Donald C. Monistere: A Highly Distinguished Leader Guiding Business to Reach Zeniths of Success with Technology

Headquartered in Baton Rouge, LA, General Informatics is a leading provider of Managed IT services (MSP) that serves over 600 customers spread across the Carolinas to Colorado with a mission to solve business challenges through the best use of technology. General Informatics (GI) operates as the IT department, mainly for customers in the public sector, healthcare, professional services, construction, banking, and manufacturing. 

General Informatics has built a suite of comprehensive offerings including end-to-end MSP services and is staffed with an experienced leadership team. Known for delivering high-quality services, General Informatics has especially earned a reputation as a leading IT partner of businesses, schools, and government agencies.

General Informatics has obtained the following accolades by delivering a high level of service, a 98% revenue retention rate and a productive partnership with Microsoft:

• Named #1 technology solution in the country by Microsoft Corporation.

• General Informatics ranks among the world's Top 100 Vertical Market MSPs for 2022, according to ChannelE2E.

• The company is recognized on CRN's 2022 MSP 500 List.

• Named six times in the list of the fastest-growing companies in America by Inc. 500.

• In 2022, received the distinction of Top Managed Security Services Company by CyberSecurity Review.

A Veteran IT Leader Streamlining Digital Operations 

Donald C. Monistere is the CEO and President of General Informatics. In his position, he is responsible for the overarching strategic vision to aggressively grow their Managed Services business organically as well as choose the right acquisition partners who will add to the value that GI has been known to bring to the market. Donald has been a well-known executive for many years in the technology space and successful in his career as an executive in the Information Technology industry.   

Donald served as the Chief Operations Officer for IBML and was trusted with the day-to-day operations of the company's marketing, sales, manufacturing, implementations, support, and IT services. Previously, he was the Senior Vice President and General Manager at C-Spire where he was responsible for developing and executing short and long-term plans in collaboration with the company's executive team. 

Before C-Spire, Donald served in leadership roles for TekLinks for over ten years and most recently served as the company's President before TekLinks was acquired by C-Spire in 2018. 

Prior to his tenure at TekLinks, he was the Founder, CEO, and President of Vista Information Systems, a regional systems integration company that was acquired by TekLinks in 2008 after 15 years of prosperous growth.

Donald has a strong background in successfully leading information technology companies. His experience in sales, marketing, operations, and IT services along with support helped organizations like Vista, TekLinks and IBML to accelerate their growth trajectory and better serve their customers. His experience in facilitating management frameworks has offered General Informatics the tools it needs to scale their operations and prepare for hyper-growth. 

Donald is also an author who published "Enhanced Life Performance" in 2017, and "Enhanced Executive Performance" in 2020; with his third completing the trilogy "Enhanced Corporate Performance" released in 2022. All three books focus on an approach to life, career, and business that allows readers to achieve a flow state that he describes as "Enhanced." Donald has used many of the techniques that are mentioned in these publications to create the success that he has achieved to date. 

Donald earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Aspen University, completed executive MBA studies at Samford University, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from Southeastern Louisiana University. 

Climbing the Success Ladder with Skills and Experience

Having founded and operated a systems integration firm early in his career and then after a successful transaction providing the good fortune to be coached and mentored by some of the best and brightest during his time at TekLinks and Cspire, Donald has been able to amass a diverse set of skills and experiences that allow him to execute at a very high level. 

He reveals that he has a passion for writing and successfully published three books on topics that lend themselves to the very responsibilities that he has as CEO. This dedication makes it a little easier to be meaningfully credible whether engaging with clients or internal teammates. All that being said, Donald summons his success into two phrases that he uses regularly, "Place a high value on execution!" and "Work hard and be nice!".  

Learning to Slow Down When it is Necessary 

For a start-up, cash flow is always a challenge, but according to Donald, the biggest challenge that he faced along his journey was recognizing the difference between being steadfast and stubborn. All too often, visionary leaders become bored with staying on the path when their core nature focuses on change and execution. He implies learning over the years that occasionally, running faster will make leaders lose the race. "Sometimes what is called for, is a steady pace that eventually creates the outcome that you were aiming for in the first place," adds Donald.

The 'Four Pillars' of Leadership as Stated in Donald's Book

Donald states that if aspiring leaders wish to be successful, then they must have 4 attributes which are chronicled in his book "Enhanced Executive Performance."

• Functional Role – Donald encourages leaders to do something better than anyone else in the company.
• Managerial Role – They must be a good manager.
• Strategic Role – Leaders should be able to first think critically and approach opportunities and threats strategically, and then have the ability to execute the plan created. 
• Leadership Role – Leaders must be able to lead the company as they embark on the mission and ultimately the vision that has been agreed to by the stakeholders of the organization. 

The Voice of Customer, Industry and Team for Innovation

Donald vocalizes that it is all part of the company's framework and is typically a key initiative that is undertaken each year. While innovating, the team always considers these three factors: 

1. Voice of the Customer – What the customer tells us about the company's current products and services and what the team will do to innovate them and create new ones.
2. Voice of the Industry – What is happening in the industry that could impact the viability and economics of those products and services.
3. Voice of the Team – What does the internal team believe is the highest and best value to the customer. 

If all industry leaders consider these three factors, it can usher in innovation to the current and new products in the existing product and services portfolio. 

Disruptive Technologies as a Benefactor 

Donald notes that since General Informatics provides diverse tech services, the opportunities are boundless. This is where the aforementioned question comes in. The GI teams aim to utilize these services where they provide the most value to the client. 

Towards a Bright Future with Data Analytics and Advanced Security 

As a technology provider, General Informatics will continue to innovate and change as it has been doing for the past 21 years. Donald exclaims that the company has many greenfield opportunities in front of it as it not only innovates its current mix of products and services but also takes advantage of new areas of business like data analytics and advanced security services. "Our future is bright!" remarks Donald.

A Piece of Advice for Emerging Leaders 

"Work hard! Be nice! Learn something new every day and make that a habit, not just a goal that you might get done!" advises Donald. He adds that the most important aspect is to find alignment with what the universe wants for them and their families and attack that "calling" with every fiber of their being! Everything else will take care of itself.