Bob Bochenek is an employee of DIT’s Data Center.  He is a member of the Storage and Backup team, which is responsible for allocating disk space dynamically, restoring files and backing up databases and servers.  Previously, a contractor named Matt Holleman helped set up a Storage Area Network (SAN), which he and Bob now oversee.  In the ‘olden days,’ if a client ran out of disk space, technicians had to shut the machines down and literally install more hard drives.  Now, the SAN can give them disk space on the fly, without shutting down the system.  The SAN runs on its own fiber optic network so that DIT technicians can dynamically add or remove disk space for our clients.

Bob’s transition to State Government was an interesting one.  He has been with the State for four years, but prior to that, he worked for Unisys for 29 years.  He used to work on mainframes, and the last site at which he worked was Kellogg’s in Battle Creek.  However, Kellogg’s decided to move away from the use of mainframes, and Unisys policy had always been if your site goes, you go.  However, Bob had been taking some extra classes and gaining new experience, so he was kept on.  However, staying on at Unisys meant traveling around the country and only being home a couple days out of the month.  He grew weary of the travel and opted to apply for state employment, at the urging of some state employees he had worked for as a Unisys contractor.  Now, he says, he really enjoys his job, particularly his co-workers.  “We work really well as a team,” Bob says.  He also says he can honestly say he’s never had a boring day on the job – there’s always something to learn.  What he’s doing now takes him back to the work he used to do, which he really enjoys.  No job is without its challenges, of course, and Bob says the biggest one he faces is keeping up with the demands of the clients.  “They need everything yesterday!” he says, which can be difficult.   As a result, sometimes his team has to be creative in order to ensure that each client is getting the attention and service they deserve.

In addition to being involved at work, Bob is also civic-minded.  His daughter, Lisa, was diagnosed with Scleroderma four years ago.  Scleroderma is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its own soft tissues.  The disease, which literally means “hard skin” can cause thickening of the skin and damage to internal organs.  Although there is not yet a cure, there are medications that can be used to treat the symptoms of Scleroderma.  When his daughter was diagnosed, Bob tried to think of a way he could raise awareness about the disease.  An avid runner, he decided to participate in the 2002 Chicago Marathon as “Lisa’s Run.”  He was able to raise over $5000 for the Scleroderma Foundation Michigan Chapter, and perhaps more importantly, he helped bring attention to the disease.  He was featured in the Battle Creek Enquirer and the Scleroderma Foundation’s national magazine.  Others with the disease saw the stories on Bob and his daughter and called them with questions and for support.

This year, the national office of the Scleroderma Foundation got word of Bob’s efforts and decided to develop a team for the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C.  They asked him to be the Captain, which Bob called “a great honor.”  His 13 teammates are from all over the country, and though he has not yet met them in person, they have had contact over e-mail and a website.  “Lisa’s Run II” is shaping up to be an extraordinary event.  So, on October 26^th, think of Bob running 26.2 miles in honor of his daughter and those who suffer with Scleroderma.  Best of Luck, Bob!

For more information, check out www.scleroderma.org