Kristen McKernon is a Maryland, US, based senior consultant. She has 25 years of experience supporting asset intensive organisations with technology implementations designed to support stand-out asset management and help the realisation of their business goals. She has a particular focus on the IBM Maximo platform.
Outside of her work she has another role – as an ordained minister who has conducted multiple weddings.
We grabbed a coffee and talked Maximo and matrimony…
First – the day job. How did you end up in the field of asset management technology and how, specifically, working with Maximo?
Computers were not in schools when I was growing up, but I was always taking things apart and rebuilding them be it furniture, TV or printers. I wanted to know how things work.
As a single mom, I had gone back to school for A+ (building computers) and Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert qualifications. Once finished I took my first exam on the Open Systems Interconnect model, and the same day went in to interview for a Maximo role that I had heard about through a friend. That day, in 1999, was my first interaction with Maximo.
Your career prior to Cohesive included a stint at BAE Systems. What skills did this arm you with?
At BAE I worked with Maximo as a client – the other side of the looking glass so to speak.
At that time in BAE all asset management was outsourced. I was tasked with bringing assets back in house as they had Maximo in place and were using it as their Configuration Management Database.
Today his experience helps me to see the client side when working with them.
What does your role at Cohesive entail?
I implement Maximo for clients across our core sectors – whether transport, energy or manufacturing and mining.
This generally starts with workshops to understand their process and how we can incorporate Maximo for them. I help with the technical aspects – (what we can configure to help our client gain the most value from Maximo) and also with the functional (showing them what Maximo can do).
I also tend to maintain technical documentation relating to the implementation which the client keeps for their records and assist with status and communications with the client. The documentation assists the client with being more self-sufficient once our job is complete.
I love making things happen in Maximo for our clients – and love it when I see how excited our clients get about achieving what they wanted to happen.
First – the day job. How did you end up in the field of asset management technology and how, specifically, working with Maximo?
Computers were not in schools when I was growing up, but I was always taking things apart and rebuilding them be it furniture, TV or printers. I wanted to know how things work.
As a single mom, I had gone back to school for A+ (building computers) and (Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert) qualifications. Once finished I took my first exam on the Open Systems Interconnect model, and the same day went in to interview for a Maximo that I had heard about through a friend. That day, in 1999, was my first interaction with Maximo.
Your career prior to Cohesive included a stint at BAE Systems. What skills did this arm you with?
At BAE I worked with Maximo as a client – the other side of the looking glass so to speak.
At that time in BAE all asset management was outsourced. I was tasked with bringing assets back in house as they had Maximo in place and were using it as their Configuration Management Database.
This experience helps me to see the client side when working with them.
What does your role at Cohesive entail?
I implement Maximo for clients across our core sectors – whether transport, energy or manufacturing and mining.
This generally starts with workshops to understand their process and how we incorporate Maximo for them. I help with the technical aspects – what we can configure to help our client gain the most value from Maximo – and also with the functional – showing them what Maximo can do.
I also tend to maintain technical documentation relating to the implementation which the client keeps for their records and assist with status and communications with the client. The documentation assists the client with being more self-sufficient once our job is complete.
I love making things happen in Maximo for our clients – and love it when I see how excited our clients get about achieving what they wanted to happen.
”I always advise the clients I work with to leave themselves open for change because there will be change. There are always more improvements needed and wanted and the tools are ever evolving."
You must do a lot of problem solving?
Yes I am definitely a problem solver: For example, we had a client that was using workflow but desperately wanted the capability to do bulk work order changes. Those two things don’t work together so I had to do a good deal of rework to restrict statuses based to specific conditions. It was like thinking backwards to make it happen, but I was able to do that with some supportive team members.
In another example a client wanted an email to list out all the purchase requisitions lines. I figured out how to use a CLOB field and an auto script with html to make it happen. I was so proud of that communication template.
What makes our clients come to Cohesive?
I genuinely believe that our expertise is bar none – and if one person doesn’t know something, there is always someone within Cohesive who will know and can assist.
Are you noticing any particular trends in the asset management or technology spaces at present?
Currently, clients are scrambling to upgrade to MAS 9. AI is also a biggie and I think big changes are coming to Maximo on that front.
What are some of the key mistakes asset intensive organisations make with regard to their introduction of digital tools and ways of working?
I always advise the clients I work with to leave themselves open for change because there will be change. There are always more improvements needed and wanted and the tools are ever evolving.
Outside of work you have another role …
Yes I am ordained through the Universal Life Church online. It’s a non-denominational organisation open to people of all faiths which believes that everyone has the religious freedom to become an ordained minister.
Back in 2012 the law was changing to allow same sex marriage. Our friends wanted to get married, and they were going to ask someone they didn’t know to officiate. I stepped up and said I would do it instead.
Was becoming ordained a big commitment?
It only took a minute to become ordained but that isn’t the end of it. To officiate at wedding ceremonies you need to do your own research on the laws in the location where the marriage is to be performed. Then there is how you are going to do it and what you are going to say. I developed a template to share with every new couple to develop how the ceremony will flow and what will be said. I call it the cafeteria list 😆.
How many weddings have you presided over?
I have officiated 20 weddings with all different couples. The most memorable may be when I officiated over five weddings in one day during covid. I worked with a local distillery that was offering couples a way to have a small, intimate, wedding experience.
What have you got out of this role? Do you feel that outside interests contribute to high-performance in the workplace?
My role as an officiant is extremely satisfying. I love helping couples make their day memorable.
Any and all outside interests are imperative for a sane mind. Outside interests can also help with connecting with a client. You work so many hours with clients that you all get to know each other and become friends too.
You have something else in your personal life to keep you busy at the moment?
Yes, well someone – I’ve just become a Grammy….
Quick-fire questions:
1.Bitter espresso or long latte?
Latte
2.Hero or She-ro?
My Mom
3.Most loved tech?
AI
4.Home, office or hybrid?
Home (with the doggos).
For more information on how Cohesive supports asset owner operators with digital transformation and the change programmes which are such a vital part of them, please contact us here.
Verdantix, the independent advisory and research organisation, gave us the top score in its ‘green quadrant’ report both for our Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) software implementation services and for our skill at supporting organisations with the cultural and process changes necessary to make digital transformation programmes a success. You can read the report here.
