Guest Interview With Jeff Nelson By Bennett Davishoff, Enterprise Solutions

I recently spoke with Jeff Nelson, a friend and former employee who retired after 28 years with Enterprise Solutions. Jeff helped me build the company with his expertise and loyalty and just as important, gave me the privilege of watching his kids grow up and welcomed me as a part of his extended family. He is infinitely creative as he demonstrated in his career, and now through his love of lutherie. I thought it would be interesting for our Digital Content Creator, Bennett, to have a conversation with Jeff about his career and thoughts on retirement - below is their conversation.  

All the best, BJ

Bennett: Tell me a little bit about yourself

Jeff: I started my career at AT&T Bell Laboratories and they trained you to program the C language. That was the program code for digital switching systems: the systems that route phone traffic. While I was there, I took some classes in database design. That’s when I realized that was what I wanted to do with my career and, after some positions, I came to work at Enterprise Solutions.

Bennett: What was your position at Enterprise prior to retirement? When did you start it?

Jeff: I worked at Enterprise Solutions for 28 years as a database programmer. For clients, I did database conversions and wrote complex database code. Other times it was writing queries to create reports. A lot of it was basically what’s behind an application button click. I noticed that the type of coding I did many of the developers found boring. 

Bennett: What appealed to you about working for Enterprise?

Jeff: My main priority with having a family was job security. Enterprise Solutions was very good at enrolling me from one place to the next. They provided me with opportunities that I both enjoyed and was challenged by. It was a career of puzzle-solving. 

Bennett: What were your expectations for your role when you got hired? 

Jeff: All I really ever wanted to do was fill a need for a client. I wanted it to be a meaningful cog in the machine — not the most important one — rather just something that was required. 

Bennett: Is there a typical career path for someone in your position?

Jeff: No, IT is a broad career and I’ve worked with people who have stumbled into it from different backgrounds. Education is important to learn the basics and until you’re nursed in a technical environment, you don’t know how you’ll fit best or evolve.

Bennett: Can you elaborate on the day-to-day responsibilities you were assigned for your position?

Jeff: My time was balanced between projects and problems. Projects were more exciting because we were working on adding and creating something new, and when there were problems, you immediately shifted into a different way of thinking. Both of these things on a daily basis required status reporting: talking with staff in meetings and documenting what is happening. 

Bennett: What have you most enjoyed about your consulting career? Or what was your favorite thing about working at Enterprise?

Jeff: I enjoyed working with inspiring people and helping other consultants. It was rewarding providing clients with what they needed. If the client was happy, then Enterprise was happy. 

Bennett: How would you describe the company’s culture?

Jeff: Enterprise Solutions is about people —- they don’t just blindly place consultants into jobs. They build relationships in the IT community that aid in getting consultants and clients matched, and that alone is rewarding.

Bennett: How do you think Enterprise defines and demonstrates its values?

Jeff: I think I’d say aside from matching employees and clients, Enterprise works in the community to address the employability in underserved people; they actively reach out to people who don’t actively get to use their opportunities and strengths. They see the value in everyone. 

Bennett: What do you think are the most important qualities a person in your role could possess?

Jeff: First, I'd say communication — working with clients to identify exactly what is their needs and offer suggestions or solutions. Second, is flexibility. Working on a project there can be discoveries that would be willing to change the scope. Last but not least would be attitude — always be moving forward in a positive direction and projecting that you care. 

Bennett: What do you do for a living now that you are retired?

Jeff: I always say I'm busy all the time. I get to spend time with my wife. We walk the dogs and talk. And also, I focus on my projects.  I do lutherie; building, rebuilding, and modifying guitars. The days go quickly.

Bennett: Where do you see yourself in five years from now since you retired?

Jeff: In retirement I don't think about five years from now. Sure, being healthy and financially secure are important. It reminds me of what my grandmother said when she turned 90, "First take it one step at a time, then one day at a time." It's about enjoying the moments.  Enjoying time with my wife and sneaking off to work on a guitar.