This spring we welcomed Ryan Parmenter, Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Atlas World Group, as chair of the USI IT Alliance board. The IT Alliance is an advisory group to the Romain College of Business made up of senior information technology executives who advise the Computer Information Systems and Computer Science faculty and students. He graduated from Truman State University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in English. He has served in various technology roles with Atlas Van Lines since joining the company in 2001, starting as a software engineer and holding roles of increasing scope and responsibility.
Take a few moments to get to know Ryan, his vision for the board, and his advice for students.
What is your connection to USI and the Romain College of Business?
Atlas has a long-standing relationship with USI and the Romain College of Business. We have employed, and currently employ, numerous USI graduates on my team and across the company. Many of them started as interns with Atlas in IT and were hired full-time after graduation.
Tell us about your career path in IT.
Prior to joining Atlas Van Lines in 2001, I spent five years working for the ARS Group, a local marketing research company. While there, I was given the opportunity to move into a technology role and learn software engineering. After joining Atlas as a software engineer, I moved up in the organization, eventually into a technology leadership role.
What are some challenges you see the IT industry facing in the short term and in the future?
Attempting to stay ahead of the game with regards to cybersecurity threats is a huge challenge for many organizations. The threat landscape is continually changing, and we must remain vigilant. Additionally, while artificial intelligence is trendy, there are huge opportunities for organizations to improve business processes and end user experience using AI. We must be prudent in evaluating these opportunities and responsibly apply them where it makes sense without getting sucked into the hype.
What types of accomplishments and/or certifications tend to be valued and rewarded in the IT industry?
For me, the ability for an individual to be self-motivated and productive is huge. Certifications can be helpful, but what a person can “do” is more important.
What is an average work day like for you?
Some days feel like “death by PowerPoint”! I have responsibility for the technology team at Atlas which encompasses things like strategic planning, teammate development, interacting with end users at all levels, board of director reporting, etc.
What is a favorite task or project at work? What is your least favorite?
I love seeing my team’s accomplishments as they complete projects and serve our end users. It’s extremely gratifying to see their satisfaction, and the satisfaction of our stakeholders, when we complete a project that supports one of our company’s major initiatives. My least favorite is working through replacing employees who have left our team due to retirement or other reasons. It’s exciting to add new teammates but can be challenging when we lose a long-term teammate and lose that knowledge.
What are some of your goals for the USI IT Alliance board?
We have five sub-committees that comprise the USI IT Alliance. They include curriculum, finance, membership, senior projects, and student interaction. One of my goals is to see the leadership of these sub-committees develop committee-specific goals and see them through to completion.
What is one thing you wish you would have known when you were in college?
I would love to have known of the importance of public speaking as I have moved up in my career. I have become comfortable with it but would have spent more time learning that skill while in college.
What advice do you have for incoming freshmen at USI? For seniors in their last year of college?
For incoming freshmen at USI, I encourage you to get involved with technology professionals as soon as possible. Like other professions, the technology profession is very much a network-oriented group. Building your network from the beginning will be hugely beneficial as you complete your degree and beyond. For seniors, I encourage you to be open to all the career possibilities ahead of you and be willing to adapt over time. Many of you will likely not end your career where it begins.
If you could pick up a new skill in an instant what would it be?
I would love to be able to fix my lawnmower whenever it breaks down. It always seems to break right in the middle of mowing my lawn when I need it the most!
What's a hidden gem in the Evansville area you think everyone should know about?
My wife and I love trying new restaurants and coffee shops. We both love working for a couple of hours at Black Lodge Coffee Roasters in New Harmony from time-to-time. Alex and his staff are wonderful, the coffee is great, and the ambiance is relaxing.
Three things on your bucket list.
I completed one thing on my bucket list when my wife and I went to see Metallica perform in November 2023. Three things that I haven’t done yet include sleeping on the side of a cliff in Peru, visiting all 50 states (I am currently up to 45 states and my wife is up to 49 states), and bungee jumping.
Published July 18, 2024