8x8 shines the light on the amazing members of our community. In this post, we spotlight Michael LaRoche of Hines & Associates.

8x8: Tell us about Hines & Associates and how you support the business.

Michael LaRoche (ML): Hines is a nationwide, independent leader in personalized managed healthcare, focused on comprehensive services with program excellence and cost containment. I serve as the IT Director and lead a team of seven, and together, we work efficiently to keep the business running, keep people safe, and adapt to new ways of working.

8x8: Growing up, did you believe technology would be your career path?

ML: As a child, I was fascinated with television news. I wanted to be a news reporter or an anchor, and I had a pact with my next-door neighbor that he was going to be a weatherman and I would report the news. Well, I'm now a director of IT, and he's a weatherman out in Minnesota!

8x8: Your voice: you do sound like a news anchor!

ML: I have done some voice work. I used to work for the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, Vermont, and I was the voice for their commercials and for their phone system for the auto attendants and the automated overhead announcements.

8x8: How did you get into IT?

ML: My first job was at a hospital, working in the emergency department to register new patients. People would come in with broken bones, and I would ask for their insurance card, which made me feel bad, as it was the last thing they wanted to do. One busy night, there was a ceiling leak emitting a smelly odor. It was obvious that our computer kiosks and registration area would need to be relocated. So, I took the bull by the horns, unplugging computers, initiating downtime procedures, creating signage to direct patients. I presented a powerpoint presentation of what needed to be done, and I was just a registration clerk at the time. After that meeting, the director of IT came to me and said, "I want you on my team." I was ecstatic. I started at the help desk answering phones and responding to tickets, and progressed into a systems analyst role and later an IT manager.

8x8: How did you arrive at Hines?

ML: The hospital merged with another organization, and our IT department found itself overstaffed, so I began to look for new opportunities. I landed the role as Director of IT at Hines, and I now manage a small team remotely. In my previous role, I would get out of my seat and run to the ER to fix a computer or look in a closet to see what is patched. Now, I can handle those things remotely. As we continue moving forward with technology, we progress in the mindset of working smarter, not harder.

8x8: How do you stay up-to-date on the latest technology?

ML: CompTIA.com is a website I've bookmarked that's full of information on different trends in the industry. From a security standpoint, I follow NIST which is the National Cybersecurity framework that talks about all of the different vulnerabilities that are occurring. It's very comprehensive.

8x8: What advice would you give someone wanting to pursue a career in technology?

ML: There are many paths to success. When I'm looking at a resume, I'm looking at someone's skills. If people get experience through volunteering at a youth center, or side jobs, they can build skills that can be counted on a resume. It doesn't necessarily require a college degree to build a successful career.

8x8: You're slated to go live on 8x8 in a few short weeks. What do you anticipate will be the biggest advantages to switching to 8x8?

ML: From an IT standpoint, the 8x8 system is so much more intuitive to set up and maintain. I see that as being such a weight lifted, because it's so intuitive. And I think we'll definitely gain contact center efficiencies.

8x8: What are your hobbies?

ML: Having two five-year-olds, my hobbies are really centered around my kids. We recently returned from a Disney cruise that went from Manhattan to Newfoundland, Canada and back, and it was fantastic! I love cooking and baking. I'm also a graphic designer, and I own my own graphic design business on the side. My clients include a car dealership and a Vermont school system.

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