 | Spring 2007 |
Profile: Joseph A. Biskner, B.A. '83
Computer programming isn't often a path to management, but Joseph A. Biskner (B.S., 1983) used his computer science degree to become president of a 102-year-old moving company, having recently been promoted to president and chief operating officer of Stevens Group. He becomes just the second non-family member to hold the position in the company's history.
Biskner started out at Stevens as a computer programmer almost immediately after graduating. Without getting too wrapped up in technical jargon, he says, his main responsibility was converting one computer language to another.
Biskner minored in accounting, which he says "was, at that point, why computers existed." That aided him in his eventual ascension, because with his computer skills, he was able to get involved with the accounting aspects of the company.
"That forced me to learn about the inner workings within the business," he explained.
Because of the culture of the family-owned company, he adds, he was able to learn more by simply asking questions. Additionally, he found himself starting to do more than just work with computers.
"With the environment there, you were able to contribute as much as you wanted," he said. "Because I had some skills other than computer programming that were useful, they began to ask my opinion on matters more."
In a "leap of faith," Biskner was promoted to director of the Information Technology Department in 1995, where he began to be responsible for business issues. Five years later, he was appointed to the Executive Committee. It was at this point, he says, that he began to feel, "I could run that place." Even so, he says he "never dreamed" of becoming president because of the nature of family-owned businesses.
It wasn't until 2003, when he was promoted to executive vice president that the succession plans began.
"I'm not going to say it isn't strange that I'm the second non-family member to be president," he conceded. "But it isn't any more strange than the thought of simply being president of any company."
Staying Connected
Biskner came back to SVSU and worked as an adjunct faculty member around the same time he was working his way up at Stevens in the mid-1990s. He says he worked at the University for three or four years, teaching computer information courses.
"It was exciting to come back, especially since the curriculum had changed so much," he said. "It went from a science focus to a business focus. Plus, SVSU had gained more credibility, because there were more night classes for students who had more of a business background."
The SVSU campus has evolved since Biskner spent time as a faculty member, and especially since he was a student.
"I went to school a lot of the time in trailers," he says. "There was nothing to do here for students; it was a community college atmosphere. Now, my daughter is going to start at SVSU in the fall and stay on campus. There are so many things that are giving SVSU a better atmosphere. To see the growth is amazing."
That's quite a comment coming from a computer programmer turned company president.