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This month, Atomic Object welcomed Rebecca Canterbury as the firm's newest Managing Partner in Chicago. Canterbury will help the 20-year-old custom software consultancy gain traction in its newest market.
She and her counterpart Jordan Schaenzle will share responsibility for operations, growth, and overall success of the Chicago office. Though Atomic is newer to Chicago, the agency is already rated as the top custom software development and top mobile app development service provider in the city, according to reviews site Clutch.co.
Co-CEOs Mike Marsiglia and Shawn Crowley searched for a candidate for months before extending the offer to Canterbury. She's only the second of the company’s six Managing Partners hired from outside the firm. Marsiglia says her career history sets her up well for the new role.
“Rebecca has a lot of past experience operating consultancies, so she gets our world,” he said. “She also has worked in product companies, which gives her empathy for our clients.”
Canterbury spent the last 15 years straddling Chicago’s agency and product realms. Recent roles include Director of Product at dining reservations firm Tock; Director of Partner Strategy and Programs at industrial AI company Uptake; and Director of Operations at software agency Caxy Interactive.
She says she's stepping into her sweet spot by taking on Atomic Object’s Chicago Managing Partner role.
“Agencies give you the best of everything. You get to explore varied industries and organizations—nonprofits to the Fortune 50. Clients have different types of technology and different approaches to design," she said. "This exposure lets you learn the right solution for a client might come from a different context."
Canterbury says Atomic's approach to paired leadership attracted her to the position. Atomic Object employs pair programming on agile development teams, and two co-CEOs lead the firm. Her pair Schaenzle spent a decade developing software at Atomic before accepting a promotion to launch this new office.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to partner with someone else—and Jordan specifically,” she said. “The co-lead model allows someone to excel in their natural skills.”
The Chicago office is the company’s third location, and the first outside of Michigan. Co-CEO Shawn Crowley says with the office’s leadership in place, he’s confident they will carry on Atomic’s tradition of patient expansion.
“As Jordan and Rebecca continue growing their team,” he said,” Chicagoans will see that Atomic is a great midwestern brand in a great midwestern city.”