In the Fall of 2025, members of LRS’ Enterprise Output Management group visited a number of universities around the state of Illinois to promote opportunities in the field of mainframe software development. The first stop on our four-city tour was the alma mater of LRS company founder Dick Levi and several key members of LRS’ mainframe development teams, Eastern Illinois University.
Eastern Illinois University (EIU) in Charleston, Illinois has long been a source of talented IT professionals. Over the years, LRS has collaborated with EIU’s computer science department to help them tailor a curriculum that teaches skills needed for success in development careers for the IBM Z platform. As a result, we always welcome an opportunity to visit the Home of the Panthers.
Last week, the Panthers returned the favor.
EIU students in the atrium of LRS global headquarters building
A group of ambitious computer science students in EIU’s Lumpkin College of Business and Technology, accompanied by instructor Paul Brown, made the two-hour trek from the EIU campus to the LRS corporate campus to get a first-hand look inside a mainframe software company. After informative presentations on LRS’ history and a meeting with our corporate recruiting staff, the eager students learned about the IBM System Z hardware and software environment we use to develop, enhance, and support our flagship VPS® solutions. Originally developed in 1981, the VPS product suite is critical to the operations of the world’s largest banks, manufacturers, insurers, transport companies, governments, and other global organizations.
Touring the LRS mainframe datacenter facilities
EIU alum and LRS employee Dan Connolly explains the inner workings of LRS’ raised floor data center
“It is great to see the EIU mainframe education curriculum continue to build momentum,” said Dan Connolly, EIU alum and Manager of EOM Support & z/OS Systems at LRS. “While only a portion of the class could visit this year due to athletic commitments, the questions raised during the discussion showed genuine interest in how concepts learned in the classroom related to real-world IT experiences. It’s obvious that Paul Brown is doing a great job exposing students to the mainframe environment. As we see more of our senior mainframe team members reach the age of retirement, we hope the interest continues to build, and current EIU students can become future LRS employees.”
“Last week's visit to LRS was an exceptional experience for our EIU School of Business students,” said Paul Brown, Senior Instructor and Assistant Chair for Administration in the Lumpkin College of Business and Technology. “Seeing an IBM Z mainframe in person — and understanding the scale of infrastructure that powers enterprise-level operations — brought classroom concepts to life in a way that simply can't be replicated in a lecture. The LRS team went above and beyond, giving our students a comprehensive look at the company's corporate segments and offering practical, candid guidance on internship and job opportunities. LRS is exactly the kind of partner that helps Lumpkin College students bridge the gap between academic preparation and meaningful careers in technology and business.”
LRS is proud to support programs such as the one at Lumpkin, in recognition of historical ties to our founder and for less sentimental reasons. Like other mainframe software providers, we recognize the need to identify and develop future mainframe talent to replace our current staff as they near retirement. Just as the IBM Z platform continually evolves to meet the growing needs of the world’s largest organizations, partnerships like the one between LRS and EIU are critical to ensuring the future of the enterprise systems that power the wheels of industry.