Ten Thousand Feet, the OST Podcast: Recent Episodes
OST
All areas of an organization, even those still in the analog world, are being transformed by technology. This shift isn't just modernizing manual processes with digital tools, but changing the fabric of an organization to support a new way of thinking. So while it may be a buzzword, digital transformation is happening and we're here to unpack it with you.
Between big ideas and tiny details is the ten thousand foot view.
Join the technology consultants from OST as we discuss the changing landscape of technology and what we're learning along the way. OST is a technology consultancy, specializing in all things digital. With offices in Minneapolis, Grand Rapids and Detroit, we have spent the last 22 years working with companies to grow, innovate and better serve their customers using technology.
What happens when technology is designed not to replace human relationships, but to strengthen them?
In this episode of With Gratitude, Stephanie Hogen sits down with Karen Borchert, founder and CEO of Alpaca, to discuss how thoughtful listening can transform workplace culture. Drawing from her experience supporting educators across the country, Karen shares why small moments of recognition create outsized impact, how positivity spreads through teams, and what leaders can learn from the simple act of asking, “How are you doing?”
The conversation also explores the evolving role of AI in human-centered organizations. Rather than replacing relationships, Karen argues that technology is most valuable when it helps people discover opportunities for connection, appreciation, and support that might otherwise go unnoticed. Along the way, she offers practical advice for leaders in any industry on building stronger feedback loops, responding quickly to employee needs, and creating cultures where people feel genuinely seen and heard.
In this first episode of With Gratitude, Stephanie Hogen and Allen Debes explore a surprising shift in how we experience technology, starting with the moment AI becomes something we instinctively thank. From there, the conversation expands into how AI is changing the structure of work, compressing timeframes and reshaping client expectations, while opening the door to more thoughtful, human-centered experiences if used intentionally. They unpack the tension between acceleration and over-reliance, introducing the risk of “cognitive surrender” alongside the opportunity to use AI as a true thinking partner rather than a replacement for judgment.
At its core, the episode introduces a new aim for technology and services: designing for lasting gratitude, not just short-term satisfaction. The discussion highlights the importance of preserving human ownership, emotional intelligence, and accountability in an AI-driven world, arguing that the real value lies in a disciplined human–AI partnership where technology handles the heavy lifting and humans bring meaning, context, and connection.
When RTC Industries decided to finally upgrade their Infor LN ERP system after 17 years on the same version, the stakes were high and the history was complicated. A previous attempt had stalled, leaving the organization with lingering doubts about whether a project like this could actually succeed. In this episode of 10,000 Feet, host Jessica Boucher sits down with Bill Mickow, VP of IT at RTC Industries, and Ben McClure, Project Manager at Vervint, to talk about what it genuinely takes to see a complex, high-stakes implementation through to a successful go-live.
What set this project apart was not the technology itself, but the nature of the partnership between RTC and Vervint. With no one on the business side fully dedicated to the project, Vervint did not simply advise from the sidelines. They embedded alongside the RTC team, bridging the gap between deep system expertise and the operational realities of the business. That meant helping navigate scope decisions, building confidence in new processes, and always presenting a united front to the broader organization, so the business never had to absorb the friction of internal disagreements.
The results spoke for themselves. After multiple full dry-run cycles, disciplined checklist management, and relentless collaboration between both teams, go-live day arrived with a war room that was, by Bill's own account, remarkably quiet. Post-launch, the organization responded not with exhaustion but with energy, a growing backlog of new capabilities they were finally ready to pursue. As both guests reflect on the project, their shared takeaway is clear: ERP upgrades do not have to be painful, but getting them right requires choosing a partner who is as invested in your long-term success as you are.
In this episode of 10,000 Feet, Mollie Hill and Robin Kleinjans‑McKee take listeners inside Vervint’s internship program—an experience designed not just to shape future consultants but to uplift teams, clients, and the wider community. They explore how the program’s combination of real client work, intentional mentorship, hands‑on learning, and community involvement creates impact that echoes far beyond a single summer.
What We Cover in This Episode• The Heart Behind the Program
Mollie and Robin break down why intern season is one of Vervint’s favorite times of the year, sharing how the program advances both Vervint’s mission and the growth of young professionals. They discuss the company’s commitment to developing local talent and strengthening community ties.
• Mentorship & Leadership Development
Listeners get an inside look at Vervint’s mentor‑manager model, which provides interns with daily support while also developing leadership skills in current employees. It’s a win‑win: interns build confidence, and mentors grow as leaders.
• Training That Builds Real‑World Skills
From consulting fundamentals and business 101 to agile workflows, human‑centered design, and even AI in business—executives and consultants guide interns through meaningful learning sessions. StrengthsFinder workshops help interns understand how they naturally show up on teams.
• Real Client Work, Real Impact
The interns aren’t getting coffee—they’re contributing to real client projects that make a difference. Mollie and Robin share stories of how interns’ fresh perspectives spark new ideas and innovation within the teams they join.
• Community, Culture & Connection
The program extends beyond project work. Game lunches, group check‑ins, the Hello West Michigan Intern Connect conference, and volunteering days all help interns build meaningful relationships and become part of Vervint’s culture.
• The Final Presentations & What Comes Next
The episode highlights the powerful moment when interns present their summer work to the entire company—and the pride that comes with seeing their growth. Mollie and Robin also touch on the various post‑internship paths, from joining Vervint full time to receiving support as they pursue other opportunities.
• Why It Matters
Across the episode, one theme stands out: investing in people leads to growth for everyone—interns, employees, clients, and the communities Vervint serves. The program doesn't just prepare future consultants; it strengthens Vervint’s culture year after year.
In this episode of 10,000 Feet, Nate Sherman and Matt Glenn dive into the recent wave of major cloud outages impacting AWS, Azure, and Cloudflare, exploring what went wrong and why these failures are so disruptive. They discuss the growing risks of globally applied changes, the importance of error budgets, and strategies for building resilience in modern infrastructure. The conversation also covers best practices in site reliability engineering, monitoring, and alerting, as well as the role of AI and automation in change management. Packed with insights for architects, SREs, and IT leaders, this episode offers practical guidance on balancing speed, reliability, and risk in today’s cloud-driven world.
In this episode of 10,000 Feet, we sit down with Azure experts Dan Haussler and Peter Rhodes to tackle one of the biggest challenges in cloud computing: managing costs. They share practical strategies and insider tips to help businesses avoid overspending, from setting up smart budgets to leveraging Azure’s built-in tools and cost-saving programs. Whether you’re new to Azure or managing a complex environment, this conversation is packed with actionable advice and real-world examples that can save you thousands.
Big Topics Covered Why cost optimization matters and how it fits into Microsoft’s Well-Architected Framework. * Strategic foundations: Writing down a plan, setting cadence, and using tagging for accountability. * Azure tools you should know: Cost Analysis, Advisor, and Workbooks for quick wins. * Common pitfalls: Orphaned resources, unmanaged disks, and legacy SKUs. * Budgeting basics: How to set alerts and guardrails to prevent surprise bills. * Reserved Instances vs. Savings Plans: Key differences, pros/cons, and flexibility options. * Right-sizing workloads: Avoiding over-allocation after lift-and-shift migrations. * Cadence is king: Why regular reviews save money and prevent underutilization. * CSP advantages:* Discounts, advocacy, and faster support for your cloud environment.
Get to know Chuck Tsocanos, President and Chief Consulting Officer at Vervint, as he sits down with Ethan Wyant to discuss his career journey and Vervint’s future. Chuck shares insights on leadership, company transformation, and the impact of AI on the tech industry.
Topics covered in this episode:
- Chuck’s background, career path, and move to Vervint
- Lessons learned from consulting and IBM
- Vervint’s ongoing transformation and company culture
- The role of AI and innovation in shaping business strategy
- Leadership philosophy and building trust within teams
- Recent challenges and how the team overcame them
- Advice for newcomers in consulting and tech
- Reflections on personal values, growth, and work-life balance
Tune in for practical advice, leadership insights, and a look at how Vervint is embracing change and technology!
In this episode of 10,000 Feet, host Richelle Lentz is joined by Rick Krause from Vervint and Daniel Gross from AWS to explore the evolving landscape of connected products and IoT platforms. Together, they unpack the journey from early, DIY-style IoT implementations to today’s scalable, secure, and cloud-native solutions powered by AWS. The conversation dives deep into the triggers that signal it’s time to migrate—like cost inefficiencies, security vulnerabilities, and limited access to data—and outlines practical strategies for replatforming, including phased rollouts, OTA updates, chaos testing, and blue/green deployments.
Listeners will also hear about modernization as a stepping stone for organizations not yet ready for full migration, with tips on optimizing device messaging, leveraging edge processing, and enhancing user experience. Real-world anecdotes, like hacked crosswalks and connected coffee makers, bring the discussion to life while emphasizing the importance of security, interoperability, and customer value. Whether you're managing a growing IoT fleet or just beginning to rethink your platform strategy, this episode offers actionable insights to help future-proof your connected product ecosystem.
In this episode, we dive deep into the world of generative AI, exploring its hype, history, and real-world implications. Guests, Abby Breyer, Director of Experience Delivery, and Brian Partin, Enterprise Director, discuss how AI isn't as new as the recent media frenzy suggests—it’s been evolving for thousands of years. They dissect the excitement surrounding AI, asking the pivotal question: what problem is AI looking to solve? Join us as we examine how AI, when applied thoughtfully, can be a powerful ally in solving complex human challenges when we keep people at the heart of the solution.
Tune in now to hear their insightful and comical conversation.
In this episode, we sit down with Vervint's CIO, Jim VanderMey, and VP of Sales and Marketing, Kyle Nelson, as they evaluate the IT industry during the first half of 2024. Together, they analyze industry predictions and discuss feedback reported by clients and other stakeholders, including trends in cloud, AI, and data.
Podcast host, Danielle Haskins, asks curious questions including: Is AI the villain or hero? Why isn't cloud living up to its promises? What risks are organizations facing following the Crowd Strike failure?
Jim and Kyle dive further into these topics and give their predictions for the second half of the year.
Tune in now to hear their responses.
Hear from Lutz Beck, CIO of Daimler Truck North America, as he joins Jake Trippel, Vervint’s Director of Business Development, to discuss navigating business dynamics driven by AI innovation, data, agility, and evolving leadership roles. Enjoy!
In this episode of Ten Thousand Feet: The OST Podcast, we look back to the initial onset of the pandemic three years ago to examine the past and present state of company’s digital transformation efforts. Join Aaron Kamphuis, Channel Partner Manager, and Lisa Helminiak, Principal Strategist, for an eye-opening conversation.
Enjoy the episode!
In this episode of Ten Thousand Feet: The OST Podcast, we are joined by Allen Emerick, OST’s Director of Strategy, and Chad Willaert, Principal Architect. Allen and Chad joined to discuss and define modernization vs. optimization in enterprise architecture and explore why organizations must have a sound digital backbone. Enjoy the episode!
In this episode of Ten Thousand Feet: The OST Podcast, we dive into the world of artificial intelligence. We are joined by OST CIO and co-founder Jim VanderMey and enterprise cloud architect Brian Partin. We’ll define the term, discuss how clients are exploring the new technology and cover the benefits and limitations of AI.
In this podcast episode, OST CIO Jim VanderMey shares several highlights from the recent Hawaii International Conference on Systems Sciences. We talk about the future of artificial intelligence, how technology will (or won’t) replace the work of humans and how the future of technology is not what you may think it is. Hit the play button and enjoy the episode!
In this episode of Ten Thousand Feet: The OST Podcast, Jesse David, Configuration Services Developer, and Alex Tweedy, IoT Architect, define and discuss digital twins. If you haven’t heard this term before, we’ve got you covered. Learn more about the applications of digital twins, their potential advantages and how to begin engaging with this new technology. Hit the play button and enjoy the episode!
In this episode of Ten Thousand Feet: The OST Podcast, we talk to Richard Maloley, Sr. Security Consultant, about the most common IT cyber security threats businesses are facing, cloud security and a few of OST’s differentiators in this space. Richard shares some of his own tips and techniques that he uses to stay safe and secure. He also explains the importance of conducting a security assessment. Hit the play button and enjoy the episode!
In this episode of Ten Thousand Feet: The OST Podcast, we talk to OST CIO and co-founder Jim VanderMey, as well as Principal Lisa Helminiak, about the ins and outs of Intranet vs. DEEP. If you haven’t heard the term DEEP before in this context, we’ll define it and provide practical applications for your own business. Enjoy the episode!
We all want it, but how do we get it? In this episode of Ten Thousand Feet: The OST Podcast, we speak to Hannah Staal, Talent Acquisition Lead, and Derek Fricano, Design Team Manager, about building a culture that lasts within an organization.
How do you create a workforce that withstands change, from updating job titles to experiencing a global pandemic? Hannah and Derek discuss building career portfolios, creating dynamic teams and sustaining culture. Tap the play button to get started.
Enjoy!
How do organizations form solid foundations and achieve longevity? In this episode of Ten Thousand Feet, the OST podcast, we speak to Aaron Kamphuis, Strategy Leader of Digital Business, and Allen Emerick, Strategy Leader of Digital Operations, to define the term “digital backbone” and discuss the people, processes and technology that make up an organization’s digital backbone. Aaron and Allen also cover where to start as a business when looking to create a long-lasting future.
Enjoy the episode!
Whether it’s designing a room layout, an office configuration or a vehicular layout, there are so many different opportunities for a consumer to be a part of the design process. In this episode of Ten Thousand Feet, the OST podcast, Scott Tykoski and Charles Lentz talk all things configuration services at OST.
When you hear the phrase Human Side of IoT, what does that mean? Whether you are blue sky innovation client or a client looking for your next generation innovation, you need to consider the human side of developing your connected product. In this episode, you’ll hear from Jen Nowlin, Connected Products Business Line Leader and Lisa Helminiak, Design Principal, talking about the human side of IoT. Enjoy!
In the conclusion of our two-part episode on automation infrastructure, OST CIO Jim VanderMey and Sr. Engineer Allen Derusha talk about interoperability between systems. The two chat about RedFish, which allows for a unified approach. Learn more about the advantages of automation. Enjoy this episode!
In this episode of Ten Thousand Feet, OST CIO Jim VanderMey and Sr. Engineer Allen Derusha talk about automation infrastructure. Learn more about Allen’s day-to-day responsibilities. VanderMey and Derusha chat about security and latency in the cloud. We’ll also examine the question of making a cloud like atmosphere for private workloads. Tune in to the latest episode now!
OST, a Midwest-based digital and IT consultancy, acquired Texas-based cloud service provider Stratum Technology on December 31, 2021. For both organizations, the acquisition means that clients will have access to more support, experience and expertise than ever before. Learn more in this podcast episode about what's next. Enjoy!
In Episode 46 of Ten Thousand Feet, we are excited to welcome Jen Nowlin and Nick Young of OST’s Connected Products Team! After their recent trip to Las Vegas for the AWS re:Invent conference, Jen and Nick discussed the latest and greatest announcements and insights, what you need to know about IoT and where connected products and AWS are headed in the future. Listen to this episode to get a recap of the event and what it was like to be back in person. Enjoy!
What does it mean to find your purpose at work? Why is it important? In this episode of Ten Thousand Feet, the OST podcast, we talk to OST President and CEO Meredith Bronk about how she makes time for reflection and celebration. Bronk also talks about how leaders have worked to maintain culture and collaboration with employees working in places across the country, and the globe. What does it mean to feel connected to something bigger than yourself? Explore these topics and more in this episode of our show.
Enjoy!
In this episode of Ten Thousand Feet, Andy Van Solkema, OST’s VP of Digital Strategy and Experience, looks into his crystal ball and offers his take on what the future of work looks like. The way he sees it, in the past, life used to fit into work. Now, work fits into life. How can people set up time to be creative and time for deep work? Does Andy see the work from home trend continuing? Tune in to the episode to find out all of this and more.
In this episode of Ten Thousand Feet, Data and Technology Leader and Architect Alex Tweedy shines a light on OST’s new cost optimization offer. At the start of a cost optimization engagement, OST will work with clients to discover: what are your goals? Why did you launch a connected product in the first place? What is working well? Learn more about what a cost optimization engagement looks like, an exciting project Tweedy is working on and how he is using his prior experience every day on the job.
In this episode, we chat with OST’s Andrea Bloemendaal about mobile accessibility. Learn more about web and industry standards as well as what technologies you can expect to see coming your way soon.
Renowned Leadership Coach and Author, Barbara Rapaport believes that the answers are always in the room. It's a tenet of her coaching practice and a thread that applies throughout her work locally, nationally and globally with leaders.
Andrew Powell sat down with Barbara to talk about leadership and how she views its future in a post-pandemic world.
For more information about Barbara, check out her website and make sure to check out her memoire, Reimagined.
Enjoy!
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, remote healthcare (also known as telehealth) was gaining some traction and popularity, but once the pandemic hit, remote doctor visits suddenly became the default.
Telehealth expert Joe Brennan is confident that trend is here to stay. On this episode, Joe is interviewed by OST's CIO, Jim VanderMey. They discuss how telehealth is now simply considered healthcare and the implications of that paradigm shift.
Joe recently joined forces with a healthcare company called TytoCare, which provides at-home diagnostic tools in addition to remote healthcare software. We’ll certainly be tracking his path ahead in this rapidly growing field.
Enjoy!
Like most of you, we've spent the past year dialing into Zoom meetings to connect with coworkers, collaborate, plan our work and even record our podcasts. It's been a huge shift for us, but for people like Liam Martin, working remotely has been a way of life long before the pandemic.
In this episode, we interview Liam Martin, the founder of TimeDoctor.com, Staff.com and the world's largest remote work conference, Running Remote. Liam believes that in the next five years, remote work with move from survival mode to scale mode and that more than 50% of hyper growth companies will be remote. When you consider that only 4% of the workforce was remote pre-pandemic, that's a very significant number.
It was a fascinating conversation.And if you're interested in learning more about Running Remote (which is coming up on May 21st), visit runningremote.com.
Enjoy!
It's officially been a year since we all abruptly left the office to shelter at home from COVID-19 and it's safe to say the way we work has changed forever.
While some may be headed back in the office, many have embraced the flexibility of working remotely.
Solutions Expert, Chad Willaert, and Chad Ruel, Cloud Solutions Architect make up OST's Modern Workplace team and help us break down the new security considerations for remote work.
Enjoy!
Managing your task list? Making dinner? Doing homework? The principles of the Agile Manifesto, while typically applied to accomplishing a development sprint, can apply to more than you think.
On this episode, Andrew Powell interviews Elizabeth Wilson (who you'll recognize from past Ten Thousand Feet episodes on Agile) and Delivery Practice Team Lead, Brett Fitzgerald. As you'll hear on this episode, Elizabeth has recently joined the sales ranks at OST as a Global Account Manager and Brett is stepping into her role to lead OST's delivery practice.
Elizabeth and Brett are passionate about using the principles of Agile in everyday practices like planning your work and even managing your family life. Regardless of your role in the organization, we think you'll get something out of this episode.
Enjoy!
As IT evolves to deliver value to the business, product development is likely inevitable. But doing so successfully requires organizing in a way that you can both develop a great product AND support it.
Brian Hart, VP of IT Internal Business Solutions at Amway shares his insights on this topic and why it's really more of a practice than a destination.
Brian is interviewed by OST's Chief Innovation Officer, Jim VanderMey - someone who knows quite a bit about this topic himself.
Enjoy!
Zoom meetings, Slack conversations and Microsoft Teams have allowed us to continue to make progress in the Covid-19 era. They aren't new tools, but their usage has become more the rule than the exception. They have allowed us to continue to build our work relationships and maintain momentum.
But for those starting a new job, those tools are being relied on to create relationships where no momentum yet exists. This has been interesting at a OST, where we thrive on kitchen conversations and hallway hellos.
On this episode, Andrew Powell interviews Tori Dean, OST's Talent Experience Consultant and 2020 hire to the Configuration Services team, Sabrina Brooks.
Tori and Sabrina discuss remote onboarding from both perspectives and hypothesize what the future may bring for hiring and remote connection.
Enjoy!
A zombie, while decidedly undead is certainly not alive. As we come off the Halloween season, we wanted to point out another kind of undead, yet not alive being: the IoT Zombie.
On this episode, Andrew Powell interviews two of our connected product experts: Aaron Kamphuis and Jen Nowlin. Jen has been in IoT for 20 years, before it was really a ‘thing’ and is now a Principal Consultant at OST helping our clients guide their connected products efforts. Aaron is a Ten Thousand Feet veteran guest and the IoT Practice Manager at OST.
We talk with them about how 60-70% companies consider their IoT projects unsuccessful, many of them falling into zombie territory, where they’re collecting data but not actually becoming smart. We discuss this trend and some ways forward if you find yourself in IoT Zombie territory.
Enjoy!
A significant amount time has passed since the dawn of Coronavirus. It's been long enough that we've moved through several phases of business change. It started with putting out fires and then reprioritizing efforts, allowing us to move into a new phase where we can respond to opportunity.
Design Director, Brian Hauch, interviews VP of Digital Strategy and Experience at OST discuss this next phase of innovation and how companies can approach it.
Enjoy!
There's a difference between making a product and designing a product experience. We all know what it's like to use something that you don't necessarily want to use again - and a key aspect of that is design.
On this episode, we welcome Lisa Helminiak, Founder and CEO of Azul Seven, a design team based in Minneapolis that recently joined the OST family. We're happy to welcome Lisa and her team as they help us grow in the Minneapolis market, expanding our human-centered expertise in Digital Transformation.
On this episode, Lisa is interviewed by Design Director, Brian Hauch. Brian is a thoughtful strategist and together they explore the benefits and tensions of products that bring design to the table.
Please help us welcome Lisa and her team to OST and Enjoy!
During the global recession of 2007 & 2008, Apple launched the iPhone and Netflix began their streaming services - two formative technologies of our lifetime that would go on to reshape our lives.
As we move forward through this pandemic, companies are looking to harness that same creativity to innovate. A couple months ago, OST hosted a roundtable discussing how businesses can actually thrive in a time of uncertainty. On this episode of Ten Thousand Feet, Principal Consultant, Todd Jacobs and Practice Lead, Andrew Powell discuss this topic and why now is the perfect time to innovate. Enjoy!
X as a service (XaaS) has become a popular consumption model for organizations. There are a lot of benefits including variable costs, flexibility, and freeing up resources to create and innovate.
On this episode, OST's new VP of Enterprise Solutions, Mitch Prust joins Account Executive, Dan Frank to discuss XaaS. They break down the considerations and dive in to HPE's Greenlake Cloud Services.
Enjoy!
This episode is part two of Meredith Bronk’s interview with entrepreneur and innovator, Shannon Cohen.
On this half of our interview, we discussed racial equity in America and how organizations can move forward genuinely and authentically to be part of a solution from the place they are today. In light of possibly the largest movement in U.S. history, Shannon shares her advice on how to move forward powerfully and support black lives and racial equity from where you stand.
Enjoy!
"The people who left your office before the pandemic are not the same people who are coming back."
Shannon Cohen, Founder and CEO of Shannon Cohen, Inc., her company focused on helping leaders thrive at the intersection of joy and purpose. Shannon is an author, a speaker and also runs an online retail shop with greeting cards and other inspirational goods.
Shannon is joined Meredith Bronk on the first part of a two-episode series discussing Emotional Intelligence and specifically how leaders can support themselves and their teams on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shannon and Meredith discuss the importance of seeing the people who make up our teams as whole people and innovating while in pandemic. Shannon was a treasure to have on and we know you'll love hearing from her on both episodes.
Shannon is hosting a Virtual Rockstar Woman Brunch in September to provide strategy, inspiration and healing moments to uplift and ignite women leaders. Visit Shannons' Website for more information and tickets.
At OST, we talk about being a people-first organization. We value our employees and our families so much that it's baked into our company values.
OST's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee (DEI) exists to help OST deliver on that mission for all employees, especially those that haven't been traditionally represented in technology industry.
On this episode, we talk with Kiran Sood Patel, Dave VandeWaa and Hannah Staal, core members of the DEI team about what initiatives they have underway and what's changed for them with the growing movement toward racial justice in our country.
In the episode, Kiran reads OST's Statement on Diversity that now appears on all of OST's job postings. Here it is in entirety:
You matter! Your experiences matter, your journey with OST matters, and your success matters. People drive all our achievements, and we know that taking care of each other takes care of everything else. Because everyone matters, we strive to promote diversity, equity and inclusion within our company, the work we do and our communities. We’ll surely face challenges along the way. And we’ll all continually learn from them to build a caring culture true to our guiding principles: honor, delight, serve, embrace, and learn.
We don't take this commitment lightly and will share more about how this conversation and activity is evolving at OST.
Enjoy!
On this episode, we share the second half of our conversation around Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) with John Vancil and Dave Trayers.
This part is all about implementation. John & Dave have consulted on several ERP implementations and share a few common pitfalls and tips to set you up for a successful launch.
Enjoy!
Enterprise Resource Planning. It's possibly one of the largest enterprise software categories in existence, helping businesses manage day-to-day activities from a single database.
OST's resident ERP experts, John Vancil and Dave Trayers discuss all things ERP in our two-part ERP series. This is the first intallment, featuring an overview of ERP and how we help companies select the right ERP Solution.
The second installment will focus on tips for implementation and common pitfalls.
Enjoy!
The time for telehealth has arrived, and along with it, a global pandemic.
Telehealth expert, Joe Brennan, and OST's CIO, Jim VanderMey have a discussion about what coronavirus has done to the telehealth industry. They cover why hospitals are scrambling to implement remote visits and ways to take advantage of this change in healthcare needs.
Enjoy
A couple months ago, working remote was a perk. While definitely gaining momentum, it was still considered a luxury for most companies...one that they hadn't totally figured out how to support at scale. But, times changed. Quickly.
On this episode, we talk with Elizabeth Wilson, our resident SAFe & agile expert about the challenges and opportunities companies face with suddenly being forced apart to work remotely.
Elizabeth is interviewed by Andrew Powell, OST's Application Development Practice Manager, who is far from a stranger when it comes to helping remote teams work together.
Be well and please reach out if we can help you navigate these weird times.
Enjoy!
Launching new technology is almost never easy, but it's particularly nuanced in the healthcare space. Rightfully so, as doctors and patients often rely on these technologies in critical ways.
That's why regional health system, ProMedica, partnered with the healthcare technology experts at Kapios Health to launch new technology that improves patient care.
On this episode, we talk with the President of Kapios Health, Justin Hammerling. Justin walks us through the benefits and challenges of operating a technology companies inside a large regional health system.
He is interviewed by OST's Chief Innovation Officer, Jim VanderMey.
Enjoy!
One of the top industries experiencing the change and opportunities of digitization is Manufacturing. From new efficiencies and possibilities, to an unprecedented connection with their customers, business today is not what it once was.
On this episode, we get into that topic with Pat Carey, Senior Vice President of Strategic Growth at Stratasys, the global leader in 3D printing and additive manufacturing. In addition to being a manufacturer themselves, Stratysys sells to manufacturers all around the world, giving them a valuable perspective on the industry's growth and change.
Pat is interviewed by OST's Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Lisa Jilek who, before coming to OST, was formerly a Senior Director of Sales Operations.
Enjoy!
CES, formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show is a behemoth of a conference that takes over Las Vegas, Nevada in January every year.
Several OSTers attended CES this year and came back with some interesting takeaways. On this episode, Andrew Powell interviews OST Design Lead, Chris Chiles and Sr. UX Designer, Bethany Boyd.
From their favorite connected kitchen to a robotic cat litter box, they cover it all.
Enjoy!
This is the second episode in our MedTalk series where we interview professionals in the medical field both on the delivery side and the clinical side. Through these interviews, we hear more about their story, their field and how they are dealing with the shift to digital.
This time we talk with Dr. Scott Brasseur, an Internal Medicine Physician practicing at Spectrum Health. Dr. Brasseur shares his thoughts on the impact of technology on care delivery, an idea to improve the UX of healthcare technology and a story that fundamentally shifted how he views healthcare.
MedTalk is hosted by Aaron Shaver, PHD, OST's Director of Healthcare and Life Sciences.
Enjoy!
So you had an innovative idea. You followed all the right processes and through a lot of hard work and a little luck, you found that it's feasible, viable AND desirable to your customers. But now comes the hard part: scaling that new idea or product throughout your organization.
On this episode, CIO Jim VanderMey and Design Director, Brian Hauch discuss a common issue with innovation teams: scaling digital innovations across your organization.
Brian & Jim share four tips for change agents to make their ideas spread:
- Create Urgency to Drive Attention
- Storytelling: Moving from My Story or Our Story
- Create a Coalition of the Willing
- Demonstrate Progress
Listen in to hear these explained in detail and help your next digital innovation scale.
Are you interested in digital innovations in a healthcare setting? If so, our new MedTalk series is for you.
As OST works with many health systems on their IT Infrastructure and Digital Ecosystem, we're excited to interview experts in the medical field as part of this series. On it, we will feature health professionals to learn more about their experience with technology and digital innovations in their respective fields.
On this episode we talk with Dr. Andrew Parsons, a board certified general surgeon who has been specially trained in robotic-assisted surgery.
Dr. Parsons is interviewed by Aaron Shaver, Director of Healthcare and Life Sciences at OST.
Enjoy!
Company culture can be a true competitive advantage. But how do you grow without losing the parts of your culture that made you successful in the first place?
On this episode we talk with Tamara Iakiri, OST's Director of Talent Experience. Tamara has been with OST through several growth periods, starting when the company had just 50 employees through now with over 265 people across multiple locations.
Tamara is interviewed by Andrew Powell, the Application Development Practice Manager.
Tamara and Andrew discuss OST's unique view on talent experience and the systems we've put in place to help our culture expand and grow.
Enjoy!
In 2019, 29% of senior management roles are held by women, the highest number ever on record, but there is still so much opportunity for women to have a seat at the table.
OST's VP of Sales & Marketing, Lisa Jilek, moderated a panel with four female leaders at Twin Cities Startup Week in Minneapolis. Joining her was:
Beth Klawitter - Sr Director Customer Success & Operations, Attivo Networks
Kathleen Miner - VP Solutions Marketing, Thomson Reuters
Tammylynne Jonas - Global CIO, Self Esteem Brands
Tonia Teasley - VP & General Manager, Capella University
During this panel, they discussed lessons they have learned, what has worked, what continues to be a challenge, and ways they have gained influence in an organization.
Enjoy!
While we've used many different delivery frameworks over the years, OST has grown quite fond of SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework for Enterprise) as a way of bringing business and IT together to move faster and create value.
If you've done any research on this methodology, you might be a bit overwhelmed with what it is, how it works and how to get started, so we recorded a quick episode to break it down for you.
On this episode, we interview Elizabeth Wilson (Wilson, as we call her) who has helped implement SAFe at several companies while also helping 30+ OST employees get their SAFe certifications.
We have experienced the first-hand benefits of working in this cross-functional way and think it's worth considering for your organization.
Enjoy!
Have you ever spent a bunch of time and money building an MVP for your product and it still falls flat with customers? What if you could test out those assumptions before you even build an MVP? You can - it's called the Riskiest Assumption Test.
For short, we call it a RAT (which Jim loves to say) and it's a usually quick, usually inexpensive way to test if the things you think are true about your product are actually true.
On this episode, we talk about this with OST's CIO and Frequent Ten Thousand Feet Guest, Jim VanderMey. Jim is interviewed by Application Development Practice Manager, Andrew Powell.
Like they say - there are no truths inside the building - only opinions. The RAT allows you to get out there and see what's actually true for your customers before you invest serious resources. Jim gives some great examples of Riskiest Assumption Tests that will get you thinking.
Enjoy!
You spend countless hours shaping your idea, interviewing customers, securing funding and resources, making financial models and perfecting your product. But understandably by the time it comes to communicate what you've built to the rest of your organization and stakeholders, you may have run out of steam. So you document the product in a Powerpoint deck and send off an email. And then...crickets.
On this episode, Design Director, Brian Hauch, shares some thoughts around how communication is really the last mile of innovation and could use some intention as you release your product inside of your organization.
Brian is interviewed by Andrew Powell, OST's Application Development Practice Manager - a man of many talents and interests that we'll dig into at some point.
Enjoy!
By 2020, there will be over one million computer programming job opportunities, and far fewer computer science grads to fill those roles. As an enterprise with growing development needs, you're probably more than familiar with this problem.
Thankfully, innovative programs like Minneapolis-based Prime Digital Academy and self-learners are rising to the occasion.
On this episode, Application Developer, Ken Sykora talks us through the various computer science learning methods from four different perspectives.
Ken, himself was a traditional 4-year computer science graduate from University of Wisconsin.
We also hear from Fred Sheanan, Education Director at Prime Digital Academy - an immersive, bootcamp-style computer science program to teach the skills necessary to break into the programming field. OST Application Developer, Holly Tuhake is a graduate from Prime and joins us to share her path to computer science and what this program was like for her.
Finally, we're joined by Tony Ticknor, a self-taught developer who got his start digging into websites for the music industry and is now the Director of Technology for Irish Titan.
Enjoy!
If you've ever been sick in bed and have to pull yourself together to head into the doctor's office, you've probably had the thought, "I wish the doctor could just come to me." And because of our phones, that's actually sort of possible. It's called Telehealth and health systems across the world are in the process of figuring out the best way to meet their patients where they are.
Joe Brennan, the owner of Moonshot Health Consulting, has built and implemented one of the most successful telehealth programs in the country and he joins us today to share some learnings and some common misconceptions about telehealth.
This episode is particularly relevant to our healthcare customers, but the lessons of implementing a new, innovative tool to connect with customers is applicable across industries.
Joe is interviewed by our CIO, Jim VanderMey, who has thirty years of healthcare industry knowledge to share.
Enjoy!
If there's one focus area we hear from IT professionals over and over again, it's some version of: How are we partnering with the business and helping to create new opportunities, not just serve as a help desk?
In education, that theme is no different. On this episode, Principal Consultant, Ryan Moseman, talks with Casey Gordon, CIO at College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, about the role of IT in education and how she's worked to get others in the organization to think of IT differently. Casey has a great take on how to look at Security and some insights on how she was able to get her team involved in some revenue-generating opportunities for CSBSJU.
This episode is included in our Copilot Series, where we invite a customer, industry leader or trusted consultant to share their journey toward digital transformation.
Enjoy!
When it comes to making things, there may be no region with more experience than the Midwest. And when it comes to business diversity, the Minneapolis market has it all from healthcare to retail and manufacturing.
On this episode of Ten Thousand Feet, Principal Consultant, Jake Trippel, talks with Vicki Stute, Vice President of Programs and Business Services at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Patrick Delaney, the Founder of KConfs, the organization that puts on conferences like IoT Fuse. Collectively, these two connect with a myriad of businesses and are intimately familiar with the changes they are undergoing during this time of change.
We talk with them about their observations, the talent gap and the biggest challenge Midwestern businesses are facing today.
Enjoy!
Welcome to the first episode in our Copilot series, a regular feature where we invite a customer, industry leader or trusted consultant to share their journey toward digital transformation.
On this episode our Principal Consultant and resident Identity and Access Management expert, Chad Willaert interviews Regis Corporation's Director of Information Security, Bernie Rominski.
Regis is the world's largest salon chain, headquartered in Edina, Minnesota and is an OST customer working with the team in our Minneapolis office.
Regardless of the industry, IT departments are being asked to move faster and even to completely transform from supporting the business initiatives to creating them. Regis is no different and Bernie's 19-year tenure gives him a unique perspective to observe and drive that change.
We loved talking with Bernie and hearing his story. Bernie shares his take on digital transformation, governance and the ways he's bringing IT to the table to help solve problems and create new opportunities for Regis. He also shares the one rule you're probably ignoring in Monopoly that will make you love the game again.
Enjoy!
There are inherent security risks as we invite 'things' onto our networks and into our homes.
As a business, we're charged with managing the devices on our network and making sure they only have access to the right data at the right time for the right reasons.
But as consumers, we are often fueled by excitement, going through installation steps and loving the new way we can set our temperature, unlock our doors and automate our homes. We may not pay attention to the recommended two-factor authentication or the buried privacy setting that protects us from hackers and exposing our private lives to these devices.
IoT experts Jim Vandermey of OST and Alex Jantz of AWS discuss where the security responsibility lies: with the business or with the consumer.
Enjoy!
Earlier this year, two of our own headed to Experience Design Week in Denver, Colorado to give a keynote presentation and participate in the conference.
On this episode, Andy VanSolkema, VP of Digital Strategy and Josh Paro, User Experience Lead recap the talk they gave, titled, The Complex New Realities of Designing a Successful Experience and share a bit about their time in Denver.
Andy & Josh cover some common considerations that are left out of the experience design conversation, including budgets, technical debt, cultural legacies, business models and more.
Enjoy!
Designers, developers, marketers, operations and finance are just a sampling of the parties that are coming together to make digital products for enterprises. As you can imagine (and have probably experienced), getting these often separate groups of people to march in the same direction can be difficult.
On this episode, we talk with Director of Product Design, Christy Ennis-Kloote & Connected Products & Data Analytics Practice Lead, Aaron Kamphuis about the pitfalls some digital teams face as they attempt to organize and make something great.
From team size and deadlines to communication and agile process, Christy & Aaron break down these common issues and suggest some alternative ways to assemble and work toward a common goal.
Christy & Aaron mention a few recommended books in this episode, including:
The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team
https://www.amazon.com/Five-Dysfunctions-Team-Leadership-Fable/dp/0787960756
If videos are more your thing, the author has 40-minute talk that summarizes the content well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHpB1EBufFo
The Trusted Advisor
https://www.amazon.com/Trusted-Advisor-David-H-Maister/dp/0743212347
The Phoenix Project
https://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Project-DevOps-Helping-Business/dp/0988262592
Enjoy!
If what you’re building today is front page news tomorrow, how are you going to feel about that?
As business models evolve and data becomes a primary method of currency, the decisions we make as product creators become ethical considerations. What data are you collecting and why? How do your users know what you intend to do with it? And most importantly, how does that align to your company’s values? It’s 2019 and this is a necessary, emerging conversation in the world of product design.
On this episode, we chat with OST Design Leads, Molly Hillstrom and Brian Hauch who have plenty of experience helping companies strategically and practically create digital products. Molly recently spoke on this topic at World Usability Day, if you’re interested in hearing more. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_ssOfgLf8s
While ethics can feel ambiguous and a bit abstract, Molly and Brian share some relevant examples and give you a few considerations as you build out an ethical framework for your product teams.
Enjoy!
Welcome to the Pilot episode of 10,000 Feet!
We’re coming to you from OST, a technology firm that’s been helping companies launch digital initiatives for more than two decades. Throughout that time, there’s been several waves of change across organizations, but none quite as strong as the digital transformation facing enterprises today.
On 10,000 feet, you can expect us to talk through the issues organizations face as they make the shift to a technology company, regardless of their industry. We’ll talk with knowledgeable guests and each other about the successes, the failures and some hypotheses on what changes are coming next.
we kick off our first episode with OST’s Chief Executive Officer & President, Meredith Bronk. While Mer is not a technologist, she has been with OST from early on and has a deep understanding of what technology means for an organization and how that continues to evolve. Her ability to understand the technology and the business provides her with the unique capability to come at things from a more challenging perspective: human behavior.
Mer is joined today by host, Lizzie Williams, OST’s Experience Lead, focusing on employee experience and communication. We will mix up hosts from time to time, but Lizzie had a really great pilot hat, so we had to take advantage of that.
On this episode you’ll learn a bit about why we named this podcast 10,000 feet and why the key to driving change is actually people. Mer also shares some tips to change hearts and minds to move in one direction.
Thanks for tuning in! We look forward to sharing more conversation with you. If you have an idea for a topic or guest, feel free to reach out.
As companies build deeper connections to their customers through IoT, a whole new world of customer data opens up to them. And while data is valuable, we can’t forget that the only way to get data is through people consistently using your product. And the only way to get people to consistently use your product is through making something that people want to use.
On this episode, Lizzie Williams talks with Jim VanderMey, OST’s co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer and Alex Jantz, Solution Architect with plenty of experience in IoT.
Together they discuss the value of data and the fine lines of user experience you walk to obtain it. They also share some interesting connected products on this episode we wanted to link for you. Here are a few mentioned:
Upright, the posture device
A comical twitter account of uselessly connected devices:
Enjoy!