Taking the Reins: SAP's John Carson

Vice president of federal business development, SAP Public Sector and Education, Washington. June 19 Havertown, Pa. Olney, Md. Wife, Chris; eight children and 13 grandchildren by David McCulloughHobby - BasketballMusic artist - Nat King ColeRestaurant/Food - Old Ebbitt Grill/OystersTV Show - History ChannelVacation Spot - Maryland's Eastern ShoreBachelor of arts, Stetson University, Deland, Fla. Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor SocietyMasters of business administration, international business, Tulane University, New OrleansAgriculture Department, chief financial officer and chief management improvement officer. Recipient of Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive, the nation's highest civil service award. Joint Financial Management Improvement Program, steering committee member.Deloitte, Haskins & Sells (now Deloitte & Touche), national director, federal financial services Ogden Government Services, Systems Group (now Anteon Corp.), director of financial programs"An understanding of how the federal government works. I've worked for several other companies, and at all of them there is a difficulty in understanding that the government is different. Everyone said they understood the federal government, but they don't. After 25 years with the Agriculture Department, you understand the workings, you understand the reasoning. It's helpful when dealing with them.""To make SAP a name that every federal employee who's involved in systems would know automatically. They would want to know the product because it's what is out there in the commercial world, and worldwide, and is something the federal government needs.""[There are] so many people that are watching you. You don't have just the stockholders or consumer ... you have a plethora of different interest groups and stakeholders. You can never please them all; you have to know that. You might be pleasing Congress but not the executive, or pleasing the executive and not Congress."