by CUGC HQ

Chris Bohner
Chicago, IL, USA

What Citrix technologies are most important to your work?

We leverage important technologies that are core to EUC, including XenApp/Desktop, StoreFront, PVS, and XenMobile. As of today, we deliver more and more VDIs and our Mobile footprint expands daily.

What are the biggest tech challenges in your work environment, and what Citrix-related solutions have you implemented or do you hope to implement?

Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago has a very complex core infrastructure. The number one software we deliver is Epic. It is extremely critical that we are constantly testing on the Citrix and Epic side versions. To this end, we have implemented: XenApp, XenDesktop, XenMobile and StoreFront.

As part of the leadership team that organized the CUGC XL Great Lakes event, what was the experience like?

Great Lakes XL was a huge success for all of the CUCG local leaders involved and HQ. In order to pull off an event to that caliber, it was essential to scope and plan the event correctly. Our teams did an excellent job in doing so, given we all have our day jobs to work as well. I was most excited to see the event go off without a hitch–which it did! Emceeing the event made me nervous at first, but I was happy to be able to do so. Citrix updates and networking are what I get the most of out of. Having a strong social network is critical for our evolving careers.

You’re also a co-leader of the Chicago CUGC. What do you enjoy most about being part of that group? 

I work with talented co-leaders and our main Citrix contact, Ash Iqbal. I am halfway through my second year as a leader. Each of our meetings is better than the previous, and the passion we have as a team is overpowering. I have learned to be a better public speaker. I have learned to better my organizational skills, and I have bettered my knowledge of all Citrix products. At the end of the day, CUGC is for the users by the users, and I am happy to be a face of the Chicago group.

With the new year right around the corner, what are you hoping to see emerge in tech or from Citrix? 

Our Mobile footprint is growing rapidly. I want to see Citrix have better partnerships with companies such as Epic. What I also really want is the open-sourced IPA and APK files to wrap the Haiku/Canto apps.

Outside of work and CUGC, what do you do for fun?

My 16-month-old daughter, Emerson, keeps me on my toes, as well as our five-year-old dog, Addison, who is a Vizsla (Hungarian pointer/bird dog). My hobbies are as follows: Grilling and smoking foods–my wife and I are great team when it comes to scratch-made food. (If I could do it all over again, I would pursue culinary!) I am also a carpenter, which I learned from my dad. I am currently remodeling our entire house and finishing the basement–when time allows, of course! I am also an avid snowmobiler. My immediate family has a lake house in Northern Wisconsin, but my wife and I also love the East Coast, so each year we vacation in Maine. Oh, and I’m a die-hard Cubs fan as well!