Marc Ferguson set to retire this summer

After more than four decades of working in information technology, Marc Ferguson is logging off.

Ferguson, executive director of IT operations, is retiring Friday, Aug. 6, after 42 years in IT — 15 of them with Nebraska Medicine and UNMC. But Ferguson sees retirement more as, “re-purposing and transitioning to the next stage.”

“Deciding to retire was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make,” he said. “I love the mission, the job and the people here so much. My wife retired last year, and we have a long list of things we want to do, so I decided to leave now, while I am ‘young’ and healthy to start checking off the bucket-list items.”

Ferguson began his career in IT as a supervisor/technical staff member for AT&T/Northwestern Bell. While the company went through a handful of name changes, one constant was Ferguson, who worked there for 23 years. During that time, he also expanded his education by receiving two master’s degrees, one in computer systems management and the other in business administration, both from Creighton University.

“I have always considered myself a continuous learner and always set goals to extend my education and become certified in many different areas of IT,” he said.

In 2006, Ferguson joined the med center as director of IT. He was promoted to his current position in 2017.

“I have never felt a tighter connection in a place of work than I do with Nebraska Medicine and UNMC,” he said. “I never once said ‘I hate my job,’ and I always had tremendous pride in the work that my team accomplished these past 15 years.”

And there’s a lot of initiatives and memories that he and his team helped support and accomplish, probably too many to list. But here are a few highlights:

• Nursing electronic documentation
• Implementation of One Chart
• Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center
• Bellevue Medical Center
• IPTV – Implementation of internet enabled programming on patient televisions
• Bedside Tablet Implementation
• Culture Shaping Facilitation/Champion, DEI and leadership coaching/mentoring
• IEXCEL and Davis Global Center technology development and support
• Supporting IT equipment and service needs during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Restoring and improving systems after the cyber security event

One of Ferguson’s favorite memories was “Santa Mary” (his wife, Mary) baking holiday treats for all of IT. She would bake starting in early December, and then he would distribute to multiple locations.

“Many IT employees have approached me saying this is one of the things they will miss after I retire,” he said.

“Marc has led important projects, process improvement and teams, but what I will remember and miss most is his connection with people,” said Michael Ash, MD, executive vice president-chief transformation officer. “Marc cares and invests in those around him. Anything from a status update or a greeting in the hall will be filled with praise and appreciation for his team. He created a family of information technology professionals that will miss him and hearing about his bike rides. I will miss working with a friend, but so happy for Marc and his family that he gets to start his next chapter.”

“It is hard to summarize the impact Marc has had in his long tenure here,” said Brian Lancaster, vice president-chief information officer, Information Technology. “He truly embodied the term servant leadership and had a direct role in several advancements in the IT department that have and will continue to provide value. Marc was also able to show me how to be a better leader and how to create effective relationships. He cast a large shadow and will be missed.”

The next chapter for Ferguson includes more biking, including riding in the top 10 cycling rides in the world, traveling with his family and continuing to do non-profit board work for Bread for the Journey Omaha, a charity that provides start-up funds to nonprofits doing amazing things in the metro area. He also plans to continue to give back by consulting and teaching in leadership development and personal coaching.

While Ferguson prepares to ride off into the next chapter of his life, his parting message relates to the three-word mission he set for his IT Operations team: “Technologically Enable Miracles.”

“Don’t forget that is why we are here and that is why we all do what we do,” he said. “I wish you all the best, and you will all carry a special place in my heart forever.”