Off the Cuff With Oceaneering International's VP of IT

Off the Cuff With Oceaneering International's VP of IT

Gregg K. Farris

AGE: 51

TITLE: Vice president, IT

COMPANY: Oceaneering International Inc., Houston

ANNUAL REVENUE: $750 million

INDUSTRY SECTOR: Oil services

TIME IN JOB: Six years

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: "Go into computers; it's the future."

FROM WHOM: My elderly grandmother when I was 10 years old.

FAVORITE QUOTE OR PERSONAL SAYING: You snooze, you lose.

WORST JOB EVER HAD: Steak and Ale busboy. It was the longest week of my life.

BEST DECISION EVER MADE: My very best decisions have all been hiring choices. I'm surrounded by incredible people.

BIGGEST CAREER INFLUENCE : Being mentored by a former boss, Dick Hudson, former CIO of Global Marine Inc.

BEST AND WORST PERSONALITY TRAITS : My best and worst are the same: I spend a lot of time focusing on what others think.

FAVORITE GUILTY PLEASURE: I spend too much on my cars, but I just have to have the latest technology.

GOLF HANDICAP: I've only golfed once and shot a 99, albeit on nine holes.

TECHNOLOGY YOU COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT: TiVo has truly made my downtime more enjoyable.

This was first published in March 2005