Dave: Hey everyone, Dave here with another episode of the Philly Tech Connect podcast. Today, I’m speaking with Chris Feamster, a true innovator in business and technology. Chris is the founder and CEO of Nexus Systems Incorporated. He has over 20 years of experience in cloud computing, IT integration, and business strategy. He has built Nexus Systems into a leader in autonomous governance, enterprise transformation, and digital innovation. He also runs NEX Educational Services Association, which provides software and services to the education sector. He’s passionate about using technology to drive business efficiency, and he’s here to share insights on embracing automation, the future of tech-driven strategy, and building resilient organizations. Chris, how are you doing?
Chris: I’m doing all right. Glad to meet you, Dave.
Dave: Yeah, you too, man. Chris, tell me a little bit about your background and how you got started with Nexus Systems.
Chris: Sure! You know, it’s interesting—I think of my story as kind of being dyed in the wool, your typical nerd. Nexus has been around for 20 years, but even before that, I was just steeped in technology and loved jumping into it. I can trace it back even further—my dad worked on those big iron machines and used to bring stuff home to show his young, impressionable kid. I think it was no surprise to him that his kid turned out to be a giant nerd! I always knew I wanted to do something with technology, but when I started Nexus, we were actually doing something very different from what we do today. We began by building computers—we were a system builder. Over time, we stayed attentive to what people were asking for and to shifts in the market. We started pressing into professional services, software development, and system architecture. Eventually, we transitioned into being a strategic difference-maker for our clients, which brings us to today.
Dave: Very cool. You know, I’m always really impressed when a company has been operating in tech for 20 years because the industry changes so fast. I run a digital marketing agency that’s about six years old, and I already have concerns about keeping up with trends and changes. How has Nexus evolved over time? Were there any inflection points where you realized you needed to introduce new services or shift how you do things?
Chris: Absolutely! If you don’t change, you die, right? The only constant in life is that nothing stays the same. When we first started, we were very hardware-focused, but even back in the early 2000s, computers were becoming more commoditized. That beige box was turning into the standard black box, and we realized we needed to evolve. We had two choices: either become a retailer or listen to what our clients and the market were asking for. That was our first major inflection point. Over the years, we pressed into system architecture, software development, and holistic solutions. More recently, we’ve found that many IT companies offer full-stack services, but what set us apart was the conversations we kept having with clients. They weren’t just asking for managed services or solutions; they wanted strategic advice. They wanted help recovering from problems and positioning themselves for future success. So, we shifted towards offering not just technological solutions but also strategic guidance to help companies achieve their vision.
Dave: I love that! It makes perfect sense when you explain it, but I imagine it’s difficult in practice. You’re talking about skills that maybe you didn’t have at the time or weren’t fully polished. How challenging was it to learn about software and integrate it into your services?Was it tough to hire and manage new skill sets in your organization while keeping up with trends?
Chris: Absolutely, that was a challenge—one that I think we’ve managed well, but it definitely required intentionality. One of the things we believe in is teaming up. We partner with other IT firms and professionals in our sector so we can build out our bench. We have in-house talent, but no one knows everything, especially with how fast technology changes. So, we put pride aside and focus on collaboration. We share business, knowledge, and resources to ensure we’re always able to serve our clients effectively.
Dave: That’s a smart approach. Let’s talk about automation. A lot of businesses don’t even realize they have inefficiencies. They might not know they’re doing something inefficiently or slowly, or even that automation could help them. Do companies usually come to you with a specific problem they want to automate, or do they need consulting to figure out where automation can help? And how do you measure success—by time saved, efficiency gains, or something else?
Chris: That’s a great question. There’s a spectrum to the ask. Sometimes clients come to us with a process issue and ask if we can improve their platform. During our analysis, we might find an opportunity for automation, and we’ll work with them to optimize their process. Other times, they’re automating too much and putting too much trust in a system. In those cases, we might recommend putting a human back in the loop to reduce errors. As much as we love technology, we don’t want to shoehorn it in where it doesn’t make sense.
Dave: That’s really interesting. So, you’re saying there are cases where the best recommendation is to step back from automation and introduce human oversight?
Chris: Exactly! Sometimes the best solution isn’t more automation—it’s smarter automation with proper oversight.
Dave: AI has been one of the biggest recent trends. How has it impacted your industry?
Chris: AI has had a massive impact. There are new opportunities and projects coming up all the time. The last time we saw this level of disruption was probably the rise of the cloud. The biggest shift with AI isn’t just the technology itself—it’s accessibility. AI is no longer confined to big corporations or specialized labs. Now, everyone has access to powerful AI tools, and the challenge is using them responsibly. We’ve actually launched a new brand called Cognify to help companies implement AI responsibly and sustainably. We want to ensure that AI systems have proper controls in place and are used to supplement human agency rather than replace it.
Dave: That makes a lot of sense. I imagine the AI boom is beneficial to your industry because businesses are now looking to integrate it into their systems and need professional guidance. But is there a downside to AI in your industry?
Chris: I wouldn’t call it a dark side, but there are definitely challenges. That’s why we emphasize strategic implementation and governance. If you rush AI adoption without proper oversight, you risk major issues—like AI making biased decisions or giving bad advice. AI can be a powerful tool, but you need to be thoughtful about how you use it. It’s like driving a car—you don’t want to go 90 miles per hour in the dark without headlights. You need a map, some planning, and a clear vision for where you’re going.
Dave: That’s a great analogy. Chris, for people who want to learn more about you, Nexus Systems, or Cognify, where should they go?
Chris: The best place is nexussystems.com—that’s our main website. Cognify just launched, and you can find more about it at governanceforai.us. We’re also on LinkedIn, where we’re building a community around responsible AI adoption.
Dave: Awesome. Thanks so much for being on the show and having this chat with me today.
Chris: Thank you, Dave—I appreciate it!