Celebrating a Champion of Our Developer Community

Among the numerous authors present on the InterSystems Developer Community, there are unsung heroes who leave a lasting impact through their dedication and contributions. One such member is @Ben Spead, whose experiences and milestones have greatly shaped our Developer Community. He has consistently championed the communities, starting with Zen Community in 2008 to being an early participant in the Developer Community's beta phase in 2015.

🤩 Let's take a closer look at Ben's journey with InterSystems technology and our Developer Community...

Ben began working for InterSystems as an intern in June 2003. His enthusiastic involvement in the beta phase available to InterSystems employees marked his entry into the Developer Community in 2015. Over the years, he has witnessed the evolution of InterSystems products and the Developer Community. Here is what he says:

• Launching the Zen Community gave me a real first-hand view into the value in creating transparent technical discussion around our products in a forum that benefits employees, customers and prospects
• Building the Application Services Department within InterSystems has helped me to learn how to build on the personal skills and passions of members of my team in such a way that our users benefit and those under my care can flourish and grow
• Architecting our global change control tooling for implementation and internal application development has convinced me of the value of focusing on simple (but not simplistic) reusable processes which helps to break down silos between different teams
• Leading our initial Cloud Deployment initiative for FHIR Transformation Services with AWS underscored both the flexibility of our data platform as well as the brilliance of the InterSystems employees, the combination of which makes it possible to tackle extremely challenging new projects with excellence!!  

One notable challenge he tackled is the 'last mile problem'—ensuring users are aware of new features and enhancements. By implementing a centralized internal newsletter, he created a reliable resource for developers, reinforcing the importance of a centralized learning platform, much like our Developer Community.

Since joining the Developer Community, he has witnessed tremendous growth in membership and content quality. As a manager of a development team, he encourages all developers within AppServices to actively participate in the Community. This involvement benefits both his team and the broader community, creating a win-win scenario where many can benefit from shared experiences and knowledge. He also plays a key role in reporting bugs and suggesting enhancements, helping the platform evolve continuously.

Ben's journey has been punctuated by rewarding moments - including this interview recognizing his contribution to the D.C!  His advice to newcomers is to ask questions openly and engage with others' queries, fostering a culture of continuous learning and mutual support. His personal passions include spending time with his family, his faith, and tackling DIY projects, continuously applying his problem-solving skills outside of computer science. 

Looking ahead, Ben aims to enhance his team's engagement in the Developer Community and drive meaningful conversations among global users of the CCR application.  

We are immensely grateful for Ben's unwavering dedication and significant contributions to the Developer Community. His journey and achievements inspire us all, exemplifying the true spirit of collaboration and growth. Here's to Ben — a true champion of the Developer Community, whose journey inspires us all to strive for more and embrace the future with innovations and collaboration.

👏 Let's all congratulate Ben and thank him for his contributions to InterSystems and our Developer Community!