Could you give a brief history of the creation of the digital department here at Ascendum?

The digital team was started a little over 4 years ago.  The mission of the Digital group is to work on both creative client solutions and internal products. In the early days, we were working on Customer Experience solutions, including the Reservation System for one of the top footwear retailers.  Our products included a scheduling chatbot for a huge Cincinnati based company. Eventually, we turned the chatbot idea into our own product, Chronos.

How has your role with digital changed?

My role with Ascendum has change quite a bit over the past 4 years.  I started out as a software architect working as the tech lead on various chatbot products.  After a year and a half, I was promoted to Director of Software Engineering, where I worked with my co-director in building out the team and a lot of the software processes that still exist today.  After a year and a half as director, I moved over to lead the Project Management Office for a few months before taking over as the VP of Technology.  Today I lead Software, Devops, Data, and QA, and by lead, I mean I work with a ton of smart people that manage each of these practices.

How do you think the digital department will evolve in the next few years?

As the pandemic clears, I think we will return to our roots and drive additional internal product ideas.  The infrastructure for this is being created now, and I hope to see many more opportunities starting as early as Q4 of 2021.

What makes the digital team so awesome?

This one is easy; it is and has always been the awesome people I get to work with.  I have had the pleasure of working with some of the smartest people in my career here at Ascendum, and I think we have built a pretty great organization together.