Cornell Business

Issue date: 5/3/00 Section: Viewpoints

Chris Gilman [Click to enlarge]

What would you think if you discovered that one man alone was the gatekeeper for 40% of your sensory ability? As lead Audio/Visual guru for the Johnson School, computer technician Chris Gilman owns 2 out of the 5 senses. Okay, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but there is no way to overstate the contribution he makes to our learning environment.

You all know Mr. Gilman, even though you may not know his name. He's the mild mannered gentleman cruising through the hallways between classes, deftly maneuvering a VCR cart past bookbags and misplaced Palm Pilots, or sweeping into a classroom to set up a video teleconference or laptop presentation. So ubiquitous he's often overlooked, so competent he's often taken for granted, Chris Gilman helps to enhance the Johnson experience with his skill and efficiency.

Mr. Gilman started working at the business school 15 years ago. Back then he spent his days running two computer labs (DOS and Mac), installing hard drives, and establishing staff connectivity to the class VAX system. A lot has changed since the Reagan era. In the late '80s big-screen computer projection was achieved through the use of an LCD display on an overhead projector. The early '90s saw the arrival of the first computer projection unit (yes it was a Barco), and presentations were almost exclusive to the faculty. In the mid '90s, video teleconferencing (VTC) was ushered in with its sketchy video and poor quality sound.

Today, Mr. Gilman sees a lot more student presentations with laptops used throughout all the classrooms. The latest VTC setups use 3 ISDN lines to provide seamless full-motion video with integrated audio. He sees the use of VTC proliferating in the future, with business professionals all across the country "beaming in" to discuss a case or to interview a prospective employee. Think of it: you could go through all your first-round interviews without wearing pants, what a concept! (note: this is the reporter's vision, not to be attributed to Mr. Gilman)

Most of Chris Gilman's time is spent handling equipment setups and changeovers and dealing with technical emergencies. When the class period ends he flies into action, setting up a TV cart here, enabling a laptop presentation there, and putting out three fires along the way. But he thrives on the challenge: "I like knowing I provide a valuable service to the school, and the faculty and staff really appreciate the work I do." From the mundane to the traumatic, this man can handle it all. How does he manage to stay on top of things? He carries a tiny alarm/tape recorder that sounds off when it's time to execute one of the myriad of tasks that make up his day. This $10 piece of equipment makes the trains run on time in Sage Hall, with a little help from a true professional, of course. Chris Gilman is truly the glue that holds it all together.

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