By Mary Knickerbocker
In the state known for the Grand Ole Opry, breathtaking Smoky Mountains and smooth-gaited Tennessee Walking horses, a young Andrew Lippert thrived by working with his parents on the Bill Rice Ranch for the Deaf in Murfreesboro, TN. God, family, music, work and quarter horses were at the center of Lippert’s life. Those elements were instrumental in the development of his character and remain treasured components of his life today.
While Lippert worked as a cowboy, caring for 150 quarter horses and mucking stables, his father was employed as the ranch construction foreman and his mother served as head lifeguard and interpreter for the deaf. It is Lippert’s father whom he admires the most for his “quiet wisdom” and for instilling a tenacious work ethic. His mother was instrumental in helping him master American Sign Language. Even though no one in his family is deaf, they often communicated with each other by signing.
Lippert’s childhood church, Franklin Road Baptist Church, was very influential in his life and it was there that he met his mentor, John Reynolds, the church’s music director. Lippert says, “He set an outstanding example of leadership.”
It is not surprising that Lippert went on to major in music at Baptist Bible College, Springfield, MO, after first pursuing a major in business administration from Tennessee Temple University, Chattanooga, TN.
In the United States Marine Corps., he proudly served as an E-4 corporal, radio communications chief, infantryman and recruiter. He was honorably discharged after 8 years of service.
In his professional life, Lippert slides comfortably into leadership positions such as:
- choir director,
- middle school music and history teacher,
- general manager of operations,
- small business owner, and
- IT manager.
Lippert excels at Web design and computer systems management.
Meeting new people and having the time to volunteer have been the positive results of unemployment for Lippert. He keeps his skills sharp by volunteering at Launchpad Job Club and the YMCA. At the Williamson County Camp Twins Lake YMCA of Cedar Park, he participates as a Volunteer Parent Organizer building their Website and keeping their records. He unselfishly helps set up and tear down the Friday morning Launchpad meetings and is building a new Website for the organization.
Even though Lippert is soft-spoken and no-nonsense upon first meeting, you can count on his puckish sense of humor to appropriately lighten any situation; deftly using humor to engage and build rapport with co-workers, students and staff.
Lippert will also tell you, with a smile, that he developed a fondness for coffee while doing ranch work and blames the potent brew for stunting his growth! Lippert overcomes what he might lack in physical stature by possessing the qualities that characterized the American cowboy of early twentieth century literature: honor, intelligence, integrity, sense of humor and independence acquired by working long days on a ranch as a youth.
In the twenty-first century, he’s as comfortable in IT management as he is sitting a horse. Andrew Lippert has the skills and experience to lead a company’s IT initiatives to success in a highly competitive marketplace.
To wrangle more information on Andrew Lippert visit http://alippert.com
