Benedictine University

University Development Carry the Light
Featured Alumni

Ray Konopka, Computer Science/Mathematics, C89

Ray Konopka believes his "alma matters" and has started a scholarship to help others receive the education he found so important. After graduating from Benedictine, Konopka attended Northwestern University on a fellowship and completed his master’s degree in computer science. He is now the owner of Raize Software, Inc., an international computer software company.

What are you currently doing in your career?
I am the president of Raize Software, Inc. (www.raize.com), which I founded in 1995. My company specializes in producing high-quality, innovative tools that help computer software developers create better software. Our tools are used by developers all over the world including many Fortune 500 companies.

My duties at Raize Software are quite diverse. Most of my time is spent working on our products — I am the chief architect and lead developer for three of them including our two flagship products. However, I also spend a significant amount of time providing consulting services to companies that require a more customized solution. For example, for the past several years I’ve been working with The Walt Disney Company on their FASTPASS® system, which is used in all of the Disney parks worldwide.

In between all this, I try to find time to pass on my knowledge. For example, I am a frequent speaker at software developer conferences in North America, Europe and Australia. And during my career I’ve authored two books, co-authored two more and have written many magazine articles on software development.

When I’m not working, I’m spending time with my family and sometimes the two can intermix. For example, when my first son was a baby he loved to sit on my lap while I worked.

Unfortunately, he also loved to press the keys on the keyboard while I was typing. Well, after one too many messed up e-mails, I created a program that allowed him to press any key on the keyboard and produce a unique sound and visual effect. The program eventually became our popular BabyType product.

How have you "stayed connected" to Benedictine since graduation?
In the early ’90s I began teaching at IBC [Illinois Benedictine College] in the evening. I taught Computer Programming I and II for a few semesters. Unfortunately, I was not able to keep up with the time commitment and had to stop. However, I did come back and present a seminar for the M.I.S. [Master of Science in Management Information Systems] program a few years later.

Of course, the most prominent way that I have stayed connected to Benedictine is with the establishment of the Raize Software Scholarship in Computer Science.

Why did you decide to start a scholarship at Benedictine?
Who do you hope benefits from it?
I started the Raize Software Scholarship in Computer Science because I wanted to give something back to the University. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at IBC — from my advisors and faculty, to campus life and meeting my future wife. Not to mention an outstanding education.

I was also fortunate to receive merit-based scholarships which were not tied to financial need while I attended school. This was most helpful indeed, because without the scholarships I would not have been able to attend IBC. It is my hope that this scholarship can help those students who may be in a similar situation.

The scholarship is awarded to a full-time undergraduate degreeseeking student who has declared a major in computer science and who has presented evidence of outstanding academic performance.

What experiences/memories do you have of Benedictine?
Well, aside from meeting Elizabeth Marquardt who became my wife a year after we graduated, the education that I received has had the biggest impact. Over the years, it has become apparent that the curriculum was a nice balance of theoretical and applied concepts. All too often I meet people who do not have this balance. At IBC, I learned to be a computer scientist and not just a computer programmer.

Why do you think it’s important for alumni to stay connected and give back to the University?
For me, I cannot imagine how my life would be without my experiences at IBC. For example, I started out as an engineering major. It was the IBC faculty that discovered the talent I had for computer science and encouraged me to consider it as a career.

I find it only fitting to give a little back to the place where it all started.

Konopka has been married to alumna Elizabeth (Marquardt) Konopka, Business and Economics, C89, for more than 17 years. They have two sons, Christopher (11) and Jack (5). Elizabeth is a Creative Memories consultant.