Interview with Robert Fortenberry from the United States

Yuxuan Li | MUSE Creative Awards
Interview with Yuxuan Li from the United States
July 18, 2024
Daniel Wette | TITAN Business Awards
Interview with Daniel Wette from Germany
July 18, 2024

Robert Fortenberry

Robert Fortenberry, Chief Technology Officer of York Solutions, is recognized for industry-leading innovations and technical expertise, with published work in Information and HRIS online security. He led the successful ISO 27001 information security certification program and is responsible for leveraging evolving technologies to benefit clients' business objectives.

1Please provide us with a brief bio of yourself.

With over three decades of experience in Information Systems Development and Consulting across a diverse array of industries including Airline, Transportation, Logistics, Manufacturing, Imaging, Paper, Energy, Automotive, Insurance Services, Defense, and Security, I bring a wealth of expertise to the table. My background spans Strategic Missile Command and Control Systems, Human Resources Information Systems, Industrial Automation, Workflow Automation, Corporate Executive Support Systems, and Artificial Intelligence.

Recognized for industry-leading innovations, I possess deep technical proficiency across various domains with published credits in Information and HRIS online security. Notably, I spearheaded the successful ISO 27001 information security certification program.

As a lifelong learner, I am passionate about expanding both my technical and general knowledge. My expertise extends to human cognition and rapid skill acquisition, particularly in accelerating training within Information Technology fields. I initiated the nationally acclaimed York B2E Software Developer Training Program, addressing the shortage of domestic software developers, and advised successful software development training programs for major corporations and non-profit urban technical training initiatives.

Having served in the United States Air Force, I maintained the ICBM leg of America’s strategic nuclear deterrent triad, holding Top Secret SBI security clearance and SAC’s Personnel Reliability Program Certification. Selected for the Alternate (war) Battle Staff, I contributed to defense leadership operations readiness.

Committed to education and enhancing America’s technical workforce, I volunteer as a mentor, guiding middle and high school students in engineering and robotics, with multiple student teams achieving local, state, and national championships. Additionally, I support university engineering teams and IEEE Student hardware competitions.

Outside of work, I cherish time spent with my family, am an alumnus of Oral Roberts University with a focus on electrical engineering, and indulge my interests in electronics, robotics, matter condensate physics, and origin cosmology. I engage with public lecture series by esteemed institutions such as the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics and Berkley Center for Theoretical Physics.

2What is your role in the company?

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.

3Please tell us more about your organization.

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.

4Describe the industry your organization is specialized in, as well as its main characteristics.

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.

5Congratulations! As the winner of the TITAN Business Awards, what does it mean for you and your team to receive this distinction?

Winning the TITAN Business Awards 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.

6How has winning an international award help promote your organization?
Winning in this award program 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.
7What are the challenges of developing / marketing your winning entry(ies)?
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!
8As a business owner, please tell us more about your ideation process.

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.

9What is your own definition of a successful team / organization / business?

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.

10What led you / your organization to become successful within the industry you are currently in?

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.

11How has the country, you are based in, helped move your industry forward?

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.

12What have you found to be a hindering factor, for your business, during the entire course of the pandemic, and how did you overcome that hinderance?

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.

13What are the current trends in the business industry that you are most excited about?

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.

14What resources would you recommend to someone who is searching to improve their business prospects and organizational success?

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.

15Where do you see the evolution of the overall business industry in the next 5-10 years?

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.

16Who inspired you in your life, and why?

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.

17What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?

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.

Winning Entry

Harnessing the Power of AI | 2024

Harnessing the Power of AI | Robert Fortenberry and York Solutions

Robert Fortenberry

York Solutions

Robert Fortenberry, Chief Technology Officer of York Solutions, is recognized for industry-leading innovations and technical expertise, with published work in Information and HRIS online security. He led the successful ISO 27001 information security certification program and is responsible for leveraging evolving technologies to benefit clients' business objectives.


Read more about this interview with Daniel Wette from Germany, the Gold Winner of the 2024 TITAN Business Awards.

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