CIBER has one of the best I have seen and even more importantly, they follow it. It makes things so much easier for the client and us.
What are your top 3 favorite things about Chapel Hill/Raleigh/Durham?
• Environment (a blend of Charlottesville and Blacksburg, VA).
• The people, very friendly and easy to find running and biking partners
• The food – Franklin Street and other local spots!
You participate in physically taxing sporting events, most recently the ½ Iron Man in Williamsburg, VA- When did you become interested in these competitions? How many have you completed? Is there a specific competition that you would love to complete? When you finish what is your favorite thing to do, for example do you like to- go out and celebrate like it’s New Years, pass out in a tub of ice with a Gatorade drip, or eat a banana and run home?
I did my first triathlon, sprint distance (750 meter swim, 12 mile bike, 3.1 mile run) in 2005 and got bit by the bug. There are three other distances: Olympic (0.9 mile swim, 25 mile bike, 6.2 mile run), Half-Ironman (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run) and Ironman (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run)
Since I began, I’ve done about 20+ triathlons, including the Ironman in Louisville, KY in 2007 and the National Duathlon Championship (6.2 mile run, 25 mile bike, 3.1 mile run) this year.
I would love to qualify for the World Championship Ironman in Kona, Hawaii. Maybe if I outlive my competition.
To steal the most common phrase from the HRx Project – It Depends! Sprint & Olympic distance races: Recovery Drink, Stretch, Beer, Socialize, Beer, Stretch, Beer and Dee, my wife (not the Dee you know from the project) drives home. For Half-Ironman: Rest and recover, eat, beer, socialize, beer….repeat. For the Ironman: Two IV bottles of fluids, rest, recover, sleep – no beer!
Aside from participating in intense endurance competitions what other things do you like to do?
There are other things besides endurance competition? I do spend most of my free time with my wife and two boys. Albeit, they are both in College, but as much time as I can, I spend with them. I am the president of the Richmond Triathlon Club and on the board of Richmond Multisports, a triathlon race event producer. Those two keep me busy. In the winter, skiing! I was on the National Ski Patrol for 15 years before moving to Richmond.
What are your favorite foods and where in the world do you think the best version of it is?
• Flaming Cherries Jubilee, The Manor in West Orange, NJ.
• Homemade Tiramisu
• Kriek Lambic Beer, Pajottenland region of Belgium (Ben Franklin said beer was food, that is good enough for me)
Below find pictures of Jack as a Project Manager and as an Iron Man (finishing with his son by his side).
