This month’s Employee Spotlight focuses on Mitch White, one of our Senior Client Executives. Mitch is a 10-year business development veteran with a technical background of more than 20 years. In that time, Mitch has seen a lot, and he’s helped a lot of organizations. He’s passionate about helping clients solve problems through the power of technology.
How did you end up choosing IT for your career path?
“When I was 17 years old, I needed to get myself a summer job. I had the choice of working at this hot, sweaty, nasty company, that paid $8.25/hour, or I could work as an intern for this organization’s IT department for $8.50/hour, in an air-conditioned office. Can you guess which choice I made? You’d be right if you said I picked the air-conditioned office option. I’ve been in IT ever since.”
What drew you to Business Development?
“Well I may be a little different than most. I actually started my IT career as a network engineer, transitioning to business development later down the road. You could say I went to the dark-side! I made the switch because I was always intrigued with problem solving and helping people. It’s really rewarding to help organizations address challenges and gain better results. This role enables me to do what I enjoy most: meet new people, learn about a wide variety of organizations and see a wide range of technologies. I enjoy the challenge of bringing together options to satisfy technical needs and operational objectives. Not to mention balancing the financial aspect so that the client has options that drive the most value from their investment.”
What brought you to ALI?
“I always knew about ALI when I worked at my previous company. I knew about the work they did and the team they had, and I wanted to be a part of it. Working for ALI has been a privilege, and I love the products we sell. I believe our engineers are the best the industry has to offer and am 100% confident putting them in front of a customer. We have a team of engineers that really know their stuff.”
What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do here?
“Other than meeting people and building customer relationships, I love the fact I get to solve problems, and do it with technology. I also love that I get to work with so many different organizations, providing the opportunity to see the different ways clients handle unique scenarios with an assortment of technologies. Technology is always something I have been into, so being forced to stay on top of industry trends and new technologies is very rewarding for me.”
Most challenging aspect of your job
“Handling problems and situations where a client isn’t (yet) satisfied. It’s never fun when clients are unhappy. Handling those situations takes time and energy and that can be a challenge. With that being said, providing a client the assurance that they aren’t in the fire alone and get the problem resolved is really rewarding for me. I want my clients to know that I am there for them through it all. I want to be someone they can rely on.
What core values are most important to you?
“In my opinion, integrity and honesty are the core values everyone should possess. For me, being up front and honest right off the bat is hands down the most important thing. I want my clients to know I’m someone they can trust, and that I have their absolute best interest at heart. Honesty really sets the stage for everything we do.
What’s your favorite part about your job?
“My favorite part of my job is learning all the different technologies ours clients utilize. It forces you stay up on your game with current technologies. I’m a tech junky, so the fact my everyday job is working with technology is a real privilege.”
OK, now for some fun questions!
Who’s your favorite sports team?
“My two favorite sports teams fall within the world of college sports. Notre Dame is my all-time favorite college football team, with Duke being my all-time favorite college basketball team. My love for Notre Dame football began when I was a little kid. We only had three channels on our television, and NBC happened to be one of those three. Notre Dame has a lifetime contract with NBC, so I grew up watching Notre Dame football every Saturday afternoon. I have been a fan of them ever since.
Like I just mentioned, I’m also a lifelong Duke fan. My daughter, though, is currently a student enrolled at UVA. I’ve had to loosen my allegiance to Duke a little bit this past year, as I’ve found myself rooting UVA from time to time in support of my daughter, but Duke will always be my number one team.”
What are some of your favorite hobbies?
“I love anything and everything sports. If I could play golf 24 hours a day, I would. I also love playing basketball with my younger daughter. If I’m not careful, she’ll cross me up from time-to-time. Aside from sports, I love technology and gadgets. Guess I picked the write career and industry to be in.”
Are you looking for a fresh perspective for your IT challenges? Now that you have gotten to know Mitch a little better, why not reach out and schedule time to have your own conversation!
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