About Andy Frank
Andy Frank is our Founder and CEO. Since founding UDig, he has had the opportunity to build a business fueled by finding clients the right technology solutions to solve their business challenges.
Digging In with Andy Frank, Founder and CEO
By Andy Frank
Back to insights
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 Andy Frank, Founder and CEO.
UDig: Tell us a little bit about your background before UDig.
AF: I was born and raised in Richmond, VA, and I am a big fan of the city. It is an easy place to live and grow a family. I went to James Madison University and originally thought I would build houses with my dad after I graduated. Thankfully, I fell in love with computers early. I got my first one in 1983 and ran one of the largest BBS boards in Virginia through middle and high school.
My love for PCs pushed me to major in Computer Science, but I eventually switched to a CIS degree in the College of Business. I realized pretty quickly that I would have more time to mountain bike and enjoy college life if I was not grinding through the CS program. I am thankful for that education background because my home building career only lasted about 10 months.
I have been married for 28 years and have three incredible kids that I admire. I am also a dog lover with two chocolate labs.
UDig: Did you always know you wanted to be a company founder? Why did you start UDig?
AF: I started UDig for two reasons. First, I wanted to provide a better service to folks in this realm of the business world. At the time, I was buying consulting staffing services at Capital One. I saw the opportunity to do it better than the companies I was buying from, so I ran with it. Second, my parents were entrepreneurs – I had the entrepreneur bug, plus I knew I didn’t want to be a big corporation employee forever.
UDig: UDig was founded in 2001. What has changed? What has stayed the same?
AF: Every facet of the company has changed – our services, company culture, business processes, core focus – all of it. The one thing that has remained the same is that we don’t take ourselves too seriously. We like to enjoy ourselves in the workforce and it’s important to all of us that UDig is a low drama, low politics environment.
UDig: In 3 years, what do you hope to see UDig accomplish?
AF: We’re currently working on a strategic plan that has four major components to it. Moving forward, I would love to see us execute that strategic plan – our goal is to better align ourselves with our clients while providing a more fulfilling work environment for our employees.
UDig: What is your favorite procrastination tool?
AF: Fortnite is my number one procrastination tool. My squad is my brother, my brother-in-law, and his brother. Our skill level is average at best, but our ability to evaluate the map and pick the right fights makes us surprisingly dangerous. We only play Build Mode. Non-build does not feel like the same game. I also argue that I am the greatest 50-year-old Fortniter in the world, but that claim is completely unfounded.
UDig: What did you want to be when you grew up?
AF: Dog farm was definitely number one on the list. I never made it to the money-making phase of that dream. I have always loved computers and technology. From my childhood experience of building houses with my dad, I also developed a love for renovating old places that need reimagining. That passion came later in life. We have completed major renovations on a 1950s house and a 1970s commercial building. I love the before and after. Building a company was never on the original passion list, but it has been for the last 25 years.
UDig: What’s the most played song in your library?
AF: My wife and kids absolutely hate this, but I am currently playing one song a lot. Losing My Edge by LCD Soundsystem. I mentioned this in a recent LinkedIn post because my world is changing and I am having to adapt and grow to support what is expected from me. I definitely work harder with a chip on my shoulder.
I also play Take Care by Beach House. I do not know the actual intentions of the lyrics, but it reminds me of how I show up for my family and my purpose.
UDig: What trivia category would you be best at?
1980s alternative rock.
UDig: How would you spend your day if we told you to take the day off?
AF: My perfect day would start with a cortado, then Octordle, a sauna, a cold plunge, and a workout. Skiing in the morning, golf in the afternoon, dinner with my family, and Fortnite after dinner.