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2025 Influential Mainframers

May 19, 2025

influential-mainframers, Trivia

Influential Mainframers Trivia

Sonja Soderlund

Sonja Soderlund is an Oregon-based B2B freelance writer. Whether writing about mainframe computers, educational technology, or sustainable retail, she strives to bring clarity to complex issues. Connect with her or LinkedIn.

Planet Mainframe spent the month of April honoring the individuals that keep the world’s mainframe systems running. With the second annual Influential Mainframers campaign, we shared the stories of “the folks behind performance tuning breakthroughs, critical middleware support, top-rated conference sessions, internal mentorship, and ecosystem advocacy.” 

Of the 147 nominations we received from 15 countries, Planet Mainframe selected 44 as honorees, and of those honorees, we featured in-depth profiles on four Top Influential Mainframers. These people are helping to shape the mainframe industry today. You can read their stories (linked below) then take our quiz!

Misty Decker

Vikas Sinha

Felix Scott

Magie Hall

1. Which influential mainframer originally wanted to be a research mathematician?

 
 
 
 

2. Which influential mainframer has a father that also works with mainframes?

 
 
 
 

3. Which influential mainframer used to lead predictive analytics at IBM?

 
 
 
 

4. Which influential mainframer applied for and received a $500,000 National Science Foundation award for the “Work-Learn” training program?

 
 
 
 

5. What does Felix Scott describe as a “superpower” for someone new to the mainframe field?

 
 
 
 

6. What major contribution did Vikas and his wife make to the University of North Texas in 2024?

 
 
 
 

7. What motivated Misty to start the Open Mainframe Project Modernization Working Group?

 
 
 
 

8. What is Magie Hall’s ultimate goal for students in the Work-Learn program?

 
 
 
 

9. Which influential mainframer sings in a chamber choir and has performed at Carnegie Hall?

 
 
 
 

10. According to Felix Scott, why is the mainframe still secure today?

 
 
 
 

1 Comment

  1. Thomas Mertens
    Thomas Mertens on Nov 25, 2025 at 6:01 pm

    7 was a guess

    Reply

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