April 1, 2017
Jesse Kon | Knowlegeable in varied technologies, helping others do better
Jesse Kon keeps himself on top of things by reminding himself to do better. 鈥淢y personal motto is simple,鈥 he says, 鈥測ou can鈥檛 get complacent. No matter how good you are at something, you can always learn more and do better!鈥
Jesse has been assisting many people at the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) to do better for the last 14 years. As an information technologies (IT) zone manager, Jesse is an IT expert. His extensive knowledge of varied technologies allows faculty and staff to do their own jobs in a more efficient manner.
He credits a former colleague for reminding him of the value in doing things right the first time around. With this and his own motto in mind, Jesse is able to help others do better. He also says he regrets not spending more time around computers when he was younger. 鈥淚 just had no interest in them back then. I鈥檇 tell my teenage self to quit chasing girls and to learn more about computers as it would be helpful in the future.鈥
In his role, Jesse manages CSM, Veterinary Medicine, Development and Alumni Engagement, the Downtown Campus and McMahon Stadium, referred to in IT as 鈥榋one C鈥. He is one on a team of nine, who, in a nutshell, fix computers, phones, or anything else that comes their way.
While visiting various offices and desks around Zone C, Jesse often encounters people apologizing for asking odd questions about today鈥檚 technologies and gadgets. He wants everyone to know that there鈥檚 no such thing as a silly question. 鈥淭here are no stupid questions, but there can be stupid answers. I love the work I do for the CSM, and to me it鈥檚 a privilege to help those whose jobs are to fix much more important things than computers!鈥
Being an avid lover of fixing things, Jesse takes on that role outside of work as well. He鈥檚 a tinkerer. 鈥淚 love working on cars.鈥 he says. He considers it a hobby right now, but if he could do anything for a living, he would be a mechanic. 鈥淚n another life perhaps.鈥
While he loves his job, every summer, Jesse enjoys downtime away from it all visiting his favorite place - a remote campsite outside of Radium called McLeod Meadows. 鈥淭he most important thing about this place? There is no service of any kind,鈥 he says. 鈥淧hones don鈥檛 work, computers don鈥檛 work. It鈥檚 my annual 鈥榰nplug鈥 and it鈥檚 when my family truly gets to bond!鈥
In the meantime, Jesse says it means a lot to be a part of the CSM, especially as it celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great culture to be a part of,鈥 he says as he talks about what he enjoys most about working at the medical school. He says playing even a small role and being a part of the wonder and excitement of what happens on a daily basis is pretty incredible. Where would he like to see the CSM go in the next half decade? 鈥淚 hope the research being done here becomes the basis for things I can鈥檛 even fathom yet. I imagine it will.鈥
Tidbits from Jesse:
Do you have any hidden talents? 鈥淚 like to think I鈥檓 a pretty good rapper.鈥
What does a typical Saturday morning look like for you? 鈥淯sually I sleep in, than take the little one to a pool for a while. Then I have to undo all the messes of the week.鈥
When you were a child, what did you want to do when you grew up? 鈥A doctor. Go figure.鈥
What is your favourite moment of the day? 鈥淭hat moment in bed, right before I fall asleep!鈥
Any favourite movies? 鈥淎 lesser known move of Christian Bale鈥檚 called 鈥楨quilibrium鈥. Best movie ever, mainly due to Gun-fu. I鈥檝e always loved 鈥楤ack to the Future鈥, since seeing it as a kid. I have always dreamed of one day having a DeLorean.鈥