Spotlight: In conversation with Joe Castor, President of itSMF IU S-LIG 2010-11

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am a first-year masters student studying Information Systems at the Kelley School of Business. Three words that describe me: energetic, positive, and dedicated. I enjoy reading, travelling, golfing, and playing the piano. My three passions: helping others, learning technology, and individual development.

What are your responsibilities as President of itSMF?
My responsibility as President of itSMF is mainly to drive results for itSMF at IU and ensure that each member learns in-depth aspects of Service Management.

What did you hope to gain out of itSMF when you joined the organization?
Upon joining itSMF, I hoped to gain in-depth insight into Service Management from leading professionals that volunteer to be a part of itSMF USA.

As an MSIS student at the Kelley School of Business, where would you say the link lies between ITSM and IS?
The link between Service Management and Information Systems lies within IT Operations. After application development, applications need to be continuously maintained and supported to ensure optimal delivery of applications to the business. Within IT Operations, ITSM looks to enhance the ways applications are managed in order to deliver optimal services to the business.

Do you see yourself pursuing a career in ITSM? If so, which specific area is of interest to you?
I plan on pursuing an IS management & technology consulting career that could potentially involve ITSM.

How has your experience with itSMF been so far? What have you learned from your association with this group?
I have learned a great deal from the service professionals and students alike. My highlight as of this moment is from a new pilot program we hope to roll out during this next semester. The program is called itSMF Knowledge Sessions and it is a way for students to learn and discuss specific topics around service management.

Why do you think students should make the time to join this organization?
If students would like to gain in-depth knowledge around technology, I would recommend looking into service management. Service management touches all parts of an organization and itSMF provides knowledge, experiences, and certification preparation to students.