Rod Zimmerman

A.B., 1981, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Computer and Communications Sciences
(Go Blue, Beat Ohio State on November 21, 2009.)

Veteran of Chevron Corporation (San Ramon, CA), Capital Market Technology (Berekeley
CA), Gupta Corporation (Menlo Park, CA), Grant Thornton Consulting (St. Louis, MO).

Big Believer in Internships:  Burroughs (1978-1979, now Unisys, Detroit, MI), U.S. Army Office of the Comptroller (1980, Washington, DC), University of Michigan ISDOS Project (1981, Ann Arbor, MI).  And in the role of mentor myself, I have had over 20 summer interns at Dynalivery Corp., mainly from Duke University, University of Missouri-Rolla (Missouri S&T), and Washington University in St. Louis.

Favorite picture:  Rod with the kids in 1998, in his Dynalivery office (Ages 40, 11, and 8). Currently Danielle is a first year Med School student and Jonathan is majoring in Statistics. Where did the time go?

Rod in Andhra Pradesh, India, at a colleague's wedding. He is giving a Subakonkshalu (Congratulations) blessing in the local langugage Telugu, after a few lessons,  and learning about the "Help Ever, Hurt Never" philosophy.

Although I did not realize it at the time, my Six Life Lessons letter project started in November 2007 when I received an invitation to a surprise 50th birthday party for a childhood friend.  He is a remarkable person who rose to be the president of a successful international company with thousands of employees, despite not having a high school degree.  His wife asked the party guests to make videos (with humor) about how her husband had influenced their lives.  After preparing my video, having a fun evening at this party, and viewing the videos of many guests, I reflected upon how so many generous people had mentored me.  In June 2008 I began to organize these ideas into a private letter to my two kids, one of whom was starting college and the other of whom was preparing to graduate from college.  Like many parents, I hoped to share my experiences in a way that would help my kids avoid my mistakes and use their time and good health productively.  But the kids encouraged me to share the letter broadly, to help others.

The feedback on my draft article on knol.google.com has been gratifying, especially that it helped people end abusive relationships and make peace with their own parents or grown children.  Thank you!