I recently returned from Draper, Utah, where EMC celebrated the grand opening of our newest global customer support center. We hosted customers and partners, and were joined by Utah Governor Gary Herbert, whose administration worked with us to help make the decision to locate in the Beehive State – recently recognized by Forbes, Fortune, and the National Science Foundation for its favorable business climate and focus on IT skills.
When we announced our plans for a support center in Utah in June of 2011, a great deal of attention was paid to our pledge to create 500 jobs by the end of 2015. Good careers in a growing industry are important, but our investment in Utah is part of a much bigger story about our global strategy. Our “big bets” are paying off as companies and organizations around the world embrace the transformational potential of cloud computing and Big Data analytics, and recognize the importance of trust and security in IT.
Cloud computing represents one of the biggest waves of change in the history of IT, transforming the way IT is built, operated and consumed. Business leaders who grasp the tremendous gains in IT efficiency and agility, the enormous potential for innovative new services and business models, and the operational flexibility they can attain, want to accelerate their transformation. When they realize EMC has the vision, technology solutions, and services to make that happen for them, we find ourselves engaged in exciting conversations with innovative companies interested in bringing their aspirations to fruition.
Cloud computing is also transforming the IT profession, creating new roles and responsibilities. Our Academic Alliance, which partners with more than 750 universities across the globe, develops and offers IT Management, Cloud Architect, and Big Data Analytics curriculum to ensure that IT practitioners have the talent and skills required for our industry’s growth.
EMC’s success working with customers on their IT transformation has fueled our growth and expanding global presence. This aids our ability to innovate and gain local market knowledge and intimacy. In today’s “connected world,” distance doesn’t hinder our ability to operate as one truly global team; collaboration on a global scale is vital to EMC’s success. Our worldwide growth, including our consistently strong U.S. business, has spurred our investments everywhere our customers are and where we can find the best talent – both abroad and here at home. In addition to Draper, over the past year we have added to operations in Seattle, Chicago, and Durham, North Carolina – as well as expanded in and around our Massachusetts headquarters and California based locations – not to mention the hiring we do in sales and services in states and countries everywhere.
The United States remains the world’s primary engine of economic leadership and innovation. The products, services, and innovations generated in the U.S. benefit EMC across the globe. As it is the most prosperous nation in the world, we are motivated to continue investing in our capability and operations, as well as creating jobs and career opportunities here at home.
Our continued success depends on delivering what our customers need – wherever they are in the world. On that note, I’ll sign off. I need to pack for a trip to Asia.
