PEOPLE FIRST.

The article presents the views of IT leaders on the importance of building stellar staffs and overseeing multiphase projects. Farzad Golshani, vice president of IT infrastructure at Transamerica Retirement Services in Los Angeles cites employee loyalty, personal involvement, staff empowerment, delegated tasks and the responsibility and freedom of employees as the source of success. According to Dennis E. Michael vice president of IT and strategic planning at Watkins Motor Lines Inc. in its quarterly department meetings the company always has an outside presenter, usually from another part of the business, to explain to employees what they do. Cara A. Babachicos, ClO and corporate director at Partners Continuing Care System Inc., says that she tries to find candidates who are very good communicators and have had accolades for great customer service. INSET: RETENTION: This Time, Its Personal..