Kevin Wirth has been with Skyline Technologies since almost its start. Not only was Kevin with Skyline during its garage years, it was his garage. By his own admission, Kevin brings a blue-collar ethic to his role as Director of Custom Software Services. To stay strong in the competitive world of software development, it’s an attitude that well serves us and our clients. “I was taught early on that no one is above getting his or her hands dirty. If I need to pitch in to do what it takes like write some code, that’s a responsibility of the job.” Kevin graduated from Winona State University, studying computer science and mathematics. While in college, Kevin held a variety of factory and construction jobs. One memorable job at a furniture manufacturer required him to climb into a pipe to clean sawdust filters. “It was a hot, crummy task, but it’s that type of stuff that makes you appreciate your education and the hard work that has to be done.” While in college, Kevin received an internship at the Kohler Co., which ultimately led to his first professional job working in manufacturing and computer support. During those five years at Kohler, Kevin had the opportunity to work in the executive offices and on the factory floor. He did everything from helping the company better analyze data to capturing data during product development. It was the right place to start a career and it had a lasting impact. “This was about directly impacting the product coming off the line, which had a direct financial impact on the business. The more that I could help these guys, the better everybody became at generating bottom-line dollars. Over the years, the assignments that I’ve enjoyed the most are not about doing the detached applications of crunching numbers, but about making systems that come right down to process improvement or bringing dollars to the bottom line.” The Garage Days Kevin’s experience with Kohler prepared him well for the next stage of his career. In 1994 he joined Skyline and again found himself working with a large manufacturer, Kimberly Clark. He focused on hardware and software development but also got involved in client training. After all, when clients want a program developed, they want a tool that their own staff will be able to understand and use. In 1996 Kevin took on a new, challenging role of establishing Skyline’s Development Center. It was the young firm’s first effort at tackling outsourced project development. “Our first client was Car America of Madison, one of the original online auto sales firms. They needed some development done, but their main system wasn’t working well. The next thing you know, this became a major effort that needed a team of six people to deliver it.” But Skyline didn’t yet have the office space for such an audacious undertaking. “We did it in the back of my garage. I had an attached 10-foot by 20-foot art studio. We bought some used furniture and, for the next four months, six of us were in there daily developing software. We had to deliver it over Christmas, for a national automotive show at the end of January. But we got through it, and it was very successful. It was one of those bittersweet days in the spring when Skyline took on some additional office space and moved our software development operations out of my garage. We developed a strong camaraderie as we worked on some very tight deadlines. Every company has its garage years, and there were ours.” The success of the development center started a new chapter for Kevin and Skyline which has now grown to more than 90 software development associates, all providing clients with a clear view of their businesses. Today, Kevin’s responsibility is to manage the consulting and staffing group - the service that is delivered to clients. His role is to ensure clients’ needs are not just met, but done to the highest quality. At the same time he wants to make sure that associates’ professional needs are also being addressed. He sees himself as much mentor and coach as boss and manager. After all, he has the practical experience of working with clients, and the well-earned battle scars to relate to the associate who is working under the press of time. “I’m not a limelight type of guy,” Kevin maintains. “I’m comfortable in front of people, but I try to lead more by example than by table-pounding. I know how to work with an associate in a difficult situation, and I understand how to work with a client in a difficult situation.” Loyalty and teamwork Ask Kevin why he has stayed at Skyline and the answer isn’t surprising: people and vision. In a service business the product is the people, he explains. So you’ll stay if you like your co-workers and if you believe in your company’s overall vision. “Our vision has always been about serving clients. Right now we’re focused on Microsoft technologies. So first, we enjoy the technology platforms and are very good with them. But Skyline also prides itself that we don’t just have purely technical associates who can deliver great technology. We have people who can balance a business aspect as well. We screen for that in the interview process. It is about making sure we are creating something useable. You have to be as good at working with people as you are with technology.” One of Kevin’s major goals is to match clients’ needs and associate’s talents. A former high school football player, Kevin points out that no team plays with 11 quarterbacks. Instead, a successful squad finds the right group of executors and implementers and brings them together, allowing them to play the role for which they are best-suited. Among his peers, Kevin is known for his sense of humor and loyalty. “Skyline is near and dear to me, because I’ve been able to leave an imprint on it, myself. There are jobs to be found anywhere, but these people you aren’t going to find anywhere else.”