Meet Dan Howard – People Not Products

Dan Howard is a Multi Property Systems Manager on our team. Here he discusses his career in IT in Scotland. starting on a helpdesk for a couple of years before moving into a UK-wide field engineer role installing offices.

Can you tell us a bit about your career journey and what led you to Aspen Solutions?
I took the typical route into IT, starting on a helpdesk for a couple of years before moving into a UK-wide field engineer role installing offices and setting up home users. After being merged into a larger company, I gained exposure to a wider range of clients, one of which was Marriott. That eventually led to me being taken on by Marriott itself, where I moved into a Multi-Property Systems Manager role, which is very similar to what I do at Aspen Solutions today.

What does a typical day in your role look like, and what do you enjoy most about it?
My role is split between on-site work and remote work, with a mixture of break/fix, project and proactive tasks to keep things running smoothly. No two days are the same, which keeps things interesting. I enjoy the variety of the role and the opportunity to work across different technologies and customer environments.

What’s been your most memorable moment or achievement at Aspen Solutions so far?
I like how Aspen is very supportive of training and development, so I was pleased to achieve my WatchGuard certification recently. It’s great to work for a company that encourages people to develop their skills and continue learning throughout their career.

What skills or qualities do you think are essential for success in your role?
I think an analytical mind is essential for figuring out problems, along with an eye for detail. Being able to approach challenges logically and understand how different systems fit together helps a lot, particularly when troubleshooting more complex issues.

How would you describe the culture at Aspen Solutions, and what makes it a great place to work?
It is a friendly culture at Aspen Solutions, and you can tell it is a family-run company as everyone is happy to contribute and support each other. There is a real team atmosphere, and people are always willing to share their knowledge and help when needed.

What advice would you give to someone looking to build a career in your field?
A good understanding of how things work in the background helps a lot, and I’d encourage people to get involved in as much as they can to widen their horizons and knowledge. The more experience you can gain across different areas of IT, the more opportunities you’ll create for yourself in the future.

When you’re not at work, how do you like to unwind and relax?
As a family, we enjoy going on moderately challenging hill walks, nothing too strenuous, and it’s a great way to switch off and spend time together. I’m also currently learning bass guitar, with a view to forming or joining a band at some point when I get a bit better at it.

Our thanks to Dan for a great interview about his career. Keep up-to-date on the latest team news, events and products by following our LinkedIn page or by subscribing to our newsletter by clicking here.