We give the Operator of the Year Award to recognize the builders behind the systems their teams rely on to keep work moving. This year's finalists unified fragmented processes and delivered measurable improvements for their teams.

Here's how they did it.

Nick Thomas, Automation Manager, Kin Home

35% productivity gain. $500k in cost savings. A system that ties operations directly to revenue.

Nick Thomas redefined how solar projects are managed at Kin Home.

Before Quickbase, his team had no single source of truth. Project data lived across disparate CRMs, lender portals, spreadsheets, and field tools. As the business grew, they saw an influx of issues: missed SLAs, unclear task ownership, and limited visibility into performance. Those gaps made it harder to track pipeline health or connect operations to revenue.

Nick approached this by rebuilding the system from the ground up.

On Quickbase, he created a centralized operating system that connects the entire project lifecycle, bringing customers, milestones, and financial events into one place. Workflows move projects forward automatically, and ownership stays clear at every stage. Through integrations and pipelines, he connected external systems and extended Quickbase with additional tools to support field data, scheduling, and service operations.

Nick builds systems around how the business actually runs, not how a system assumes it does. He focuses on clarity in the details -- standardized data, clear ownership, and structured handoffs -- so teams can move without stopping to figure things out.

His work changed how the team operates day to day. Internal productivity increased by 35% as work moved faster and required fewer handoffs. Project turnaround times improved, with stronger SLA adherence across design, permitting, and installation. Better scheduling and fewer inefficiencies in the field led to at least $500k in cost savings.

"Quickbase evolved from a supporting tool into the operational backbone of the business."

Leaders now see pipeline health, install forecasts, and funding timelines in real time -- directly tied to operational data.

Nick went beyond incremental fixes. He replaced a fragmented, reactive environment with a structured, automated system that supports growth and accountability across the organization.

Ajay Hiles, Data and Analytics Manager, Farmers Insurance®

One system for tasks, priorities, and communication. Less admin work. Faster execution across the board.

Ajay Hiles reworked how the Direct Sales team operates -- not just by consolidating tools, but by changing how work moves forward and modifying decision flows.

Before building a new operations hub, work was spread across portals, trackers, and various communication channels. Managing projects sometimes meant chasing updates and relying on manual follow-ups, and at times, causing unclear priorities. Administrative work slowed things down.

Ajay approached the problem differently. Instead of patching gaps, he designed a system that removes the need for constant coordination.

He built a new centralized hub that brings task management, communication, and prioritization into one place. Tasks are triggered automatically and tracked through to completion, with real-time visibility into communication and project status. Instead of subjective decisions, work is now prioritized using an effort-versus-impact model, so teams know what matters and why. He also connected the system with tools to automate survey distribution and data flows.

Upon launching, the impact was immediate. Manual tracking dropped, administrative overhead decreased, and task completion rates improved as follow-ups became system-driven. Project turnaround times accelerated, and communication became consistent and searchable.

"Our new centralized operations hub isn't just a tool. It's how the team runs."

Ajay's technical execution reflects both depth and originality. He builds systems that make coordination automatic and priorities clearer -- so teams can focus on higher-impact work.

Nick Fichera, Business Analytics Manager, Sandvik Mining

800+ hours saved annually. 23+ applications deployed. Operations unified across 15 departments.

Nick Fichera transformed how production operations run at Sandvik Mining Rotary Drilling Division by rebuilding the systems behind how work gets done and how data flows across the organization.

Before Quickbase, operations relied on spreadsheets, email, and manual coordination across 15 departments. Data was fragmented, issues were difficult to track, and teams lacked a shared view of the business.

Nick addressed this at the foundation. Using Quickbase, he built a Common Data Layer that integrates and standardizes ERP data alongside other operational data sources, connecting workflows across departments. On top of this, he developed a growing suite of 23 applications supporting core processes, including issue tracking, inventory management, maintenance, approvals, quality, and cycle counting, with additional systems such as bill of material change management in development.

These applications operate as a connected system built on a shared data foundation. Inspection workflows feed into issue tracking, which drive quality resolution processes, creating a seamless flow of information and action. The ecosystem is designed to expand, with additional applications already on the roadmap.

Nick focuses on clear ownership, structured workflows, and real-time visibility so teams can move work forward without constant coordination.

His impact is measurable. More than 800 hours are saved annually through automation and process standardization. Over 9,500 operational improvements are captured and managed each year through structured workflows, and key processes such as approvals and inventory management that once took days now take hours. These time savings come from automating data entry, improving process efficiency, and removing unnecessary steps altogether.

"Quickbase is now how operations run, not just how they're tracked."

Today, teams operate with shared visibility, consistent data, and clearly defined ownership. Work flows across departments without friction, and decisions happen earlier with better information.

Nick built a connected operational system that continues to scale with the business and fundamentally changed how work gets done every day.

What Sets These Operators Apart

Different environments. Different challenges. The same approach.

They didn't accept fragmented systems as part of the job. Instead, they built systems on Quickbase that reflect how work actually happens. And now their teams run differently because of it. Data is connected. Ownership is clear. Work moves without constant manual coordination. And the results show up where it counts -- faster turnaround times, higher accuracy, and less time spent chasing updates.

This is what the Operator of the Year Award recognizes: the individuals behind the systems that materially change how work gets done.

Three finalists. One winner, announced at Empower

Each of these builders brought structure to broken processes and improved how their teams operate. Nick Thomas, Ajay Hils, and Nick Fichera are this year's finalists for the Operator of the Year Award. The winner will be announced live during the Day 2 keynote on May 20 at Empower 2026 in Houston, TX.

Haven't registered yet? Visit the Empower 2026 website for all the details.

Can't make it to Houston? Sign up for free access to the keynote livestreams here.