Timothy L. Gunter

I was one of the first students to go through the information science track in the late 1980's and I could not have had a better educational grounding for my career in consulting and information technology. I learned how to turn data into information, analyze organizational problems and apply system-based solutions. A SILS internship at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Research Triangle Park (RTP) gave me experience in applying what I learned in a professional work setting. I also developed valuable leadership skills by organizing the first ASIS&T student chapter at SILS. It was at my graduation that I received some of my best career advice from Dean Evelyn Daniel: "the smaller the stakes, the more bitter the politics, so if you have to fight for something, make sure it really matters."

I started my career in Atlanta at Accenture--the largest consulting firm in the world--where I worked on client projects nationwide in multiple industries. My roles included programmer, database analyst, product specialist, trainer and project manager. By the mid-90's I began looking for new experiences, so I joined forces with one of my former clients to launch a technology company. We focused on the growing market for geo-spatial solutions and worked with a number of defense contractors and utility companies in leveraging GPS to locate and attribute their physical assets. After selling the firm to a software company in 2000, I joined North Highland where I was tasked with opening their office in Charlotte. In my capacity as a Vice President, I sold and managed large consulting engagements, recruited and coached employees and served on the boards of several community organizations. I later assumed a company-wide responsibility to organize and lead our efforts in the Energy & Utilities industry and serve as a liaison to our international consulting alliance.

Now, as a partner at KPMG, I focus on CIO advising and information management of energy utilities. SILS gave me the skills needed to stay on the leading edge of information science and the confidence to pursue my career interests in traditional and non-traditional ways. These many years later I continue to draw on the lessons learned in my two years at Manning Hall.