Neal Ruffalo is a prime example that one does not need to bounce from company to company to experience new challenges within IT.

Now vice president of IT at ACUITY, Ruffalo began his career 30 years ago at the insurance carrier–then known as Heritage Mutual Insurance–right out of college as a programmer trainee. Over the years, he worked as a programmer analyst, systems architect, team leader, area manager, and director before being promoted to his current position in 1999. Ruffalo views his longevity at ACUITY as a strong asset.

“Time equates to knowledge and wisdom,” he contends. “You learn as you go, and you learn from your mistakes. One of the key things you discover is you can't do everything yourself. You need a strong team around you, with people who can fill in areas where you don't excel.”