Employee Spotlight: Adam Scouse 

Today, we’re excited to put the spotlight on Adam Scouse, a Data Visualization Specialist at FMP. Adam is originally from Williamsburg, VA, and has obtained degrees from Virginia Tech, Oregon State University, and North Carolina State University! Read on to learn more about Adam’s background, current work at FMP, and thoughts on use of AI in the workplace. 

Tell us about your professional/educational background.

Before I joined FMP, I was a consultant for private industry, merging analytical skills I picked up from academia with hands-on experience I gained in manufacturing. In prior roles, I was frequently dissecting how systems worked, exploring strengths and weaknesses, and looking for ways to make those systems stronger or more efficient. It’s cool to see how lean manufacturing concepts I studied back in college (and later implemented on factory floors) are also being used by FMP and our clients to improve software features and build out dashboards.

Share a fun life experience or story.

When COVID first hit here in the United States, I had just embarked on an 800-mile hike through the state of Arizona. I spent the first month of COVID walking north through the desert and wilderness surrounding Tucson, Phoenix, and Flagstaff. I made it as far as the Grand Canyon, but had to end my trek at the southern rim. The National Park had closed, and there was no one there to issue a back-country permit for my rim-to-rim attempt (walking down the Grand Canyon and then back up the other side). Those remaining 200 miles of the Arizona Trail are still on my bucket list!

What is your current role at FMP?

With the continually evolving landscape of the federal government, my first six months here at FMP have been a whirlwind of exploration. Since I’ve started, I’ve been involved with everything from developing and administering surveys, writing technical documents, managing software improvements, and building dashboards. Though not all of my work has directly aligned with my position title, it doesn’t mean I haven’t had opportunities to apply my skills and stay engaged. What has been important is staying curious, listening closely to clients, and remaining adaptive. So far, that’s kept things exciting, and no two days have been the same.

What has been your most rewarding experience at FMP so far?

The most rewarding experience at FMP so far has been building deeply collaborative relationships with my colleagues (both coworkers and clients)! The projects I’ve been a part of rely on small but impactful teams with folks who really know their craft. You get down in the weeds together, and from that, the trust and cooperation build organically.

Describe how/where you use/encounter AI in your day-to-day work.

The most useful application of AI in my work has been building a library of background information that I can then reference in the future. It’s a place I can deposit useful academic articles, product standards, news briefs, and case studies. Then, when needed, I can consult that library of knowledge to better answer highly specific questions.

What is one consideration organizations should keep in mind when utilizing AI-powered tools?

I think before we use AI, we should really be evaluating whether or not its utilization adds real value, compared alongside how its use impacts stakeholders. Let’s put ourselves in the shoes of the client, coworker, and/or customer and ask, “How would they feel if they knew AI was used to build out this tool, write this document, or make this business decision?” Lastly, there are always data privacy and/or copyright rules that need to be taken into consideration. 

Zoe Nerantzis joined FMP as a Consultant in May 2021 and works with the National Science Foundation team by supporting NSF’s learning and development branch. Zoe is from Rockville, Maryland and can generally be found reading fantasy novels, working out in her basement, or rooting for the Washington Football team.