Meet Chris Leslie, one of our Senior IT End User Computing Technician at GHC-SCW!
What does your typical day look like at GHC?
My day starts with a cup of coffee and checking for any new tickets in ITS Self-Service. If we have any new tickets, my coworker Dane McLean and I review them and split them accordingly, and make plans to visit any of the clinics throughout the Madison area. Otherwise, I’m working on various projects aimed at helping everyone do their jobs easier.
What is the coolest thing you are working on right now?
For the last few months, I’ve been working on upgrading our GHC computers to running Windows 10! Upgrading an operating system is a huge undertaking and not something most people look forward to since it’s such a huge change to our daily workflow. It presents a great challenge for me in building an experience for everyone that eases the pain of learning something so radically new, while at the same time, allowing us to take advantage of newer technologies.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
As a “tech-y” kind of person, most folks would assume that I’m just a big ol’ nerd that likes his computers and video games… and they’re half right! But, I also love to go hunting and fishing up north with friends and family, and break out the 4-wheeler or the snowmobile depending on the season. I’m an avid hiker, I enjoy attending concerts and festivals, I play a mean saxophone, and I love to travel to new cities (I’ve been to Los Angeles and New York City in the past year, both for the first time). I also take part in a yearly 54-hour long Trivia contest at my alma mater, UW-Stevens Point. This year, my Trivia Team placed in the top 10% (out of 500+ teams!)
Oh, and also, I lived in Japan for 2 months teaching English to kids aged 4 to 17. That was a pretty great experience.
What is your greatest accomplishment?
So far, it’s my appearance on The Price is Right game show this past October. I grew up watching The Price is Right with my Grandma. I idolized this show – it wasn’t just the bright lights and fantastic prizes, it was the idea that someone like me could win big for knowing the price of a box of Rice-A-Roni. I spent countless nights imagining what it would be like to hear the words “Christopher Leslie, Come On Down!”.
Yet for the longest time, I did not go. And after failing to attend the traveling “The Price is Right Live!” show in February of last year, I took it upon myself to go to Los Angeles and see the real thing. And against all expectations, I heard the announcer George Gray yell “Christopher Leslie, COME ON DOWN!”. I cannot fully describe to you just how amazing it felt to hear those words – it echoed through my soul. And as if that wasn’t enough, I made it up on stage, hugged Drew Carey, beat the Yodeling Guy in the Cliffhangers game, and spun the Big Wheel!
Favorite restaurant in Madison?
Smoky Jon’s: #1 BBQ on the East Side has the most phenomenal ribs I’ve ever tasted. You know how your mouth waters when you’re looking forward to eating some really good food? Smoky Jon’s food will do that to you all throughout the meal. It’s a problem, but a good problem to have!
Banzo: Which is also on the East Side, has the best Mediterranean food. Their falafels and hummus are ridiculously addicting. Banzo makes the kind of food that even if you finish their massive plate, you’ll walk away feeling “happy-full”, instead of “oh-I-need-a-nap-after-that-full”.
What is your favorite part about GHC?
Undoubtedly, it is the community of people I get to work with every day. Together, we’re providing an experience that other health care organizations cannot match, and it takes a combination of being fiercely-dedicated, fun-loving, and kind-heartedness personalities to make that happen. And I truly feel that everyone in GHC embodies these qualities.
