Milestones of Commitment: The Remarkable Stories of Nassim and Robert

What is the longest tenure you've had at a company? How long can you imagine spending in one workplace? These questions often cross our minds as we navigate our career paths. For Nassim Fotouhi and Robert Marshall, the answers are not only clear but also extraordinary. With 30 and 25 years of dedicated service, respectively, they’ve woven their professional lives into the very fabric of Progress. Today, as we honor their remarkable milestones, we take a moment to reflect on their incredible journeys. We explore what initially attracted them to the company, the steadfast anchors that have kept them committed, the transformations they have witnessed and the passions that still ignite their enthusiasm for work each day. Join us in celebrating their stories and drawing inspiration from their decades of unwavering dedication and invaluable experience.

Take us back to the beginning of your journey here. What drew you to Progress initially?

Nassim: The work sounded interesting, but it was the people who drew me in.   I met with the team and was impressed with each and every one of them; Manny DaSilva, with his quiet, thoughtful demeanor and his views on architectural infrastructure;  Rodney Lucas, with his vision and new ideas;  David McMan, with his expertise in coding the infrastructure; and Andy Kline, with his great communication skills and tools expertise. Finally, I met with the manager, Rick Reidy, who I found to be caring, compassionate and a great leader. That sealed the deal for me.

Robert: When I joined Progress in 1999, I had already used the product for almost 15 years. I was well-acquainted with the people and their culture, and I knew the CEO at the time, Joe Alsop.

Through all the changes – in technology, leadership, industry trends – what is the anchor that has kept you committed to Progress for several decades?

Nassim: For the past 30 years, I've witnessed significant transformations within the company, including changes in its structure, teams, scope, and responsibilities. In the early days, my team operated autonomously with each member juggling multiple roles and tasks. Over time, our teams became more organized, and we introduced processes to enhance efficiency and streamline our work. Throughout my journey, I've encountered diverse managerial styles and had the honor of collaborating with some of the most brilliant minds, many of whom continue to contribute to the company's success.

A few of my colleagues from earlier days are still here and I am so grateful for that. John Harris is still managing the development infrastructure and Steve Conners now works in Security, managing the tools and processes to keep us safe from hackers.  I have been working closely with Swapna Mohanan for the past eight years, during which we have experienced many changes together. I continue to collaborate closely with Swapna, as well as with Vivek Taparia, my prolific partner who manages our India teams and is involved in the management of our tools.

Robert: Honestly, it has always been our customers. The end-users and partners that produce applications that keep businesses running have been my anchor. Helping them in various ways to improve and succeed has been incredibly fulfilling. Each customer engagement is unique, even when returning to a customer in subsequent engagements; you see how their business changed, the technology and regulatory demands impact the solutions and that also has ensured that I stayed current with things and allowed me to grow personally and professionally through the experience.

Looking back at how the company has transformed during your tenure, what significant changes have you witnessed and what important values or practices have remained constant?

Nassim: As I’ve mentioned, we’ve gone from being a one-product company to a multi-production international company.   We used to be located in Bedford MA and now we have offices all over the world. However, our values have remained the same since the beginning.

It’s the people who make this company great. My team’s motto has always been: Your success is my success.  From day one, we’ve been a self-directed team, firmly believing that the team comes before the individual. Success isn’t truly achieved unless all of us succeed together. We’ve always been quick to jump in and help when one of us needed it. This supportive attitude has persisted, even as the team has grown and members have changed. I am proud to say that we’ve always put the team first and we continue to do so.

Robert: Throughout my time here, I’ve seen many products developed, retired, merged and divested. Despite these changes, our commitment to providing exceptional service to our customers has never wavered. Additionally, the support we offer each other within the Progress family has remained a constant and vital part of our culture. Progress has never wavered in its’ core values, we believe in our people, our technology and the ability of everyone to be able to develop effective business applications easily. Everyone has a voice in the company, and when you speak up, you will be heard. Senior management has always maintained a stance of the “open door”, where anyone can talk with them. In todays’ world, it is a little different and it is now more of emails and electronic messages since we are not in the same offices; but the principle remains

After so many years with Progress, what continues to excite you about coming to work each day?

Nassim: It is the team that makes me look forward to logging on every day.  I look forward to collaborating with them to solve problems and find solutions that will work not just today but for many years to come.   Every day is different, and we don’t solve the same problems or face the same challenges repeatedly. But the best we focus on solving today’s problem at hand which allows us to tackle a different one tomorrow.   That’s the essence of how the Operations team works—ensuring that we never encounter the same issue twice and always question whether the solution we’re implementing is going to stand the test of time.   Coming up with these lasting solutions is what makes the work interesting, challenging and new every day. In addition, the unwavering support of my manager, Steve Marshall, has been valuable. He has always been there when I needed a sounding board, a listening ear or support to advocate for what we believed in. Steve has been a rock that I could lean on throughout the years.

Robert: Even after decades with the company, I still find motivation in the dynamic nature of my work. Each day brings new challenges and opportunities, whether through customer interactions or internal collaborations. These engagements reveal innovative approaches and areas for improvement, allowing me to make meaningful contributions and drive positive change.

As you reflect on your entire career journey, what achievements are you most proud of?

Nassim: I’m proud of what we’ve built all these years.   Very few things have gone away and are no longer in use.   We’re still using most of the scripts for building the OpenEdge product line that was in place when I joined!  I know that surprises a lot of people, but it’s because they were written with the future in mind and hence are still relevant.  I am proud of the care we put into our work.

My kids grew up with Progress and at Progress. My eldest daughter was two years old, and my younger one was six months old when I joined Progress.  They went on all the trips and outings that we used to go on with work. They made a lot of friends with kids their age during these trips and have remained friends with them. Now, they’re both grown up and are young ladies in their early 30s. I’ve worked at Progress almost their entire lives, and my colleagues are more like family. Progress is not just where I’ve been working; it’s where I’ve been living.

Robert: I’m most proud of working with customers and witnessing their evolution and businesses success. There have been numerous instances where customers in need of assistance would specifically wait for me to help them again. This level of trust and loyalty is a testament to the strong connections and confidence we’ve established with our clients. Over the years I have completed many industry certifications that add value to our services and completed my Masters and Doctorate degrees.