Research and Development Center

TIM STRADER
Systems Manager

Hometown:
Danville, IL

Alma Mater:
Illinois State University

Most vivid college memory:
Graduating with no viable job prospects and my wife being 6 months pregnant!

Favorite class in college:
Finance

Least favorite class in college:
Stats

Advice I’d like to give to college students:
Flourish where you’re planted.

Hobbies:
Community involvement, any type of participation sport, home improvement activities

Favorite Restaurant in C-U:
Any restaurant that serves egg rolls and slathers the MSG throughout their dishes!!

Favorite Music:
I’m a four corners type of guy – from Frank, to Lynyrd, to Garth, to Marylin and everything in between.

Favorite Movies:
Forrest Gump, Private Ryan, Dream Girls, … a blockbuster type of guy.

Favorite TV Shows:
The Office

Favorite Quotes:
"The bend in the road is not the end of the road, unless you refuse to take the turn."
-Unknown
"If you want something you’ve never had, you’ve got to do something you’ve never done."
-Unknown
"Make sure the juice is worth the squeeze."
-Unknown

Hero/Role Model:
I don’t know about hero or role model, but from a business perspective I’ve had the opportunity to hear Herb Kelleher, co-founder of Southwest Airlines, debate and present on occasion. I have found his down home candidness, charisma and style to be much to my liking.

Career:
I began in 1982 as a Health Underwriter. Moved to the technology side of the house after about three years and have made a career of that ever since.

What I like most about my work at the Research and Development Center:
The opportunity to work with aspiring talent in all of the coolest technologies.

Outside of work, I think I’m really good at:
Being a husband, father and friend of the community.