The WOW! Buzz

Steve Stanfill is our Technology Editor.  Some might even say guru!  Today’s his turn in the hot seat in our week long series of getting to know our Editors better.

Q: What is your nickname? Don’t really have a nickname.  Just usually go by “Steve”
Q: What is your favorite word? “Grandpa” when it comes out of the mouth of my 3 year old grandson.
Q: What is your least favorite word? “Grandpa” when it comes out of the mouth of my sweetheart to whom I’ve been married for 31 years.
Q: What sound or noise do you love?
The sound of the 2.5 L turbocharged intercooled boxer engine in my Subie STI accelerating up an onramp.
Q: What sound or noise do you hate? A ringing telephone with a customer at the other end who is having difficulty with their service.  I like stuff to work, and when something isn’t working for a customer, it gives me pain.
Q:  If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why? Thomas Jefferson.  I would love to have a conversation with one of the founding fathers—what they went through to accomplish what they did, how correct principles governed behavior and action, etc.  And I think that Mr. Jefferson has gotten a bit of a bad rap in recent press.  So to quote Frost (another one of my favorites)…

“So when at times the mob is swayed,
To carry praise or blame to far…
We may choose something like a Star
To stay our minds on, and be Staid.”

Q: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt and why? I have two:
Pipe Organ Builder—Because a pipe organ is a perfect combination of engineering and art.

Professor of Organizational Behavior—I’ve worked for a number of companies in my career, a couple were very successful. I think that positive leadership and the organization that surrounds such a culture can be actively taught and fostered.  It doesn’t “just happen”.
Q: What profession would you not like to do and why? This is a tough one.  There are certainly professions out there that I should not aspire to simply because I do not have the natural gifts to be successful.  I’ve never aspired to be a professional athlete, for example.
Q: How long have you been working at WOW!? I have been with WOW since 2002.
Q:  What’s one of your favorite things about working at WOW!? I enjoy the daily challenge of managing a voice network supporting 275,000 lines.  My team is terrific, and we have a sense of accomplishment every day.
Q: If you could live anywhere, where would you live? Why there? Again, a tough one.  I’ve lived in the Wasatch Front area of Utah, South Florida, the South Shore of Boston, and am presently in Newburgh IN.  I’ve loved every one of those places for different reasons. All that said, having been born and raised on the headwaters of the Missouri River in Western Montana, that area will always hold a special place in my heart. The reason (aside from the obvious emotional attachment) is that nature, in all its power and beauty, is “in your face” overwhelming your senses, taking your breath away (particularly true when it’s -20°F in winter!)
Q: What is your favorite part about your WOW! Buzz category? I love technology, and how it can be made to serve mankind.  Also, it is always changing.  I never have to look for very long for something to write about.
Q: What is the one word you think of when you describe working here at WOW!? Friends
Q:  Tell me about one of your favorite WOW! Moments: I have had many WOW! moments in my life, but the most significant to me were the births of my five children.  The tremendous trust placed in me to father another human being and serve them for a lifetime is one of the grandest experiences of this life.  As significant as my work and other responsibilities are to me, this one trumps them all.

Thanks, Steve!  It’s great to get to know you better.  Readers, tomorrow we’ll check in with WOW!’s CEO Customer Advocate, Bill Wright.  You probably know him better as the Editor of our Customer Experience and Support category.