Debra Christein was doing doctoral work with salamanders and toads at the University of Michigan when she decided she wanted off the academic track. Working toward tenure wasn’t worth the cost, she decided, and began looking for a career that would yield results: She looked no further than the business school.

The move has landed her in unexpected places: First, in financing and investment banking and then - combining her business degree with her background in the environment, at Limno Tech, Inc, an environmental engineering firm. As the financial officer, she became the only non-technical person at the company to become an officer. 

Now, Christein finds herself with what she calls “two young technical guys,” spinning off a new venture, LTI Information Technology, which works on Internet connectivity, network security, routing and more.

Christein and brothers Eric and Kevin Phillips are mid-way through a six-year partnership with Limno Tech to spin off LTI, which will become independent of Limno Tech in 2012.

LTI got its start as the Limno Tech’s internal information technology department. As Kevin Phillips perfected the network, it needed less attention and Phillips was looking for new challenges, Christein said. Limno Tech agreed to have Phillips work on information technology accounts outside the company, and Christein became the officer liaison, working on strategic planning and marketing.

The idea of spinning off LTI as a separate company was hatched five years ago when Christein, the Phillips brothers and others wondered why the in-house network consulting division wasn’t growing as fast as expected. “We came to realize that ownership was a motivator,” Christein said. “Ownership gives you an edge. It fires you up.”

An agreement was struck among Limno Tech and Christein and the Phillips brothers: Limno Tech would be a corporate partner for the new venture, but over the course of six years, it would gradually shift ownership for LTI to the new partners.

In the meantime, LTI is growing fast, tripling sales the first year and doubling sales after that. The company has 13 employees. Even now, with the weak economy, sales have increased 20 percent annually, Christein said. 

LTI works with small to large companies, from firms with 20 or 30 computers to firms with 1,000 computers. It was a varied clientele, which helps it weather the economic downtown, including non-profits, manufacturers and high-tech companies, Christein said.

 “People need their computers, no matter what’s going on in the economy.”

EXECUTIVE PROFILE: Debra Christein
Title: Partner and financial officer.
Company/Organization: LTI Information Technology, Ann Arbor

Education: MBA, University of Michigan in Finance and Information.
Technology; prior to that master's of science and three years of predoctoral studies in animal behavior, ecology and evolutionary biology.
Family: Husband Michael and four children: Danielle, Jessica, Alex, Eric.
Residence: Ann Arbor.

Best way to keep competitive edge: Staying ahead of the curve instead of following the pack. We have been a leader in the IT industry, offering managed services several years before they became the standard.
Personal hero: Helen Keller.
How do you motivate people: By looking for the win win - what’s in it for them.
How do you motivate yourself: When I am up against a new challenge, I “throw my hat over the wall.” At that point, there’s no option but to go forward.
Favorite hobby: Kayaking, hiking, biking, being in nature.

Best business or career decision: Getting my MBA.
Worst business or career decision: Just lots of lessons that have gotten me to where I am today.
Biggest management myth: Management is the same as leadership.
What advice would you give to yourself 10 years ago? Keep following your dreams!
What keeps you up at night? Juggling my list of “to-dos.”
Pet peeve: Lack of follow through.
Guilty pleasure: Chocolate.
First job: Baby sitting.
First choice for a new career: Can’t imagine anything better than what I’m doing.

Favorite cause: Self-awareness/personal growth.
Favorite book: “You Can Heal Your Life,” by Louise Hay.
Favorite movie: “True Lies.”
Favorite restaurant: The Earle.
Favorite way to spend free time: Exploring life with my best friend and partner, Michael.
Favorite vacation spot: Caribbean - SCUBA diving.
What’s on your iPod/car radio dial? FM 94.7 classic rock.
What do you do to recharge your batteries? Get out in the woods.
What you drive: 2001 Venture - a kayak-mobile.