Dear Member of the Keep the Joint Running Community
I’m delighted to introduce my good friend, colleague, and the new proprietor of Keep the Joint Running, Greg Mader.
Greg Mader is the President and Founder of Open Source Integrators (OSI), an ERP systems implementer and integrator.
Well, not exactly. Under Greg’s guidance, OSI’s teams don’t think of their job as implementing ERP Suites or any other type of software. They figure they’re helping clients achieve intentional business change.
Greg insists KJR has had something to do with this. I’m happy to take credit where I can find it.
In my 28 years of publishing KJR, the best compliments it’s received were that its advice has been pragmatic, real-world, and concrete.
Which is a big reason I’m delighted to introduce you to Greg – he’s an excellent person to continue this tradition. At OSI his clients range from Fortune 50, publicly traded companies, to small, multigenerational family businesses. And he lives where real stuff happens, in his multiple roles – as leader of a successful organization, consulting “guidance counselor” for his clients’ executive suite teams, and, prior to that, having done the day-to-day work of making technology-enabled change happen in other real-world organizations.
His career spans more than 25 years and his credentials give me a bad case of Imposter Syndrome, seeing as how they include experience in business, operations, manufacturing, and leadership, along with two master’s degrees.
Not to mention 21 years in the Army National Guard, Army Reserve, and Active Duty, where he retired at the rank of Major, serving in several deployments.
Most important, he grew up on the least successful farming operation in North Dakota, was involved in FFA and won a dairy cow weight guessing competition, and at one point was a certified septic system installer in South Dakota.
I’m not sure how Greg’s septic system installation credentials will help shape his approach to KJR, but I’m sure he’s up to the challenge.
Today, Greg lives happily in Arizona, on a small hobby farm with his wife and daughters. During the winter months he lords Arizona’s balmy climate to me as I shiver in my Minnesota misery. During the summer months we reverse our climatological one-ups-personship.
Please welcome Greg to the community, or, more accurately, to his new role in the community. As you can see he brings a lot to the party. I think you’ll like KJR’s future with him at the helm.
– Bob
Welcome to the party, Greg!
Greg – You are going to have a great time – Bob has been a game changer across this nation and now you get to hack away at the challenges of today. I retired 1 July 2022 – and love every day after 48 years of slaying dragons. Congrats.
Doug
Welcome Greg – if you’re half as helpful as Bob has been over the years, you’ll be doing a great job.
Bob, I’ve enjoyed your columns for a couple of decades, probably more, and your insight has been valuable to both my consulting/development business and to my personal life as well. There’s an art to ensuring that technology supports goals that are worthy of the effort, and you get it. Looking forward to hearing Greg’s perspectives. Now go enjoy yourself, you’ve earned it! I’m right behind you…
Happy New Year, Bob and Greg!
HI all,
Thanks for the welcome! I look forward to getting to know all of you more!
Welcome, Greg! Big shoes to fill, and we look forward to a new and different perspective on How to Keep the Joint Running.
Welcome Greg – I’m looking forward to your observations and comments.
I’m sure your septic tank experience will help you recognize BS from clueless management when it comes to improving and implementing IT systems to support business operations.
Welcome Greg! I have confidence in Bob’s succession planning as in most things he does.
Welcome aboard, Greg!
I read that in the military, when a commander gets a new hotshot officer, they assign them to the best unit. Looks like Bob has done the same.
I am confident that all of us understand how your work with septic systems applies to the workplace
Good bye, Bob. And THANK YOU for decades of insight!
Welcome, Greg. And thank you for keeping KJR alive.
KJR is dead. Long live KJR!
Welcome, Greg!! I know I’ll miss Bob Lewis, but that guy has put in some work!!
I look forwards to the future to see what new insights as well as old to share..
Sincerely, Jim
Welcome Greg and thank you for keeping this wonderful column alive.
Bob – thank you so much for being the person that kept many of us sane in the crazy business/IT world. You have a special gift in how you see the world and turn that into words.
I learned some much from Bob and am lucky to call him a great friend.
For anyone who didn’t recognize his name, Dave was my co-author for “There’s No Such Thing as an IT Project,” and “The Moral Hazard of Lime Daiquiris.” If this leads you to question his claim to sanity … well, read the books before you judge.
Either way … thanks, Dave. It’s been a pleasure working with you over the years, and our friendship will continue to be something I value as I figure out what “retire” means in practical terms.
Dave, I give all my customers the book that you and Bob wrote together!
Bob who? 🙂
Welcome, Greg!!
Hey, Bob, hope your retirement is peaceful and tasteful and you get to relax a bit and enjoy life.
Welcome, Greg. Try not to screw up. ?
Bob,
You will be missed. But I wish you a long, happy, healthy and well deserved retirement.
Greg,
You have big shoes to fill, but if Bob says you can do carry KJR forward, I am sure that you can. I am looking forward to the next KJR.
Bob,
You know Greg might need a little hands-on help with the transfer. At least until the snow melts in Minnesota.
What, you think the snow ever melts in Minnesota?
Greg, you couldn’t ask for a better introduction and referral.
Bob, even though don’t work in IT, the business sense and practical wisdom/experiences apply in the technological world I live in over the years reading you.
Again thanks so much for sharing!