The WTIA member community is a diverse one, to say the least! And we want to highlight some of the fun and interesting facts about our new and renewing members in this weekly series. We hope you take this opportunity to get to know your fellow WTIA members and peek behind the curtains of their (sometimes) wacky spaces.

This week’s feature company is General Microsystems Inc. (GMI)! Here are Earl’s responses on behalf of his company:

What is your role at your company?

Earl: President

What is your company known for?

Earl: GMI has been helping our customers successfully manage and grow their IT infrastructures for over 30 years. We partner with IT professionals to plan, procure, integrate and implement the right technology solution for their organization’s unique environment. Our certified sales and technical team provides expertise from the industry leaders of systems, storage, security, data monitoring an networking.

What do you hope to gain from your membership with WTIA?

Earl: Networking with community minded technology professionals.

What’s your favorite part about working in your city?

Earl: Convenient access to so many products, services, and amenities, plus connections to Seattle.

What new technological advancement interests you the most and why?

Earl: The smart phone has become the new personal computer, camera, entertainment system, encyclopedia, navigation guide, fitness aid, and more. Can we continue to add features without becoming subservient to technology?

What’s one unique aspect of your company’s culture?

Earl: General Microsystems Inc. (GMI) is a small business that thinks big. We work primarily with large customers and suppliers. Our success is built on using our agility, creativity, and multi-discipline experience along with our knowledge of large enterprise challenges to bring a unique perspective to the solutions we create for our customers.

What’s a goal for your company this year?

Earl: Launch a product to help IT Operations proactively monitor and improve the quality of their users’ experience.

What’s been your favorite experience with the WTIA so far?

Earl: Responding to the Membership Monday Blog Questions.

Which WTIA event has been your favorite to attend? Why?

Earl: As new members we are looking forward to our first WTIA event.

If you were to explain your company to a room full of 6^th graders, how would you go about doing so?

Earl: Computers are part of our daily lives. Smartphones, tablets, and checkout registers at the mall are computers because they run programs that process and store data. These devices are not very useful by themselves, but they become incredibly powerful when connected (networked) with large data processing and storage systems running in rooms or buildings called data centers. The ability to remotely access and input data center information puts the world at our fingertips. General Microsystems Inc. (GMI) sells data center systems (data processing, storage, and networking hardware), and management tools (software). We also help our customers decide what systems and tools are right for them. Customers (companies, cities, and schools) use our products to provide access to the important information that we all rely upon each day to learn, shop, work, and have fun.

What’s your favorite work perk?

Earl: Mercer Slough Nature Park walks.

What TV show’s office most resembles your workplace dynamic?

Earl: The West Wing

What was your result from the Tech Animal Quiz?

Earl: Sea Otter

In your opinion, what’s the best thing we’ve probably never heard about in your city?

Earl: The Bel-Red Corridor project will transform a 900-acre area with new housing, jobs, transit-oriented development, restored streams, parks, and trails.

Is there a unique story behind your company name or logo?

Earl: I worked for two Generals in my career, General Motors and General Electric. Starting out as one person with a vision, I picked the name General Microsystems to reflect the type of company that I hoped we would become.

Thank you to everyone who participated! We will be posting the rest of the winners each week the rest of this month.