Historically, I’ve done a lot of event-based blog posts—about ASIS, our Users’ Conference, or a milestone of some sort, like PPM turning 25. This blog post is going to follow that pattern but take a somewhat personal turn. It’s actually my farewell post (that’s even hard to type!), marking an end to my 20+ years here at PPM. There are so many people out there I want to reach, this is likely the best way, somewhat casual yet still a window into the decision I’ve made and why.
July 31st was my last official day at PPM following my resignation in June, inspired by my kids, their birthdays, and yet another school year wrapping up. I truly want to spend more time with my family, and as cliché as that may be for people to say when they’re leaving an organization, in my case, it couldn’t be more true. If it wasn’t for my kids, I wouldn’t be leaving PPM. For the first time ever, I have that option, thanks both to our acquisition back in December and the fantastic leadership team that Will Anderson, our new CEO, has since put together.
My first job for PPM was stuffing envelopes for a direct mail campaign that was being sent to registrants for an upcoming tradeshow. This was in 1989. I continued to work part-time for PPM until I graduated from university in 1993 at which point I was given the opportunity to work for a great company with a great future. My first ASIS Annual Seminar & Exhibits was in September 1993 in Washington, DC, and if I wasn’t hooked before that, I sure was afterwards.
Fast forward 22 years, and PPM is all grown up. There’s a new ownership group (of which I’m proud to be a small part of), and there’s an amazing new vision in place. As much as I want to be here, I want to be with my kids more, and that’s the catalyst for this, somewhat sudden, decision. My excitement and enthusiasm for the future of this company hasn’t changed. That’s what initially kept me here after the acquisition and what continues to make this decision so heart-wrenching. I’m making it for all the right reasons, but PPM is a big part of who I am.
I want to thank the hundreds of security professionals I’ve met through PPM. I’m not a developer, but I’ve worked for a software company for over 20 years. I’m also not a security professional, but I’ve worked in your industry for over 20 years. I’m honored to have met so many amazing people who protect the companies (including their people and products) that everyone counts on. Our software helps you manage incidents, so I’ve learned a lot about the incidents that you deal with, and they’re often very real and very scary. My mind has been blown on more than one occasion, and I truly respect the work that you do.
The good-byes here at PPM haven’t been easy. I work alongside so many remarkable and talented individuals, some of whom you know and others who work very much behind the scenes. Many of us have grown up together, and the camaraderie with which we’ve always worked is something I’m extremely proud of.
To our customers, our partners, and all the general ‘friends of PPM’ who are out there, thank you for your support over the years. Companies change and evolve, but that doesn’t lessen the relationships that are established. I’m going to miss seeing you on the ASIS show floor and at our annual Users’ Conference, and I’m going to miss the excitement when we add a new logo to our customer list. One of my favorite things to say when out and about is, ‘They use Perspective!’ when we see a billboard, visit an amusement park, get gas, go shopping, or drive past a hospital, hotel, university, or head office. I still plan on doing that, and with what PPM has planned for the future, I know that I’m going to get to say it a lot more.
I’ll be watching from the sidelines, confident that PPM will forever evolve, never content with the status quo and always transforming to better meet your changing needs and expectations. That’s why we’re still here 25+ years later, and that’s why we’ll keep on meeting your incident management challenges for many, many more years to come.
As always… all the best,
Elaine
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