Meet The Team: Chad Andres

This blog features Chad Andres, implementation manager for Insearch at ECI Software Solutions. We sat down with Chad to learn more about his role within the team.

ECI: Describe your role in 50 words or less.

Chad Andres (CA): As implementation manager for Insearch, I have diverse responsibilities. This includes overseeing my team, orchestrating the execution of multiple projects concurrently, and diligently making sure we can handle the ad-hoc requests from customers daily

ECI: What and where did you study?

CA: I studied architectural design at Phoenix Institute of Technology.

ECI: Tell us about your background and the path that led you to your current role.

CA: Following my tenure at PIT, I spent 22 years at an architectural firm where I taught myself very popular 3D software programs. Eventually, I became the head 3D artist, collaborating with major home builders in northern Nevada and completing multiple rendering projects.

When approached by a leading builder to develop an online interactive experience for home buyers, I accepted the challenge despite my limited knowledge. I dedicated countless days and nights to learning and creating content, eventually leading to the founding of Insearch with my business partner, Ryan Thornton.

After approximately eight years of dedicated effort, we successfully resolved numerous challenges for builders and developed a product offering online interactivity, addressing a crucial need in the industry.

Since joining ECI, we've experienced unparalleled growth and continue to expand at an extraordinary pace.

ECI: What does your day-to-day work life look like?

CA: It changes so much on a normal day. I’ll meet with the team to assess the status of projects and review any outstanding questions. Implementing Insearch’s interactive renderings is an area I manage so I’m usually engaging both the rendering team and our customers. Customers love these add-on interactive visuals, and it keep me busy. I wish I had more time in the day!

ECI: What advice would you give someone just starting in your industry? Any words of wisdom?

CA: Know your customers and understand their needs. Before starting any tech-based company, you need to know the problem to solve it.

ECI: What excites you most about working within this industry?

CA: This industry changes continually. It’s fluid, constantly morphing into the next best thing. I'm always excited about where software in the building industry is going and about future advancements, and they happen so quickly.

I have always been satisfied by a builder's reaction to our software and what it does and achieves for them.

ECI: What do you find most challenging about working within this industry?

CA: When facing complex software changes, achieving flawless design and seamless user interaction can extend timelines beyond expectations, posing challenges to ensure everything functions as intended.

ECI: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned since you began your career?

CA: When working with customers, approach them first on a human level—be kind and patient.

ECI: Since you started working in the industry, what changes have you witnessed?

CA: We had more time to come up with ideas in the beginning. In the rapidly evolving tech landscape, new advancements emerge swiftly as competition intensifies yearly. Failure to adapt and progress alongside these developments will result in falling behind.

ECI: What do you enjoy doing when you're not at work?

CA: I enjoy golfing the most, but in the wintertime, it's snowboarding, and I'll do a lot of mountain biking as well.

ECI: What book would you recommend for anyone to add to their ‘must-read list?

CA: A book I read when I first started out said to ignore all the negative people when starting a business. I think that was part of the reason we grew this business so much, so fast, and put all our heart into it: because of all the people who said we couldn't.