Job: Chief IT auditor

Employer: Portland General Electric Co., Portland, Ore.

Years in current specialty: 20

How long have you been in IT? Prior to becoming an IT auditor, I held various positions in IT over 13 years, from programmer to systems programmer, with my last position being a data center manager. I was fortunate to receive a broad exposure in my early years.

What is the most important contribution you make, and how do you make it? There are two areas where I think I contribute. The first is through formal audits. I test and give my opinions on the state of internal controls and then produce a formal report that shares this information -- including improvements that can or should be made -- with the rest of the company.