DISTek Turns Employees into Owners
A funny thing happened to me at work the other day – my title changed. On December 31, 2014, I, and most everyone else here, became part-owner of DISTek.
The DISTek Year in Review – 2015
Another year has come and gone and many eventful happenings took place in the history of DISTek. We may look back at 2015 as a turning point due to the substantial changes we made in all aspects of our business. Those end-of-the-year cards you get in the mail always seem to be bragging a little too much, but that is just what I am going to do because I think the year DISTek had is worth bragging about.
‘Tis the Season: Giving Back
There is a long standing tradition at DISTek around the holiday season. In late November, as we gear up for Thanksgiving break, where we spend time with our families reflecting on all the things we have to be thankful for, simple white boards adorned with green and red tags make an appearance in the break room. These tags list basic necessities and wish list items from local families, who are struggling to make ends meet. This year, DISTek was fortunate enough to be able to adopt two families and play a small role in making their holiday season a little bit brighter.
FIRST LEGO League – Cedar Falls Regional Qualifier
I am in the middle of my sixth season coaching a FIRST LEGO League (FLL) team. Each year has furthered my belief that FLL is valuable for all those that are involved. Recently, on December 5th, my team participated in the Cedar Falls Regional Qualifier.
Book Report: Getting Things Done by David Allen
While reading David Allen’s Getting Things Done, I connected the ideas that Allen suggests for time allocation to that of a real-time operating system with which I am familiar. Upon further thought, I wondered if there is a way to act more deterministic and accomplish tasks at higher efficiency, similar to how a microprocessor performs within a real-time operating system.
Design Patterns for Embedded Systems in C
While I was attending the Embedded Systems Conference this year in San Jose, there was one session that peaked my interest. The session was “Design Patterns for Embedded Systems in C” from Bruce Powel Douglass, Ph.D., Chief Evangelist from IBM IoT(Internet of Things).
Our People: Meet Bob Theisen
It was 8 years ago that my wife, Julie and I moved from Minnesota to Iowa, when I became the IT Manager for DISTek.
Fall Harvest Ride Along
Despite growing up in the grain belt and then starting a career heavily influenced by agriculture, I’ve never actually been inside a tractor or been on a working farm.
Choosing the Language for the Task
In college, I had a physics class called Modeling and Simulation of Physics Systems in which students wrote code to model the physical behavior of various systems. The final project of the class involved choosing a system of interest, developing a model for it, and presenting the results with some sensatory aid.
The Health of DISTek Culture
DISTek formed a Wellness Committee that is responsible for encouraging wellness and healthy lifestyles for everyone throughout the company. The wellness committee sponsors different events, such as lunch and learns or challenges that promote healthy living.
To Test or Not to Test? That is the Question.
With the ever increasing demands of the economy and to show a good return on investment, companies are continually looking for ways to cut back on spending. Unfortunately, one area that can easily end up being targeted for cost reduction is testing.
Happenings of the ISOBUS Fall 2015 Plugfest
The ISOBUS Fall 2015 Plugfest wrapped up a couple weeks ago in Wörth am Main, Germany. If you do not know what ISOBUS or its Plugfest are, you can look at my previous blogs for a tutorial.
