The Itat Quarterly

Q: How long have you been with the county?
A: The end of August marks my third year at the county.

Q: What is your current roll with the county? What inspired you to pursue this career?
A: I am a Software Developer II. After working in software development at a couple of different companies, a friend who works at the county informed me about an opportunity for a new software developer position. Having worked in the private sector, primarily in the insurance industry, I found the idea of developing software aimed at helping my fellow community members incredibly appealing. This aspect of the job has been quite fulfilling, and I'm grateful for the chance to contribute to improving my community.

Q: What type of education did you need for your current roll with the county?
A: My first degree was a bachelor's in history. When a previous job gave me the opportunity to explore some minor software development, I realized that was the field I wanted to pursue. To that end, I went back to school and earned a bachelor's degree in computer science. This provided an excellent foundation upon which I continue to build, as I learn daily about software developments to stay current in my role at the County.

Q: Prior to joining the county, what did you do?
A: My professional working life began in the military. I attended the University of Michigan on a Navy ROTC scholarship, Marine option, pursuing a goal I’d had since childhood of serving in the Marine Corps. Upon graduation I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. While in officer training I learned that I was one of the lucky few to get my first job choice – armor officer, where upon completion of training I would have the opportunity to command a tank platoon.

After completing tank school in Fort Knox, Kentucky, I was stationed at Twentynine Palms, California with the 1st Tank Battalion. My initial experiences included a 10-day field exercise in the desert, with temperatures reaching nearly 120°F. I commanded a 68-man anti-tank platoon, training on trucks outfitted with machine guns and anti-tank missiles, and later a tank platoon of 15 men and four M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks on which we trained for a deployment to Iraq.

In October 2008, we deployed to Iraq, securing the northwestern border with Syria in Ninewa province to prevent smuggling and facilitate security for historic democratic elections. As the last Marine Corps tanks in Iraq, we transitioned to a heliborne quick reaction force before returning to Twentynine Palms in May 2009. I concluded my time with 1st Tanks as the assistant Operations Officer, training groups for various deployments around the world including southeast Europe and Afghanistan.

My final Marine Corps assignment was as Operations Officer for Recruiting Station St. Louis, overseeing recruitment and preparation of new Marines for boot camp in San Diego. After two years, I resigned my commission to return to Iowa and enter the civilian sector.

In the private sector, I joined a company called Businessolver, where my passion for technology flourished. Starting in client relations, I became increasingly interested in software development. Using the GI Bill, I attended night school at Simpson College to earn a bachelor's degree in computer science, eventually transitioning to Businessolver's IT department. I later joined Homesteaders Life Company's IT department before coming to the county

Q: Besides your work on ITAT, what work project are you most proud of?
A: I'm particularly proud of our yet-to-be-released application called FORM. This project aims to streamline processes where county employees assist citizens with paper or virtual forms. The need for this application arose from complex procedures in departments like the Treasurer's Office, where activities such as title transfers can be prone to citizen errors and difficult to explain clearly.

FORM is designed to simplify these processes, making it easier for citizens to complete forms correctly and for county employees to guide them effectively. We chose to develop the application using Blazor, a newer technology. This decision has made the project particularly exciting, as it's provided an opportunity to learn and apply cutting-edge tools in a practical, community-serving context.

The development process has been both challenging and rewarding. By addressing a real need within our county services, we're working to improve efficiency and reduce frustration for both citizens and county employees. While the application is still in development, I'm proud of the potential impact it will have on streamlining county operations and enhancing public service.

Q: What are some of your hobbies?
A: I enjoy a wide range of hobbies, maybe too many 😊, including cooking, baking, woodworking, gardening, and tinkering on cars. However, my most long-standing and passionate hobby is brewing beer, which I've been doing for almost 15 years.

Over the years, brewing has grown from a casual interest into a more serious hobby at times. I've had the opportunity to participate in local competitions, such as those at the Iowa State Fair and events organized by the Iowa Brewers Union. These experiences have been great learning opportunities and have allowed me to connect with other brewing enthusiasts in the community.

When I brew, I typically produce about 10 gallons of beer per session. Lately, I've been focusing on lager styles such as Helles, Italian pilsner, New Zealand Pilsner, and Japanese rice lager. As I've gotten older, I've started to favor brewing beers with lower alcohol content, which I find particularly enjoyable during hot summer days. This hobby allows me to combine my love for creativity, precision, and craftsmanship, while also producing something I can share and enjoy with others.

Q: Tell us about your family.
A: I live in Ankeny with my wife, our two daughters, and our two cats, Winnifred (affectionately known as Fred) and George. George is a recent addition to our family - an orange tabby kitten born in April on a friend's farm. The girls have been delighted to have a kitten in the house again. Our daughters are enjoying their summer break, frequently visiting the local pool, though they're also starting to look forward to the upcoming school year. My wife works as a mental health counselor, seeing clients both in her Ankeny office and virtually. She's been in practice for over a decade and finds great fulfillment in her work.

Q: What was your favorite vacation?
A: Last summer, we embarked on a road trip to visit my wife’s brother and his girlfriend in Denver. While spending quality time with them and Pickle, their Golden Retriever, we ventured into the Colorado wilderness for hiking and brewery tours. Our journey continued north to the awe-inspiring Devil’s Tower in Wyoming. We then headed east to explore the Black Hills of South Dakota, where we visited Wind Cave, Mount Rushmore, and the captivating Crazy Horse Memorial – our favorite stop in the state. To break up the long drive home, we enjoyed a relaxing stay at a hotel with an indoor water park in Sioux Falls. Although the trip involved a lot of time on the road, the stunning scenery and unforgettable family memories made it truly worthwhile.

Aaron Nord, ITAT Developer