Why this finalist deserves to win Best Tech Manager:
Zach Peer is an incredibly deserving recipient of the Best Tech Manager award, not only because of his own professional accomplishments, but also (or especially) because of the way he leads and cultivates his team of systems engineers.
For more than a decade, Zach Peer has made an incredible impact on the One North business, and specifically, the Managed Hosting team. He establishes and maintains the appropriate policies, procedures and controls for One North’s hosted offerings and works to ensure the availability, security and performance of our hosting environment. Zach also provides technical leadership and support for internal systems and initiatives, ensuring the seamless introduction of new technologies.
Most recently, Zach has been responsible for leading his team and the organization through a major IT integration with our parent company, TEKsystems. This is often thankless work, but that never stops Zach from doing it with a smile on his face.
There is so much that his direct reports admire about him. Here are a few excerpts to demonstrate their appreciation for and dedication to Zach:
ZACH’S DEDICATION TO SEEING HIS EMPLOYEES, AND THE COMPANY, LEARN AND GROW
“Zach consistently asks about what my career goals are in our 1:1 meetings and is always willing to do whatever it takes to help get me there.”
“He's one of the brightest minds I’ve ever worked with, which inspires innovation amongst the team. He keeps up with current/emerging trends, brings them up in team meetings in case other members of the team are unaware, and makes sure we are always taking advantage of new tools and technologies that can benefit both our individual team and One North as a company.”
“Zach seems to have an ability to remember everything, which makes him an incredible resource to go to for help.”
“If you have any question at all, Zach is always there to help answer it without fear that he may think you are asking a dumb question.”
ZACH’S WILLINGNESS TO ROLL UP HIS SLEEVES AND GET HIS HANDS DIRTY WITH THE TEAM
“Not everything we do is fun. Some tasks are unpleasant or need to occur at unpleasant times (like midnight, when you’d rather be sleeping). Zach never asks his employees to do something he isn’t willing to do himself, so he is in our on-call rotation, he volunteers himself for off-hours work, etc. These are things that, as a Director, he could easily exclude himself from; but he doesn’t. He earns a ton of respect by doing so.”
“Unlike some other managers I have worked for in the past, there are no tasks he considers ‘below his pay grade.’ Responsibilities are ALWAYS shared across the team, and that makes everyone on our team feel empowered. We never have to think of him as a ‘boss’ or ‘director.’ He’s a teammate.”
“He is ALWAYS available. I’ve called him numerous times on nights and weekends when something goes bump and I need some help, and he is always glad to take the call and help out.”
ZACH’S CALM DEMEANOR
“When things go sideways and situations get tense (as they often do in the world of hosting), somehow Zach always keeps his cool and is able to bring calm to a chaotic scene.”
“He leads by example. Even in the most stressful situations, you would never suspect anything is wrong from his demeanor. He stays cool under pressure, and that mindset permeates down to the rest of the hosting team and helps us work effectively in all types of situations.”
ZACH’S COMPASSION FOR DIRECT REPORTS AND EFFORTS TO FACILITATE TEAM BUILDING
“He’s very compassionate and understanding to things going on in your life outside of work. Recently, my dog started experiencing some severe health issues that required me to take a few days off and/or work from home. He couldn’t have been more understanding, and continued to ask me on a daily basis how my dog was doing. Having that kind of support from your direct manager goes a long way.”
“He regularly schedules and plans team outings; whether it’s a happy hour somewhere or whirly ball outing, he makes sure we can have fun together outside of a workplace setting.”
Zach is constantly looking for ways to improve the profitability of the hosting team and increase their efficiency, which explains why his team is consistently one of the company’s most reliable sources of revenue, something they all take a lot of pride in. He is an excellent communicator, leader and mentor. We couldn’t think of anyone who deserves this award more, and we hope you’ll consider him for Best Tech Manager this year!
