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koehntopp
Product and Topic Expert
Product and Topic Expert

tom.vandoorslaer was kind enough to Blog It Forward to me (you could read Moshe's blog that kicked it off, but if you got to this one I'm pretty sure you already read some of the other BIF blogs...)

Introduction

My name is frank.koehntopp - I work in SAP's Security Validation Team (we try to break our own software), I'm a SAP Mentor, a geek and an amateur photographer (which is the reason there are next to no pictures of me - I'm always on the wrong side of the camera :wink: ).

My love affair with IT started around 1980 with my first home computer that had 1 KiloByte of RAM (yes, you read that right...). Back then you'd learn the assembler code in the ROM by heart, and you'd understand how to move each dot in the screen. I don't necessarily miss that, but it makes me sad that our kids will never be able to learn the basics like we did.

I'm sharing Thorsten's passion for Single Malt, which is something we need to take up as a team - maybe a Mentor Tasting is in order... :wink:

I have worked in security related jobs since 1991 and have spent 6 years with customers as a consultant for SAP security matters. I have a passion for quality (may have been exposed to Apple products for too long) and enjoy being able to bring the customer perspective into our internal processes.

When I joined SAP in 2005 engaging in SCN (then-SDN) was a no-brainer for me. I quickly got to know people like craig.cmehil and gali.klingschneider and consequently started working as a moderator in the GRC and Security forums.

One of the highlights of my community experience was riding the Cluetrain in 2009 which gave me some quality time with a group of awesome people (here are some pictures). An event that's worth repeating, unfortunately taking the train to Madrid is probably not an option...

I live in a (very) small town called 'Wendelsheim' with my wife, two girls and a cat, in the middle of germany's beautiful wine county 'Rheinhessen'. Unfortunately I can't tell you a lot about the town as we only moved there last October. It's a bit of 'back to the roots' for me as it's an even smaller town than the one I grew up in (which I thought wasn't possible); in between starting work life in 1991 and this we lived in 9 other places before settling here. It's a 100km commute to Starship Enterprisey, but I actually enjoy the drive, which is the only time I get to listen to podcasts. I actually am on the road more than during my Consulting days... <sigh>

OK, let me try to answer Tom's questions:

What's your favourite food?


That's a bit of a difficult one, as I'm not really a foodie at all. Eating is a neccessity for me, which is probably why I'm still eating too much crap. The consulting years really didn't help (fast food chains and gas stations being the major source of food), which is why I hope I can follow Thorsten's example (but not too that extreme...).

Which 5 things do you absolutely want to achieve in life?

5? That's quite a lot...

Again, for most of the cool stuff - like being a rock star - the time has already passed. One of my dreams always was to retire in a small cottage in Ireland with its own lake, that probably still has a tiny bit of a chance of happening.

I'm usually more of a 'carpe diem' guy, i.e. trying to enjoy the current day instead of planning for a distant future. I hope I manage to grow into being a good father to my kids and helping them find their own way through this complicated thing called life. It feels like the older you get the faster time passes, so I hope there'll be enough of it to make that happen - it's amazing how fast kids grow up.

Sorry, have to draw a blank on this question as well, I'm afraid...


Can youtell us something about your hobby?


Finally an easy one!

I really enjoy taking pictures, I bought my first SLR with the money I received as a confirmation gift when I was 14. I'm still a bloody amateur more than 30 years into it, but it's the closest thing to creating art that I'm capable of doing.

In recent years I have given into the temptation of buying more and more different gear as technology improved, my goal for the immediate future is to learn and focus on the craft instead. I have already taken part in a workshop with a decent photographer this year which has given me so much inspiration; I'll try to do that more often in the future.

Next questions, please!

Now it's up to me to come up with 3 questions. I'm lazy, it's late, so I'll make it easy: tell us 3 things we don't know about you. One of them should be at least a bit embarrassing :wink: (idea shamelessly pulled from my blog).

I'll blog it forward to

  • julius.vondembussche
  • abesh.bhattacharjee
  • sascha.kiefer
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