Augusto Digital Insights with Brian Anderson

In this episode of the Augusto Digital Insights podcast, Brain Anderson sat down for a conversation with John Hathaway, Senior Specialist for AWS’ Amazon Chime SDK, to discuss his career journey and the implications of real-time communications for business. Even as technology has changed and evolved, there is one thing that remains constant: our need to communicate. In this episode of the Augusto Digital Insights podcast, Brain Anderson sits down for a conversation with John Hathaway, Senior Specialist for AWS’ Amazon Chime SDK [https://aws.amazon.com/chime/chime-sdk/], to discuss his career journey and the implications of real-time communications for business. John says telecommunications run in the family. He started his career, after graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in Computer Telephony Integration, by selling hardware for AT&T. From there, he held positions at Lucent, Avaya, Plantronics, and Sennheiser, where he developed the knowledge and connections that led him to the team at Amazon Chime SDK. Chime SDK allows companies to build communication primitives into their own platforms and applications for a seamless end-user experience. As Brian and John discuss the business uses of Chime SDK and the quickly-expanding landscape of Artificial Intelligence Markup Language (AIML) and sentiment analysis, John explains the widespread implications of AIML. AIML’s ability to analyze, report on, and make real-time decisions based on things like tone and body language is filling the gap in virtual communication and allowing businesses to enhance customer interactions and experiences like never before. This integrated technology became especially important during COVID. John indicates that, while the fastest growing vertical for AWS Chime SDK over the last year and a half has been telehealth, they’ve also seen immense growth in the realms of distance learning, virtual events, and wellness and fitness. It’s clear that the sky is the limit on where this technology will take us in the future. Thanks for tuning into this conversation on the Augusto Digital Insights podcast. For more information on AWS’ Amazon Chime SDK, visit their website [https://aws.amazon.com/chime/chime-sdk/]. And to learn more about how our custom software design and development can help create integrated solutions for your business goals, contact us here [https://augusto.digital/contact].

Marty Balkema, co-founder of Augusto, shares his theory behind building a client roster and positive reputation by banking on trust and hiring great people. In this episode of the Augusto Digital Insights podcast, Brian Anderson interviews Marty Balkema—a 20-year software development veteran and the COO and co-founder of Augusto. As a leader on the executive team, Marty has been instrumental in helping to shape the company's operations and culture. This is one part of a series focused on the people and relationships that guide Augusto’s vision for the future. Marty and Brian first met when Marty was in Grand Rapids, Michigan, working for a company called Rapidparts—a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift Association (MCFA). Marty was responsible for the development of their Lift Truck Solutions platform, and he hired Brian’s team at the time to help. Because of the way Brian handled the unintentional budget overage on that original project, the two men maintained a long relationship—and, eventually, friendship. Marty shares about his unique educational experience at what was then called GMI Engineering and Management Institute (now Kettering University). As a fully cooperative school, the pattern of education was that students worked for 12 weeks in the field then attended school for 12 weeks. He quickly began to love solving problems around technology. When Brian was considering starting a consulting business, Marty’s family was looking for an opportunity that would allow them the freedom to live wherever they wanted. That paired with the opportunity to consult on software development led Marty to jump on board. Marty shares how they built a client roster and positive reputation by banking on trust and by performing solid jobs. He also talks about the importance of hiring great people who want to pursue client wins—then setting them free to do their jobs. As part of his job, Marty creates a culture and environment at Augusto that sets talented people up to thrive. We thank Marty for his time on the Augusto Digital Podcast and for the way he creates a team of amazing workers!

Jim Becher, co-founder of Augusto shares how he accidentally found his way into software, systems architecture and, now, building strategic partnerships. In this episode of the Augusto Health IT Podcast, Brian Anderson connects with Jim Becher, Director of Strategic Partnerships and co-founder of Augusto. Jim has a 20-year career focused on consulting, computer science, IT management, enterprise-scale systems architecture, and team leadership. The two travel through their careers, exploring different points when they both worked with each other and reflecting on their early interest in computers. Jim initially intended to be an accountant and, in fact, studied it for over a year in college. When Jim attended a job fair for summer internships, he noticed how long the lines were for the local accounting firms’ tables. Tired of waiting, he walked toward the table with a really short line, which happened to be Crowe Chizek. Their team was offering a paid IT intern, and Jim took it. He never looked back from computer science. It was at Crowe that Jim and Brian first met, and quickly became friends as they played competitive soccer together for years. Somewhere along the way, Jim transitioned out of IT and into software. After a brief stint at an automotive company, Brian recruited Jim back to Crowe to build a data center. Later, Jim worked as an enterprise architect for Meijer, where he learned a ton about software development, security, deployment, and training teams, as well as managing data at scale. The two then shift into a discussion about Augusto’s growth in cloud services and how Jim led Augusto in earning its AWS Select Partner Certification. By training, certifying, and documenting, Augusto’s team members now speak the same language around AWS — and will build opportunities for their clients. Jim also has played an influential role in Augusto’s recruiting and onboarding growth. He looks forward to continued opportunities to blend the things he loves — technology, relationships, and partnerships — to make something great. We thank Jim for his time on the podcast, and for everything he does to help delight our clients.

This is part two with Joel Ross, co-founder of Augusto, continues to share the history behind Augusto. This episode starts with Brian inviting Joel and Jim Becher to his cottage on Little Whitefish Lake. He took the guys for a boat ride, dropped the anchor, and wouldn’t let them go back to shore until they formed a deal to start their own company. As of late 2016, Augusto was formed—with Brian, Marty Balkema, and one or two contractors. By 2018, Joel joined full-time, and Jim joined in early 2019. From there, Augusto quickly began to grow, adding marketing and sales staff and a real business plan. Listen to the podcast to discover where Augusto is heading now. We thank Joel for his time on the Augusto Digital Podcast, as he helped us uncover the beginnings and growth of our company!

Joel Ross, co-founder of Augusto, shares the history behind Augusto and the many entrepreneurial efforts he and Brian Anderson have led. In this episode, Brian Anderson converses with Joel Ross, Augusto Digital’s co-founder and CFO and Integrator. Joel has a 20-year career focused on consulting, computer science, product development, team leadership, and financial management. This is one part of a series focused on the people and relationships that guide Augusto’s vision for the future. Brian and Joel start by sharing how they met—right out of college at Crowe. They laugh about their first experiences in the development world, writing programs on a TI-85 calculator. The two worked together on several projects at Crowe, before Brian left for Sagestone—and eventually recruited Joel to join him there. At Sagestone, the two thrived in the more technical business. And that’s when they built their first business together: a March madness tool that eventually morphed into TourneyTopia. This tool has served many large customers, including Microsoft, Time Warner Cable, Aerosmith, and the Tennis Channel. Over the next several years, the two continued doing development and consulting work by day, and squeezing in various entrepreneurial efforts whenever they had free time. PayIt2 is one lasting product that Brian and Joel created as a way to collect money. One day, Brian invited Joel and Jim Becher to his cottage on Little Whitefish Lake. He took the guys for a boat ride, dropped the anchor, and wouldn’t let them go back to shore until they formed a deal to start their own company. As of late 2016, Augusto was formed—with Brian, Marty Balkema, and one or two contractors. By 2018, Joel joined on full-time, and Jim joined in early 2019. From there, Augusto quickly began to grow, adding marketing and sales staff and a real business plan. Listen to the podcast to discover where Augusto is heading now. We thank Joel for his time on the Augusto Digital Podcast, as he helped us uncover the beginnings and growth of our company!