Profile: Sandy Rapp
Meet Sandy Rapp. SVP, CIO of TravelCenters of America.
Name: Sandy Rapp
Job: SVP, CIO of TravelCenters of America
City: Westlake
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Q: What do you do at TravelCenters of America?
I am the CIO for TravelCenters of America, a Fortune 500 company and the largest publicly-traded operator/franchisor of full-service travel centers in the US.
Operating under the brand names of "TA" and "Petro Stopping Centers" and "TA Express" we have full-service offerings that include fuel, truck maintenance and repair, full-service and fast food restaurants, large convenience stores, car and truck parking and other services dedicated to serving professional truck drivers and highway motorists. It might surprise you to know that TravelCenters of America also operates “Quaker Steak and Lube” restaurants.
Q: What’s a problem that you are working to solve?
We are re-imagining what IT can be for TravelCenters of America as part of a corporate transformation. Based on a current state assessment of our IT people, processes and technology, we are developing our path forward which will include simplifying, refreshing and strengthening our core capabilities, a keen focus on the customer experience, data-driven decisions, maturing our processes and empowering our team members to drive positive change for the company.
In our case, it is not one single problem that needs to be solved but rather several foundational needs so we are getting to the root, systemic issues and charting our course for agility (responsiveness), efficiency (cost consciousness) and effectiveness (impact). We need to work quickly so we are tackling this as a team and the response from the team members to get engaged has been tremendous! Everyone wants to help and be a part of the solutions.
Q: What’s a lesson you’ve learned that has helped shaped your work?
Keep your eye on the business needs and opportunities and know that IT has the unique vantage point of seeing across the organization. Use this broad insight to look for synergies between business units. If a single solution can be used, it not only helps to keep your environment simple and keep costs down, it also facilitates information sharing. This sometimes takes a bit more work than allowing business units to select the solution that they like the best, but part of our role is to show the business the art of the possible and the advantages of a more simplified portfolio.
Q: What’s a trend in technology or innovation that you believe doesn’t get enough attention?
This is not so much a trend in technology or innovation but rather a practice that we need to be more aware of so as to avoid unnecessary changes and costs. Cloud-based solutions are highly configurable and offer capabilities associated with best practices.
We need to be good partners and work with our business units to explore these capabilities before considering customizations. It can be tempting to customize if needed capabilities are not on an immediate roadmap, but what I have learned is that by the time we customize the solution, the software provider is always taking feedback from users and will likely have the capabilities in the not-too-distant-future. Be patient – it will be worth the wait, and you can offer to be part of the beta testing.
Q: What’s one moonshot idea that could help make Ohio a world leader in technology and innovation?
With the amazing hospital systems we have in this region, we have an incredible opportunity to be on the forefront of medical advancements that will expand life expectancy and improve the quality of life for people. Technology will be at the heart of these live-saving steps forward. From making telemedicine more easily accessible, to accelerating trials through simulations to using artificial intelligence to develop customized treatment plans for patients, the possibilities are limitless.
Q: What’s a recent book, podcast or news story that you found interesting?
I really enjoy autobiographies and tend to glean valuable life lessons that can be applied in just about any line of work or walk of life.
I recently read a book about Eleanor Roosevelt, “Eleanor Roosevelt: In Her Words: On Women, Politics, Leadership, and Lessons from Life.” She was ahead of time in her thoughts and views and fearless when it came to sharing her opinions and standing up for what she believed. What a great presidential candidate she would have made in our current day and age. She is a role model for everyone!
Q: What's your favorite place in Ohio?
The metro parks are my favorite part of Ohio. The walking and biking paths are beautiful, you can go for miles and miles, and you can enjoy them all year round. We also have a national park right here in NE Ohio! While we may be known for having a lot of cloudy days, when we have sunny days we bask in them and flood the metro parks.
Q: What makes Ohio special to you?
Being a Michigan Wolverine in Buckeye land brings a great rivalry. Needless to say I have had to develop a pretty thick skin when wearing my “Go Blue” attire, especially during football season. One of these years we will win the last game of the season again!
Connect with Sandy on LinkedIn.