FEATURE : STEPHEN CRACKNELL
From Cybersecurity To Productivity :
How Stephen Cracknell Of USM Technology Is Innovating To Protect And Transform Businesses
Whether you realize it or not , we ’ re all entangled in a complex , interconnected network thanks to technology ’ s significant role in our lives . Often , this affects us in significant ways . Being able to call for medical attention , confidently storing your sensitive data , or protecting yourself from cyber threats is critical nowadays . But what happens when that technology stops being efficient , gets hacked , or breaks down altogether ? That ’ s where innovative and experienced IT experts like Stephen Cracknell from USM Technology step in to offer transformative solutions that streamline business operations and , more importantly , change lives .
When reflecting on how he first got interested in the IT industry , Stephen jokes , “ IT found me .” Ever since his father brought home their first IBM PC Junior , he ’ s been fascinated with understanding and applying technology to improving lives . Upon graduating high school , Stephen enrolled at the
University of Guelph in Canada , earning a degree in economics and finance . Stephen excelled in his academic studies , which helped him land a job with Microsoft in 1996 . Over the next 12 years , he gained critical hands-on experience at Microsoft that would stay with him throughout the rest of his career .
DISASTERS DON ’ T CARE IF YOU ’ RE PREPARED
Jumping ahead to late 2005 , Hurricane Katrina had just devastated the coastal areas of the United States , leaving more than 800,000 homes destroyed and just as many people displaced . This is when Stephen says he first realized that “ disasters don ’ t care if you ’ re prepared ,” which the affected states were certainly not in this case . By 2008 , Stephen was invited to lead a team to work with the American Red Cross and help build a technology solution that streamlined the intake process for these displaced people .
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