Name: Tim Hermanson
Bio: Tim received a B.S. in business administration/finance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2006. He has over five years of experience managing various projects at a large, local bank with a focus on compliance and operations.
Title: Arch Project Manager
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Age: 29
Residence: Omaha, Neb.
Website: archcrowd.com
Twitter: @timwh280
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/thermanson
Intro music: “Feeling Good,” by Muse
Silicon Prairie News: Having presented Arch recently at events like i2iowa and Cornstalks, you’ve had a chance to fine-tune your pitch. So, for those who aren’t familiar with Arch, what’s the 30-second version of that pitch?
Tim Hermanson: Arch is a location-based, mobile app that leverages the flexibility and distribution of smartphones to let users ask for information and media from any remote location. We think of the millions of smartphones as a worldwide grid of eyes and ears. Arch gives you the power to tap into that grid.
SPN: Two-plus years into your work on Arch, what are some of the most significant changes it has undergone in that time?
TH: As with any long-term project, Arch has been through several iterations in terms of function and user interface. Really though, I think the biggest change has been how we, as a team, interact with each other and the community. We have a lot more confidence in ourselves and in what we’re doing then when we started.
SPN: You describe yourself as a compliance geek. To what would you attribute your high interest in a subject as potentially mundane as banking regulations?
TH: It’s not the regulations that interest me as much as the colorful interpretations of them. A lot of people think they are hard-and-fast rules, but it’s more about reinforcing a certain type of behavior, however it is we actually get there. I think that’s a good way to think about any rules in life.
SPN: In what unexpected ways have you found that your full-time gig at First National and your work with Arch complement each other?
TH: Working at the bank tends to keep me grounded and disciplined, while Arch encourages me to take charge of my work and get the creative juices flowing. I’ve been able to combine those separate notions about work in a way that, I think, benefits both of my jobs.
SPN: First National has been known to warm the hearts of Omahans with its TV commercials showcasing some of the city’s landmarks. Pretend you’re in charge of one of those commercials. What are five or six of your favorite Omaha destinations that make the list, and why?
TH: The Orpheum is the best place to catch a show, and the Henry Doorly Zoo is first rate. Of course, the Mastercraft building has to be in there as well as the Joslyn Art Museum. Last but not least, Ted & Wally’s because they’re the only place around that makes Guinness-flavored ice cream. If that’s not a landmark, I don’t know what is.
Credits: Photo courtesy of Hermanson.
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