Rich Helms’ Farewell When He Left IBM in 1997
On February 25, 2019 0 Comments
- Misc
Recently while cleaning up my computer I found my farewell speech when I left IBM. I forgot many of these things I did. It is an interesting read.
I was reflecting on my career at IBM and I accumulated a few interesting facts.
I have:
- Worked 21.5 years at IBM
- Worked in 7 divisions, 7 cities, 14 buildings and 2 countries
- Had 17 managers
- Visited 14 countries, 9 provinces and about 40 states
- Been around the world twice but flown enough miles to circle earth over 20 times
- Flown in planes ranging from a single engine 2 seater to the cockpit of a 747-400 and served meals on an Air Canada flight when I was mistaken for a crew member
- Judged the Ontario Engineering Competition as the IBM representative for 13 years
- Spoken at over 20 conferences
- Received 15 awards
- Locked myself out of my room at the Princeton Hyatt wearing only a short Japanese robe
- Locked my keys in the rental car, wearing only a bathing suit while staying at a five star hotel in Boca Raton, Florida
- Published 5 inventions and filed 4 patents
- Eaten a whole clove of garlic in a Korean restaurant in Tokyo thinking it was an onion
- Had my work with CARES, the system for aging missing kids:
- Highlighted at a national press conference that was the lead story on 2 national networks and the second story, to the end of the Ontario doctors strike, on the other two
- Recognized by the Metro Toronto Police
- Featured on several police shows including Top Cops
- Been searched by the Russian Army
- Been directed off the streets by the Mexican Army during an attempted embassy siege beside our hotel
- Traveled to Italy when American executives were being knee capped
- Met Nobel prize winners, ambassadors, IBM CEOโs and Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert
And best of all, I have had the honour of working for the IBM Microelectronics Toronto Lab
So long, and thanks for all the fish
Rich Helms
October 2, 1997
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