Claris techie, new dad, infatuated husband, Scout Troop #6 Leader, outdoorsman.
Neil Malcolm has made a life and a career of investing in the lives of others, and he exemplifies what we stand for here at Claris.
His official title is “Systems Administrator” and he works on the Claris Networks help desk, answering calls, solving problems and helping people across the country get their work done. But integrity, kindness, helpfulness and a conviction to make things right are what set Neil apart.
You may have spoken with Neil or worked with him at some point. So today, we will get to know him a little better and shed some light on what makes this guy tick.
A true outdoorsman, he grew up in the Boy Scouts fishing, camping, canoeing, hiking, and doing pretty much every other outdoors activity you can think of. In fact, Neil helps lead the same Scout Troop, Troop #6, that he was in as a kid. Among other adventures, he leads 10-day canoeing excursions through the Boundary Waters of Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario. Rain or shine, you paddle 15-20 miles per day, from the start of one lake to the end of it, then you carry your canoe and gear across land to the next lake, and keep on going. Trips like this capture what he likes about scouts.
“I like to see kids go from not being able to pay attention when you’re teaching them to tie a square knot to loving the outdoors. You’re teaching them to become men and contribute to society. You’re providing them a safe place to fail and to succeed. It’s a place that I’m not only able to focus on life skills but also the Christ-centered conversations with boys that in other aspects they may not hear about. We get to have deep, meaningful conversations in an environment where reverence towards God is encouraged. Plus, it’s just a lot of fun.”
A native Knoxvillian, in Neil’s words, “My family has been in this area since it was the state of Franklin.” He went to CAK, became an eagle scout, worked in restaurants, went to seminary, led a youth ministry, met and married his bride, sold copiers (which he hated), studied IT, worked in the morgue on the graveyard shift, fixed computers during surgery, and eventually came to Claris. It’s clear to see, his path into IT wasn’t exactly straightforward.
Neil’s early career was in the food service industry, serving people. There is something special you learn when you work in the restaurant business. The high expectation of service and the often frantic pace translate well to technology. So it’s easy to see why he has thrived in IT. After going back to school for technology, Neil landed a job at UT Medical Center (that’s when he worked in the morgue and found his way into the surgery room).
“I was in the surgery when people were being operated on, because the computers have to work or you can’t pull up charts. That’s where I began to understand the healthcare industry from the technical service side. And since many of Claris’s customers are in healthcare, I feel like I understand them better, what their needs are, and how critical it is that this issue is resolved now.”
What do you like about Claris?
“I enjoy being in a company that does things nobody else in the area can do. I enjoy having confidence in our product and the goals you’re working towards and the morale we hold and the quality you get out of people here. I come in here and I’m confident that even if I don’t have the answer, someone next to me does and we’re going to fix it and give our all for our clients. We really long to serve our clients and do it with excellence. A lot of companies are in it for the money and growing and getting as big as we can. But there’s really a desire here in all the departments to grow and be able to do things with excellence.”
Every year, Claris awards a few people in our company an honor we call the “Core Four Award.” These are based on our four core values, and honor people who have embodied one of those values that year. This year, Neil’s peers said he represents “Invest in the Lives of Others.” This is some of what they had to say about him:
- “Neil always seems to take a genuine interest in the people around him. He works hard, but takes the time to show you he cares.”
- “Neil is a true teacher – he has been integral to the training and development of many new members of the Systems Admin Team. He shows great patience when working with others.”
- “Neil speaks the truth – he invests in others by having hard conversations that lead to personal growth.”
- “Neil is one of those guys that is never satisfied– there is always a better way and he is determined to find it.”
If you’ve ever interacted with Neil in any capacity, you understand those comments. Neil goes out of his way to serve others and make sure the job is done right. It’s a huge privilege to have him on the Claris team.
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