Graham Blackwell is responsible for Applied Systems' strategic growth business units, including Ivans, EZLynx and Applied Pay, as well as Applied's corporate financial functions. He joined Applied in 2020 from SMS Assist, where he led the company's sales, marketing and strategy functions as chief revenue officer.

Prior to that, he spent almost eight years with Bain Capital's private equity operating team, where he worked closely with Bain Capital's portfolio companies, was an associate partner with McKinsey & Company and a consultant with Accenture. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business and Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from Ohio University.

Hi, Graham! We like to talk about food in this column, so let's get into it. If you could eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I love all pizza, but I've become a huge fan of Chicago deep dish. My favorite is Pequod's Pizza which is located on the north side of the city. It has amazing toppings and a very unique caramelized crust. It's the very best!

What are you washing that down with?

I'm a big fan of IPAs. Go-to orders for me are a Ninja vs. Unicorn double IPA, which is made by a local Chicago brewer, or a Foggy Geezer hazy IPA.

And how about some ice cream for dessert? What's your favorite flavor?

Chocolate and peanut butter. I'm not sure there is a better combination.

Now we've eaten, metaphorically at least, we'd like to ask a slightly personal question. If you had to do karaoke, what song would you sing?

I don't speak Spanish, but I know every word to “La Bamba." It has somehow become my go-to song in karaoke bars from Chicago to Japan.

Do you have any pets?

I have two English Bulldogs, Sandy and Rizzo. Their names are a play on my children's two favorite activities: musical theatre—Sandy and Rizzo are both characters from Grease—and baseball—Cleveland legend Sandy Alomar Jr. and Chicago legend Anthony Rizzo.

The best of both worlds! Which sports teams do you support and why?

I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and am a proud and hopeless fan of the Guardians, Browns and Cavs. My family members are such big Cleveland sports fans that everyone cried when the Cavs won a championship in 2016.

What sport would you compete in if you were in the Olympics?

If skill was not a barrier, what would be more fun than downhill ski racing at 90 mph?

What superpower do you wish you had?

I live in downtown Chicago where traffic is one of my biggest gripes. The ability to fly would be an amazing way to avoid all that congestion.

And last of all, what is something you're looking forward to?

I'm going to spend more time with Applied's Ivans business this year. Ivans has incredible people and products that help carriers collaborate and profitably grow with their agency partners. I couldn't be more excited to help this group solve new problems for the industry.

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