Influential Mainframer

This piece is part of the 2026 Planet Mainframe Influential Mainframers series. For Rose Sakach, the mainframe’s future is being built in the open. With more than four decades in the industry, Sakach has seen the platform evolve through multiple eras of computing. Today, her work is centered on one of the most important shifts in that evolution: the rise of open collaboration and standardized tooling through initiatives like Zowe.

careers, Influential Mainframers 2026, Leadership, Training Mainframe technology continues to evolve because of the dedicated professionals, educators, mentors, and innovators who drive it forward. We’re shining a spotlight on the individuals who are making waves—whether they’re advancing technology, mentoring new talent, sharing knowledge, championing modernization, or quietly keeping mission-critical systems running every day. These are the people shaping the future of mainframe.

This piece is part of the 2026 Planet Mainframe Influential Mainframers series. For Craig Mullins, influence is built through consistency. With more than three decades of experience in mainframe and database systems, Mullins has helped shape how organizations understand and manage Db2 for z/OS. His career spans roles from programmer and database administrator to educator, analyst, and consultant, giving him a perspective grounded in both theory and real-world application.