Appcast’s humble beginnings can be traced to the Upper Valley of New Hampshire, in an unassuming small town that doesn’t have the same name recognition as Silicon Valley. But, around a borrowed picnic table in an old warehouse, founder and CEO Chris Forman found himself surrounded by the same level of talent and passion that you can normally find in the tech capital. This dedicated team wasn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves to drive the company forward – and drive it forward they did.
As Appcast’s reputation as a trailblazer in programmatic technology grew, our team did as well, and offices were established across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Now the proud employer of over 550 employees, Appcast has transformed from a small group of passionate, nerdy, hard workers to a leading innovator in the recruitment marketing space.
We’ve asked members of the founding team to reflect on their accomplishments and memorable moments from the early days of uncertainty to today, where their contributions continue to power Appcast’s success.
Based out of the Lebanon office in New Hampshire, Alison Bowen began as an Account Manager. After working hard through the years and being promoted four times, she is currently the Senior Director of Enterprise Sales. Alison values Appcast’s startup culture and hopes to preserve that as Appcast continues to grow and flourish.
Here’s what Alison had to say about her history at Appcast:
What would you tell the person who you were 10 years ago to encourage them before their first day at Appcast?
Appcast is going to be some of the best years of your life. You will meet many of your closest friends and mentors. Be prepared to work long days and take your work home with you. Be flexible and curious. Don’t be afraid to “make it up as you go along,” as we are building this business together. Be okay with constant change – embrace it and focus on the upside. Soak up as much knowledge as you can, and say ‘yes’ to new opportunities, even if it is scary and uncomfortable. Celebrate the wins, they are special. Pass your knowledge along to your new colleagues. When in the office, always have your ears open and listen, it’s one of the best ways to learn. Be both humble and confident. Move fast – don’t wait. Being part of a start-up is really special – don’t lose sight of that.
What moment(s) in the last ten years at Appcast have you been most proud of?
This one is tough! “Proud” is the key word. Some milestones that come to mind:
- When the Lebanon office moved from our upstairs space to our downstairs space because we were growing. We got to take over the first floor of an old mill building and renovate it to our liking – open concept, bright, exposed brick and beams, kitchen and a foosball table. This ended up being the model for future Appcast offices
- When Appcast and Chris Cummins opened an office in Fredericton, New Brunswick and then quickly expanded. This signaled that Appcast was quickly growing and on track for success. This also resulted in an amazing new group of colleagues and a top-notch sales team.
- When I got to visit our Belarusian colleagues in Minsk. They were generous hosts, and it was really special to sit in the office with the team who literally built Appcast.
Where do you hope Appcast will be 10 years from today?
In 10 years, I hope Appcast is a global powerhouse in recruitment marketing, still growing and innovating. I hope we simultaneously maintain our culture and values.
Read more of our founder profiles on our 10-year anniversary page and join us in the year ahead as we continue to celebrate ten years of Appcast.
