Our Team. Our Culture. Our Stories.

Applied Data Consultants, the company behind Elite EXTRA, celebrates its 25th Anniversary on Sept. 13. We are grateful to have a combination of long-term and newer Team Members working together to innovate and move the needle forward for our clients, our culture and our company. These are their stories.

In March of 2003, I interviewed for a job at ADC (which then occupied a 4-room suite on the 4th floor of a retired tire factory in Eau Claire). I tried to do my best to use what I had learned about interviewing for your first post-undergrad job, which included wearing a suit and tie that I had bought specifically for job interviews. Waiting in the tiniest conference room that I had ever been in (I think the service elevator in the old tire factory was bigger), ADC Owner/Founder Jim Ward walks in wearing faded jeans and a Green Bay Packer golf shirt, sits down and kicks a foot up on the conference table. I am pretty sure I complimented his shirt with a hearty (and awkward) “Go Pack Go” to let him know that I was a fan as well. And I remember Jim saying right away that he was going to hire me on the premise of being a Packer Fan but “you’ll have to get rid of that suit and tie”.

I remember that impression to this day. That, less than a minute into the interview at this small upstart GIS shop, I wanted to work and build a career here. And now looking back, the laid back atmosphere (or dress code) and mindset that there were no boundaries to where the company could go really cultivated the culture that ADC/EXTRA strives on today. The work hard – play hard mentality has never gone away, but it has evolved into a deeper family-focused and work-life balanced standard of “winning” which has become root of the company’s growth and success over the past 25 years.

Evidence of this is present throughout the company, and you probably don’t need to look any further than the amazing Elite EXTRA building that was built last year. But, it is also in the testimonials of our valued Elite EXTRA Users, the laughs that can be heard in our hallways and Last Mile Lounge, and the relationships forged with our customers and co-workers (heck, I met my wife at this company we are still co-workers!). So, cheers to the last amazing 25 years of growing this culture of fun and winning! And, cheers to 25 more!