User:Benrbennett

= Benjamin R. Bennett =

Summary


I'm currently the Chief of Staff for FamilySearch Patron Services and Product Manager for the FamilySearch Wiki. I've been in the high tech and customer care industry for more than 14 years and joined FamilySearch in 2009. Prior to joining FamilySearch, I held various positions at Microsoft Corporation in Redmond, WA and Convergys Corporation in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Family History Research Interests
While I'm familar with high tech and organizational innovation and collaboration (including community building), I'm relatively new to Family History and am working to learn quickly. I have considerable respect for genealogists (both professionals and hobbists alike); you bring a dicipline to your work that is admirable and impressive.

I'm currently reading Genealogical Proof Standard: Building a Solid Case by Christine Rose and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Genealogy by Christine Rose and Kay Germain Ingalls (both highly recommended by my FamilySearch Library compatriots!). If you have other reading suggestions, let me know via User_talk:Benrbennett.

I'm keenly intrested in research related to the following family lines: Freeman, Godfrey, Rowe, and Arnold

Favorite Quotes

 * "After this life, you will be restored to that which you have here allowed yourself to become." –Elder Neal A. Maxwell
 * “Success is a poor teacher. It convinces smart people that they can do no wrong.”  -Bill Gates
 * "May we dedicate our lives to serving the Lord and not worry about offending the devil." —President James E. Faust
 * "You cannot stay on the summit forever, you have to come down again, so why bother in the first place? “Just this – what is above know what is below, but what is below does not know what is above.  One climbs – one sees.  One descends – One no longer sees, but one has seen.  There is an art of conducting oneself in the lower regions by the memory of what one saw higher up.  When one can no longer see, one can at least still know.” - Rene Daumal (French Climber)
 * “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something. Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.” - Steve Jobs
 * "Brethren, shall we not go on to so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! ... Let the dead speak forth ... praise to ... that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison"- D&C 128:22

Experience

 * Chief of Staff - Patron Services, FamilySearch Nov 2009-Present
 * Sr. Director, Windows Global Support, Microsoft Aug 2006 - Nov 2009
 * Sr. Group Manager, Global Outsourcing, Microsoft 2004 - 2006
 * Sr. Account Manager, Global Outsourcing, Microsoft 2001 - 2004
 * Sr. Business Manager, Convergys Corporation 1999 - 2001
 * Various positions, Convergys Corporation 1995 - 1999
 * Kitchen Manager, Snowbird Corporation 1994

Professional Affiliations and Certifications

 * Member, Global Operations Council (GOC)
 * Registered Coordinator, COPC VMO Standard
 * Registered Coordinator, COPC CSP Standard

Education
Masters of Business Administration candidate 2011 Seattle University Seattle Washington Associates Degree - General Studies Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake City, Utah  Also attended: Brigham Young University Utah Valley University