Career Roadmap
Don's work combines: Technology, Engineering, and Working with Others
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Take Roadmap QuizSkills & Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Corcoran High School, Syracuse NY
Bachelor's Degree
Forest Management/Forest Resources Management
S.U.N.Y. College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an Information Technology Project Managers:
Bachelor's Degree: Engineering, General
Learn more about different paths to this careerLife & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
Getting my B.S. in Forestry was a big milestone for me.
2.
I did not have direction after college. I worked in many different jobs, mostly construction. This ended up being good background for life.
3.
I traveled a little, albeit on a very tight budget.
4.
I used my interest and ability in music to get my foot in the door at Travelers.
5.
Prior to working here, I had not even worked an entire year anyplace else. I never thought I would stay at this job for 36 1/2 years.
6.
I am retiring in 3 days!!!!
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Friends:
You don't have the right background.
How I responded:
I have worked hard, put in a lot of extra time, dealt with a lot of stress and it paid off. I have been in this and related jobs for the same company for 36 1/2 years.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
When a large mainframe computer system is down or performing slowly in a company like Travelers, people, especially management, get very upset and want answers immediately. I have had to learn to deal with this all the way up to the CIO level.