The colleague who nominated CSC partner John Sarnese as a Top 25 Consultant describes his purview as “overall responsibility for technology excellence for all Philadelphia projects.” Sarnese might shrug off the first part of that description—he prefers framing his expertise in the context of his clients’ business needs—however, as a native son, he takes pleasure in his geographic domain.

Earlier in Sarnese’s career, a more senior colleague advised him that “the first thing you need to do on any project is to learn as much as you possibly can about the client’s business,” recalls Sarnese, who has spent the past 13 years in his current role in the firm’s Philadelphia office. “That’s where the value is as a consultant ... When I start on a project with a new client, my goal is to know more about the client’s business than the client knows after one year. They want you to talk their language.”

This emphasis has translated to success for Sarnese, both as a billable consultant (a full-time role), a rainmaker and an extremely generous colleague. “John has freely given his time to support projects in other business units and CSC divisions,” notes CSC Philadelphia Business Unit Operations Manager Rick Lichtenfield. Sarnese also plays an active role in winning new business across a wide range of industries for his business unit: he recently played a central role in helping to secure a $30 million business process outsourcing agreement.

“I have a great relationship with my current client,” says Sarnese, who ducked into a conference room of his client, a large insurer, to conduct this interview on his cell phone. “I always make sure my current work here is complete before I arrange for time to help the firm win other opportunities. It also helps to work a lot of hours. My client benefits [from his business development activities] because I bring in a lot of outside perspectives to them.”

His work with his current client, now at the four-year mark, possesses the qualities of Sarnese’s ideal assignment. He helped the insurer tackle large legacy system challenges by setting improvement priorities, developing a business strategy, rationalizing their software portfolio and setting a road map to modernize their systems environment and meet long-term business objectives. “That’s really been fun,” he notes. “I like starting from the beginning and seeing it come to fruition.”

While he logs long hours, very few of them are in airports or on planes. During his 24 years with CSC, he has conducted only one extended project away from his home turf, a six-month engagement in Silicon Valley eight years ago. “I’ve built a lot of relationships here in Philadelphia,” he says, “It’s easy to stay local in my job.”

This geographic convenience means Sarnese actually looks forward to traveling during his off hours. A recent trip included a flight away from the City of Brotherly Love to Florida with his son to hook something other than new clients: snook and redfish in the Florida flats.