Welcome to the second edition of our quarterly Employee Spotlight series.
Veterans are an important part of the ES&S family. We recognize that the experience, leadership and team-building skills veterans bring to our team directly impacts the higher standard we hold ourselves to as a company, and adds to our efforts of ensuring that our products and services help maintain democracy and every citizen’s right to vote.
In recognition of National Military Appreciation Month and May 1, being Loyalty Day — the day set aside for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States, and to reflect on the proud heritage of our American freedom — we wanted to take the opportunity to recognize one of our teammates, Rob Wiebusch, a Marine veteran who joined the ES&S team in 2014.
We are kicking off Rob’s interview with a lighthearted peek into his military career.
What motivated you to join and why did you pick the Marine Corps?
I always wanted to serve my country in a meaningful way.
What was the best and worst military food you were served?
I missed several holidays over the four years, and it was always tough to eat an MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) on Thanksgiving Day. The best food was when we would visit the family of a fellow service member from South Carolina. That southern hospitality was a real treat, and I am still very close to the whole Boggs family who would host us over long weekends.
Can you share a funny short story about one your experiences during your time in the military?
The country of Thailand has a water festival called Songkran where the entire nation has a water fight on April 13 each year. Running around Pattaya City, Thailand for an entire day in swim trunks with super soakers was a dream come true for us Marines and a great cultural experience.
How does your military experience affect your life today?
Marines are trained to perform under extreme pressure situations and still succeed as a team. That training has served me very well when it comes to elections because our customers depend on us to deliver the service and support that they need. Our customers work very hard to prepare for a given election, and they are under immense pressure. It’s very gratifying to see the smiles on our customer’s faces at the end of a very long election day when everything has gone well.
More about Rob and his career at ES&S…
What are you passionate about?
My family, faith, democracy, running and colored khakis.
What do you love most about ES&S and working in this industry?
The people that I work with here at ES&S are passionate. They know that our customers are counting on us and we all do absolutely whatever it takes to ensure success for them. I love being around that kind of energy.
What brought you to ES&S?
My interest in ES&S started over a cup of coffee with Kevin Kerrigan (ES&S Sr. Sales Engineer) and the idea of innovating election administration, specifically innovating how a ballot is sent to a military member on the other side of the world. I’ve always had a passion for innovation, and the idea of modernizing the way we send ballots really interested me.
How would you describe your current role?
I am responsible for taking exceptionally diligent care or our customers. It’s my job to fully understand their challenges and priorities. I am their elections consultant, someone who helps them solve problems.
How have your past experiences affected your role at ES&S?
I got a great deal of satisfaction from the comradery that I experienced in the Marines — I get that same feeling of comradery from the people I get to work within the elections industry. The people who love elections are a ton of fun to work with, they have a lot of passion and understand the importance of the work we do. It’s a “we’re all in this together” vibe.
How do you keep up to date with trends in the elections industry?
I make it a point to be in the right places, listening to the right people, especially online. There are a lot of people doing some really innovative things, and a lot of people who have exclusive insight into changes that affect elections and they are talking about these things. When our customers are impacted by trends, perspectives, legislation, whatever, my efforts to be in the right places, listening to the right people, give me a one up as far as understanding and points of reference, and I use this to help our customers better navigate these situations.
About Rob
Rob grew up in Denver, CO, and Norfolk, NE. He joined the Marine Corp in 1998 and served until he was honorably discharged as a non-commissioned officer in 2002. Rob then attended the University of Nebraska-Omaha where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Real Estate and Land Use Economics. After graduating from college, Rob worked in leadership positions at two prominent Omaha real estate and title agencies for eight years, while also teaching college-level real estate courses. In 2009, Rob was recognized nationally by Realtor Magazine in their 30 Under 30 feature. Rob and his wife Beka are coming up on their 15-year anniversary and have two young children.
About ES&S
Election Systems & Software’s visionary approach to election equipment, software and solutions has helped improve the voting experience throughout North America for nearly 40 years. We are committed to developing integrated voting solutions that improve the marketplace and are flexible enough to meet multiple jurisdictions’ needs and voter preferences. Learn more about ES&S at www.essvote.com and on social media @essvote.