Let's talk about

• The importance of situated learning.
• The value of hard-earned expertise turned into custom software.
• The importance of tight feedback loops from concept through ongoing support of software.
• Multi-generational, multi-disciplinary, high-performance teams.

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Ken Auer’s passion and commitment to software craftsmanship has made him a respected leader in the creation of sustainable software and high performance teams. He founded RoleModel Software in 1997 and has operated as its visionary CEO ever since. After two decades of applying his craft, he co-authored the inspirational yet practical book “Extreme Programming Applied: Playing to Win!” in 2001. RoleModel Software’s founder and peerless leader was introduced as "the father of software craftsmanship" at the inaugural Software Craftsmanship North America conference in 2009. Since ‘97, Ken has continued to pursue innovation and has driven RoleModel to provide sustainable tailored software solutions for over 100 companies. Long: If you know anything about the software world, you'll know that object-oriented programming and thought has advanced the state of the art. Ken Auer is one of the few people in the world that has been building systems with object-oriented tools since the mid 1980s.

He has mentored hundreds of software developers in the use of object-oriented thought and practice and has been a pioneer in many of the movements that has advanced the craft: object-oriented analysis and design, patterns, extreme programming, agile software development, software craftsmanship, and high-performance/multi-generational/cross-disciplinary/full-stack teams. Since founding RoleModel Software, he has spent a lot of his time as a trusted advisor to businesses of all sizes who want to amplify their hard-earned expertise by leveraging custom sustainable software solutions built by or with his team. He was introduced as "the father of software craftsmanship" at the first Software Craftsmanship North America conference in 2009.

Ken's first book (co-authored with colleague Roy Miller), "Extreme Programming Applied: Playing to Win!" received excellent reviews as he explained how to practically apply the principles of Extreme Programming in the real world by relating his own thoughts and experiences as well as contributions from other pioneers. Though he has written many articles and been interviewed several times over the years, he spends most of the time focusing on the application of his craft and values. As he has helped others launch and advance their businesses leveraging the custom software RoleModel develops, he has leveraged the lessons learned in his own entrepreneurial efforts. Building a business within a business, Ken began RoleModel’s Technology-Based Services several years ago.

As a subject-matter-expert in the sport of ninja-warrior style obstacle-course racing, he was the catalyst for Ninja Master software - the premiere SaaS for coordinating and running ninja-warrior style obstacle course races and leagues. Ken was also the original architect and visionary for LightningCAD, RoleModel’s framework for helping design-to-order and engineer-to-order streamline their processes from prospecting to fulfillment. In his current transition from CEO, he is increasing his role as RoleModel’s Chief Product Officer, exploring new software offerings to serve small-to-medium businesses in fractured markets.

In 2019, Ken leveraged the subject matter expertise of his family and helped them launch Rock Solid Warrior, a premiere ninja warrior and rock climbing facility and is in negotiations to launch several more. This was a natural progression of his vision of having a multi-generational, family-integrated life with his homeschooled family that has designed and built their multi-generation home and been involved in church planting, musical theatre, audio/video production of live events and more. Ken's been married to his wonderful wife, Carol, since 1985, and has three children (including two who are married) who all take part in some part of RoleModel Software or Rock Solid Warrior with their various skills and talents.