Digging In is a regular series of blog posts profiling UDig employees. We hope this series helps you get to know our team and understand why we dig what we do! Today, we are sitting down with Gordon Kelly, Executive Vice President.
UDig: Tell us a little bit about your background and your role at UDig.
GK: I’ve been in Richmond nearly my whole life, I went to college an hour away – once I graduated, I quickly moved back, bought a home, and settled in. When I was in college, I took many prelaw classes at the time, I wanted to be a lawyer. After being advised not to go to law school by friends a few years ahead of me, I decided to change my path. After all, it was not a good time to be a lawyer when I graduated. Post-grad, I started out working for a large bank. Much of my family worked in business development and sales, so I had an interest in that. I’ve always enjoyed working with people, I’ve been an extrovert my whole life, and I find it fascinating to build relationships with people and discover what makes them tick.
My role at UDig is to lead the Virginia market. I work with our leadership team to ensure that we continuously identify interesting work while keeping our employees happy and challenged. Conversely, I work to deliver high quality outcomes for our clients. When each of these areas is doing well, the result is a successful company.
UDig: Why UDig? You have been with UDig for a while, what has kept you around?
GK: I found UDig through a networking group at my first job and I’ve been here for 17 years now. During my time at UDig, I’ve found that the company is unique in that you are given the opportunity to learn each day – we are exposed to many different aspects of business here and gain experiences that most folks will never see working for larger organizations. At UDig, you learn how to fail fast. I’ve stuck around because I feel that everything I do here matters. Those that lean in are rewarded, they have a consistent opportunity for growth. Another component of the company that I appreciate is the culture. One of our core values is to maintain a fun atmosphere. Employee culture is very important around here and that’s something I will never sacrifice. It sounds cliché, but life is short – you must have some fun!
UDig: In 3 years, what do you hope to see UDig accomplish?
GK: I hope to see our business scaled as we become experts in the verticals that we serve. A major goal for UDig is to develop a brand name for the ability to align business strategy with outcomes rooted in technology. I also hope to see consistent yet strategic growth as we elevate our internal team and develop many leaders.
UDig: What is your favorite procrastination tool?
GK:I have a love-hate relationship with social media – it’s a great distraction, yet a massive distraction. I’ve also developed a love for podcasts in the car or during downtime. Some of my current favorites are Founders , All-In Podcast, and SubPar.
UDig: What did you want to be when you grew up?
GK: When I was little, I wanted to be a doctor. My grandfather was a doctor, but doctors back in the day were much different than they are now; he did a lot of house calls which I thought was cool, though now it doesn’t seem quite as fun. In high school, I had dreams of being a professional basketball player. I’m 6’9”, but let’s just say the athletic ability was lacking quite a bit.
UDig: What’s the most played song in your library?
GK: Well, it depends. If my daughters have hijacked my phone, Taylor Swift will likely be playing. Other than that, some of my favorite artists are Caamp, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Modest Mouse. Before kids, I went to a lot of concerts and music festivals. Those days are behind me, unfortunately.
UDig: What trivia category would you be best at?
GK: “Best at” is relative. If “useless knowledge” is a category, then I am pro-level. If I had to pick, I would say Sports and History are my strong suits.
UDig: How would you spend your day if we told you to take the day off?
GK: Easy answer – a hike with my wife, kids, and yellow lab in the morning, followed by a round of golf (with beer). Dinner at home with the family, then one of the many shows my wife and I are currently watching and asleep by 10.
