Meet Anthony Alexander, Monarch’s VP, Operations and Delivery. Anthony has been with Core10, Inc. for almost 5 years and has consistently embraced our core value of “We’re here to grow.”
But don’t just take our word for it, hear it best from Monarch’s President, Lee Farabaugh.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to have Anthony Alexander on our Monarch team. Thanks to Generation West Virginia’s Impact Fellowship, our paths crossed, and since then, Anthony has been an exceptional team member, embodying all of our core values. He is wise beyond his years and continuously impresses with his ability to lead and mentor our team. When the opportunity arose to spin off our Monarch division, I knew Anthony was the perfect fit as VP, of Operations and Delivery. Working with Anthony has not only been a pleasure but also a catalyst for the exciting future of Monarch with such a strong leader by my side.”
In a recent interview with Anthony, we got the scoop on his time at Monarch, took a glimpse into his life beyond the office, and found out what makes him tick. Dive in below!
What is your role?
Previously, I was Director of Implementation at Core10. I spent most of my time coaching team members and managers on providing the best service possible to our clients. This work was nearly all project and deliverable-based.
I have now transitioned to being the VP, Operations & Delivery role at Monarch. It’s a super exciting opportunity, and I’m hitting the ground running with the help of the team. I am putting a lot of effort into being more strategic as a business and individual – focusing on things like honing our offerings, revenue, and financial performance, and building a unique culture that sets us apart from the competition.
How long have you been with Monarch?
I’ve been with Core10 for just over 4.5 years now. I started as soon as I finished my undergraduate degree as an Implementation Analyst, which gave me a ton of boots-on-the-ground exposure to the SaaS space and project management of processes. I’ve been functioning in my role with Monarch for about two months – although, it has been a seamless transition because we are doing the same work we were prior.
How did you hear about the company?
I heard about Core10 through Generation WV, an organization aimed at attracting and retaining talent in the mountain state. At the time, I didn’t know that implementation services were a career path I could take. I feel very lucky that I found the role because I loved it immediately. It helped me establish experience in the industry, the culture is incredible, and I’ve been able to build a career here (with the help of a lot of people).
What did you do before joining the team?
I worked as both an accounting intern for a local firm, and in the credit department of a community bank while attending college.
Why did you choose to work at Core10?
I worked at a bank before and realized that I wanted a faster-paced environment. I always had dreams of working in the tech industry but didn’t know how I could ever break into that space. Core10 had a fun and intriguing website, I liked the people I met during the interview process, and the idea of working with SaaS companies was appealing to me. To some extent, taking the job in implementation was a leap of faith, but it paid off more than I could ever imagine.
Where did you go to school?
I went to school at Marshall University for both my undergraduate and graduate degrees.
What did you study?
I double majored in accounting and finance for undergrad and got an MBA with a focus in finance post-grad.
What got you interested in a career in SaaS?
I was always the person who got family calls asking me to come over to fix their computer. As a kid, I spent a ton of time building LEGO robots and 3D printing things in my high school’s engineering room. I’ve always loved working with technology and being an early adopter of things. So, I ended up trying out an implementation job, and completely fell in love with it.
What does the typical day in the life look like?
I’m not sure if there is a typical day in the life! I spend a lot of my time on meetings coaching new managers and leaders, interviewing new team members, and holding check-ins with existing and prospective clients. I’ve learned to enjoy the problems we have to solve – both internally and for our clients. Most of my energy now is being poured into establishing a strong culture and standard of service – it is a lot of fun.
What is your favorite project you have worked on?
Our relationship with DealCloud is a pillar of the Monarch division, and getting to work on that from the early days was a transformational experience for me. Consulting some of the largest PE firms in the world and building a product that they truly get value from was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.
Tell us about your life outside of Monarch.
I have a ridiculous amount of hobbies. I’ve played guitar since I was 10 years old, so that is always a mainstay. Recently, I picked up an electronic drum set, so I’ve been trying to teach myself how to drum. I’ve also taken up whittling in the last 6 months, and I always try to read consistently (sometimes unsuccessfully). Outside of that, I love hiking, biking, and playing video games with friends. I occasionally take the trip home to West Virginia to visit family as well!
What is something other people find most surprising to learn about you?
I didn’t learn to ride a bike until I was 19 years old. The first time I really rode it was on a mountain biking trail. I fell a hundred times and got a lot of scrapes and cuts, but normal biking was easy after that!
Where do you live and what are your favorite parts about the place you call home?
I live in Columbus, Ohio. It’s a moderately walkable neighborhood, which is really important to me. We also have a pretty extensive bike trail system. It is really easy to hop on it and bike to nearly anywhere in the city without having to worry about biking in car traffic. There is also always something new to try food-wise here, and it’s easy to get to sporting events and the airport.
