Kevin Hocevar: Bridging Business and Technology at Horizons
Kevin Hocevar isn’t just the IT Manager at Horizons Incorporated—he’s a self-described “technology evangelist” who bridges the gap between business needs and technological solutions across the company’s five four divisions.
“I facilitate its use and marry the business needs with the existing technologies (or future technologies) that are available out there,” Kevin explains.
At Horizons, Kevin helps to support a unique manufacturing company that produces specialized metal products, including Metalphoto® photo-sensitive aluminum sheets that can have images embedded directly into the metal. These specialized products serve critical functions for organizations ranging from the U.S. Department of Defense to warehouses and zoos, with applications that include barcode labels, nameplates, and signage designed to withstand extreme environmental conditions.
Kevin’s journey to technology leadership wasn’t a straight path. After high school, he joined the Marine Corps, where fate intervened at his first permanent assignment in San Diego.
“It just so happened that the week I arrived, being the new guy, they said, ‘Hey, we have these new things called computers coming in, but nobody here knows anything about computers, so you’re going to go get trained.'” Kevin recalls. This was 1995, when most people either didn’t have computers or only used them to access AOL.
After his military service, Kevin used the GI Bill to earn a business degree from Baldwin Wallace University, creating a powerful combination of technology experience and business acumen when “not a lot of people had that.” This unique skill set has served him well during his 17-year tenure at Horizons.
“Being an IT professional, one of my favorite things is that we have a complete view of the organization’s operations,” Kevin says. “IT and technology is one of the few realms that gets to see every aspect of the business which allows you to really have a marked impact on the organization.”
Advice for Future STEM Professionals
As technology continues to evolve, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence, Kevin offers valuable advice for students entering STEM fields:
“If I had one piece of advice, I’d aim to be helpful. Be aware of AI and think systemically,” he emphasizes. “I think if you’re narrowly focused in your technology career, you may end up struggling because the world of AI is fed by many sources. And those outputs of AI are going to solve problems that require you to think systemically or across the ecosystem of technology.”
Kevin believes technology professionals must develop a broader skill set beyond just technical expertise: “You can’t be just a coder anymore. You have to be able to think systemically. You have to be able to say, ‘I have a problem and here’s the solution that I’ve designed and articulate the value of why.'”
He sees AI not as a threat but as a tool that will free up talented employees to focus on higher-value work. “The real value that humans provide is being able to have the contextual awareness,” Kevin explains.
Perhaps most importantly, Kevin stresses the enduring value of relationship building: “That skill set or that soft skill of being able to manage and build relationships is super important today, and I think it’s going to be even more important in the future, especially for technology people.”
With his balanced perspective on business needs and technological possibilities, Kevin exemplifies the kind of systems thinking he recommends to the next generation of STEM professionals.