His “source code” and back-end knowledge are imposing. When you ask him what he does, he puts it this way, "I'm an architect, a linguist, and a scientist rolled up into one. I marry the aesthetic design to the technical application and make sure it works." In short, Glen Austin is our new Director of Technology, and we welcome his return to Maycreate.

As a matter of fact, Glen worked on the first web-based design tool in history for Chattanooga’s Smart Furniture. Called ”Design on Demand,” it provided users with the power to design their own furniture. In addition, Glen built the company’s entire technological infrastructure, a vast undertaking, but he’s not one to back away from a challenge. ‍

Times Have Changed‍

“Today, however, you must keep honing new skills,” says Glen. “The latest introduction of artificial intelligence is changing all the tool sets.” ChatGPT, a versatile tool for answering questions and engaging in conversations, and Midjourney for creating digital art from text prompts are both good examples of this growing trend.

Before Glen returned to Maycreate, he was working for one of the world’s largest Fortune 500 companies, Mohawk Industries. He managed the team that handled UI (User Interface) and UX (User Experience), which included the company’s 27 customer facing brand sites. Not only did this place him at the enterprise level of software for big business but it put him in touch with the latest in emerging technologies.

‍Content is the Focus

‍“On the web development side, there’s real-time customer intelligence,” says Glen. This advantage can be used to make a visitor’s website journey a better experience and assists them in making informed decisions. SEO will be impacted as well. “It’s no longer going to be just about page structure,” Glen adds. “Going forward, it’s all about content and how it’s positioned.

‍Photography and Fly Fishing

‍So, what does he do in his spare time? For one, he’s taken up photography. He began by shooting pictures with his iPhone. Then a friend and professional photographer encouraged him to buy a “real camera.” So, Glen started off with a Nikon D7000 and he’s developed a good eye for composition and exposure. On top of that, he’s gotten into drones, secured his Part 107 pilot certification, and is shooting some pretty cool stuff. And when he’s not taking pictures, you might just find him by a quiet stream fly fishing for a waiting trout.