As the original creator of Directus, the open-source modern data stack, Ben leads a growing team of international developers, designers, and contributors to support the Directus suite of products and its cloud-based Backend-as-a-Service offering. He has more than two decades of experience leading digital design teams, having held senior leadership positions at multiple startups as well as larger organizations, such as SoulCycle and Aol. Ben served as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force, specializing in Electronic Warfare, is a published author, official member of the Forbes Technology Council, and holds a BFA in Communication from the University of Connecticut.