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Carlisle keeps us online

by Lacey

Coastal Carolina University technician Gene Carlisle works hard to maintain the campus computer systems.The University’s rapid growth makes it a constant struggle, but he’s keeping up.

Carlisle, team leader of Information Resource Consultants (IRC), works in CCU’s Information Technology Services (ITS) department. Feb. 15 will mark his fifth year at CCU.

A native of Falls Church, Va., he graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in landscape horticulture. He moved to the Myrtle Beach area and started a landscaping business. After 15 years, he was ready for a change.

“I’ve always been interested in computers,” said Carlisle. “I guess I’m just a natural geek.”

Carlisle began working for a mom-and-pop computer store and eventually became a contractor for Unisys, a company that serviced Dell and Gateway computers. His position as a contractor frequently brought him to the CCU campus, where he met many university IRCs.

“Coastal had such a great environment,” said Carlisle. “I thought to myself, ‘Someday I would like to work there.’”

Carlisle, along with the other IRCs, is the first line of technical support for faculty and staff. Each team member has a general area they focus on. Carlisle is designated to the Singleton, Prince and Indigo buildings, while also assisting with the Georgetown campus and the Waccamaw Higher Education Center in Litchfield. Carlisle evaluates and assists with any technical problems, as well as recommends printers, computers, etc.

“I love my job,” said Carlisle. “This is a wonderful college and a great working environment.” And the campus community feels the same way about him.

“The first time I met Gene, I called him from the Prince building for computer problems,” said Gwen Fowler, teaching associate of communication. “Seconds after I called him, he was standing behind me. I was amazed. I’ve never had such great help.”

Other staff members agree.

“Gene is so courteous and so helpful,” said Kathy Watts, administrative coordinator in university relations. “He can always fix the problem and always gets to the root of things.”

“He’s fantastic!” said Chyrel Stalvey, administrative assistant in the president's office. “He goes out of his way to be helpful. He’s so knowledgeable, and if he doesn’t know the answer, which is very rare, he will find the answer quickly. I just can’t say enough about him.”

“We think he’s the best,” said Susan Talbot, administrative coordinator in the provost's office. “One of the extraordinary things about Gene is that he never makes anyone feel uneducated about computers. My problems are probably so simple and stupid to him, but he never makes me feel that way. He’s such a great guy.”

Carlisle currently lives in Socastee. He is married to Lesa Carlisle, an Horry County educator, and is the father of Lauren Hart, 29, and Drew Carlisle, 25.

Gene and Lesa’s number one form of recreation is gardening.

“Our garden is shady so we are on the constant lookout for shade-loving shrubs and perennials,” said Carlisle. “This past season we added a garden pond. We have greatly enjoyed our new aquatic plants and have found ourselves spending countless hours sitting on the patio watching the antics of the goldfish.”



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