Every weld inspection at BMWC Constructors, one of IBJ's Fast 25 fastest-growing companies for two years running, has run through TOPS (their Turnover Package System) since 2013. Scott Stevens has been the developer on it the whole time.
TOPS started out as a replacement for a very complex Microsoft Access database, which Scott calls "a single person's brainchild." Over the years, BMWC's team has found new ways to use it. "Their understanding of TOPS and how they can best leverage it has grown and shifted," he says.
“So while it’s largely the same system ‘under the hood’, there have been a lot of changes and additions to the software over the years.” BMWC runs more and larger projects through it now than when it launched, and Scott’s current job is making sure it keeps up.
He joined Counterpart in February 2007, when there was no Azure, no AWS, and no Angular or React. His first big project was for a direct-sales seed company. Some things haven’t moved at all. “At a fundamental level it’s still the same: understand the need, gather requirements, then devise software that meets the needs,” he says. The part that comes before any code gets written, understanding what a client needs and building the relationship, is where the most listening happens. What’s changed is how we plan: “We… have gotten a lot more methodical about planning projects. I think that comes in large part due to our collective experience doing this over many years now.”
His proudest moments are two big launches where the go-live date was set in stone. The team hit both, and he credits “a group of people working hard together.”
Ask Scott what keeps him going after nineteen years, and he’ll tell you it’s the people he works with and the chance to keep learning new things. That curiosity goes back a long way. His first personal computer was an original IBM PC, and he had to drive out of town to find a store that had one in stock. “Mostly I just thought it was really neat to have my own computer,” he says. “Probably played a few games; goofed around with simple programs written in Basic.” He hasn’t stopped tinkering since.
That’s Scott at work. For everything else, we asked him a few quick questions, and the answers include a trombone, a superpower that solves his least favorite part of travel, and a movie title that barely fits on one line.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
I played the trombone in several bands in high school: marching band, pep band, jazz/stage band. I didn’t continue on with it past high school, though.
What are you passionate about outside work?
Reading and music have always been major interests.
If you could visit anywhere in the world you’ve never been, where would you go?
Either Japan or the Czech Republic (it’d be a tough decision).
If you could pick one superpower, what would it be?
I like experiencing new places, but I don’t like traveling itself, so it’d be nice to be able to teleport.
What three material things could you not live without?
I’m a simple person, so I don’t think I could name three. The main one (yes, I’m a nerd) is the internet, because it’s my primary source of information and entertainment. In the days before the internet, I had a large collection of books and CDs that served the same purpose (took up a lot more room, though).
What’s your favorite TV show, movie, or book?
It’s hard to pick just one, and I don’t watch TV, so I’ll give you three movies I love:
- The Lord of the Rings films (counting all three of them as one here)
- The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (because it’s so goofy)
- Primer (a low-budget but fascinating film about time travel)
Want to meet the rest of the crew? You can learn more about Scott and everyone else here.