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"Technology
makes our lives easier," he says, pointing out the popularity of e-mail
and the Internet. "For lots of people technology has become an everyday
tool. And yet, what you learn very quickly in the field of technology is
that it changes every 18 months. You learn how to learn, and you learn the
importance of being able to work effectively with people." |
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Rich believes,
"As much as we talk about technology and information, business today is
still about people and interpersonal relationships. You can't build a deal
just on technology or product alone. In the long run you have to be able
to deal with people. The best skill set I learned at Shippensburg is the
ability to work with people." |
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Rich Pizzarro's business experiences have been an entrepreneurial
dream come true. He knew, as a Shippensburg student, that he wanted to
someday own his own company. He majored in computer science and took several
economics courses. "I wanted to get out into the 'real world' and get
some experience so that I would be able to deal with business issues as
well as technology issues," he says.
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His first job
was with AMP, where he met Dan Harple. The two men began to plan a software
company and in 1991 launched InSoft, Inc. a company that developed multi-media
desktop conferencing software. Rich recalls, "We were two guys working out
of our homes, writing software codes nights and weekends while keeping our
day jobs." They grew their company from two people to more than 70 and,
in 1995 InSoft was acquired by Netscape Communications. Rich joined Netscape
as a consultant. |
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Can any education
prepare you for this kind of rocket-propelled career? Rich points out, "The
most valuable thing about Shippensburg was the experience itself. It was
like the environment of a small company. Working on small teams, communicating
and having people skills are the keys to success. In my senior year I had
computer classes with less than 10 students in them." |
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Rich believes
that technology will continue to play a key role in Shippensburg's strong
educational environment, and that technology must be part of daily life
at a university, so that every student is comfortable with it. He notes,
"I know bright people who are scared to death of a computer. I can understand
that, but all they need is an introduction and the opportunity to use technology.
That's why keeping the university on the leading edge of technology is so
important." |
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After two years
of telecommuting and traveling to Netscape headquarters in California Rich
is again looking to the future. "You always ask, 'What's next?' I've had
a chance start thinking about ideas for new businesses and how technology
can help people." |
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His newest
venture is Med Media, a company that specializes in data collection software.
Rich says the company's first focus has been in the area of public safety,
particularly in emergency medical services, and has wide application anywhere
that data is collected primarily out in the field. "When an emergency medical
technician is in the field it is impossible for them to be carrying a notebook
to record medical data," he says. "They write on anything that's handy.
Sometimes, they'll put a piece of duct tape on their pant leg and write
on the tape. The problem is that, at the end of the trip, they have to remember
which information goes with which patient." |
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Med Media will
provide the software so that emergency medical technicians will be able
to use a palm-held unit to enter critical data. "Once the data is entered,
it can be uploaded, transferred, and printed out as needed," Rich says.
"The key is that technology will be making the process faster and easier."
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