Tom Cullen

I don't think it's any secret that people who are considered "corporate functionaries" are usually assumed to be second-tier compared to their business-line counterparts. If a person builds a great new web tool and sells it they are considered a genius, but if they build the same functionality and offer it to their company their "genius quotient" is not similarly enhanced.

I bring this up because I have been surprised at how many truly awesome people I have run into in corporate HR and IT departments. I don't know whether it was destiny or a personal choice to avoid all the baloney that accompanies the typical entrepreneur's journey, but I have met quite a few people who, had they decided to apply their talents in a business-line setting, would be people who you would know.

Today's TuSK post is just such an individual. Tom Cullen was one of the first people I met when I came to EA. I was instantly impressed with his depth of knowledge about really difficult IT / integration issues. In his even-handed, aw-shucks sort of way he described how he viewed integration architecture issues in a way that was at once both cutting-edge and common sense.

Since that first conversation I have had many other opportunities to work with Tom. It is always a pleasure. Tom continues to explore the leading edge of how corporations can integrate various data sources and point-applications into a cohesive whole that is dynamic and transparent. He is one of those rare individuals who has great credibility with the CIO, the vendors and the thought leaders at the same time.

I have asked Tom to be an author on Tusk because I think he has some exciting things to say about SOA and other integration concepts. In addition, Tom is a person whose judgment I trust implicitly, so I am hoping that he will introduce us to great people he knows.

Welcome Tom!