IT Hire Wire

Kris Rzepkowski [ZEP-COW-SKEE] is responsible for helping Hudson engage with you, oh purveyor of IT genius and you, oh purchaser of IT Talent, online. He brings 11 years of experience in interactive design and marketing to the IT Hire Wire blog including thousands of hours in the trenches with software/web developers, project managers, and business strategists. Kris is also the primary content editor for this blog, so if you have any comments or feedback, send an email to [Kris DOT Rzepkowski AT Hudson DOT com]

When not on the job, Kris enjoys spending time with his wife and 2 young children and anything that gets him away from the computer screen. You can find out all about his personal and professional pursuits at krisrzepkowski.com.

Mike began his career in Marketing / Sales for the Orlando Magic basketball organization. He was involved in Marketing / Promotions for print, TV and in-game activities as well as market research, financial reporting / budgeting for the Sponsorship Sales Department. Mike began his career in staffing with SystemOne as a Technical Recruiter in 1999 and was promoted to a recruiting management role in 2000. Following SystemOne’s acquisition by TMP Worldwide (Parent of Monster.com), Mike was responsible for establishing the Southeast Talent Acquisition Center (TAC) to support all IT sales activities in the SE region and was later promoted to Director of Recruiting for the SE. Since 2004, Mike served as the IT Practice Group Manager for the IT Division in Orlando, FL. In this role Mike was responsible for managing a team of recruiters and account developers while continuing to contribute as an individual producer specializing in the Simulation, Training and Gaming industries. Recently, Mike was promoted to general manager of Hudson's Orlando and Tampa offices.

Mike holds a BS degree in Business Administration (Major Marketing, Minor Economics) from the University of Florida and MBA degree from the University of Central Florida.

Outside of work, Mike enjoys most sports, playing No Limit Texas Hold’em, and spending time with wife and two boys (Ages 2 and 6 months). He also enjoys watching movies (Hooray for Netflix), writing and sarcasm.

Michael Whitmer is Hudson's CIO for North America. He is responsible for all aspects of application solutions, technical operations, and IT delivery and strategy. Whitmer has a strong background integrating technology into business operations and managing complex enterprise technology, from infrastructure to applications.

Since 2001, Mike has acquired significant staffing industry experience, having managed 100+ member technology departments supporting over $1.9 billion in revenue and more than 50,000 external resources on a weekly basis.

Whitmer’s professional achievements include a multi-million dollar PeopleSoft implementation; the architecture of multiple reporting & analysis solutions, customer contact and data warehousing platforms; and technology integrations for mergers and acquisitions.

Prior to Hudson, Mike was the VP of Information Services for Spherion Corporation, Whitmer led the Applications Solutions, Field Technology, and Technology Strategy organizations for Spherion's Staffing and Professional groups. Previously, he served as Director of Technology Strategy for software and services firm Witness Systems, and he also has experience as a manager, senior consultant, and technical architect with firms such as AT&T , MCI, and Turner Broadcasting Systems.

Todd Harootyan is a Senior Recruiter for Hudson IT. He is responsible for recruitment and consultant care within the IT Healthcare Practice, which specializes in placing IT professionals in healthcare organizations. He is based in Chicago, IL.

Todd joined Hudson in 2003. Todd has achieved ongoing recognition in the company’s Hudson Awards program as a result of his financial contribution to the organization in 2006 and 2007. Todd offers over 13 years of recruitment in the Information Technology industry. Prior to joining Hudson, Todd held various roles in IT Recruitment at TEKsystems and the Allegis Group of companies.

Todd is a graduate of Miami University (Oxford, OH) and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business.

While not at work, Todd enjoys playing ice hockey (goalie), watching TV (thank goodness for DVRs!) or movies, reading (mostly fiction including science fiction, fantasy, thrillers, and historical fiction), and hanging out with his new son born in June (2008) and his two cats.

Darin Joyce brings more than 17 years of sales expertise to Hudson. He is the practice manager of Hudson IT and specializes in healthcare IT. In his role, Darin works closely with key hospitals and healthcare insurers to understand their industry and regulatory compliance modifications. He is a four-time Hudson award winner for his superior accomplishments in delivering bottom line results with significant value-add offerings to his clients. Outside of Hudson, Darin volunteers for the Whittier Dream Foundation where he helps fundraising efforts to support local underprivileged families throughout the school year. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Illinois University. Darin resides in the Chicago suburbs with his wife and four children.

Sarah is a senior technology manager at InmanTechnologyIT with extensive experience in all aspects of Information Technology for financial services, as well as biotechnology, government and higher education. PMP and CISA-certified, she has a broad background in developing and implementing major application systems, financial and technology operations, client services and risk management. Sarah's areas of expertise include equity and fixed income trading and analytics systems, risk management, compliance, accounting and performance analytics systems. She has significant experience in data center management on a wide variety of platforms and technologies, including expertise in data security, disaster recovery and high availability, risk management, control policy and program/project implementation.

Previously, Mrs. Cortes served as senior vice president and head of Disaster Recovery at Putnam Investments until parent company Marsh & McLennan's data center collapsed due to the September 11th terrorist attacks. Iron Mountain played a critical role in Marsh & McLennan's remarkable recovery, driving thousands of magnetic tapes across the country while airlines were grounded.

Sarah is a member of the AIM Advisory Board on Data Privacy Laws to the Massachusetts Legislature, as well as numerous other leading technology organizations, including:

• NE Technical Professionals Group
• Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council
• ISACA
• PMI - Project Management Institute

Sarah is a graduate of Harvard University where she studied applied mathematics, romance languages and literatures. You can read her other technology columns at Inman Technology IT. Also, you can contact Mrs. Cortes at sarah_cortes@inmantechnologyIT.com or follow @SecuritySources on Twitter.

Kara Wallace is a forward-thinking marketing and communications leader who has spent her 12-year career creating winning strategies for business-to-business sales organizations. Kara leads Hudson's North America marketing team by serving as a strong partner with both operations and sales management to achieve short-term goals while developing longer-term strategy.

Kara began her career at an accounting staffing and recruitment firm before serving in communications management for a Fortune 500 company where she established a global PR function.

Kara has volunteered on boards and committees for professional associations such as the Institute of Management Accountants (Minneapolis Chapter), Push Institute, Advertising Federation of Minnesota, International Association of Business Communicators, and the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce. She serves as a guest speaker on topics including professional services marketing and developing professional networks. Kara holds a BS in Communication Studies from the University of Minnesota, and is completing her MBA degree program at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

Every now and then I dabble in some marketing and branding initiatives for global recruiter Hudson while painstakingly working to grasp and engage with the social and professional networking revolution now challenging our entire industry model. I suppose a concentration on this new phenomenon is as good as any to help keep my job, or even find another one if things don’t work out. Frankly, my preference would be to play tennis all day, but do have a family to feed, kids to support through college, and an adorable 12-year-old Lhaso Apso to pamper. Don’t let my wife know that last one though – she thinks I’m really macho. My favorite read is “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff”, favorite team is the Chicago Cubs (who WILL win it all this year), and favorite blog is IT Hire Wire, of course!

Starting as an account developer in Hudson’s Phoenix office in late 2004, Ivan Thomas assumed the role of practice manager in 2006. In that capacity he has been responsible for building the recruiting team with particular focus on the local market. Among his managerial activities, Ivan has taken a lead role in sales and business development, resulting in the addition of several new customers to Hudson’s client list.

After graduating with a Bachelors degree from the University of Arizona in 1997, Ivan began his career in 1998 as a technical recruiter with a privately held staffing firm, where he recruited full-time and contract IT professionals in the Phoenix metropolitan area. He later moved into account development, gaining specialized experience in the financial services industry by working with clients in Phoenix such as American Express and Wells Fargo as well as additional customers across a variety of industries.

Sunil Krishnamurthy is the Practice Manager of the Boston team of Hudson IT. He has been associated with Hudson for over seven years contributing in both sales and recruiting capacities with legacy TMP and Monster. Originally from India, Sunil came to the US in 1999 and after a two-year work stint with a start-up company in New Jersey, moved to Boston to join Hudson, making Massachusetts his home.
He has an economics degree and prior to his IT industry exposure, he dabbled with Oracle and SAP technologies—just enough to talk the talk. His last gig in India was at Sony’s regional Asian headquarters in consumer sales.

When he is not working Sunil enjoys cycling, hiking (loves national parks), and likes to travel. He is an avid Formula I racing enthusiast and hopes to drive a Ferrari someday. Don’t we all?!

I have been working in the staffing and recruitment industry for over seven years with Hudson. My passion for the industry is the result of a recruitment professional advising me on career possibilities and driving my future roles. Recently, I was promoted to the general manager of Hudson's Pittsburgh and Raleigh offices. Prior to my promotion, I was responsible for Professional Development initiatives for our national sales and recruiting team. I enjoy giving back to the industry that helped define me as a professional, and as a person. Connecting directly with consultants and clients is one of the most rewarding elements of my career, so feel free to leave comments on my blog entries!

After hours I compete in Triathlons, focusing on International and Half Ironman distances! If you can’t find me at my desk, I am either in a pool, running or cycling on my all carbon Trek road bike. Lance, you can’t hear me coming. I am as fast as the wind! The greatest joy, pleasure and challenge in my life comes in a four pack = 1 son & 3 daughters!