At IMS, we believe our people are our greatest asset. In honor of our incredible team, we are thrilled to go "beyond the bio" and share the personal stories of employees across our organization.
As key members of the technology team, Senior Director of IT Jay Kania and Manager of Systems & Infrastructure Chris Berube strengthen IMS by managing our state-of-the-art technology systems and providing technical assistance throughout the entire organization. Read about their perspectives on the most rewarding aspects of working at IMS, their outlook on the industry's evolution, their greatest accomplishments, and more.
Jay Kania, Senior Director of IT
Q: How/why did you get into this industry?
A: My early technology career was spent in healthcare consulting. I have a passion for tech enablement of organizations that serve their industries to get results. When I first met Mike and Bill Wein, the founders of IMS, it was clear that my skillset could greatly advance the tech vision they had for serving the legal industry.
Q: How did you find/why did you choose IMS?
A: Serendipitously. My prior boss from Studer Group (now part of Huron), reached out to me about a small organization his company was providing technology consulting to called IMS. He let me know they were growing and were considering an in-house technology function and needed someone to build it. After meeting with Mike, Bill, and Ted, I realized that IMS was exactly where I wanted and needed to be and to show the world how tech is done right.
Q: What do you like most about your specific department and/or role?
A: Always growing, always evolving. Technology is a fast-paced industry, and it can be difficult to keep up. I am passionate about technology enablement and the investments IMS continues to make to enhance the delivery of our services to our clients. At the end of the day, business is still focused on people and relationships, and my function bridges the divides between people and tech in an elegant way.
Q: What internal accomplishment are you most proud of?
A: Vision and foresight in building a dynamic technology team. As a young tech in a hurricane-prone environment, I was a huge proponent of the cloud during its infancy. When I started at IMS, I immediately began transitioning our static on-premises environment to the cloud. As a result of our long-term cloud experience, IMS was able to seamlessly transition to a distributed workforce during COVID-19.
In 2014, I started the Data & Analytics team as a function of the Technology group. In 2016, a Software Development team was formed to build automated middleware to drive workflow efficiencies between front- and back-office systems. This team is now a critical asset to the organization and its ability to scale our technology ecosystem. In 2017, I established the Project Management function at IMS, which would become the foundational component of the BPMO.
Q: Are there any stories/memories you would like to share?
A: The many talks in the office in my early days with Mike, Bill, and Ted about the future of technology in our industry and how we would approach these opportunities. Looking back, we have accomplished so much of our vision, which has opened doors to new ideas from visionaries like James Crane, our CEO. He understands our industry well. I enjoy thinking back on all the conversations we had about the future of technology. We have accomplished a good bit of that early vision. There is plenty more to be done. I am passionate about this work.
Q: What do you think sets IMS apart from competitors or other companies?
Its commitment to excellence. IMS takes pride in being a people-driven, tech-enabled organization. We provide world-class services to our clients. IMS consistently invests in technology to drive efficiencies across the board within our organization. We are on the verge of delivering a client-facing ecosystem that will revolutionize the delivery of our services and our collaboration capabilities with those we serve.
Q: How do the IMS core values align with your own?
My personal favorites are “Ownership Thinking,” “Honor the Relationship,” and “Operate as One.” We pride ourselves on building our teams with the best possible talent and promoting collaborative environments where the best ideas win. Everyone in the organization has a voice and there is alignment both horizontally and vertically across the organization. We are constantly reinventing our teams to position ourselves and our clients for success.
Q: If you were an attorney-client (or an expert witness), what would you find most valuable about the process at IMS?
A: The high-touch service and the trusted relationships we build with our clients and experts alike. IMS stands by our clients and experts every step of the way to position them to win.
Q: Do you have any predictions or comments on industry trends?
A: Yes. AI will play a big role in legal services delivery in conjunction with the democratization of data. IMS is at the forefront of leveraging AI tools to enhance the IMS experience internally and externally.
Q: What has been your favorite case to work on so far?
A: There was a Zoom case after COVID hit and Neil Hoyt, one of our most seasoned Executive Account Managers, asked me some questions. Because of my experience and knowledge of Zoom technology and the company’s history, I was able to provide him with information and even got the opportunity to talk through a line of questions with a client’s attorney about skills required for an expert candidate! That was a really cool experience.
Chris Berube, Manager of Systems & Infrastructure
Q: How/why did you get into this industry?
A: The information technology industry is something I have always been part of and fascinated with. As a young boy growing up, some of my early “toys” were dot matrix printers and 5 ¼” floppy discs. I love seeing technology constantly grow and evolve. When it comes to the legal industry, we are just now scratching the surface of what is possible. We listen, learn, and adapt to the ever-changing legal environment. We are cutting the trail and paving the way. I am thrilled to be along for the ride!
Q: How did you find/why did you choose IMS?
A: It almost seems like a dream come true finding IMS while out searching for a new job opportunity roughly nine years ago. It comes down to the people who work here and the comfort level established by our executives. The leadership team is a one-call-away, open door. Everyone is very closely connected.
Q: What do you like most about your specific department and/or role?
A: I like how technology is interwoven into the very fabric of our business. This enables me to interact and involve my team with nearly every initiative IMS has planned.
Q: What internal accomplishment are you most proud of?
A: Number one is making new friends and partners. I do my best to make people feel at “home” no pun intended. Next, I would say the many successful migrations and integrations with our acquired counterparts over the years. It feels great watching all the pieces come together, performing late-night cutovers, testing, confirming success, and the unity that follows.
Q: Are there any stories/memories you would like to share?
A: The good old days of crawfish boils, chili cookoffs, Halloween, and that time someone was complaining that their docking station failed but they had actually plugged the uplink into itself. Good times.
Q: What do you think sets IMS apart from competitors or other companies?
A: It must be the naturally occurring symbiosis. The goals of each department and the company as a whole form a complex mechanism with one prime directive: winning! We make it happen together as the IMS Family. We “Operate as One.”
Q: How do the IMS core values align with your own?
A: My personal values are directly aligned with the vision of IMS. Bring your ideas to the table, offer and receive guidance, do your best, treat others as you wish to be treated, and care about one another. (Remember to restart your computer at least once per week.)
Q: If you were an attorney-client (or an expert witness), what would you find most valuable about the process at IMS?
A: From the inside looking out, it is the fact that we are always developing new tools and processes to improve the client/expert experience. We strive to be the best for everyone involved. Anything we improve internally involves a great focus on the services we deliver externally.
Q: Do you have any predictions or comments on industry trends?
A: I foresee a major uptick in AI-related cases and IP litigation coming soon. The amount of medical and tech-related breakthroughs is sure to keep the industry extremely busy.
Q: What has been your favorite case to work on so far?
A: While I do not work on cases directly, I would say my favorite project is the ongoing evolution of our infrastructure. The shift to a completely cloud-based workforce that can function 24/7 anywhere on the planet through world-class SaaS production systems and forward-thinking security. That is everything in a nutshell. We will never stop improving!
Learn More
Thank you to Jay and Chris for their dedication to our team. Together, we win.
Visit the links below to meet the IMS team and learn about our culture and career opportunities.
