Robert Fortenberry

At York Solutions, as the Chief Technology Officer, I lead the Solutions Delivery Group, Applications Development, Software Testing, and Consulting Businesses, leveraging my proven track record in project management and consulting. It is my responsibility to understand the intimate details of changing technologies and how to leverage them to benefit our clients’ business objectives.

York Solutions is a leading technology consulting firm that specializes in providing innovative technology solutions to businesses across various industries through tailored, innovative and predictable technology solutions. We have a wide set of capabilities with deep expertise in technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, DevOps, Application integration and much more. Our legacy is rooted in Talent Solutions in which we also work with clients to help them find the talent they need for technology projects. Additionally, we offer training and development programs to help businesses enhance the capabilities of their existing teams. Overall, we aim to empower organizations to leverage technology effectively and achieve their business objectives.

As a leading technology consulting organization we are industry agnostic as our clients represent Fortune 500 industries. Our sweet spot is not only the deep expertise in cutting edge technologies but also our refined York Methodology which leaves our clients with an improved technology capabilities. Our York “glass box” methodology includes: - A cohesive team of skilled software engineers and technology professionals - Well-defined milestones and accountability - Transparent communication throughout the development lifecycle - Guaranteed outcomes you can present to your leadership team and board with confidence

Winning the TITAN Business Award is truly an honor and a testament to the hard work, dedication, and innovation of our entire team. This recognition validates our commitment to excellence and delivering unparalleled value to our customers. It reinforces our belief in our mission and vision, and it inspires us to strive for even greater achievements in the future. Overall, this award is a symbol of our team's collective effort, resilience, and passion for excellence. We are immensely proud of this achievement and deeply grateful to everyone who has supported us on this journey.

Winning the TITAN Business Award not only celebrates our past accomplishments but also opens up exciting opportunities for us to further grow and expand our impact. It enhances our credibility in the industry, strengthens our relationships with stakeholders, and attracts new opportunities for collaboration and partnership.

Our approach remains grounded in service delivery and a steadfast dedication to our clients success. So taking the time to write a winning entry, forced us to take a step back and reflect on what we’ve accomplished together as a team. It was a great exercise!

At York, we understand that the best technology solutions are not built in a silo but, instead, is inclusive of all the stakeholders. Thus, the ideation process is a critical part of our solution process. First, we take the time to understand the problem or opportunity. We interview our stakeholders and begin to document the challenges. Secondly, we research and, ultimately, get insights and inspiration from various sources including client feedback, recent trends, UX reports, etc. We put ourselves in our client’s position and imagine what types of solutions we would want to see our partner deliver. This helps us prioritize what is important to the client. From there we jump into brainstorming and the filtering/selection of these ideas. This often involves assigning resources to solve and prove out technical challenges to be pursued or eliminated. Lastly, we prototype or mockup these ideas to help our customer visualize the solutions we recommend. From that shared vision we can quickly refine the solution and obtain informed approval before we begin to execute. Throughout this process, client input serves as a guiding force, shaping the direction of ideation and validating the effectiveness of proposed solutions. The end result is a technology solution that has defined outcomes and a predictable timeline.

A key component of a successful team is cohesion, where individuals align their efforts towards a common goal. Trust and communication are vital; team members should feel comfortable sharing ideas and feedback, fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation. Adaptability is also crucial, as successful teams can navigate challenges and changes with resilience and flexibility. Additionally, diversity of skills and perspectives can enrich problem-solving and decision-making processes. Ultimately, a successful team embodies a shared commitment to excellence, continuously striving to improve and achieve collective success.

From a young age, my fascination with technology, science, and the future propelled me towards a path of problem-solving through innovation. This innate curiosity and passion have been instrumental in driving me and my organization towards success within our industry. We are constantly motivated to leverage the latest technological advancements to address challenges and create impactful solutions. This dedication to staying at the forefront of innovation, combined with a pursuit of excellence, has enabled us to carve out a significant presence and achieve success in our industry.

The United States has played a pivotal role in propelling the technology industry forward through various means. First, its infrastructure and regulatory environment have provided fertile ground for innovation and entrepreneurship. The country's commitment to research and development, coupled with investments in technology and education, has fostered a culture of innovation and excellence. In addition, the United States serves as a global hub for talent, attracting some of the brightest minds from around the world. This diverse pool of talent brings a wealth of perspectives and expertise, driving creativity and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in our industry. Finally, my country celebrates its inventors, innovators, and creators of technology. It is the home for a vibrant ecosystem of startups, investors, and industry leaders, facilitating collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Through initiatives such as accelerators, incubators, and networking events, the country provides invaluable resources and support for companies and individuals to thrive and grow.

One thing that impacted all companies during the pandemic was the sudden shift to remote work and the challenges in maintaining productivity, communication and collaboration among team members as well as with clients. We addressed this in a few ways: 1. We invested in robust remote work technology and infrastructure to ensure seamless communication and collaboration among team members. 2. We adapted our work processes and workflows to accommodate remote work. This involved establishing clear communication channels, setting expectations for remote work hours and availability, and implementing virtual collaboration tools to facilitate teamwork and project management. 3. We provided comprehensive support and training to help employees adjust to remote work and navigate the challenges associated with it. 4. We maintained open and transparent communication with employees and clients, regularly checking in to gather feedback, address concerns, and provide updates on company developments. This helped foster a sense of connection and belonging among team members and clients, despite physical distance. In the end our response to remote work was so successful that now we consider it the most efficient and productive way to operate.

Its hard to overstate the potential of generative AI to improve the productivity of many knowledge workers and technologists over the next few years. It is changing how we work. As technology changes at an ever-accelerating rate it is harder for traditional brick and mortar universities to keep up and maintain their relevance to the technical job market. It is becoming more and more evident that the ability to embrace new technologies and assimilate them rapidly is often more important than what you may have learned doing yesterday’s work. This is opening the door for non-traditional or non-degree dependent paths into the tech workforce.

There are a lot of great books, podcasts and business leaders to follow. Some of my favorites include: - Elon Musk, absolutely fearless and perhaps the most important innovator of our time. - Back to Work (Podcast)Hosted by Merlin Mann and Dan Benjamin, Back to Work is an award-winning podcast that covers all things work-related -- from productivity to creativity to communication, as well as technology, life in today’s world, and other assorted topics. - Software Engineering Daily (Podcast) The topics covered by SED can be more advanced. Every day, the hosts conduct a new interview about a technical topic related to software engineering.

The velocity by which business has changed in the last 25 years is exponential. Consider how all of us had access to televised shows in 2001 versus today when almost everyone streams their content via their tv. Bottom line is nearly every organization is becoming a technology company. Banks have online banking. Hospitals have patient/doctor portals. Retail is finding ways to use large language models to build a sticker relationship with their customers. I expect that technology will continue to be a part of every industry and for those organizations who don’t embrace technology, they will be left behind as the current generations expect a seamless customer experience and user experience.

My grandfather John Horton. Though intelligent and resourceful had to leave school after the sixth grade to help support his family. He took lunch to his laborer father each day and sold sandwiches to others building a nearby bridge. He struck up conversations with the engineers and so impressed them that when the foreman was fired, they hired him to take over his father’s crew. He was entirely self-taught but became one of the most respected engineers of his generation. John Horton pioneered the miniaturization of Power Industry instrumentation and built the worlds first fully automated power plant. The 1950s era process control computer he developed was accepted by the Smithsonian as an example of that era’s technology.

I am a lifelong learner with a boundless appetite for knowledge and the ability to communicate ideas. It is more important to figure out how to love whatever you do than to figure out how to do what you think you will love. Figure out how to do your job better than required. You will love the feeling of accomplishment. Take satisfaction and pleasure from the appreciation you will earn. Success will surely follow.