Our new Information Technology Director, Tony Marbury, spoke to his first WCBR Town Hall meeting on July 20, and laid out his view of what technology is all about:

“Behind the algorithms and the ones and the zeroes, you strip all that away, and you’re left with communication, and a bridge to relationships,” he said. “That’s how I look at technology.”

Asked in a later interview to spell out all that his new job entails, he responded, “Oh, wow,” because there’s a lot of it.

“I’m in charge of all of technology for WCBR. From a hardware perspective, and a metrics data perspective, the functionality of all of the systems.” That means handling all the computers and related equipment and systems that associates use to keep the place going overall. It also means being ready to respond quickly to any needs residents have.

And not just regarding their computers. If a resident is getting a new TV, Tony and his team can help them pick the right model, then help get it set up and fully functioning.

Tony Marbury has been here since May, and so far he’s loving it. He’s enjoying getting to meet and know the residents, although he’s still early in that process. As for the associates he’s had the chance to work with so far, “They’re some of the nicest people you’ve ever met.” And that’s important. “I’ve been a lot of places not like that.”

He said it’s very nice when you realize that, including residents and associates, “Your new home is actually with a family.” He’s particularly pleased with his IT department, which he describes as “a small team, but very effective.”

Why did he want to come to WCBR? Part of it was that “I’m in the part of my career where I want to give back, sharing all that experience that I’ve gathered over the past 35 years.” That’s why, for the last eight years, he’s been working with nonprofits.

But service is a long tradition for Tony. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years, and that’s what got him involved with high-tech.

When he went through the test process for new recruits, he says, “I scored halfway decent on the technical part – by sheer luck.” So the Air Force “put me in secure communications.” He did everything from “fixing diodes and transistors” to “crypto stuff.”

What he learned has stood him in good stead since, and put him ahead of the game in civilian life. He said civilians are “just catching on” to the threats posed by hackers.

“When I’m not here, you’ll find me at the gym,” he says. Or at the golf course, which is a sort of second home, if you ask his wife. But the couple finds things to do together – they like visiting nearby wineries.

And as we all know, they’re in a good location for doing that.