A hard post to write.....My position as EAS WW Principal Consultant at IBM has been eliminated. Apparently I'm one of about 15,000 IBM staff let go this and next week. Too bad, I had a great 3 years at IBM. Hard work, but worked with some great people, learned a lot and had some great adventures. The news was definitely a shock - my position was going very well, I was extremely busy, and I am not really ready to leave. Oh well, turn the page....
I have until February 23 to find another position at IBM, so if any one knows of an opportunity inside IBM that I would be a good fit for, please let me know. Otherwise, I'm open to opportunities outside of IBM as well. My personal Web Site has HTML, Word Doc, and PDF versions of my CV.
Here's a summary of my qualifications:
-More than 20 years experience with Information Technology
(IT).
-Owned an operated
an IT Service and Training Business/IBM Business Partnership for 10 years
-Estimated, sold,
managed, delivered and supported dozens of mission-critical IT solutions
-Experienced with
multicultural and multilingual environments and long-term overseas assignments
-3 years at IBM
selling and delivering Master Data Management (MDM) and Entity Analytic (EAS)
solutions
-15 years selling
and delivering Lotus Notes, Domino and related solutions, recognized subject-matter
expert.
-Developed and delivered IT training and seminars for
-Author of the XML Programming Bible (John Wiley & Sons,
Sept 2003)
-Co-Author of the Notes and Domino 6 Programming Bible (John
Wiley & Sons, Apr 2003)
-Co-Author of the
-Author of dozens of articles in IT industry publications
-Thousands of IT professionals have used my published
techniques and advice in mission-critical solutions
-Certified IBM
Instructor, IBM e-business solutions architect and solutions advisor
-Certified IBM
Lotus Notes and Domino principal developer (PCLP), and an administrator (
And here's my contact info:
Email brianbenz@brianbenz.com
Office +1702.953.0613
Cell +1702.306.7529
Skype
brianabenz
LinkedIn - A LinkedIn endorsement would be much appreciated as well.
FaceBook
FriendFeed
Twitter

Sorry to hear that. Hope you get it sorted out soon.
You should ask to get your blog added to planetlotus.org. I'm sure you've heard about it, it's a Lotus community blog aggregator. There are lot's of IBMers and Lotus community members reading it everyday that might be able to help you find an opportunity out there.
Posted by: Vitor Pereira | January 26, 2009 at 03:22 AM
...or, if you want, I can blog it and have it added to planetlotus immediately. Just let me know if you want me to.
Posted by: Vitor Pereira | January 26, 2009 at 03:27 AM
Brian... I am SO sorry to hear that. I'll keep my eyes and ears open for you.
Posted by: Duffbert | January 26, 2009 at 04:17 AM
Sorry to hear about this, Brian. I'll keep my eyes and ears open for you.
Posted by: Richard Schwartz | January 26, 2009 at 06:53 AM
Sorry to hear about this Brian. Putting the word out now both internal and external. Keep your fingers crossed.
Posted by: David Vasta | January 26, 2009 at 07:49 AM
Yes, sorry to hear that, too. You're a great consultant, and I'm glad to give a glowing reference to anyone who asks me.
Good luck with the next step in your career, and I'm sure it will be a positive change.
Posted by: Jamie Magee | January 26, 2009 at 08:22 AM
Thanks to everyone for the sentiments and the encouragement!
Vitor, please do blog me. Much appreciated. I promise to write some Lotus notes-oriented content this week - Already have two posts in mind.
Thanks again to everyone!
Posted by: Brian Benz | January 26, 2009 at 09:49 AM
Sorry to hear that, Brian. I hope everything works out well. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Posted by: Yusuke Murakami | January 26, 2009 at 08:10 PM
Brian,
Welcome to the club. You also qualify for membership in a new group at LinkedIn: IBM Class of 2009.
Thanks,
dave shields, last day 26 Feb 2009
Posted by: dave shields | March 08, 2009 at 07:34 PM
Brian,
Yikes. I just noticed you wrote a book on writing Notes apps. It may have been my basic reference for a Notes App I wrote that was used to track OSSC proposals worldwide for four years!
Keep up the good work,
dave
Posted by: dave shields | March 08, 2009 at 07:36 PM