This is a site about me
There aren't many Ara Wade's in the world so I'm glad you found my site. As the title says, this site is about me.
I'm named after my great grandpa Ara Wade. I never met him but I did visit his birthplace once. Best fried chicken I've ever had.
I grew up in Kokomo, Indiana. It has a storied history in automobiles and electronics. It’s been knocked down a few times but always gets back up.
I've lived in lots of places in my life. I went to college in Indianapolis where I met my wife. I moved to Connecticut for graduate school and started my first grown-up job. I lived in Chicago because you should do that at least once in your life. I live in Indiana now, but who knows where life will take me next.
My Interests
Because my work is cerebral and the projects long-lasting, I like to do physical activities in my personal time.
I've done a ton of remodeling at the places I've lived. Basements, bathrooms, decks, gardens, and lots of floors.
I build Legos for the same reason: I find it relaxing because it's methodical, has a specific outcome, and it’s time bound.
Also, my kids got me into gaming late in life. I'm terrible but it's a fun distraction.
My Family
My family is awesome.
My wife is amazing. She’s practical and funny and keeps me in check. I’m so lucky to have her.
I have 3 kids. When I was young, I wanted to have 10 kids. Turns out that 3 is a great number. Not so many it’s overwhelming but enough so they can form their own group. They have such unique personalities and interests it’s like they’re not even from the same gene pool.
My dog is my dog. Cute to look at. Dumb when it’s to his advantage. Always right behind me.
My Work
I love analytics. I crunch numbers for fun. I have more spreadsheets than is reasonable for anyone to have.
I've had really cool jobs over the years and worked with great people on amazing projects. My employers have been some of the best companies around.
For more about my professional life, check out my LinkedIn page or my consulting site.
