September, 2007
by Denise P. Kalm
Denise Kalm has 30 years experience in IT including application programming, enterprise systems management and performance management/capacity planning at Pacific Telephone and Bank of America. She moved to vendor land in 2000, spending 5 ½ years with BMC on the EPA product line, then recently became the senior product marketing manager for enterprise job scheduling products at CA, Inc., formerly Cybermation. She is a regional officer of CMG, has held many volunteer positions within that organization and is a frequent contributing author. Prior to entering the IT profession, she was a biochemical geneticist. Her hobbies include flying, Jazzercise, writing and scuba diving. Her book, Lifestorm, on the Oakland Hills fire, is available on Amazon. She is an executive and personal coach as well, offering phone and in-person coaching.
About the Author
Denise P. Kalm, CA, Inc. formerly Cybermation
1. What drew you to CMG in the first place?
When I started in Capacity Planning, my manager sent me to my first CMG conference. I was impressed with the amount of pertinent information I was hearing. I was able to take back and implement some of the procedures and processes. The information was invaluable and I have found this continues to be true.
2. What keeps you there?
CMG is still the best place to keep current within our discipline. The information received and the networking that takes place is invaluable.
3. What inspired you to seek national office?
CMG has been my main source of education for many years. Since CMG is a volunteer organization, the need to give back is important. Without people stepping up and volunteering, CMG will fail. CMG needs to continue as a viable organization to insure that capacity planning and performance, on all levels, is recognized and respected.
4. If someone didn't know you well, what would be the 3 things you would want them know, prior to voting?
I have been volunteering within the Midwest Region and at the national level. Within the conference, I have held almost every position. I have also been on the Board of Directors and represented CMG as both a speaker and an emissary in the UK, Central Europe, Austria, Australia and Italy. CMG has been one of my passions.
5. If you could make one change to the organization or the conference, what would it be?
CMG needs to improve its marketing. We should have a more focused and extensive marketing plan, not only for the conference but for the organization as a whole. We need to spread the word to the professionals who are new to capacity and performance. We need educate management so that they will be the ones that are suggesting attending the conference.
6. What is working well now?
The regions are currently doing a fantastic job. They are the ones who supply the information and networking opportunities during the year. They are some of the hardest working volunteers within the organization.
7. What isn't?
CMG needs to be promoted more effectively. We need to get the word out about CMG. I still find capacity and performance professionals who have not heard of CMG. We need our membership to spread the word and the benefits. The managers and CIO's are the people that need to be reached. They need to see the benefits in order to send their employees
8. What are the 3 adjectives you would use to describe yourself?