Meet Stout Systems

Mike Draheim is Stout's Tech Talent Scout.  Mike has been with Stout since May, 2015 and is responsible for finding new talent which Stout's clients may be interested in hiring.  Mike also works full time for Michigan Works in Macomb County as a Career Planner, which he's been doing since January, 2009.  Prior to Michigan Works, Mike worked as the Director of Admissions and Admissions Representative for 11 years with Corinthian Colleges' Everest Institute in Oakland and Wayne Counties.  In his spare time Mike enjoys fishing and being around nature.

TAKE PRIDE

“When I first started at Stout in 2015, I was amazed at how many candidates told me how Stout was different and much more enjoyable to work with than all the other recruiters they had dealt with due to Stout's personal approach and integrity.  After hearing this several times from candidates, I felt very proud to be a Stout employee knowing their approach aligned perfectly with my own personal approach.”

Tom is Stout’s SQL Server DBA and has worked with Stout since 2011. He has been working with SQL Server since version 7.0. While working with Stout he has completed projects developing new SQL databases, performance improvement, identifying poorly performing SQL, migrating large volumes of data to SQL Server, partitioning very large database tables and code review identifying possible SQL Injection problems. Database architecture, data modeling and implementation are his favorite projects. Tom has been a speaker at Pass user group meetings and an SQL Saturday speaker. Tom also enjoys biking and model railroads.

Rodney Lambert is a Senior Software Engineer at Stout. Rodney has been with Stout since 2008 and works for various clients primarily working on embedded C++ applications. He has been working in software and product development for more than 20 years in the fields of industrial automation, intelligent sensors, and data visualization. His spare time is mostly spent creating hardware via home remodeling, welding, woodworking, or metalworking.

TAKE PRIDE

“The first commit I made for one client fundamentally changed their code base and modified more than 700 files. What I liked most about the change was that it wasn’t some fancy new feature but focused on improving the error handling and network performance, building a better base for the future of the product.”

Dave Sweeton is Stout's Chief Technologist. Dave started working with Stout as a contract developer in 1998. He worked on many successful projects with Stout and eventually joined the company full time. In addition to being a full time developer, Dave sets the technical direction of the company and oversees all aspects of quality. In his spare time Dave enjoys many hobbies and is an active reader of Science Fiction and Fantasy.

LISTEN BETWEEN THE LINES

“In my role as a developer I frequently listen between the lines when gathering requirements from clients. It's important to hear what clients ask for, but it's equally important to understand *why* they are asking for that. Frequently clients may not know what's possible or cheap and easy vs. expensive. By listening to the unstated background, I can help find solutions that give our clients what they need and want, not just what they ask for.”

Julio Ramirez is a Senior Software Architect at Stout Systems. He has been with Stout since May 2019 and is responsible for tackling the technical challenges of Stout clients and, in a way, taking projects from ideation to implementation. Julio worked previously with Gleaner Life Insurance Society as an IT Development Manager and has been a Senior Software Developer for many years of his career. In his spare time, he enjoys playing guitar, training and competing in Judo & Jiu-Jitsu and enjoys travelling abroad.

Natalie is Stout's Staffing Specialist. Natalie has been with Stout since July 2011 and is responsible for finding and hiring the best talent for available positions and building relationships as a result of matching candidates and clients. Before Stout, Natalie primarily worked in customer service and sales. In her spare time, Natalie enjoys ballroom dancing and making specialty coffee.

BREAK RULES

“I once sent a candidate’s resume for a role that appeared to be a perfect match. The client declined him and the reason they gave me for doing so didn’t seem quite right to me. I think a lot of people may have simply shrugged their shoulders and moved on. Instead, we had a discussion with the client. We tried to address their concerns and explained why we felt it would be a good idea to speak with this particular candidate. They took our advice and ended up hiring him.”

Sam is Stout’s Marketing and Media Manager. She began her career with Stout in November of 2017, but has been in the marketing and advertising industry for years. She has led marketing efforts and created media content for a skilled trades school in Detroit, a zip-lining destination spot in West Bloomfield, and her own photography business, Sam O. Photo. She is responsible for Stout's photography and videography, social media, marketing, and advertising. Sam focuses her efforts primarily on candidate and client facing promotions. In her spare time, she is a hula-hoop performer and professional photographer.

TAKE PRIDE

“I take pride in my work at Stout especially when a candidate or client makes mention of a piece of promo he or she had come across, either digitally or in print. Even if that one piece of promo wasn’t the exact reason for a candidate or client reaching out and communicating with us, it stuck in their brain and made an impact in their memory. My hope is to continue to keep Stout’s image and brand in our audience’s brains so that when they need us, they know we are there.”

Peg Bogema is the President of Stout Systems. She was John Stout’s first hire after he formed the company in April 1997. Peg has expertise in project management, software development management and technology recruiting. She has a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Michigan and is a Certified Scrum Master. Peg is raising two very active boys and a ridiculous number of orchids.

THINK BEYOND BINARY

“One of my great pleasures is connecting a great candidate with a great job. That isn’t always easy, especially when the labor market is tight. Recently one of our clients was struggling to fill an Android OS Developer role. They were willing to consider someone with very little experience, but even so, they simply couldn’t find anyone. We knew of a candidate with deep Java experience who really wanted to transition into Android development. He had done numerous personal Android projects, but lacked the commercial experience required by most companies. Stout connected the two, and it turned out to be a perfect match. Our client landed a very experienced developer with the potential to develop into a great Android developer. Our candidate landed that highly coveted first job in Android development. I’m always grateful when a client is willing to think beyond binary with us and consider candidates who don’t check every box on a job description.”

Brian Skory is one of Stout's Tech Talent Managers. Brian has has been with Stout since 2007 and is responsible for matching great talent with great jobs . Before Stout, Brian worked in a variety of technical industries including learning and development for software application training. In his spare time, Brian enjoys running, hiking Arizona's mountains, swimming, and rock climbing.

TAKE PRIDE

“A software developer came to us after his entire department had been off-shored. He had not been in the job market for some time and, not surprisingly, was a bit worried about his immediate future. As it turned out, we happened to have the perfect job available and it was a match made in heaven for both the candidate and the client. To his surprise, our candidate found himself in a situation that was even better than what he was in before. These are the types of situations that make me proud to do the work that I do.”

Priya Mani is a Tech Talent Specialist at Stout Systems. She has been with Stout since May 2016 and is responsible for sourcing, screening, engaging and submitting top notch talent for exciting and challenging roles with a wide range of clients across multiple domains. Priya worked previously with Timage Technology Solutions as a Talent Acquisition Specialist and as an Information Analyst with EDS. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, long walks with her Labrador Enya, trying out vegetarian recipes and educating herself on the healing power of food.

ADAPT TO NEW CHALLENGES

“The passing of our founder, John Stout was a great loss for the company and we suddenly faced several challenges which threatened our growth and even day-to-day functioning. We had several meetings and discussions on the best approach to pick up the pieces and start moving forward. We were ably guided by Peg Bogema and under her leadership, we had a reorganization of the technical talent team, with new responsibilities, processes and goals. It was definitely a novel and challenging approach but I was able to adapt and succeed in my new role. It was definitely a team effort and I couldn’t have done it alone. I am always proud of the work we do at Stout Systems.”

Don Stauffer is Stout's Tech Talent Screening Manager. Don has been with Stout since September 2017 and is responsible for processing incoming resumes, and communicating with candidates as they become part of our network of technical professionals. Before Stout, Don worked for many years as Engineering Manager for a local manufacturing company. It was in that capacity Don first met the Stout Systems team, and worked closely with them on many product development projects. In his spare time, Don enjoys riding, racing and wrenching on a variety of on and off-road motorcycles.

BUILD RELATIONSHIPS

“I feel that all of our relationships are powerful, and I enjoy connecting and re-connecting with candidates as they move through their careers. We often see candidates recommend their colleagues, friends and family to contact us when they are looking for the next step in their development. It’s gratifying to see that we’re able to build quality relationships based on confidence and trust.”

Chris Mollo is Stout's Technical Screener. Chris is has been with Stout since January 2016 and is responsible for initial phone technical interviews. In addition to his work with Stout Chris works at AVL, the world's largest independent company for the development of powertrain systems with internal combustion engines as well as instrumentation and engine test systems. At AVL Chris has used Java to develop engineering analysis software and is currently developing embedded, real-time engine control software. In his spare time, Chris enjoys golf, wine, craft beers, wood working and cooking.

TAKE PRIDE

"I really enjoy when at the end of a phone interview the candidate has enjoyed the conversation and is relaxed, especially when he/she was nervous at the beginning of the conversation."

Jan Hazekamp is Stout's Technical Screener. Jan has been with Stout since January 2018 and is responsible for interviewing and screening our technical candidates. Before Stout, Jan held technical and lead positions for many companies over the past several decades, including Stout! In her spare time, Jan enjoys doing volunteer work for dog rescue.

ADAPT TO NEW CHALLENGES

“I frequently adapt to the challenges that come with getting candidates scheduled for interviews at a day/time that works for them and in finding new ways to work during Michigan's many storms to conduct the interviews on time.”

Karen DeLuca is Stout's Controller. Karen has been with Stout since 2017. She is responsible for overseeing and maintaining the financial health of the company. Karen has been a Certified Public Accountant for over 30 years. She continues to work in the field of public accounting as well as handling her duties at Stout. In her spare time, Karen enjoys card games, dancing, going to the movies and the beach. She is currently getting tennis lessons from her husband.

BUILD RELATIONSHIPS

“One of the things I love about working at Stout is the internal structure and smooth flow lines of the organization. Everything is mapped out perfectly and all personnel are experts at their roles.   Our staff meetings are more informative than any others I’ve attended in my career. It feels great to work with a group whose members are all in sync with one another.”