Introducing the Cristie IBM Champions of 2023.
Cristie Data GmbH possess a long history supporting IBM solutions having been a recognized IBM solution partner since 2002 with several certified experts and specialists on the team. Similarly, Cristie Nordic are an IBM Gold Business Partner and have been an IBM Competency Expert for Spectrum Storage Software plus held gold status Software Practice accreditation for Tivoli Storage Manager. Both companies are pleased to announce and congratulate team members who have been awarded the status of IBM Champions for 2023.
Gerd Becker IBM Champion 2023 – Cristie Data GmbH.
Gerd Becker took over the position of Head of Solution Competence Center at Cristie Data in 2022 and is an IBM Tivoli Certified Instructor who has developed and delivered successful storage courses for IBM Education Services in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. As an author he has contributed to several Redbooks for IBM covering topics such as IBM Tivoli Storage Manager as a Data Protection Solution and practical guidance for deployment, configuration, and usage for IBM Spectrum Protect Plus. Gerd is a recognized authority in the IBM community and has been an IBM Champion now for the 5th year in a row. Backed by 40 years of IT experience, Gerd has a specific focus on IBM storage management solutions and mainframe environments (OS/390®, VSE, VM and Linux® for zSeries®). Gerd has also been involved in the Guide-Share Europe (GSE) IBM Symposium as chairman for over 23 years.
Daniel Larsson IBM Champion 2023 – Cristie Nordic.
Daniel Larsson is Senior Storage Engineer at Cristie Noric with an impressive list of IBM certifications spanning back to 2005 starting with IBM Certified Deployment Professional for Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM). Since that time Daniel has maintained regular certifications for TSM (now IBM Spectrum Protect) covering deployment, sales, and solutions consultation. Daniel is an IBM Spectrum Protect Plus Expert (Level II) and IBM Certified Solution Advisor – Spectrum Storage Software V6. Daniel’s IT career spans over 30 years and his IBM experience predates his formal certifications, starting with a sysadmin role on IBM AS/400 systems where he developed applications to replace outgoing technology. Daniel has worked on large solutions based around IBM and installed Sweden’s first managed backup solution based on TSM for customers doing backup over the internet. Daniel spends most of his time supporting customers within the Nordic region and is a regular speaker at IBM community events.
The IBM Champion 2023 selection process.
IBM annually selects individuals who are both experts in IBM products and extraordinary advocates for those products to become IBM Champions. Individuals may nominate themselves or they may be nominated by colleagues, community members, or IBMers. Selection committees which typically include product managers and Lifetime IBM Champions from multiple geographies reviewed all nominations in the autumn of 2022, as well as reviewing the advocacy work from last year’s IBM Champions, and then select the very best to join the IBM Champions class of 2023. This year IBM selected 839 IBM Champions across 60 countries with 68% having been IBM Champions before, including 30 Lifetime IBM Champions. 30% of Champions were new to the program in 2023.
What does it take to become an IBM Champion?
IBM Champions are chosen for the contributions they make beyond the scope of their job, although sometimes their advocacy is affiliated with their company. For example, they may advocate for or educate on IBM products or solutions within their organizations. IBM Champions may also write books, articles, or blogs. Many share their knowledge by speaking at conferences or other events. Most are involved in community, both directly within the IBM Community or by helping to run external user groups. Most of the IBM Champions share their feedback to help make IBM’s products and offerings better.
How do IBM Champions further support IBM product development and the wider IBM community?
During the year IBM will support all IBM Champions as they continue their advocacy and assist them towards new acts of advocacy. Each month, IBM product teams will meet with them in calls to provide updates and take their feedback; they will share their successes with each other, and analyst teams will connect them with relevant interview requests. Together with IBM they will provide answers to support the community; develop ideas for products, blogs to add knowledge, and customer success stories to inspire, and more.
Please congratulate our IBM Champions and get to know them better.
First, connect with them through the IBM Community, you will see them in the IBM Champions roster and with an IBM Champions ribbon on their profile. You will also find them on the IBM map. Then connect with them on social media such as LinkedIn – you can look out for posts on social media about their status with the #IBMChampion hashtag.
Have confidence in Cristie Data GmbH and Cristie Nordic to support your IBM projects and existing installations.
The combined IBM expertise within both companies adds up to a phenomenal number of man years’ experience. Through our close collaboration you can be assured that any IBM project or support situation will receive the utmost professional attention and expert deployment. We look forward to working with you or advising on your forthcoming IBM implementations. Follow us on LinkedIn for IBM related news and visit our websites for more information.
