CHRISTOPHER SCOTT ELLSAESSER Technical Director, Adept Communications and Technology Ltd.
Did you always envisage a career in Technology?
Not at all and I initially thought about becoming an architect. At school I studied aerospace engineering and medicine through an accelerated magnet program. It was only when I moved to the UK at the age of 14 that I gravitated towards business and economics. Following University, I moved into Telecommunications with the family business as a full time member of staff. I spent three years in a KTP programme through Sunderland University in research and development. This helped me to become more skilled and rounded. My completed project was to build a voice bridge from a mobile to a VoIP Telephony Solution.
What attracted you to your current role?
My father is a systems engineer for a large hospital group, a role he has always enjoyed! Having a similar mind set to my dad’s, I thought it would be good to mirror that. I naturally love to see things being developed and built, I absorb information and learn about things quickly at a deeper level. IT is a perfect field for me as that is exactly what is needed to understand, grow and change with technology.
Tell us about the business.
We founded Way 2 Communicate in 2010 which grew substantially and lead us to purchase a long established IT company. We merged the two companies and Adept Communications and Technology Ltd. was born. We offer a full suite of IT managed services including business broadband, VoIP Telephony, Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus and IT support. I test and curate every product and service we offer, always aiming for the best in class and in pricing. We are ably supported by five technical engineers who are customer focused and eager to delight our customers with their knowledge and service.
What tips would you give someone starting a career in the IT industry?
It is a big field so find something specific to attract your interest and use that as a starting point.
What are you currently working on?
We are helping customers work in a safer way through educating them as well as doing a number of cyber security assessments, remediating their processes and hardware as necessary. In addition we are further developing our website, developing a customer portal where they can access news, offers, and a number of DIY/ self-help videos.
What is your fondest career memory?
At the outset of Covid, we got a call from the NHS asking for a Covid call centre to be set up. We set up this call centre and had it installed and running successfully within two weeks. The NHS used this call centre as an integral part of its Covid vaccination rollout programme. That was immensely satisfying.
What is the best piece of business advice you have been given?
Keep it simple! You don’t need to get fancy and complicated to have an excellent fit for purpose and secure network.
What technology gadget can you not live without?
My Samsung S21 mobile phone which does everything. I can literally run my life from it.
Who are your heroes and mentors?
For a spell I was the number one in the UK for men’s trampolining although sadly my competitive days are over. From that field my heroes were Dong Dong and Jason Burnett who took gold and silver medals at the 2012 Olympics where one of our club members, Katherine Driscoll, also participated.
I am also a huge Buddy Rich fan, one of the most influential drummers of all time.
How do you like to relax?
Coaching trampolining and walking my dogs in Chopwell woods.
What does the future hold?
Continued growth for Adept, developing a good reputation through competency within the cybersecurity space. 2023 will be the year of Customer Journey as it relates to Adept. We want to make it the best it can be!
