ASCII Anything: Recent Episodes
Moser Consulting
A weekly deep dive into all things tech. Join us every Wednesday to find out who from Moser Consulting's more than 200 resident experts we'll be talking to and what they're focused on at the moment.
Take a look back at some of our favorite moments as Tish Guinn joins Producer Brian to revisit season highlights and lowlights, as we also share a few bloopers to finish things off.
ASCII Anything will be back in August for Season 12. Thanks for joining us.
Until next season...so long, everybody!
Joining us this week are April Vasquez and Lauren Tolley, two of Moser's Data Intelligence interns.
In today’s conversation, we’ll talk about career goals, technical growth, workplace culture, the realities of entering today’s workforce, and the fears and uncertainty many students face while preparing for life after graduation.
As technology continues to evolve through AI, analytics, automation, and data visualization, students entering this field are navigating a career landscape that’s exciting, competitive, and constantly changing. We'll hear directly from them about what motivates them, what concerns them, and what they hope to gain from this experience.
We’ll also get to know April and Lauren outside of work, hear what excites them most about the summer ahead, and ask what they THINK they’ll say at the end of this internship experience.
We hear a lot about internships from the company perspective — resumes, recruiting, hiring — but not always from the students themselves. What are they actually thinking? What excites them? What makes them nervous? And what does today’s job market feel like for young professionals entering their careers?
This episode kicks off a brand-new series focused on the real experiences of college interns as they step into the professional world, starting with Moser's current Marketing interns.
Sophia Wolfgang is a rising senior at the University of Louisville where she majors in Marketing and Will Spink is a rising senior at Indiana University-Indianapolis where he majors in Graphic Design at the Herron School of Art and Design.
Our conversation covers career goals, internship expectations, workplace culture, imposter syndrome, the pressure of “having it all figured out,” and what young professionals are really looking for from employers today. We’ll also have a little fun along the way and hear what both Sophia and Will hope to say at the end of this internship journey.
And look for Part 2 of this episode, which will debut in Season 12. We'll check in with Sophia and Will again near the end of their internship and find out what they accomplished, how good they were at predicting their internship experiences, and see what advice they have for future interns.
Tish Guinn hosts this look back at the Build It Together and Atlassian Team 26 conferences held this month in Anaheim, California. She's joined by Marc Brickley, Moser's Director of Application Development, and Malinda Lowder, our Director of Sales and Marketing, who were also at the conferences.
We cover what stood out at both conferences, recap some of the conversations we had around Clear Path, the importance of building authentic connections, and how organizations can turn conference interactions into long-term partnerships and opportunities.
There's also plenty of reminiscing about karaoke with a live band and the skating rink at the post-Team 26 bash.
Brian Gentrup is in the host seat this week as Tish Guinn, Moser's Marketing Coordinator, and her husband, Kevin Guinn, a Moser Senior Consultant, join us to talk about building resilience in the workplace and other ways to avoid burnout,adapt to stress, overcome setbacks, navigate change, and continue growing through challenging times in their careers.
They also offer insight into how resilience shows up across industries, leadership styles, personal setbacks, and the modern workplace.
The business/IT gap isn't primarily a communication problem — it's an incentive problem.
This week, host Jordan Lambuth welcomes Moser's John Caviness to discuss the disconnects often found between business leaders and technical teams and how successful organizations close them. It turns out, misalignment is not a failure. It's the predictable, rational outcome of both sides being measured by different definitions of success.
John and Jordan discuss how IT professionals can use a balanced, diplomatic approach to bridge both sides.
Producer Brian takes the Host seat this week as he welcomes several of Moser's consultants who are joining us to share some of their favorite stories from their careers.
From a failover so good no one noticed it had occurred or blindly resolving Audio Visual issues, to saving precious family memories or even a surprisingly snappy new addition to their wardrobes, you'll see that a typical day in IT can be anything but typical.
Project management, product management, and bourbon have a lot in common. Complexity and balance with the goal of a memorable finish that doesn't leave a bad taste in your mouth.
In this week's episode, host Marc Brickley is joined by Moser's own Chris Eckstein to distill portfolio planning, stakeholder communication, risk management, and delivery cadences. They'll share tried-and-true practices and stories that will help teams deliver predictably and help them learn to enjoy the process.
#ProjectManagement #ProductManagement #Leadership #Agile #BusinessStrategy #Teamwork #RiskManagement #DeliveryExcellence #Podcast #ContinuousImprovement #TechPodcast #TechNews #TechTips #ASCIIAnything
In this week's episode, host Latisha Guinn talks with Chris Eckstein about what it looks like to turn personal passion into meaningful impact and talks about his support for childhood cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
Each year, Chris goes all in, raising funds, rallying support, and even dyeing (and ultimately shaving) his hair to bring awareness to the cause. But behind the bold look is a powerful story of purpose, community, and commitment.
Join us as we talk about what inspires Chris, how he mobilizes others, and why giving back is more than just a moment—it’s a mindset.
And a special shout-out to Main Street Barbers in Carmel, IN, for volunteering their services to cut participants' hair every year.
Watch the Video Version:
https://youtu.be/p3KBYpDmcEs
www.stbaldricks.org
#ASCIIAnything #MoserConsulting #GiveBack #Leadership #CommunityImpact #StBaldricks #Podcast #InformationTechnology #technology
In this week's episode, Malinda Lowder, Moser's Director of Sales and Marketing and the reason ASCII Anything exists, joins us to discuss how successful digital transformation hinges on culture and leadership, not just tech adoption.
Digital transformation is often seen as a technology upgrade, but its true success depends on people, culture, and leadership. Organizations that prioritize collaboration, adaptability, and clear communication are far more likely to see meaningful results from their digital investments. In this conversation, we’ll explore why aligning teams and empowering leaders is the key to turning digital transformation into real business impact.
In this week's episode of ASCII Anything, Marc Brickley, Director of Application Development and Product Manager of Clear Path for Jira, sits down with Natalie Fischesser, Director of Application Development and Moser Labs, to tackle one of the most important technology decisions organizations face:
Should you build custom software or buy an off-the-shelf solution?
They explore:
- When custom development creates competitive advantage
- When SaaS solutions are the smarter financial move
- Hidden costs of both options
- Scalability, security, and compliance considerations
- Accessibility and inclusive design implications
- How to evaluate long-term product ownership and technical debt
Drawing on decades of experience across federal aviation, aerospace, logistics, medical, consulting, and digital collaboration industries, Marc and Natalie provide a practical decision framework for IT leaders, product managers, and executive teams.
If you're evaluating a new system or replacing legacy software this episode will help you make a confident, strategic build vs buy decision.
Guest Host John Caviness joins us to explore the role of M365 license reselling services and discuss how the right partner can deliver more than just procurement. From optimizing license spend and simplifying billing to providing governance guidance, security alignment, and proactive support, resellers can become strategic advisors that help organizations get the most out of their Microsoft investment.
Moser's own Matt Wren and Steven Frank break down common misconceptions, highlight real-world value-add scenarios, and discuss how businesses can evaluate whether a reseller partnership is the right move for their organization.
This week's episode of ASCII Anything features a virtual webinar with Moser Consulting and Red Hat where we explore the advantages of AI automation and virtualization for modern enterprise. This virtual event with industry experts explores how AI automation and virtualization are reshaping enterprise IT. This event is tailored for business leaders and decision-makers seeking strategic insights into Red Hat’s open source solutions.
In this episode of ASCII Anything, Moser's Janie Stryjewski and Sam Ly join us to explore why onboarding and offboarding matter more than ever in modern organizations. From security and compliance to culture and employee experience, these processes form the bookends of the employee lifecycle. We discuss the critical role of IT in creating smooth, secure, and human-centered transitions, and how organizations can avoid costly missteps like access issues, data exposure, or inconsistent communication.
Whether you’re in HR, IT, leadership, or operations, this conversation will equip you with practical insights to strengthen trust, improve retention, and protect your organization from risk. Because every “hello” and every “until next time” deserves to be done well.
🔗 Subscribe for more episodes on AI, tech trends, and the people shaping the future.
Take our survey and let us know what topics you want us to cover: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ASCIIANYTHING
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ASCII's Guest Host Tim Mack welcomes Moser's own John Murphy for this week's episode, Part 3 in a 3-part series on Healthcare Data.
John is one of Moser Consulting’s foremost experts in healthcare data modeling, interoperability, and governance. With decades of experience spanning healthcare, insurance, and financial services, he brings a rare business‑first perspective to complex data challenges. John played a pivotal role in developing IBM’s Unified Data Model for Healthcare (UDMH) and has led large‑scale healthcare data integration initiatives for organizations ranging from small providers to national systems with thousands of hospitals and hundreds of thousands of employees.
John’s expertise spans FHIR and HL7 standards, data governance, privacy and consent, legacy system modernization, and large‑scale data transformation. What sets him apart is his ability to translate highly technical standards into real, measurable outcomes—helping organizations improve compliance, integration speed, data quality, and decision‑making. If you work with healthcare data, this is knowledge you want to have.
To see the slides in John's presentation, you can watch the video version of the podcast at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eugoVFaPUvU
Or, Moser's newest blog about Healthcare Data includes a copy of the slides John is referencing in this episode:
https://www.moserit.com/blog/healthcare-data-interoperability-done-right
You can directly access the slide files here:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61730a7d9c7a0c57e52d6f0b/t/698b4c2acf0872423cec600c/1770736682991/2026_FHIR+Data+Interoperability.pdf
ASCII's Guest Host Tim Mack welcomes Moser's own John Murphy for this week's episode, Part 2 in a 3-part series on Healthcare Data.
John is one of Moser Consulting’s foremost experts in healthcare data modeling, interoperability, and governance. With decades of experience spanning healthcare, insurance, and financial services, he brings a rare business‑first perspective to complex data challenges. John played a pivotal role in developing IBM’s Unified Data Model for Healthcare (UDMH) and has led large‑scale healthcare data integration initiatives for organizations ranging from small providers to national systems with thousands of hospitals and hundreds of thousands of employees.
John’s expertise spans FHIR and HL7 standards, data governance, privacy and consent, legacy system modernization, and large‑scale data transformation. What sets him apart is his ability to translate highly technical standards into real, measurable outcomes—helping organizations improve compliance, integration speed, data quality, and decision‑making. If you work with healthcare data, this is knowledge you want to have.
To see the slides in John's presentation, you can watch the video version of the podcast at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eugoVFaPUvU
Or, Moser's newest blog about Healthcare Data includes a copy of the slides John is referencing in this episode:
https://www.moserit.com/blog/healthcare-data-interoperability-done-right
You can directly access the slide files here:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61730a7d9c7a0c57e52d6f0b/t/698b4c2acf0872423cec600c/1770736682991/2026_FHIR+Data+Interoperability.pdf
We're starting off Season 11 with a bang as ASCII's Guest Host Tim Mack welcomes Moser's own John Murphy for this week's episode, the first in a 3-part series on Healthcare Data.
John is one of Moser Consulting’s foremost experts in healthcare data modeling, interoperability, and governance. With decades of experience spanning healthcare, insurance, and financial services, he brings a rare business‑first perspective to complex data challenges. John played a pivotal role in developing IBM’s Unified Data Model for Healthcare (UDMH) and has led large‑scale healthcare data integration initiatives for organizations ranging from small providers to national systems with thousands of hospitals and hundreds of thousands of employees.
John’s expertise spans FHIR and HL7 standards, data governance, privacy and consent, legacy system modernization, and large‑scale data transformation. What sets him apart is his ability to translate highly technical standards into real, measurable outcomes—helping organizations improve compliance, integration speed, data quality, and decision‑making. If you work with healthcare data, this is knowledge you want to have.
To see the slides in John's presentation, you can watch the video version of the podcast at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eugoVFaPUvU
Or, Moser's newest blog about Healthcare Data includes a copy of the slides John is referencing in this episode:
https://www.moserit.com/blog/healthcare-data-interoperability-done-right
You can directly access the slide files here:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61730a7d9c7a0c57e52d6f0b/t/698b4c2acf0872423cec600c/1770736682991/2026_FHIR+Data+Interoperability.pdf
Join host Angel Leon and Producer Brian as we trim up the tree with Clipsmas stuff, like bingle balls and Whofoo fluff!
We're trimming every blessed window and every blessed door as we take a look back on some of our favorite moments from Season 10. Then we're going to hang pantookas on the ceiling and pile pankunas on the floor!
And be sure to find this week's episode over on Moser's YouTube channel so you can see Producer Brian's holiday sweater. It is NOT to be missed!
https://youtu.be/c0LgpL5H9jI
Thanks for listening. We'll see you in early 2026 for Season 11!
Black Friday has come and gone, but if you're still scratching your head and wondering what to get the tech fan in your life, some of Moser's consultants are stopping by this week to give you some ideas!
Camp Snap Digital Camera:
https://www.campsnapphoto.com/products/screen-free-digital-camera-v103
Logitech Mouse:
https://a.co/d/agAMG5G
Hard Mouse Pad:
https://a.co/d/3KOGEm1
Keyboard:
https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Keys-Combo-Customizable-Illumination/dp/B0BKVY4WKT/ref=sr_1_20?crid=XJ9A77IOZHDI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.lIsPqyJqyR8sVK_UgShB_iYObMSnDHiYSH7WGKYtxacy_41QUsHIkNOrRyK9rQkVKJ1vJSO3ELve2aOnjCUIP0R5--gU5fh613zgB_ya1mQfaORmeBYH4NN2yq_SR3ER5SpS1wYCWO1JjFiTaaoB7wPLAge8Nba3Wvxypz9b7WNRaz_WHyPVXzZsFL2VzLNAVhcXxCR190gsa9htqYRmiXLghJKusIysGLVRz3PW1UY.93AgSPAhZvSpOnmIBZvJVXUhw_sEAyT2k8whcgmtWp4&dib_tag=se&keywords=keyboard&qid=1764995382&sprefix=keyboard%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-20&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.5998aa40-ec6f-4947-a68f-cd087fee0848&th=1
ZOOM Digital Audio Recorder:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJP4MQZ8?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
Google TV Streamer:
https://store.google.com/product/google_tv_streamer?hl=en-US&pli=1
VSEE Streaming Box:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G5BSG6RM/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2Y2C3S82H0WWB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.J3ctsTUEEAyF7F2D19QGYb6nsL9GK9nMLJdFyNNCccDFbMDVYptTYOTdbih3Ff9Pv1Fu-DVuYYgsBbac-1_9cCymGBtpDOPY2qE46lLJCAHl3v2QB-hz8dwu2CMONjgyi3hhVHdRpyTNWyMutuhZpHTeUMK08xxmYRp7Dc5gotPnIixGEeWv1vejfluJ7-fhBzJrJln4LXoC0xBJIScI5TMaU-mX1XI2nG2Z_brrkfc.9Fkv76gNWUXrIueioAcKbjPj73rxMXNpDuNzcF2r_F4&dib_tag=se&keywords=vseebox+v5+pro+2025+newest+version&qid=1764985268&sprefix=Vsee%2Caps%2C159&sr=8-5
META Glasses:
https://www.amazon.com/Meta-Ray-Ban-Glasses-Wayfarer-Frames/dp/B0CGXX2HG5/ref=sr_1_3?crid=24POM9HK2K46E&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.tYC7mP0ri9AniC-OVIMEvt6xJ5bWHhfKX1oaRocau6tlX26Go3S0_w6uru4ZDed-
This week we're discussing The Atlassian Builders Summit, which was created and produced by friends of the program: Alex and Lina Ortiz. Joining Alex, Lina, and myself is Moser's very own Marc Brickley, who not only attended the Atlassian Builders Summit, but was also a presenter. We dive into the Summit, how it came to be, how the planning went, and give a special preview for what's coming up next for these Atlassian creators.
It's pop culture deep-dive time! This week, we're talking about our favorite robots!
Who, or what, is your favorite robot in all of sci-fi?
Are you Team Terminator or Team TARS?
Do you celebrate C3PO? Are you gaga over Gundam?
Batty for Roy?
Or do you come alive for Johnny Five?
Comment on the episode or let us know on social media if we missed YOUR favorite robot!
In this week's episode, we're discussing how digital fundraising and accessibility fuel data-driven decision-making and social connection, reshaping how we solve problems and care for one another. Technology often gets a bad reputation for being distracting or divisive, but it’s also one of the most powerful tools we have to make the world better. Join us as we explore how technology can help us reconnect — with each other, with our communities, and with those who might otherwise be left behind.
🔗 Subscribe for more episodes on AI, tech trends, and the people shaping the future.
Take our survey and let us know what topics you want us to cover: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ASCIIANYTHING
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In this week's episode, we’re diving into one of the most transformative forces in modern technology — the Internet of Things, or IoT. From smart homes and connected cars, to intelligent factories and wearable health monitors, IoT is redefining how people, devices, and data interact. Our guest today is a returning guest, John Caviness, who has written extensively about IoT’s role in healthcare — specifically how wireless sensing technologies can improve patient outcomes, streamline operations, and make care more responsive. His research, “Wireless Sensing for Healthcare Solutions,” published through IEEE, explores how integrating sensors and communication systems can help solve long-standing challenges in the industry. But IoT’s influence goes far beyond healthcare — it’s reshaping entire sectors, unlocking efficiencies, and raising important questions about security, privacy, and human impact.
In this week's episode, we’re exploring one of the most important — and sometimes misunderstood — areas of modern technology: cloud computing. This invisible backbone powers everything from the apps on our phones to the systems that run global enterprises. The cloud has transformed how we store, process, and protect data, bringing huge benefits in speed, scalability, and innovation. But, those advantages come with some tough challenges — from managing security risks and compliance to keeping costs under control as cloud usage grows.
Three of Moser's resident experts are bringing their unique perspectives to us this week to discuss strategies, operations, innovations, and cost management.
In this week's episode, we’re diving into one of the most transformative approaches in modern software development — Agile. This is more than just a buzzword or a set of rituals; Agile represents a mindset shift that’s changed how teams build, collaborate, and deliver value. Join us as we explore what makes Agile successful, the benefits organizations can expect when it’s done right, and what it really takes to lead an Agile transformation — from individuals and teams to the entire enterprise. We're unpacking the principles, challenges, and best practices behind becoming truly Agile this week on ASCII Anything!
We've talked a lot about AI this season, but this week we're discussing its place in Education with one of our own, Ari Moreland.
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping classrooms across the country. From the White House to the schoolhouse, a new challenge is encouraging schools and organizations to embrace AI. And Indiana has updated graduation requirements that now emphasize STEM skills.
We’ll also review how tech giants like Google are looking to dominate the space with tools like NotebookLM, AI-powered features in Google Classroom, and new capabilities coming straight to Chromebooks. But is AI truly enhancing education, or is it taking away from the learning process? How do we draw the line between AI as a helpful study partner and AI as a shortcut? Join us as we unpack what’s happening, what it means for students, parents, and teachers, and where AI could take education next.
This week we're joined by Bryan Robertson, Moser's Senior Recruiter.
He's here to discuss a hot-button issue in the job market—Artificial Intelligence and the job search. AI tools are everywhere now: people use them to write resumes, polish cover letters, and even prepare for interviews. But while AI can be a helpful tool, it can actually hurt your chances of landing the job if used incorrectly or irresponsibly. We’ll talk about some of the biggest mistakes candidates make when relying on AI, and how to strike the right balance between technology and authenticity.
This episode focuses on the evolution of phishing and how it has transformed itself into deepfakes and sophisticated, emotionally engineered attacks. Moser's Hersey Richardson is joining us again to discuss how it's changing, why it's harder to detect, and what you can do to stay ahead.
We've come a long way from the days of clumsy emails promising lottery winnings. Today's phishing is a sophisticated cyber threat powered by AI, deepfakes, and psychological manipulation. Attackers now use realistic voice clones, AI-generated emails, and even video deepfakes to impersonate trusted individuals or leaders. What once relied on poor grammar and broken links now leverages emotional triggers, urgency, and hyper-personalization to exploit human behavior.
moserconsulting
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Malinda Lowder, Moser's Director of Sales and Marketing is joining us today to talk about the role of thought leadership in business and why it matters.
In 2009, a relatively unknown speaker took the stage at a TEDx event in Puget Sound. His idea? That people don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.
That speaker was Simon Sinek—and within a few short years, his 'Start With Why' framework became a north star for leaders across industries. Not because he shouted the loudest, but because he offered something timeless in a way people hadn’t heard before.
Thought leadership isn’t about being a know-it-all. It’s about seeing things differently—and helping others see them too. As Sinek puts it, 'Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.'
In this episode, we’re unpacking the true role of thought leadership in business. Why it matters, how it creates trust and momentum, and why the best organizations don’t just sell—they lead.
This week's episode features an engaging podcast-style Red Hat webinar we recently hosted.
Tom Simmons from Red Hat joined a panel of Moser experts that featured Shaun McAdams, Tom McGuinness, and Matt Wren to discuss ways Red Hat can help you gain a competitive advantage in the cloud and optimize your IT spending. The topics they covered include: Cloud Optimization Strategies, Real-World Cost Savings, and Open Source Innovation.
If you're a business leader or IT professional who's seeking actionable insights, then this episode is for you!
In today's episode, we're going to discuss the clarity of data-driven strategic goals with two of our own, Marcus Reed and James McKeen.
Organizations have more data at their fingertips than ever before, but turning that data into clear, actionable objectives is where the real challenge—and opportunity—lies. Teams gain a shared understanding of what success looks like and how to measure it when strategic goals are shaped by evidence rather than assumptions.
This episode's discussion unpacks why clarity matters, how data can sharpen your strategic focus, and what practices can help leaders avoid the common pitfalls of vague or misaligned objectives. Whether you’re a business leader, an analyst, or simply passionate about making better decisions, this episode will help you harness data to drive purposeful, transparent, and impactful goals.
For our premiere episode of ASCII Anything's 10th season, we're talking with Sydney Lawhead and Lillian Henninger, the summer interns for Moser's marketing department.
Sydney is a rising Senior at the University of Alabama, and Lillian is a rising Senior at Indiana University. They're joining us in a time warp sort of episode, because we split this interview into 3 parts across the entire summer. We met with them originally during their first week, again about midway through the summer, and one final time right before they left to return to school. We discussed their expectations and nerves, their projects, what they learned, and finished with recommendations for the future of the internship, as well as advice they would give to future interns. The entire interview really paints a picture of their summer and what they gained by interning at Moser.
Join us as we say goodbye to Season 9 of ASCII Anything with a look back at some of our favorite interviews and moments. Moser's new marketing intern, Lillian, joined us to sit in and co-produce on her second day at Moser. Undaunted, she jumped right into the conversation and was neither overwhelmed nor underwhelmed by her first podcast experience.
This week we're joined by Moser Consulting's Master of Disaster, Alexander Johnson. He's going to take us on a deep dive into the critical world of disaster recovery and backups and share insights on the latest strategies and technologies to safeguard your data against unforeseen events. From natural disasters to cyber-attacks, you'll learn how to implement robust backup solutions and disaster recovery plans that ensure business continuity. Whether you're a small business owner or an IT professional, this episode will equip you with the knowledge to protect your valuable data and stay ahead of potential threats.
In this week's episode, two of Moser Consulting's own, Jim McKean and Marcus Reed, join us to discuss The Overton Window and how to control it.
The Overton Window concept describes the range of ideas or policies considered socially acceptable or politically possible at any given moment. Named after Joseph Overton, a policy analyst, the idea suggests that public perception sets the boundaries of what's feasible. This means that for any idea to gain traction, it first must fall within this 'window of acceptability.'
This week, we've got Part 2 of our two-part panel discussion on Data Management as a Service, or DMaaS, with Moser's Brett Canova, Tony Wilhelm, and Brian Woolwine. This week we dive even deeper into how DMaaS is transforming the way businesses handle their data, ensuring scalability, security, and efficiency.
This week, we're hearing the first of a two-part panel discussion on Data Management as a Service, or DMaaS, with Moser's Brett Canova, Tony Wilhelm, and Brian Woolwine. We'll discuss how DMaaS is transforming the way businesses handle their data, ensuring scalability, security, and efficiency.
In this week's episode, we're joined by Moser's Hersey Richardson, who will guide us through the thrilling world of IT helpdesk adventures and misadventures. From phishing attacks to ransomware threats, discover the everyday challenges that IT professionals face and explore the strategies employed to keep systems secure. Strap in for gripping tales of combating spam, thwarting scams, and navigating sabotage during this insightful conversation that takes us "behind the screens" and offers valuable tips for staying safe in the digital age.
Join us this week for a heartwarming and nostalgic journey celebrating Moser's 29th anniversary. In this special episode, we'll be talking all things Moser with a sampling of Moser employees, from one of our longest-tenured to a relatively new employee. We'll trade stories, share memories, and listen to their reflections on what makes Moser a unique and beloved workplace. This episode is a tribute to the dedication, passion, and camaraderie that have defined Moser for nearly three decades.
This week we've got Part 2 of our 2-part discussion that starts where part 1 left off. Join us as we dovetail into cybersecurity trends around advanced AI models like DeepSeek with Moser's Director of Security and Compliance, Eric McCombs.
DeepSeek AI is a Chinese startup that gained attention for its advanced, efficient, and cost-effective AI models, particularly DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1. Those models rivaled even the most advanced models from companies like OpenAI and Meta. DeepSeek's AI Assistant has become the top-rated free application on Apple's App Store in the US. Eric is joining us to discuss rising concerns about the potential risks associated with installing DeepSeek AI on a company's network, including the possibility of accessing and exposing confidential information.
This week's episode is part 1 of a 2-part discussion that covers cybersecurity trends around advanced AI models like DeepSeek with Moser's Director of Security and Compliance, Eric McCombs.
DeepSeek AI is a Chinese startup that gained attention for its advanced, efficient, and cost-effective AI models, particularly DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1. Those models rivaled even the most advanced models from companies like OpenAI and Meta. DeepSeek's AI Assistant has become the top-rated free application on Apple's App Store in the US. Eric is joining us to discuss rising concerns about the potential risks associated with installing DeepSeek AI on a company's network, including the possibility of accessing and exposing confidential information.
In this week's episode, we'll discuss how AI and Automation are impacting impact leadership roles, explore strategies for leading through change, and look at how leaders can leverage technology to enhance—not replace—human potential.
As technology continues to evolve, automation is reshaping how we work, streamlining processes and driving efficiency. But what does that mean for leaders? How do we navigate the challenges of integrating automation while keeping teams engaged, motivated, and adaptable?
Listen to the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KZUBpj8o23M?si=R9do_uXOJUNUe19b
This week, Moser Consultants Anwar Eaton, Emma Rosen, and Sandy Nguyen join us to explore revised ADA/508 Standards and what they mean for businesses and federal agencies. We’ll break down the key updates made in 2017, which align with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, and discuss how these changes impact electronic and information technology (EIT) accessibility. We’ll cover practical steps organizations can take to ensure compliance, the risks of failing to meet these requirements, and the broader benefits of accessible technology for employees and customers with disabilities. Additionally, we’ll highlight real-world examples of companies successfully implementing these standards and share resources to help businesses navigate their Section 508 obligations.
Listen to the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/f4H56k-l4ts?si=BjLaqT_LHM-TYTDJ
This week we'll be discussing how, with the right strategies, remote IT projects can be just as efficient and productive as in-person teams—if not more.
Managing remote IT projects comes with unique challenges, and joining us this week is Moser's own Derrick Spires. Derrick is a Senior Consultant with more than a decade of experience in the IT and consulting industry. Known for managing complex projects, improving business processes, and leading cross-functional teams, Derrick has a proven track record of exceeding business goals and delivering high-quality results. Derrick has a strong background in computer software engineering and information systems and he is certified as a PMP, CSM, and KCS professional. Derrick helps clients optimize performance and achieve strategic objectives. Continuous learning and knowledge sharing are at the core of his professional mission, from coordinating distributed teams to ensuring seamless communication and collaboration. Because success hinges on leveraging the right tools, setting clear expectations, and fostering a strong team culture despite physical distance.
Listen to the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VBQ90MGJD2Y?si=JsKuqg-Z_LY5cBGw
This week's episode features Moser's Director of Quality, Alphia Stephens, who joins us to discuss audits and auditing. Alphia leads a dynamic team that thrives on the principles of continuous process improvement and exceptional service delivery. With deep expertise in information technology and a passion for service delivery and customer satisfaction, she has strategically integrated best practices to boost efficiency and quality. The team's dedication to excellence is reflected in their impressive CMMI rating and ISO 9001 certification. Aligned with the organization's culture of excellence, Alphia and her team are committed to delivering innovative solutions that consistently exceed client expectations.
Listen to the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/r-3NBpl3Fkk?si=T-24zNjqoUh1xbG9
On this week's edition of ASCII Anything we're discussing the future of work with AI agents. Joining us to talk through the development and uses of AI and AI-powered assistants is Ari Moreland, a consultant in Moser's Data & Analytics division.
Listen to the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-AkwgCbDXwY?si=g9OWaJHEbPtba9Pu
Welcome to the premiere of SEASON 9!
Dashboards are a powerful tool that transform complex data into clear, actionable insights. By consolidating key metrics in one place, they help individuals and organizations make informed decisions, track performance, and drive strategic outcomes.
Joining us this week are Moser's VP of Data & Analytics, Adrienne Watts, and one of our Senior Consultants, Melissa Steffensen. They're with us to discuss dashboard creation and the 3/30/300 principle, a design philosophy that states in 3 seconds, users should get an overview of the most important questions and areas. In 30 seconds, they should filter and zoom to identify periods and categories to focus on. And in 300 seconds, they should be able to get details on demand to inform their decisions and actions.
Listen to the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TN94S8QKmk0?si=u9csttjPtgDH3lyO
Season 8 of ASCII Anything is drawing to a close as we wind down 2024 with our traditional Best-Of episode. Join us as we revisit our favorite moments from Season 8!
We've got a little bit of everything, from the best and worst IT Tropes in pop culture to our Black Friday cavalcade of capitalism, and even a way more in-depth than expected digression for the 1990s-era Chicago Bulls that featured in our last episode on Agency.
Thank you for joining us this season, we appreciate you taking the time to listen. And if any of the clips from this week catch your ear, we encourage you to go back and listen to their full episode.
See you in early 2025 for Season 9!
On this week's show, we're talking about the power of agency. How the feeling of control and influence a person has over their environment and situation leads to higher satisfaction and greater productivity. Moser's own Marcus Reed and Jim McKean are joining us for the discussion.
Jim is a senior information technology leader and an Agile coach known for turning around troubled implementations and providing direction and drive.
Marcus is a principal consultant and team leader at Moser. He helps IT organizations reshape operations and culture to be more effective now, and industry leaders tomorrow.
Former Moser intern turned Moser Consultant Alex Payne joins us this week to discuss the updates included in the latest release of Snowflake, a cloud-based data warehousing service that allows organizations to store, manage, and analyze large amounts of data.
Alex works in Data Engineering, specializing in Data Migrations, Power Apps, Streamlit Development, and Snowflake Data Management. He is also a leader of the AI-Tig, where he presents monthly on cutting-edge AI technology. Outside of work, he enjoys playing and watching sports, as well as working out.
As the holiday season approaches, we're back with our annual crowd-sourced Black Friday gift ideas episode. Join us as we talk with some of Moser's consultants about the things they're putting under the tree this year, as well as what they're hoping to find in their own stockings.
Here are just a few of the items we covered:
The Remarkable 2 Digital Writing Tablet:
https://remarkable.com/store/remarkable-2
The Fluffy Puffin Microfiber Hand Towel:
https://www.amazon.com/JJ-KENT-Puffins-Bathroom-Attachments/dp/B0CYDTL86G?th=1
The Life Straw Personal Water Filtration System:
https://amzn.to/4hYbmRe
Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Adaptive Active Noise Cancelling Headphones:
https://amzn.to/4fQId8S
The VSee Box V3 Plus:
https://vseebox.com/v3-plus/
In this week's episode, we're going to explore the origin stories of several of our consultants and learn how they got their start in data and analytics. Joining us are: Ari, Jason, Tim, Kris, and Melissa. We'll learn what they did before joining Moser and how they made the switch from things like forestry, Japanese interpreter, teacher, and au pair. So sit tight, relax, and enjoy listening to these consultant origin stories.
The age-old cliche about tech workers is that you can spot an extrovert because they stare at your shoes instead of their own.
So, there was some hemming and hawing, and "aw, shucks" was muttered around the studio more than a few times, but we managed to get some of our Moser colleagues to talk to us about some projects or other cool things they've done in their careers or personal lives.
We're happy to share these stories with you and happier still that collecting them helped us get to know some of our fellow Moserites even better.
Enjoy!
And if you'd like to learn more about St. Baldricks, or to make a donation to help them find a cure for childhood cancers, here's the link:
https://www.stbaldricks.org/
Moser's Director of Sales and Marketing, Malinda Lowder (Podcast Mom!), is joining us this week to discuss guerilla marketing, a marketing strategy that uses unconventional methods to attract customers and promote a product or service.
From nontraditional media placement to not quite Olympic coverage, and, frankly speaking, far more hot dog references than we were expecting...we really enjoyed this week's talk. We hope you will, too!
This week we're joined by two of Moser's consultants to discuss AI Ethics and Biases. Nathan Rinard and John Caviness have been great guests during past episodes of ASCII Anything and we're very excited to welcome them back for a chat on this very important and ever-evolving topic.
Today's episode tackles a theme that is either loved or hated: MEETINGS.
Our guest David Brown is the founder of Convergence Consulting, an organization that works with businesses that help people reach their full potential and accept responsibility for their role in transforming the world. The company is currently fulfilling contracts in service of executive leaders, progressive congregations, LGBTQ social services, and high school students. They also provide meeting facilitation and program delivery to companies of all sizes with their proprietary programs and other organizations’ materials. David has spoken to audiences of all ages across the country for more than 30 years in a variety of settings. He passionately helps nonprofit organizations be more effective and empathetic when engaging their paid and volunteer staff members. He is the author of three books and several plays.
This week, we're joined by Matt Bennett, Natalie Fischesser, and Marc Brickley from Moser Labs, one of Moser Consulting's newest departments. We'll be taking a deep dive into how Moser Labs came to be, its mission, what it's currently focused on. We'll explain a few projects that have been released, and where Moser Labs is headed in the future.
And to do that I've got the very smart people behind this, Moser Consulting's Vice President of Application Services, Matt Bennett, the Director of Moser Labs, Natalie Fischesser, and our Director for Software Engineering Marc Brickley.
Matt Bennet's mission trips to underserved communities inspire him to build solutions that empower users.
Natalie Fischesser's charitable design work influences her focus on delivering user-centered experiences.
And Marc Brickley's experience coaching youth sports translates into creating products that foster teamwork.
Together, they bring a shared mission to improve lives—both in their communities and through the products we create at Moser. Today, we’ll explore how their values drive our work within Moser Labs.
This week Producer Brian brought some backup. The rest of the Moser Marketing Team is joining us! We're talking with Malinda Lowder, our Director of Marketing and Sales at Moser Consulting, Janelle Shideler and Jade Layman our Graphic Designers, and Latisha "Tish" Guinn, our Marketing Coordinator, about current trends, how the industry has evolved, and what services Moser's Marketing team can provide.
This week we're taking with two of Moser's summer interns, Adam Lowder and Ethan Murphy about the effects of AI in the classroom.
Ethan is a rising junior at Purdue University studying finance with a concentration in leadership, he spends most of his time invested in extracurricular activities such as the Larsen Leaders Academy on campus where he is the Vice President of Data Analytics, he offers a unique experience with AI having competed in a case competition as the main driver being generative AI, along with utilizing AI in the classroom.
Adam is a senior at Indiana University Kelley School of Business in Indianapolis studying Supply chain management and International Business. He is a dedicated worker and problem solver with an entrepreneurial spirit. He is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, a certification that signifies expertise in the Lean Six Sigma methodology. This approach focuses on improving efficiency and quality in supply chain operations through data-driven decision-making and process optimization. Adam is a business operations analyst for the summer at Moser Consulting.
Two of Moser's top consultants, Shannon Call and Anwar Eaton, are joining us this week to discuss UX Design.
Shannon's excitement for user experience comes from her relentless drive to improve products that don’t function smoothly, constantly assessing which adjustments could enhance a product's functionality and user engagement. Her creative approach—no matter the medium—is to create an enjoyable experience and to ultimately be an advocate for the end user. With more than 10 years of experience in the industry, she has worked with international clients such as Cigna, Bayer Crop Science, and Eli Lilly.
Anwar is passionate about UX and aims to create user-friendly products for everyone. He has a Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction and more than eight years of experience in UX, having worked for companies such as Eli Lilly, Liberty Mutual, and the Health and Human Services Department. In addition to his dedication to creating accessible products, he shares his knowledge with the next generation of UX designers by lecturing at IUPUI (now IU Indianapolis).
Premiere Episode of ASCII Anything’s 8th Season!
Join us for an exciting start to our 8th season with some crowd-sourced content you won’t want to miss! We asked Moser’s consultants to share their thoughts on the best and worst IT representations and tropes in popular culture. And trust us, they have opinions! This episode covers a lot of ground, from TV and movies to the quirky world of felony-assisting cereal box prizes. Tune in for a fun and insightful discussion!
Here are some links to a few of our favorites and least favorites.
NCIS: Two Techs, One Keyboard:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl6rsi7BEtk
ENHANCE!:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxq9yj2pVWk
War Games Social Engineering:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UqEg1cFqig
War Games Phone Freaking:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkMX4s6ZstQ
Independence Day Hacking Alients With A Macbook:
https://youtu.be/0SA1iJR8HzY?si=-nCS9thRjyn15fP7&t=76
JARVIS in Iron Man:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt1dBr2Jz78
It's the final episode of Season 7!
Experience time and space condensing into a singularity with host Angel Leon and Producer Brian as they guide you through ASCII's rendition of the Multiverse!
We'll revisit some of our favorite episodes and guests from Season 7 and have some laughs along the way.
Thank you for tuning in this season and we'll see you in August for Season 8!
For the penultimate episode of Season 7, we're joined by Moser's own Natalie Fischesser to talk about the origins and capabilities of the Wellness by Moser Labs Application.
Natalie is passionate about creating amazing user experiences through thoughtfully built web applications. As Director of Moser Labs, she oversees the strategy, planning, and execution of Moser's internal business apps. Through her 15+ years at Moser, Natalie has worked as a UX Designer, Scrum Master (CSM Certified), and Team Manager. She believes strong teams are built through collaboration and transparency and she's always looking for ways to leverage her teammates' strengths. Natalie is a creator by nature, and in her free time, she has been learning watercolor and helping friends with business branding and design needs.
To learn more about The Wellness App, visit www.moserlabs.work/wellness
This week's episode focuses on a terrific benefit we get as employees at Moser Consulting, our Wellness Program. Paula Moser, Moser's VP of Administration, is joining us to talk about the app we use to administrate our wellness program, which will soon be available to the public.
This week we're talking about spring cleaning, with a returning guest, Moser's own Kevin Guinn. But, we're not your garage or basement, Kevin's here to help you keep your computer clean as a whistle and running in tip-top condition. It's time to roll up our sleeves and grab our digital brooms, because let's face it, if we don't, we might just find ourselves buried under a pile of forgotten files, outdated apps, and emails from that guy in accounting who can't seem to stop hitting 'reply all.'
So join us as we dive into the digital dumpster and come out the other side with computers so clean, you could eat off them. But please don't...crumbs in the keyboard are definitely an easily avoidable part of the problem.
Philip Smith is joining us this week to talk about his experience as a Filipino American.
Philip was born in Pangasinan, Philippines and was adopted by Americans. He resides in Indianapolis and is the Founder of The Philippine Cultural Community Center, AAPI Pride, and The Kitchen of Culture. He is dedicated to Public Service and Community Service. He has a loving husband and a daughter. Philip was also a foster parent of seven children that have all been reunited with their families. He's an avid gardener and enjoys baking and traveling in his free time.
Casey Poschinger is joining us this week to discuss ways to use AI to increase opportunities for women in tech. Casey is a Senior Consultant within our Core Technology division, as well as a Service Delivery Manager with Moser Consulting. She specializes in SharePoint and Microsoft O365. With a passion for technology since childhood, Casey has been officially working in the IT field since 2007. Additionally, Casey advocates for young women to get involved in STEM careers, promoting diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. She currently resides in Indianapolis and, along with her husband and two children, is actively involved in her local community.
Kevin Guinn joins us this week to talk about Microsoft Copilot. Kevin is a Senior Consultant in Moser Consulting's Core Technologies Division and has been surfing the digital waves since the days of the Oregon Trail - and no, we're not talking about the one with the wagons and dysentery. With 20 years clocked in on the tech professional scene and a whopping 36 years as a tech enthusiast (we're talking MacIntosh, not Mac - get it right, folks), he's the go-to guru when your gadgets go haywire.
In today's episode, we're joined by two of Moser's finest: our Vice President of the Data & Analytics Division, Adrienne Watts, and the Director of Strategy for our Data & Analytics Division, Cody Friend. We're talking about how AI can enhance jobs and productivity.
Adrienne Watts is Vice President of Data & Analytics for Moser Consulting. She brings more than 20 years of experience leveraging data to drive business growth and innovation. She has worked with a diverse range of clients, including large Fortune 500 companies, small-to-medium businesses, and non-profit organizations. As a thought leader, she enjoys partnering with clients to develop an organization's strategy, helping them gain value from their data and transform "noise" into narrative via data visualization and advanced analytics. Adrienne has a passion for leveraging AI and Machine Learning to improve the human experience and automate processes. Her role at Moser provides the opportunity to partner with all kinds of organizations, helping them unravel the potential within their data and achieve measurable results. She has a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from DePauw University, a Master's in Business Administration from Anderson University, and a commitment to continuous learning as demonstrated through certifications, including MIT's professional education program, studying Machine Learning and Applied Statistics for data science. No matter where you are in your D&A journey: just beginning to think about exploring options & unsure of where to start, or well-advanced with a dedicated team, she welcomes a conversation - reach out to chat about strategies and opportunities in this dynamic field.
Cody Friend is a talented strategist and data expert with more than a decade of experience in various industries. As the Director of Strategy in Data & Analytics at Moser Consulting, he leads a team of professionals in delivering innovative solutions for clients in industries ranging from healthcare to finance. Prior to joining Moser, Cody worked as a data engineer for a large regional bank, where he honed his technical skills and developed a deep understanding of the role data plays in business strategy. He also spent six years in higher education, working for both public and private universities, where he helped to shape the next generation of professionals. Cody earned his MBA with a concentration in Finance from Anderson University, where he developed a comprehensive understanding of financial strategy and management. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science, which has been instrumental in his success in the field of data analytics.
Today we're talking with another one of our own, John Caviness, a Senior Consultant within Moser's Core Technologies division. John's joining us to talk about AI, and more specifically, how to take the AI journey securely and Ethically.
John Caviness is a Ball State Alum, with a master’s degree in information and communication sciences. When he isn’t doing his day job for Moser, John is often finding ways to leverage emerging technologies to try to answer the question, “What can we do to make things easier, better, or more efficient?”
This week we're talking with one of our own, Nathan Rinard, Moser's Director of Product Development within our Data & Analytics division. Nathan's joining us to talk about how to get your AI project off the ground, how to dip your toes, if you will in the AI pool.
Nathan is a seasoned professional, with more than a decade of experience in the technology industry. His commitment to excellence has earned him a reputation as a trusted leader and innovator in the field. Nathan is passionate about helping organizations drive value from their data and is committed to delivering the highest level of quality and service to every client. He is eagerly looking forward to the opportunity to help your organization achieve its technology goals and drive sustainable growth for years to come.
In this week's episode, we're talking about active listening with our guest Lori Kuroiwa.
Lori Kuroiwa is a seasoned Learning and Development leader with more than a decade of experience, specializing in cultivating organizational growth through strategic learning initiatives. With a rich background in Educational Technology companies, Lori has honed her skills over 13 years while driving impactful change in employee development for sales professionals and leaders. She is an active member of the Indiana chapter of the Association of Talent Development and Toastmasters International. Grounded in her belief in the transformative potential of effective communication, Lori is passionate about empowering individuals and organizations to harness the power of active listening.
In today's episode, we're celebrating International Women's Day, specifically a superpower that women possess with our special guest Twila Brown.
Twila Brown is a Writer, Content Developer, and Speaker at NoviEdge. As a seasoned professional with a passion for people development, she leverages her past experiences in her creating and storytelling. Twila has had the opportunity to serve in various levels of leadership with organizations ranging from Fortune 500 to celebrity start-ups. Throughout her career, helping and developing people has always been her core motivation. Outside of work, her mission is to leave a legacy of mentoring and discipling the next generation, whether it be her own children, or through community organizations. In rare moments of spare time, Twila enjoys baking, walking, and listening to one of her favorite podcasts!
Moser people got jokes!
We asked the consultants at Moser to share their favorite IT jokes with us and they delivered! (An important point to make is that we said "Favorite" not "Best" and those are two different things.)
We have knee slappers and eye rollers to share with you this week. If you have a favorite IT joke that you want to share, please send it to us!
In this week's episode of Ascii Anything we're talking with tech influencer Alex Ortiz.
Alex is a seasoned Jira expert, helping teams of all sizes effectively use Jira and the rest of the Atlassian tools via technical tutorials he posts on his YouTube channel. He has more than seven years of experience using Atlassian tools as an administrator and as an end-user. When he’s not making YouTube videos, he’s on Udemy teaching folks all around the world to improve their Jira skills. Alex is also a co-host of The Jira Life, an up-and-coming podcast dedicated to highlighting all the great things and people in the Atlassian community.
In this week's episode, we're joined by Marc Brickley, Moser's Director of Software Engineering, to discuss best practices when working with Jira.
Marc has more than twenty years of experience delivering custom software solutions. He has an extensive background in both the federal government and commercial sectors, with experience in military aviation, logistics, and consulting. Marc brings experience leading projects larger than $5M and smaller than $20K, advising our clients how to right-size solutions. Marc embraces the Agile concept of providing value quickly and then adding iterative improvements. In his free time, Marc enjoys volunteering as a youth basketball coach and hosting family game nights.
This week's episode of Ascii Anything focuses on the benefits of coaching, a topic we've discussed in the past. Today we're getting David Bartholomew's insights on this topic and much more.
David is a distinguished leader in change leadership and organizational behavior with more than three decades of experience in strategic leadership transformation. His expertise lies in diagnosing and rectifying organizational misalignments, fostering collaborative cultures, and leading global change initiatives. David's credentials include a retired state psychotherapy license and certifications in areas such as organizational development, expert coaching, change management, and strategic leadership. Renowned for his ability to simplify complex challenges, David is a sought-after speaker and advisor, known for his insightful, transformative strategies in the world of business leadership and organizational effectiveness.
Thank you for joining us for Season 7 of Ascii Anything!
Our first episode of the season is focused on World Braille Day and features Moser Consulting's Tom Coburn, one of Moser's consultants who was born with Rubella, causing life-long vision of 20/100 before he became totally blind in 2020. World Braille Day is a day that celebrates the life-changing impact of Louis Braille's invention and the accessibility it has brought to millions of visually impaired individuals worldwide.
Tom overcame that significant challenge to utilize his knowledge of computer information systems, but didn't learn Braille until later in life. He is facing this new obstacle by continuing to learn Braille. Tom has 10 years of previous call center experience and brings more than his technical expertise, but also excellent communication skills to his work. His ability to adapt and thrive despite any challenges makes him a valuable member of the Moser Consulting team.
For more information on resources for the blind, including Braille and World Braille Day, you can visit:
nfb.org
To learn more about employment opportunities for blind people and people with low vision, you can visit:
bosma.org
To purchase braille materials and other resources for low vision adaptability:
freedomscientific.org
maxiaids.com
humanware.com
It's crowd-source time again at ASCII Anything as we're joined this week by a number of our coworkers. We asked Moser's consultants about their favorite holiday movies and traditions and they were more than happy to tell us about them!
Make yourself a cup of cocoa, snuggle up by the fire, and enjoy this week's episode. We're heading into the end of the year and the end of the season, so our next episode will be our Season 6 recap.
As the year winds down, so does Season 6 of ASCII Anything.
In this finale episode, Host Angel Leon and Producer Brian talk through some of their favorite episodes from Season 6.
From Guatemala Service Projects to Employee Resource Groups and some favorite holiday traditions and movies from Moser employees, take a look back at Season 6 with us before we take a between-season break over the holidays.
Thanks for joining us and we'll see you in 2024 for Season 7!
Guatemala Service Projects:
www.guatsp.org
Recipe for a Rum Old Fashioned:
https://www.simplyrecipes.com/rum-old-fashioned-recipe-6260127
This week's Ascii Anything features Mitch Isaacs of the Shafer Leadership Academy talking about leadership and embracing optimalism.
Mitch has over 20 years of leadership development experience and was named Shafer Leadership Academy’s Executive Director in May 2015. In this role, he works closely with the organization’s board of directors to fulfill the mission of the organization. He is responsible for creating vision, connecting with stakeholders, administering program offerings and leading the organization in meaningful ways.
He graduated from Ball State University in 2002 with a double major in History and Political Science and a minor in Counseling Psychology before completing his master’s degree in student Affairs and Higher Education at Indiana State University.
Mitch returned to Ball State in 2005 and spent the next 10 years as a working professional in Higher Education, including five years as the Director of the Excellence in Leadership program, and Coordinator of the Leadership Studies Minor.
Today we're joined by John McConda, one of Moser Consulting's Principal Consultants, to discuss how AI could be Judgement Day for testers.
John is a Principal Consultant and serves as the Technology Lead for Quality Engineering at Moser Consulting. He has been working in Software Quality and Testing for over 20 years and is a speaker, writer, and teacher on Software Quality topics.
Chris Boyd, one of Moser Consulting's Principal Consultants is joining us today to talk about Oracle Cloud Infrastructure or OCI.
Chris is a Principal Consultant at Moser Consulting and serves as the Oracle Technology Lead. He has been with Moser for the past eight years and has been an Oracle Database Administrator for thirty years. He has experience in a wide array of technologies in the database, system administration, and development arenas.
This week we're joined by Moser's marketing team to talk through some of their Black Friday wish-list items and suggestions. And while we do that, we have plenty of literal holiday spirit, or spirits, in our sampling of delicious cocktails.
LINKS TO GIFTS WE DISCUSS:
Microphone:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y1C6GDS?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1
Eagle Rare 25 Year Bourbon:
https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/our-brands/eagle-rare/eagle-rare-25.html
Car Charger:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09SC2GNFJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
Mechanical Keyboard:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092LHVB4N?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_7H7FPDMHYS9BZZ7QTHGS
This week we're joined again by Kelsey Aaron, the Executive Director of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. We're going to be talking about International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, which is coming up on Saturday, November 18th.
This week we're joined by Moser's own Katie Ryan and her husband, Jerremy Jarvis. In today's episode we're highlighting Veterans Day and beyond that, we're going to be talking about Employee Resource Groups or ERGs and how Jerremy plays a key role in his organization's ERG for Veterans.
Katie Ryan is a recruiter for Moser Consulting with a bachelor's degree in psychology, and she is currently working towards her master's degree in strategic leadership from the University of Indianapolis. Katie is also a Captain in the Indiana Army National Guard with over 8 years of service, including a combat deployment to Afghanistan in 2019-2020.
Jerremy Jarvis is a Sr Engagement Manager at a global cloud software company and has over 6 years of experience in the software space. Additionally, Jerremy is an Army Military Intelligence Officer, and Captain, in the Army Reserve with an overseas combat deployment in 2019-2020. At his company, Jerremy has served as a leader in the Military and Veteran’s Employee Belonging Council since 2020; advancing and promoting the military, veteran, military spouse, and military supporter community.
THIS EPISODE MENTIONS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SERVICES AND GROUPS, YOU CAN VISIT THESE WEBSITES FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Wreaths Across America:
www.wreathsacrossamerica.org
Honor Flight:
www.honorflight.org
The Southeastern Indiana Veterans Museum in Rising Sun, IN:
www.facebook.com/seiveteransmuseum/
This week we are talking about turning data into web applications with Streamlit. We're joined by two folks at Moser, Sarah Graddy and Brian MacDonald, who have been working with Streamlit on projects.
Sarah Graddy is a Data & Analytics Intern at Moser Consulting. She works with Python and GitHub and graduated from Kennesaw State University in May 2023 with a computer science degree.
Brian MacDonald is a technology leader and innovatorwith a diverse background in the technology space. He loves to build products/services that will stand the test of time and be scalable and dynamic in their use. He enjoys working with a variety of clients and organizations to drive innovative solutions that will get the most from their data. He is committed to giving organizations the best solution that fits their specific needs and that’s of most value to them. Creating the tools so that organizations can make data-based decisions is what motivates Brian to be creative and be driven towards long-term solutions.
We have return visitors to ASCII Anything for this week's episode!
Lori Wheeler and Mike Boris are with us again and this time they're talking through some of the challenges and solutions they've experienced over the years.
From challenges that would be considered small bumps in the road to others that are akin to strapping on a crash helmet and jumping across Snake River Canyon, they've seen a lot!
This week we're joined by ASCII Anything's Podcast Mom, Malinda Lowder, to talk about how the podcast came to be, where we've been, and where we plan to go in the future.
Surprise guests! Celebrities!! Exciting prize giveaways!!!
NONE of these things feature in this week's exciting 100th episode of ASCII Anything!
See our first VIDEO podcast at:
https://youtu.be/wwdz_72s3Ss?si=8uCX_JODI7mFBmXO
This week we're joined by Moser's own John Caviness to talk about security awareness. In the words of Nirvana, "Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after you."
John's a consultant in Moser Managed Services. He has a master’s degree in Information and Communications Sciences from Ball State University and has been working in the Managed Services sector since 2018. He holds certifications in Windows Server Administration and ITIL IT Service Management.
This week's episode features two of our own, Megan Saylor and Doug Beers from Moser's Learning Services department. They're talking to us about Learning Management Systems.
Megan is a Senior Consultant and Engagement Manager at Moser Consulting and has been with the company for 10 years. Her main focus has been in Middleware, as an LMS Systems Owner. She has been an EM for over 3 years and she is also currently an administrator of Moser’s own LMS, called HRLearn, for both internal use and future client engagements! She is certified in BBST Foundations of Software Testing, ICAgile: Foundations of DevOps, Scaled Agile: SAFe Agilist, Learn Server Administration (Blackboard) and Presenting Powerful Presentations.
Doug is a Senior Consultant for the Learning Services division at Moser Consulting and has been with the company for 9+ years. He is looking forward to expanding the Learning Services impact at Moser and to our clients through implementing learning management systems and content management. He is certified in Scaled Agile: Certified SAFe Agilist, BBST Foundations of Software Testing, and ICAgile: ICP Foundations of DevOps.
This week we're joined by Moser's own Derrick Spires, who will be discussing with us the benefits of Project Management.
Derrick Spires has over 10 years’ experience in his project management career. He has served clients in the public and private sectors to manage projects in a range of industries, including training and development, knowledge management, construction, and healthcare information technology and infrastructure. The latter of which is where he has spent most of his project management service. Having had the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects, from small-scale implementations to large-scale enterprise-wide initiatives, he has found that significant project issues are always preceded by subtle symptoms and indicators.
Chadd Wheat is joining us again, but this time he's not talking Tales of IT Terror. He's here to talk about character in leadership and how a leader's character plays an important role in their leadership style, affecting the performance of their entire team, and often making the difference between success and failure.
Our guest this week is Kelsey Aaron. She's the Executive of the Indiana Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
She joined The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in March 2016 as a volunteer. Now as the AFSP Executive Director for Indiana, she supports AFSP’s mission of saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide by working with the AFSP's staff members and amazing volunteers to raise awareness. Kelsey does all of this to honor her dad, who she lost by suicide in November 2001.
Our guest this week is Jamie McCabe, founder of Special Needs Living Magazine, the first Special Needs magazine in Indiana.
**Jamie grew up in Waterford, Michigan, and graduated from Waterford Mott High School. She moved to Indianapolis in 2007 to work with Cutco Cutlery where she ran a district office in Kalamazoo Michigan as a District Manager. She has 3 kids - Jordan 11, Jaylin 6, and Jade 4. Her son started having seizures at 18 months old and was diagnosed with Autism at almost 5. He has always been nonverbal but over the last year he has made some incredible progress.
Jamie started working as a franchise owner with the N2 Company in 2013. She has run multiple community magazines over the last decade. From her pain to purpose she started the first Special Needs Living Magazine in Indiana in 2020. They expanded to Ohio in 2022 and she is proud to bring one to her home state of Michigan to celebrate, support, connect, and impact the special needs community.**
This week, we're joined by Jonah Nichols, one of Moser Consulting's summer interns. Jonah is working within our Data and Analytics division as a data engineering intern. He is a computer engineering student at Purdue University, entering his senior year. He is interested in machine learning and cyber security. His non-technical interests include reading, playing basketball, practicing piano, and learning Spanish. Jonah's internship is focused on designing an interface for Moser's Honeycomb platform.
This week we're joined by coach and mentor, Amy Snow. What is coaching? What is mentoring? What are the differences between the two? That's what we'll be discussing!
Amy is a former Division I soccer player and lifelong participant in sports who loves what being an athlete has done for her in every aspect of her life. She graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor’s in Statistics and Biometry and a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.). She captained the varsity soccer squad her junior and senior years, was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year her freshman year and earned multiple All-Ivy honors and Athletic Academic All-American status during her tenure there. She was also inducted into the New York State Girls Soccer Hall of Fame in 2018. And while she imagined the transition from sports would be hard, she didn’t know how hard…until she got there. That is why she is also passionate about helping college and professional athletes manage their transitions from sports to their new careers. Helping them to create a game plan, challenging them to push themselves in new ways, and ultimately getting them to their goals faster than they could on their own is incredibly rewarding and energizing!
ASCII's season six is starting off with a bang! We've got a great guest to kick off the new season. Joining us is Jennifer Demar, who runs Guatemala Service Projects, an organization that works with local community leaders in Guatemala, listening to their concerns and needs and then springing into action; developing ways to plan, fund, and deliver projects that meet those needs. They have done magnificent work in Guatemala and are continuing to do so!
Join us for a look back at some of our favorite moments from Season 5.
We'll be back in August for Season 6, see you then!
Joining us this week are Sarah Moore and Kris Anderson from our Data & Analytics Division. They're here to talk to us about Unleashing the Power of Power BI.
Sarah is Principal Consultant and Technology Lead at Moser. She leads the DataViz Technology Interest Group and works as a data visualization engineer in the Analytics Department. She has a passion for combining creativity with complex data and analysis, stemming from her 10+ years of experience in a variety of industries and international environments. She also loves the outdoors and is a volunteer on the board of the Central Indiana Wilderness Club.
Kris is a Senior Consultant, Team Manager, and Delivery Manager at Moser. He is currently working as a BI engineer, developing full-stack solutions from data ingestion to report creation. He has worked with Power BI for more than 7 years, both as a developer as well as personally utilizing reports he built for operations management and strategic planning in manufacturing. He has a passion for data modeling and helping clients make the most of their data with robust, flexible reporting solutions. He has also worked as a Japanese interpreter after having spent 4 years living in Japan.
Joining us this week to talk about the value of Moser's Honeycomb product is the Director of Strategy for our Data & Analytics division, Cody Friend.
Cody is a talented strategist and data expert with more than a decade of experience in various industries. As the Director of Strategy within our Data & Analytics Division, he leads a team of professionals in delivering innovative solutions for clients in industries ranging from healthcare to finance. Prior to joining Moser, Cody worked as a data engineer for a large regional bank, where he honed his technical skills and developed a deep understanding of the role data plays in business strategy. He also spent six years in higher education, working for both public and private universities, where he helped to shape the next generation of professionals. Cody earned his MBA with a concentration in Finance from Anderson University, where he developed a comprehensive understanding of financial strategy and management. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science, which has been instrumental in his success in the field of data analytics.
With us today to talk about why an analytics platform solution is a key asset to your business are Nathan Rainard and Brian McDonald.
Nathan is Moser's Director of Product Development within our Data and Analytics Division and he is a seasoned professional, with over a decade of experience in the technology industry. His commitment to excellence has earned him a reputation as a trusted leader and innovator in the field. Nathan is passionate about helping organizations drive value from their data and is committed to delivering the highest level of quality and service to every client. He is eagerly looking forward to the opportunity to help your organization achieve its technology goals and drive sustainable growth for years to come.
Brian is a technology leader and innovator that has a diverse background in the technology space. He loves to build products/services that will stand the test of time and be scalable and dynamic in their use. He enjoys working with a variety of clients and organizations to drive innovative solutions that will get the most of their data. I am committed to giving organizations the best solution that fits their specific needs that’s of the most value to them. Creating the tools so that organizations can make data-based decisions is what motivates me to be creative and drive toward long-term solutions.
This week, we're joined by Dave Rodriguez, the CEO and Founder of Destinyworks, LLC to talk about finding your calling.
Dave is an author, speaker, consultant, and personal coach. For more than 40 years Dave served as a pastor in churches on the East Coast and in the Midwest before launching Destinyworks in 2020 to help people and organizations discover their unique callings and enhance their personal well-being.
Dave attended the University of Pittsburgh and Moody Theological Seminary in Chicago. He also received an honorary doctorate from Taylor University.
He's been happily married to Penny for over 40 years. He loves and is proud of his adult children and is especially fond of his grandkids! When not coaching, writing, or speaking, you’ll likely find Dave enjoying music of all kinds or indulging in his hobby of cooking.
Lesley Mackellar is joining us again this week to talk about another aspect of emotional intelligence. Today, we're talking about Stress and Resilience.
How do we handle stress? How do we process it and how do we recover from it?
Our guest today is Lesley Mackellar. She's going to be talking to us about emotional intelligence. Lesley is helping Moser Consulting put together a very thorough workshop on emotional intelligence or EQ and today she's joining us to go over some of its curricula and to speak about the topic in general.
Lesley was born in Zimbabwe and lived in Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom before settling in the United States more than 30 years ago. For the past 5 years, she has been leading her own executive coaching and leadership development practice. She has worked with over 300 executives in a variety of industries and frequently focused on developing emotional intelligence capabilities.
With more than 25 years of business experience on three continents, she works with organizations to address their critical business challenges and improve overall results. To support these efforts, Lesley works with leaders to identify the changes they need to make personally or with their teams to ensure organizational change is sustainable.
Ain't no party like a business analyst party, cuz a business analyst party don't stop...asking questions and nailing down the details of your specific business case!
What's a business analyst? What do they do? Find out this week as we talk with to Moser team members Lori Wheeler and Mike Boris.
Lori is a Senior Business Analyst, Team Manager, and Principal Consultant at Moser Consulting. With 20+ years of experience, she specializes in business analysis across finance, non-profit, insurance, and manufacturing sectors. She's a certified product owner and scrum master, currently working towards her CBAP certification. As a certified life coach, Lori combines her expertise in both business analysis and personal development to inspire and guide her clients to achieve success. Lori also provides mentoring and training to other business analysts.
Mike is also a Principal Consultant with Moser. He has a degree in Ceramic Engineering, and 20+ years of Business Analysis. His work has been more closely aligned with industrial and regulated manufacturing, as well as logistics and process improvement. He got into cyber-security during the GDPR rollout and as a Technical Lead he has the opportunity to develop internal processes, mentor less experienced BAs and spread Christmas Cheer. His interests include 3D printing, cycling and vocal performance. He’s an extrovert influencer who really didn’t like the isolation of the pandemic and is glad to be back out in the world.
Joining us this week is Alex Perry, the CEO of Practically Speaking, LLC. She's also the host of the Crash Courses in Communication podcast and the author of Minivan Mogul: A Crash Course in Confidence for Women.
Alex spent nearly two decades as a Speech-Language Pathologist, helping people regain the ability to talk after illness or injury. She is a motivational TEDx speaker, facilitator, and mentor. She helps others speak and share their stories with confidence using strategies she’s learned the hard way throughout her career.
Her background includes advanced work in adult neurology and emotional intelligence, which allows her to blend a scientific approach to speaking and her love of storytelling and humor into her work with individual clients and corporate teams.
This weeks episode features life hacks from Moser's consultants.
We hope you enjoy learning some of our favorite tips, tricks, techniques, and strategies for managing things when it comes things from home repair and camping to the best way to chill your favorite beverages.
And if you've got a favorite life hack of your own, feel free to share it with us on social media!
We're joined this week by Moser's Director of Marketing, Malinda Lowder. In this episode, we explore different reasons for saying no in the office and how to go about saying no effectively and professionally.
Steven Peavey, the Director of Strategy for Moser's Application Services division, is joining us again this week to dig deeper into generative AI, with a special focus on the endangered artist.
When we spoke about generative AI last week, we described what it was and how it could affect the workforce, but today we're going to be talking about how disruptive generative AI could be for many creative professionals.
We hope you're buckled in because Producer Brian called this episode "truly terrifying" and found it even scarier than our "Tales of Terror From the Haunted Help Desk" Halloween episode!
Steven Peavey, Moser's Director of Strategy for our Application Services Division joins us for today's episode. We're going to be talking about Generative AI.
Steven has been with Moser Consulting for 6 years. Prior to becoming a director, he was a developer, designer, scrum master, product owner, and engagement manager.
On this week's episode of ASCII Anything, we're joined by Thresette Briggs. She's the founder and Chief Performance Officer for Performance 3 and is here to talk about inclusion and belonging.
Thresette is an author and award-winning consultant. Her organization, Performance 3 or P3, is a national leadership development firm that builds high-performing leaders through keynotes, training and facilitation, and coaching services. Thresette holds multiple honors and certifications, including the 2022 Great Lakes Women's Business Council Indiana WBE role model/mentor of the year. She received her BBA from Wichita State University, her MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University, and she's a graduate of Leadership Indianapolis.
This week we're joined by Moser's own Shawna Moser, the Learning and Development Manager at Moser Consulting.
Shawna's been with the company for more than 10 years. Her focus is on logistics, client relations, distribution and debriefing of assessments through Target Training International, and helping others be their best. She's certified in DISC, Driving Forces, Emotional Intelligence, and Job Benchmarking. In her free time, she enjoys sports and spending time with her husband, four boys, and their two dogs.
Episode 2 continues our deep dive into data management, but this time with a twist.
Moser Senior Consultant Tope Akinmoladun joins us to talk to us about a day in the life of a data manager-as-a-service consultant.
Tope joined Moser as a Database Administrator in 2022 and is now a SQL Server Administrator. He's worked in different industries like telecommunications, utilities, and gaming. His expertise is in SQL Server Administration ranging from monitoring user access and security, upgrades and migration, and performance tuning. Outside of work, Tope enjoys spending time with family and friends, soccer, playing video games, and listening to Afro-beats music.
It's season premiere time at ASCII Anything as we welcome Moser's very own Tony Wilhelm to talk with us about the Assessments piece of our Data Management Process.
Tony has been with Moser since 2020 and brings with him a wide range of experience in Microsoft's Data Platform, including Microsoft Access and SQL Server 7.0. His primary focus is High Availability/Disaster Recovery with performance a very close second. And when he's not behind the keyboard, you can usually find him tinkering in the garage or out on the water.
ASCII Anything's host Angel Leon and Producer Brian revisit their favorite episodes, guests, and nuggets of information from Season 4.
From virtual events to a live recording at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Porsche Carrera Cup racecar driver Matty Graham, it was a very fun and exciting season that we greatly enjoyed revisiting.
But sure to check out the full episode of any clip that you enjoy.
We hope you have a safe and happy holiday season and we'll see you in 2023 for Season 5 of ASCII Anything!
This week we're joined by Julie Migliacci, an expert in Virtual Event Planning and Hosting. Julie has more than 17 years of high-touch customer service and event planning under her belt. There isn’t an event type she hasn’t planned before, from large celebrity fundraisers, virtual conferences, and premier cooking shows. She is always up for a new challenge and creating unique experiences for clients and their guests. Hailing from France, Julie has lived in 4 countries and considers herself a global citizen. She currently resides in Boston, MA, and is always looking for an opportunity to jump on a plane to do something new. If left on a deserted island, Julie would bring her sourdough starter (named Steve) and her cats.
This week host Angel Leon and Producer Brian welcome some of Moser's jolliest elves to talk about the gifts they're excited to get and to give this holiday season.
Moser's very own Samantha Parrish joins us this week to talk about working in IT as a non-IT person. From not faking it until you make it, to recognizing the role everyone has on a given team, to coding languages, building platforms, and so many acronyms it looks like an industrial accident at an alphabet soup factory, she'll tell us how she found her way and her place at Moser Consulting.
Caitlin Kavarsky, Moser's Senior Business Development Manager joins us this week, along with MedPro CIO Brian Gray. They're here to talk to us about vendor/client relationships and how building trust through long-term partnerships pays dividends for everyone involved.
Moser Consulting's Director of Data, and previous Podcast guest Tim Mack is joined this week by Shaun Watts, one of Moser Consulting's Principal Consultants. They're here to talk about data management as a service. How can your company benefit from defining that large amount of data? How can you harness that data in order to improve its reliability and efficiency, ensuring you meet regulatory requirements?
We cover this and much, much more on this week's episode of ASCII Anything.
We're on location at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to follow up with this season's Episode 4 guest, race car driver Matty Graham. He's in the US and was gracious enough to sit down with us before his first practice session of the day to discuss his trip over and his excitement and expectations for this weekend's race.
Moser's Director of Data, Tim Mack, joins us this week to talk about career transition. Many people working in the IT space don't start there and Tim is one of them. We really enjoyed hearing about how his path took him from a job with the National Forestry Service in Idaho to working at Moser Consulting. We think you will too!
This week we're joined by Moser's Director of Marketing, Malinda Lowder. We'll be talking about living with intent and purpose, what it takes to do that, how to do things with intent, and how technology factors into all of this.
Moser's VP of Application Services joins us this week to talk about App Development. Our process for developing apps at Moser, how it starts, the different steps in that process, the importance of your impact during it, and much more.
Season 4 kicks off in grand style as we talk with Stefanie Krevins, owner of Stefanie Krevins & Company, an organization that provides change management coaching and executive coaching. Our topic today is The Peter Principle, a management concept which points out the shortcomings of how people are promoted within organizations, stating that workers are promoted to their level of incompetence.
She works with CEOs, small business owners, C-suite leaders, and mid-level managers through small business coaching, team training, workshops, and speaking. Stefanie is also the host of the Hot Mess Hotline podcast, featuring conversations about hot messes that leaders have had to clean up. They tell their stories for all to hear and discuss the valuable lessons learned from those hot messes.
It's end-of-season clips time again, our favorite part of the year. Host Angel Leon and Producer Brian take a spin through our third season, pulling out some of our favorites.
Looking back at the time we spend with our guests always brings a smile to our faces. And if you hear something that you like, please remember to go back and check out the full episode featuring that guest. There's plenty more goodness where these clips came from. (To borrow an old mining adage, you can follow these nuggets back to the mother lode.)
Thank you for joining us this season. We hope you have a terrific summer and we'll see you back here in late July or early August for Season 4 of ASCII Anything.
Frank Agin joins us this week to talk about networking in the modern world. The tools may have changed, with phones, computers, web cameras, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and other resources, but the foundation of establishing connections and forming relationships has remained the same. From time zone math to having no idea how tall a colleague is, we discuss some of the challenges that come along with modern networking in this week's episode.
It is May the 4th and that can only mean one thing for our Moser team. Our annual Star Wars Day Trivia Zoom Party. Join us this week as we interview last year's winner and grill him with some of our new Star Wars Day Trivia. Will he reign supreme again this year?
This week is another piece of our ongoing conversation between Shaun McAdams, Moser Consulting's VP of Data & Analytics and Warren Sifre, our Data & Analytics Director of Strategy.
Today's topic is the modern IT C-Suite, along with its newest title additions, and the responsibilities that are assigned to those roles.
Creativity doesn't have to mean a painting, a poem, or a song. Creative thinking can be applied to almost any challenge, whether or not you're wearing sunglasses, a scarf, or a beret. Malinda Lowder, Moser Consulting's Director of Marketing, joins us this week to talk creativity, creative thinking, and how to take a creative approach to your next project.
Jim Timberman joins us once again, making him a very strong candidate for an award we just made up....the MVPG! (Most Valuable Podcast Guest)
This week's topic is Disaster Recovery. What is it, why is it, how much should you have and what factors affect its cost?
After a nice break this past week, we're back for our next episode. This one features a discussion of Human-Centered Design and Design Thinking with two of Moser's resident experts in our Data & Analytics Division: Adrienne Watts and Sarah Moore.
In this week's episode, we'll learn what Human-Centered Design is. We'll learn about the 5 phases Moser takes our clients through during a project, what makes Moser's approach to Human-Centered Design unique, and we'll learn what happens when a project leads to unexpected discoveries.
It's Spring Break time in Indiana, so we're taking a week off. Tune in on Wednesday, April 6th for our next new episode.
It's time for one of Moser's favorite events of the year, so that means it's also time for one of our favorite episodes of the year.
It's Habitat For Humanity Week on ASCII Anything!
This week's episode was recorded while we hosted a Habitat for Humanity panel build in the parking lot at Moser corporate HQ in Indianapolis. Moser Consulting has partnered with Habitat for Humanity for many years and today, similar to last year, we have several interviews for you. We talk with our Chief Administrative Officer, Paula Moser, to find out more about why Moser Consulting does this type of event and how we partner with Habitat for Humanity every year. Then we speak with Amy and Mona from Habitat for Humanity about the process for obtaining a home through Habitat. Then, you'll hear from LaKesha, today's homeowner, who explains how her process has gone and the feeling of finally seeing her dream come to life.
Moser's Alexander Johnson joins us this week to discuss password security.
Why are passwords so important and what makes a good password?
What is password hygiene?
What are some common mistakes you could be making that make your accounts vulnerable to hackers?
All of that and much more will be discussed this week on ASCII Anything.
Kory Bailey from UpSurge Baltimore and Moser's Alphia Stephens join us this week to discuss the launch and early successes of UpSurge Baltimore.
The UpSurge mission is to propel Baltimore into the top tier of innovation cities. As students of the country’s brain hubs, they want to emulate the efforts and successes of those hubs, while staying uniquely Baltimore in their approach. They’ve mobilized around a new vision: to be the country’s first Equitech city.
Equitech is about building an innovation economy where all belong. It’s a force-multiplier, building on the proven benefits of diverse teams, leaders, and perspectives. Equitech is a lens to attract, align, and support startups – not a filter to exclude them.
This week we welcome two of our Data & Analytics leaders, Troy Moser and Shaun McAdams, who are joining us to talk about Data Governance. What it is and how it's done at Moser, including tools, techniques, and more, all on this week's episode of ASCII Anything.
Data & Analytics Team Manager Rick Clemons joins us this week to talk about STEM activities for kids. Rick is the Co-Founder of Techucate, an Indianapolis-based group dedicated to promoting technical education through means of easy-to-learn course work that encourages innovation and inspiration, for the empowerment of the Indianapolis community of tech-focused learners, with a focus on increasing technical programs that target black and brown communities.
We've got a bit of a tongue twister this week as we have the Team Manager of the Managed Services Team, Chadd Wheat, joining us to discuss critical skills that are sometimes overlooked or forgotten when the topic of IT comes up. Today's nerds are out of the basement and able to withstand full sunlight. We've even managed to conquer conversations that involve eye contact. In fact, we're in charge of a lot of things now. So the cliche of dark holes covered in Cheeto dust and Mountain Dew can officially be retired. (But we still like Cheetos and Mountain Dew...they are delicious "SOMETIMES snacks").
Becky Luth joins us this week to explain that while you can't spell Project Manager without the word NAG, a PM's job is much more focused on accountability and the free flow of information to all involved parties. We also learn to decipher some of those initials we see behind our colleagues' names as we discuss the various certification options that are available for professional training and growth.
In S3E3, we welcome Moser Director of Marketing Malinda Lowder and talk about the importance of failure. Your organization can become stronger and more successful simply by making it okay to make mistakes. This supportive atmosphere encourages innovation, which can lead your business to new ideas and new heights.
Bob Russo joins us to share some of the knowledge he picked up in the years he's spent as an executive coach and a life coach. His mission is to help everyone live life easier and we are ready to learn!
This week we talk about personal brands and how to build them. We also talk about the fact that you have a personal brand, even if you think you don't.
Bryan Neale is the founder of Blind Zebra and his company got its name from his career as an NFL referee and umpire. Matt Wren, Moser's Director of Business Development, also joins us live from a trade show in Las Vegas.
Host Angel Leon and Producer Brian take listeners through a tour of their favorite moments from Season 2 of ASCII Anything.
From applied improvisation and practicing empathy to some very specific Thanksgiving family traditions, ASCII Anything's second season provided a lot of good information and a lot of laughs.
Happy Holidays and we'll see you all in 2022 for Season 3!
We polled our colleagues at Moser to see what tech gifts had them really excited this year. But, the poll was a clever ruse! The prize for answering was an invitation to appear on this week's episode of ASCII Anything to discuss the item they contributed to the discussion. (Cue "Womp-Womp" SFX from Let's Make A Deal)
From power banks, eye massagers, and even fully loaded electric vehicles, this gift-giving episode has options for all of your lists, so get in touch with your inner Grinch or Scrooge and let them know it's time to act like the end of their stories.
In this episode, we asked the consultants at Moser Consulting about Thanksgiving traditions that their families have and then invited a few of them to share those traditions with you.
Take a listen and maybe you'll find a new tradition to start with your family this year at Thanksgiving.
Shaun McAdams, VP of Data & Analytics at Moser Consulting, joins us for a recap of the conversations we've hosted covering Data & Analytics this season, in addition to giving a sneak peek of what we'll be talking about next season with our Data & Analytics team.
Gather around the campfire, or pull a blanket over your head and light a flashlight under your chin, as we share some of the hair-raising, bone-chilling, goosebumps-inducing true tales of terror from our consultants' careers and time they spent at the haunted help desk.
There are no simple "Blue Screen of Death" stories here. Too common. Too mundane. From an enigmatic, problematic, and unbelievable power source, to a blood-stained laptop...these are true tales of horror lived by some of Moser's consultants and they're joining us in this Halloween-inspired episode to share them with you.
Workplace Empathy, Part 2 of 2:
This week we continue our discussion with Liesel Mertes, an acclaimed workplace empathy expert. Having experienced her own loss and struggle, Liesel emerged with a deep understanding of what employees need to feel supported at work after a disruptive life event. As the Founder of Handle With Care, Liesel works with groups that want to boost employee satisfaction as well as attract and retain better talent.
Liesel works with companies spanning industries, from RV manufacturers, to diplomats, to tech companies, both locally and internationally. Her favorite clients are forward-thinking organizations who know the value in supporting their employees with empathy and compassion.
Her expertise is broad—loss, returning to work, cultivating resiliency, compassion fatigue, how empathy impacts the brain—and no disruption is considered less significant. Liesel is a dedicated speaker, writer, and consultant specializing in these topics. She also hosts the Handle With Care podcast.
This week's guest is Liesel Mertes, an acclaimed workplace empathy expert. Having experienced her own loss and struggle, Liesel emerged with a deep understanding of what employees need to feel supported at work after a disruptive life event. As the Founder of Handle With Care, Liesel works with groups that want to boost employee satisfaction as well as attract and retain better talent.
Liesel works with companies spanning industries, from RV manufacturers, to diplomats, to tech companies, both locally and internationally. Her favorite clients are forward-thinking organizations who know the value in supporting their employees with empathy and compassion.
Her expertise is broad—loss, returning to work, cultivating resiliency, compassion fatigue, how empathy impacts the brain—and no disruption is considered less significant. Liesel is a dedicated speaker, writer, and consultant specializing in these topics. She also hosts the Handle With Care podcast.
Shaun McAdams and Warren Siffre continue their discussion about the five pillars of Data & Analytics.
This is part 5 of 5 and covers the final pillar: Data Engineering.
Shaun and Warren talk about what companies should be looking for and thinking about when it comes to their data engineering.
ASCII Anything is taking a small break to let our host, Angel Leon, have time to welcome his new son to the world.
We'll be back next week, maybe a little sleepy, but definitely ready to dive deep once again with our resident experts at Moser Consulting.
This week's episode brings back Shaun McAdams and Warren Sifre to continue their discussion on the 5 Pillars of Data & Analytics.
This time their focus is tech, all the equipment, systems, gadgets, and doodads required to meet your Data & Analytics needs.
Honesty is the best policy and in business, it's legally required. Moser Consulting's Marketing Lead, Malinda Lowder, stops by this week to discuss lies and the lying liars who tell them. So, grab your fireproof pants and tune in.
Every recruiter dreams of finding that elusive Purple Unicorn. In this week’s episode of ASCII Anything, we talk to Michelle Nash, Moser Consulting’s Resource Manager, about candidates, culture fit, interviews, and getting hired.
In this episode, we discuss Ransomware with Jim Timberman, the Managing Director of Managed Services at Moser Consulting. We cover what it is, how it works, its effects, and what you can do to make yourself and your business a less convenient target.
This week's episode picks up where last week's episode left off during the discussion from a CIO Roundtable hosted by Dynatrace and Moser Consulting. The panelists include Grant Dawson, Vice President of IT for T2 Systems, Nirav Shah, Vice President of IT for Republic Airways, Michael Loggins, Global Vice President of IT for SMC, and Moser Consulting's very own, Shaun McAdams, our Vice President of Data and Analytics. This is part two of a two-part series in which our panelists discuss moving forward in tech and what that looks like currently.
This week's episode shares the discussion from a CIO Roundtable hosted by Dynatrace and Moser Consulting. The panelists include Grant Dawson, Vice President of IT for T2 Systems, Nirav Shah, Vice President of IT for Republic Airways, Michael Loggins, Global Vice President of IT for SMC, and Moser Consulting's very own, Shaun McAdams, our Vice President of Data and Analytics. This is part one of a two-part series in which our panelists discuss moving forward in tech and what that looks like currently.
This week we are joined by cyber-security expert, Jason Lowmiller. He is currently a senior security consultant for CyberSheath Services International, a cybersecurity firm in the defense supply chain industry and is a former assistant professor of cybersecurity at Anderson University.
Moser Consulting Scrum Master and teaching veteran Jody Bergman joins us this week for a talk about tech as much of the country either heads back, or prepares to head back, to school.
Moser Consulting is a long-time partner of Habitat For Humanity. Last week, we hosted a panel build in the parking lot of our HQ in Castleton, Indiana.
In between hammer strikes, ASCII Anything talked with Paula Moser about our company's involvement with this particular charity. We also spoke with Amy, our build's Habitat For Humanity rep, and Alicia, the future owner of the house Moser is helping to build.
This week we are joined by Dan Horwich, the CEO of CAMP IT Conferences. Dan's family literally owes its continued existence to networking and he's eager to share the story of his family, and his company, with as many people as possible.
In the kickoff episode of SEASON 2, we talk with Dr. Krista Longtin, Associate Professor of Communication Studies & Assistant Dean of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development at IUPUI in Indianapolis, about using Applied Improvisation to improve communication and become a more interesting and engaging presenter.
We hope you enjoy this trek down memory lane as we present some of the best bits from Season 1 of ASCII Anything.
Grab the cheesecake out of the fridge and meet us on the lanai as we channel our inner Golden Girls to squeeze one more episode of Season 1 out of our existing material. Host Angel Leon does his best Dorothy Sbornak and keeps everything organized and on track while Producer Brian digs deep for his best Sophia Petrillo, "Picture it...Indianapolis, 2021..."
Season 2 will premiere in July. Until then, so long everybody!
Organizations face increasing pressure to fast-track the introduction of new products and services to maintain their market positions. This could mean that It is time for executives to look at enterprise-level solutions to get results with digital transformation. Today, host Angel Leon is joined by Moser expert Marcus Reed and Atlassian's Ken Urban to discuss this pressure and the solutions Atlassian can provide.
Listen in on one of our Tech Talk Thursday panels as Ansible Experts answer questions submitted from our Tech Talk Thursday audience.
In this week's episode we explore the favorite vacation spots of some of Moser's consultants. We sent out an employee survey to learn our colleagues' favorite spots when it comes to taking time off and unwinding. Producer Brian joins Angel to discuss the survey and they are joined by 3 of Moser's consultants who drop in to discuss their favorite places.
Moser's VP of Data & Analytics, Shaun McAdams, talks about the evolution of Data Architecture for Analytic Workloads with Tim Lortz, a Senior Solutions Architect from Databricks, a data and AI company that helps data teams solve the world’s toughest problems.
This week, Shaun McAdams and Warren Sifre continue their discussion of the pillars of Data & Analytics. This time their focus is on the people who fill the teams that address each of those pillars. Who to recruit, what to look for, and how important keeping those people is once you find them are all covered in this week's episode of ASCII Anything.
One advantage of having so many tech experts at Moser Consulting is that a lot of us have cool friends in our network. Debbie Schilling is one of those friends. Debbie retired a couple of years ago after spending her career in development. She's a former VP of Development at Orchard Software, a world-traveler, and a gardener. She joins us today to talk through the evolution of opportunities for women in the tech field over the years and we even delve into making a smooth transition into retirement.
Moser's Director of Learning, Lou Russell is joining us again. This time, we're discussing emotional intelligence or EQ as it's commonly known. What is EQ? Who invented it? Can you change your EQ? Those are some of the questions that we will be discussing in today's episode.
President and CEO of Moser Consulting, Ty Moser, joins us today to talk about our company's 25th anniversary and how Moser has evolved throughout the years as one of Indiana's powerhouses in IT consulting. We cover his origins in tech, what led him to start his own consulting company, and some of the lessons he's learned over the past 25 years.
In this week’s episode of ASCII Anything, we talk to Moser Consulting’s resident expert, Estelle Lissouck, about IT Automation.
- Reasons to Choose IT Automation
- Improve What Already Works Through Automation
- Making Clients Happy, Keeping Clients Happy
- IT Automation Helps Teams of Any Size
- Driving Costs Down Through IT Automation
This week we are joined by two of Moser's top Data and Analytics experts who are going to talk about the mindset a company should have regarding data and analytics strategy.
Shaun McAdams is Moser's Vice President of Data & Analytics and Warren Sifre is the Director of Strategy within Moser's Data & Analytics group.
This week's discussion is with Moser's Director of Quality, Alphia Stephens. It may sound simple, but quality is a complex and ever-evolving challenge. In today's episode, we take a deep dive into Quality and some of its components. And we're very fortunate to have Alphia join us.
This week we talk with Dr. Carlotta Berry about increasing diversity in STEM.
Dr. Berry co-founded Rose-Hulman’s Building Undergraduate Diversity (RoseBUD) program, which encourages students from underrepresented groups to seek STEM careers; helped student scholars organize an annual SPARK! campus event that brings together high school and college students to work on hands-on projects (this year’s virtual event is scheduled for March 20); and has been co-director of the institute’s multidisciplinary robotics academic program.
At Rose-Hulman, Berry has taught courses from mobile robotics to human/robot interaction to electrical engineering design. She has encouraged students to learn by tinkering, hacking, and making mistakes. She has even shipped low-cost kits to students’ homes to facilitate online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It's not easy being Green. Especially in Technology.
A technology company has all of the normal environmental concerns as any other office such as using paper, resources like lighting and heating an office space. But tech has more responsibilities.
Computers use a lot of power. Data centers full of Servers use a lot of power. They produce a lot of heat that has to be cooled all year round. And computer hardware uses a lot of resources in their production. Parts of computer equipment are made from toxic materials such as lead, mercury, and PCBs. Those need to be responsibly sourced and disposed of properly.
Green IT is a complicated ball of string to unravel.
Shaun and Warren return to continue their discussion and dive deeper into Defining a Data & Analytics Strategy for your organization. Today, the focus is on how that process works.
This week's guest is Marcus Reed, Moser's Operations Design leader. He's going to help us better understand Radical Transparency and how it helps improve performance from a company and individual perspective by increasing autonomy, mastery, and purpose.
Managed Services, Part Deux: Jim Timberman and Chadd Wheat had so much fun during their first podcast appearance they came back for more!
This episode deals with disaster recovery and backups for your business. Yes, you should probably have a business continuity plan, but what should that plan entail? How often should you backup your data and how do you determine what is critical and what you can get by without?
Two of Moser's top Data & Analytics experts talk about defining your organization's Data & Analytics strategy and the origins of our approach.
Red Hat expert Jim Garrett joins us to work through the ins and outs of Red Hat's Quarkus, a full-stack, Kubernetes-native Java framework that's made for Java virtual machines (JVMs) and native compilation, optimizing Java specifically for containers and enabling it to become an effective platform for serverless, cloud, and Kubernetes environments.
By the end of the episode, you'll know what that means and you'll have learned about the advantages that serverless computing brings to your business operations and your bottom line.
Host Angel Leon talks about the IT Helpdesk with Moser Consulting experts Jim Timberman and Chadd Wheat. Their discussion covers IT stereotypes, maintaining constant vigilance against hackers, and good ways to avoid security breaches, such as trusting absolutely nothing you see, hear, or read...
Host Angel Leon welcomes Lou Russell, Moser Consulting’s Managing Director of Learning, to talk about the challenges and learning opportunities that exist for IT Leadership. Their discussion covers a wide range of topics, including failing your way to success, no one being born a leader, and some of the demands and decisions those who aspire to lead will face. For example…letting go of the day-to-day programming or other hands-on IT work in order to have the time and focus to lead.
Host Angel Leon takes you through some of the tech gift suggestions we gathered by surveying the tech experts who work at Moser Consulting. From high-tech drones to kitchen gadgets and even the best thing since sliced bread, because it was inspired by sliced bread, we'll take you through our favorite seven options that represent a wide range of price points.
You might just find the perfect thing to give the technology fan in your life!