Computer Information Systems Success Stories

Bryan Blackburn '90

General Manager

SourcIT Technology Services

Grand Rapids , Mich.

After graduating from Ferris State University in 1990 with a business degree with a CIS emphasis, Bryan Blackburn headed to Florida for an IT job with Dataflex Company. Now back in Michigan, he has 15 years experience in IT including a stint as vice president for Cybernet Engineering and branch manager for Robert Half International in Grand Rapids before joining SourcIT. Blackburn said that technology often drives technicians to take on new roles with different companies.

Blackburn adds Ferris' business and technical courses helped him in his career. He chose Ferris because of the real world and hands-on training offered by the University. He chose the computer field because he saw it as an up and coming industry with a need for students trained in IT.

In his leadership role with SourcIT one of his biggest challenges is making sure he has the top IT talent at the optimal time - making hiring decisions not too soon but not too late. He enjoys working with a diverse group of clients, mostly small to medium-sized businesses, and helping them identify and make the best use of technology with the most return on investment. Most of SourcIT's clients support up to a few hundred personal computers.

"We specialize in the design, implementation and support of computer networks," Blackburn says. SourcIT is heavily involved in wireless technology, wireless Internet connection including a lot of work for condominiums and apartment complexes. SourcIT also provides Web hosting and Web design and development as well as application development. Six employees currently report to Blackburn.

Blackburn's advice to current and future CIS students at Ferris is to get involved in organizations outside of the classroom. He highly recommends the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP), which has a student chapter at Ferris. He also highly suggests internships to students. He said that business and communications courses are also beneficial as the most sought after candidates in the job market are those with a combination of business and technology skills.

"The days of a programmers sitting in a basement banging out code are gone," Blackburn says.