Monday, April 17, 2006
Michael Murphy-McCarthy: "Not your typical techie"
Now that we all (more or less, kinda, maybe) know what Greg does, it's time to move on to the next installment in our What the Hell Do They Do, Anyway? series. Our focus now turns to Michael, who many of us picture slaving away amid mazes of computers, day in and day out, doing...something.
Michael has been featured in the NGUMC online newsletter, Monday Morning in North Georgia. I'm posting his profile here so it remains for posterity, untouched by whatever might appear next Monday morning, in North Georgia or elsewhere.
-Em
Spotlight on Michael Murphy-McCarthy
by Diana Durie, NGUMC Communications Assistant
Michael Murphy-McCarthy, computer systems manager and database administrator for the North Georgia Conference, is not your typical techie–although he possesses many of the natural gifts one might expect from someone in this position. He's highly analytical, proficient, and enthusiastic about computing. He's a hands-on, problem solver who quickly troubleshoots unexpected issues that arise. And, he's never satisfied with status quo.
What's unique is that as much as he loves his job, he never entertained the thought of pursuing technology as a professional career path until he was recruited by the Conference in April 2000. Michael's undergraduate degree from Salem College is in business administration and his Master of Theological Studies is from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.
“My whole goal when I went to Candler was to work in the social services field. When I was at the Wesleyan Christian Advocate, I taught myself database development and networking so I could take care of the computers and ended up liking it better than being the business manager,” Michael says. “Then I was offered this position and saw it as a chance to work in the tech field–never expecting that I would be here six years later.”
One of Michael's primary responsibilities is database and network administration. He also provides technical support for the United Methodist Center, Simpsonwood Conference Center, the district offices, and Data Services, which is the data reporting and retrieval system that allows churches, clergy, and laity to access apportionment, benefit, and other financial data such as Charge Conference Reports. Other duties include maintaining the Treasurer and Technology sections of the Web site and working closely with technology support specialist, Alan Shirley.
Regardless of the task, Michael's mission is to better enable people to do ministry. “I am not content with status quo and am constantly looking for new ways to help people do their jobs more effectively and efficiently,” he says. “This involves a certain level of complexity and the weird balancing act is providing the technology and solutions in a way that is simple to understand.”
Since coming onboard, Michael has transformed Data Services into a timesaving, year-round resource. For example, information that once had to be faxed can be found online, and those End of Year Reports now have a built-in set of checks and balances to ensure accuracy. Other accomplishments include enhancing e-mail communications for Connectional Ministries and adding a Technology section to the Conference Web site that offers a host of valuable resources.
Michael was born and raised in Elmira, New York, which serves as a gateway to the Finger Lakes Region. With his heart for social issues, it comes as no surprise he met his wife, Katelyn, while volunteering at Habitat for Humanity. Before relocating to Atlanta in 1995, they spent one year traveling cross-country and doing volunteer work for various agencies. They have been married 13 years and currently live in Norcross with their seven-year-old son. Favorite pastimes including swimming, biking, playing basketball, vacationing with family in Cape Cod, St. Simons Island, and the Outer Banks, and visiting his folks in Elmira. Michael also enjoys volunteering in his neighborhood, community, and with his church's prison visitation ministry.
Michael has been featured in the NGUMC online newsletter, Monday Morning in North Georgia. I'm posting his profile here so it remains for posterity, untouched by whatever might appear next Monday morning, in North Georgia or elsewhere.
-Em
Spotlight on Michael Murphy-McCarthy
by Diana Durie, NGUMC Communications Assistant
Michael Murphy-McCarthy, computer systems manager and database administrator for the North Georgia Conference, is not your typical techie–although he possesses many of the natural gifts one might expect from someone in this position. He's highly analytical, proficient, and enthusiastic about computing. He's a hands-on, problem solver who quickly troubleshoots unexpected issues that arise. And, he's never satisfied with status quo.
What's unique is that as much as he loves his job, he never entertained the thought of pursuing technology as a professional career path until he was recruited by the Conference in April 2000. Michael's undergraduate degree from Salem College is in business administration and his Master of Theological Studies is from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.
“My whole goal when I went to Candler was to work in the social services field. When I was at the Wesleyan Christian Advocate, I taught myself database development and networking so I could take care of the computers and ended up liking it better than being the business manager,” Michael says. “Then I was offered this position and saw it as a chance to work in the tech field–never expecting that I would be here six years later.”
One of Michael's primary responsibilities is database and network administration. He also provides technical support for the United Methodist Center, Simpsonwood Conference Center, the district offices, and Data Services, which is the data reporting and retrieval system that allows churches, clergy, and laity to access apportionment, benefit, and other financial data such as Charge Conference Reports. Other duties include maintaining the Treasurer and Technology sections of the Web site and working closely with technology support specialist, Alan Shirley.
Regardless of the task, Michael's mission is to better enable people to do ministry. “I am not content with status quo and am constantly looking for new ways to help people do their jobs more effectively and efficiently,” he says. “This involves a certain level of complexity and the weird balancing act is providing the technology and solutions in a way that is simple to understand.”
Since coming onboard, Michael has transformed Data Services into a timesaving, year-round resource. For example, information that once had to be faxed can be found online, and those End of Year Reports now have a built-in set of checks and balances to ensure accuracy. Other accomplishments include enhancing e-mail communications for Connectional Ministries and adding a Technology section to the Conference Web site that offers a host of valuable resources.
Michael was born and raised in Elmira, New York, which serves as a gateway to the Finger Lakes Region. With his heart for social issues, it comes as no surprise he met his wife, Katelyn, while volunteering at Habitat for Humanity. Before relocating to Atlanta in 1995, they spent one year traveling cross-country and doing volunteer work for various agencies. They have been married 13 years and currently live in Norcross with their seven-year-old son. Favorite pastimes including swimming, biking, playing basketball, vacationing with family in Cape Cod, St. Simons Island, and the Outer Banks, and visiting his folks in Elmira. Michael also enjoys volunteering in his neighborhood, community, and with his church's prison visitation ministry.
# posted by Emily @ 1:47 PM 
