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Computerworld - Paul M. Lemerise has worked for start-ups and multibillion-dollar corporations during his 30-year career. His experience spans all aspects of IT.
Now he's on the market, looking to rent out his expertise.
A partner at Tatum Partners, Lemerise is no longer interested in a permanent executive position.
He has his reasons. "I like the challenge of things being messed up," he says.
That's a common sentiment among those who opt for temporary CIO assignments. They say companies frequently need interim CIOs when IT departments are in disarray. The challenge of setting the IT groups straight draws them to the work.
"I really like the idea of getting in, helping them and then getting out of the way," says Tom Costello, president and CEO of UpStreme.
Costello has served as a temporary CIO seven times since 1998. His assignments have lasted about four months on average.
The money isn't bad, either. Several temporary CIOs put the earnings of those in the field at one and a half to three times those of their permanent counterparts. But, they stress, that's not what keeps them looking for those temporary jobs.
Pete Shelkin works both at his own company, Shelkin Consulting LLC in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and as an associate at Alliance Information Management Inc., a Fargo, N.D., consulting firm. He recently served four months as interim CIO at San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington, N.M., commuting to his Ohio home on weekends.
Hospital officials made it clear that he could have the post permanently, but Shelkin wasn't interested. "I thrive on walking into a situation that's not at its best and helping get it to a state where it is running its best," he says. "When things are running smoothly, I get bored."

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