Reminiscing

My mind spends a lot of its time in critique mode. I am critical of much and tend to be fairly vocal on topics that are of concern to me.

This time I will author something complimentary, just to be different. If I like what comes of it I may write more of these positive thoughts in the future.

Mark Stephenson

While this may seem a bit like an obituary or eulogy, rest assured that Mark is not dead. Keep that in mind…Mark is NOT dead.

Mark was one of the first people whom with I needed to mind meld when I joined DMR Consulting back in the fall of 2000. I was the middle tier developer on some fairly bleeding edge business software that involved Microsoft DNA (XML/XSLT/COM) with an Oracle 8i database. For those of you who are not technical, this technology was fairly new at the time and integrating Microsoft (Bill Gates) with Oracle (Larry Ellison) could be, and usually was, problematic. Mark was involved on another project at the time of my calling him, but had worked in putting together the bid and was part of the initial architecture so he was the guy to answer my questions. After that brief ten-minute encounter our paths did not cross significantly until February 2005.

In February of 2005 Mark and I were teamed together to build a fairly complex bit of software for the BC Government. It involved writing an Intranet web application that would allow various select folks to securely manage the personal and project data storage, plus print services, for 35,000 government employees. The work was extremely difficult, very interesting, and I dare say it was my best work thus far.

Upon reflection, especially since my last two years have not been so stellar in comparison, I sometimes wondered why I worked so well on that project. The two of us, along with key resources from the department to which we were contracted, overcame a huge number of hurdles in just six months. Actually we achieved almost an insane amount of functionality based on very complex and sensitive principles during that time (imagine some high ranking official's important data being accidently copied to somewhere it shouldn't, for instance). My throughput could have been due to the fact that was at my creative peak at that point, but I propose that it was the influence of Mark that created a fertile environment for good, productive work.

Mark comes from a good-sized family and from his accounts a very interesting one. Mark's parents (his mom still survives) were strong-willed and giving, plus he has a couple of the siblings close enough in age to create a recipe for trouble.  We have enjoyed Mark's stories and anecdotes because they provide a very honest and vivid viewport into his life. Mark is probably the most likable character that one could meet. Always smiling, never defeatist, impeccable principles, and extremely dedicated and single-minded (did I mention hard-working?). Mark never browbeats, at least he didn't to me, and any demanding is absorbed rather than heard from him. A person wants to do well for Mark, probably because he is the closest facsimile to a brother one could have in the workplace. IT-related work is far from glamorous and it sure isn't the same is fighting alongside someone in a war, but if you have a good team and a good team lead it sure can make the work a lot more enjoyable. From a historical perspective Mark's goodness helped make 2005 a memorable year.

On a personal level Mark has always been supportive our family. He displays genuine interest in the wellbeing of our family, but we are not alone--Mark carries a satchel of kindness around with him and is always opening it. Additionally Mark was always immediate to our needs if something went awry. During those times when we lost children via miscarriage, Mark was there. If there was an errand to run, Mark would volunteer. Heck, he even loaned us his car over Christmas one year so that we'd have it easy when he and Lisa were out of town. It is doubtful that he would remember all the help he offered and gave over the years, but it was a lot and we are grateful.

Mark and Lisa have since moved on. I left Fujitsu (formerly DMR) in May of 2007 and he left in the summer of 2008. He is now living back in New Zealand and enjoying the advantage of summer in December/January after using up all the summer of 2008 here in Canada. I know he is missed at his former workplace and he sure has left a big hole in the social sphere here in Victoria. Needless to say we'd take them back any day since Victoria is simply not the same any more without the Stephensons. 

 

Mark and Kelly at Mark's Fujitsu farewell party.  Click for 800px.

Mark, myself, and Adel in 2005.