“Meet the new boss, Same as the old boss”

[1]: http://www.kpmartin.com/2007/01/07/digital-cyclone-gets-bought-out/
[2]: http://www.garmin.com/
[3]: http://www.simplyretailinc.com/
[4]: http://web.archive.org/web/20070516170048/http://www.simplyretailinc.com/bios/ken.martin.php
[5]: http://www.digitalcyclone.com/

**Big news!**

**Today was my first day at a new job!** Two weeks ago I resigned my position as VP of Production and Technology at Simply Retail, where I’d been for over two years. I hadn’t been actively looking for a new job, but one day about a month ago I got an email from a friend and former co-worker saying “we find ourselves continuously saying ‘we want to find someone like Ken Martin.'” (It’s nice to hear you’ve left a reasonably nice impression.)

Well, we had lunch and talked and it turned out they had what seemed like a nice possibility. We continued through the process, and voila, it turned out to be a very nice opportunity. And I said yes.

**So I’m back at [Digital Cyclone][5]!** I wrote about them a few months ago [noting][1] that they’d been bought out by [Garmin][2]. I’m now a Garmin employee, as Digital Cyclone is a Garmin subsidiary.

My job title is Web Application Developer. Why would I go from a [VP position][4] to a developer position? Well, there are a few reasons, but the basic summary is that I’ll have better compensation in a familiar company, in an industry I find interesting, with people I enjoy, in a technically challenging environment. I will miss interacting daily with the folks at Simply Retail, and there are parts of my leadership role that I will miss, but I plan to apply what I’ve learned in that role and blow the socks off folks at DCI. :)

What a blessing it was to be presented with the kinds of challenges I saw as VP, and to find that, previously unbeknownst to me, I could meet those challenges. That’s probably the biggest thing I’m taking away from Simply Retail.

[Simply Retail][3] has been wonderful in many ways. They, too, are in an interesting industry (healthcare retail), and I worked with fantastic people there whom I will miss. It was nice to leave on pleasant terms, and it’s likely I’ll be doing a little freelance work here and there for them. And it will be great to watch from afar as they continue to grow.

So there you have it! See, there really was a reason I’ve not posted much lately. :)

Pedantic note: Though the Who allusion was kind of a fun post title, in the song it’s a sad reflection that once the “revolution” came, nothing really changed. That’s *not* how this change feels. Web technology, mobile apps, weather, aviation, and now GPS… this geek is going to have fun. No negative reflection on either company intended. :)

4 thoughts on ““Meet the new boss, Same as the old boss””

  1. CONGRATULATIONS KEN!!!
    Digital Cyclone is blessed and so are you! This is exciting news and Mr. Grant and I could not be more thrilled for you. ( Good looking and brilliant too!! ) Oh my. We are very proud of you and wish you great success in your new position!!!

  2. hi ken,
    i just came across your blog, and saw this news. Congrats. I imagine that this new gig is promising and will be fulfilling for you.

    hope all is well with your family, and change is good.

    old pal,
    abby

  3. Hi Ken,

    Congratulations on your new job! As someone who appreciates both clean and stylish web design, I must say I really like your web site – and as a fellow believer, appreciate your enormous undertaking in trying to learn Greek! You can do it!

    I have been trying to exercise a little faith myself lately. I have a dream of working for Garmin. I strongly feel that the Lord has plans for me there, but I don’t know anyone who works there and am finding it very difficult to make any contacts. I feel confident that if I could get an interview, they would hire me, but right now I’m just another applicant entry in their ‘sea of applicants’ database – probably with a number like 00079853 or something. I know you work for Digital Cyclone, but being much closer to Garmin than myself right now, I was hoping that you might be willing to help out a fellow in need. I would really like to send you my resume and cover letter. If, after you review them, you think I would be the kind of person Garmin is looking for, I would be extremely grateful and indebted to your kindness if you would put me in contact with someone who might be able to assist me in getting my resume or contact information to a decision maker inside the company. My apologies for taking up space on your blog site – which, by the way, is really one of the best I’ve seen. Regardless of whether I hear from you or not – I really wish you the best of luck in your new/old job and learning Greek. Best wishes and God bless –

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