Bob Curtis
Director Information Technology

Q.  What do you do at TMP Direct?

A.  The essential goal of my position is to get clients more timely access to their data — in whatever form they want it, web, email, etc.  I also make sure that we're delivering data in formats that make it easy for clients to easily use the data, such as adding lead data into their own systems or updating CRM databases.

Q.  How did you get into this field?

A.  I started writing code in high school.  We were lucky enough to have a DEC mini-computer — this was long before PCs.  And I found out early in my freshman year what my passion was.  I spent the first part of my career focusing on software development for the financial industry.  Along the way I started merging my background in software development with systems management and design.

Q.  What are the big changes in IT that you've seen over the years?

A.  There have been so many. I'm fortunate to be involved in IT at this time in history.  Processing power improvements are made in months, not decades.  In the past 30 years I've seen the rise of the mainframe, the birth of the PC, and the development of the Internet.  Combine the power of today's desktop PC with the Internet and users have access to more knowledge than ever before.  Tying it all together is the challenge for today's IT teams.

Q.  What changes would you like to see?

A.  Data is being underutilized.  Companies have massive amounts of data on their customers and prospects, but many companies simply are not producing the business intelligence they need from the data they have.  I'd like to see more companies focused on understanding the data they have, so they can seek out the data they really need and get it into the hands of the people who need it to make decisions.

Q.  What's your biggest goal for TMP Direct's future?

A.  We're already able to anticipate what kinds of data our clients need, and we build reports that regularly deliver that information.  The whole data industry is moving towards web-based ad hoc querying tools that are intuitive to use and at the same time provide powerful real-time analysis.  This anywhere, anytime approach to data access is the direction we're moving in.  The data we collect belongs to our clients and providing them with the tools they need for data access and analysis is our primary mission.

Q.  What would your dream job be?

A. Actually, I already have it.  TMP Direct is great.  I've got significant head count focused on customizing data delivery and reports for clients.  A lot of the time, we're more responsive to our clients' needs than our clients' own internal IT departments.

Q.  Tell me a little about yourself.

A.  I have a wife and 5 children and I'm slowly restoring a 1965 Mustang.  Very slowly!

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