This month, Planet Mainframe celebrates influential mainframers nominated by the community. The field benefits from their efforts in making the mainframe what it is today and working towards the mainframe of tomorrow.
Today we showcase the world’s first IBM Lifetime Champion for z(Mainframe).
Dusty Rivers
Senior Director, US zSystems,
Mainline Information Systems Inc
Birmingham, Alabama USA
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Dusty Rivers is a respected voice in the industry. For nearly 47 years, his career has been exclusively devoted to mainframe systems. He has presented at technology events worldwide, including in France, Germany, the Nordics, Australia, South Africa, and the United States. His contributions earned him the inaugural recipient of the “IBM Lifetime Champion for z(Mainframe)” in 2020, making him one of only two individuals to receive this honor.
Beyond his accolades, Rivers actively participates on the SHARE Board of Directors and is a regular speaker at their events in the U.S. His dedication to the mainframe community is also evident in his efforts to engage with the younger generation, advocating for their involvement in the mainframe workplace, and speaking at universities.
Reflecting on his career, Rivers observes, “The Mainframe has been my entire career; it has changed and adapted to the changing landscape of society, and it will continue to do so in the future.”
Rivers was the pioneering IBM Lifetime Champion for z and remains a global authority on mainframe application modernization. His extensive experience within the sphere of mainframes and his service as an IBM Champion for 15 years underscore his commitment to this enduring technology.