Employee Spotlight – Jonathan Vinson

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As a Software Developer at United Systems, Marshall County native Jonathan Vinson spends his workdays turning what many of us see as a bunch of random letters, symbols, and numbers into appealing functional software for utilities. Jonathan works primarily on our Alliance G5 applications and aids in planning and product design.

Jonathan began his tenure at United Systems in May of 2015 as a Software Developer. We’ve had the pleasure of watching Jonathan expand his development skills and become a true leader in the department. Originally from Calvert City, Jonathan is a graduate of Marshall County High School and graduated from Murray State University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. Jonathan currently resides in Marshall County, KY, with his girlfriend Haley, two dogs, and a cat.

Unsurprisingly, Jonathan is extremely interested in technology, not only software but tech devices & gadgets. In his free time, Jonathan enjoys staying informed on all the latest devices and technological developments. You can regularly find Jonathan reading about some new Elon Musk-Esque technological advancement or the newest blockchain article. Don’t be surprised if you find him in the hall discussing the hottest new tech trend, item, or game.

Based on his role on our Software Development team, it’s easy to guess that Jonathan would have interests in technology, devices, and gaming. However, you might not know that Jonathan has a strong interest in music and Japanese culture. For close to a decade, Jonathan has done local musical performances at the Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers, KY, and the Market House Theater in Paducah, KY.  In addition to his local performance, Jonathan was a member of a Chicago-based, experimental electronic rock band, Pinn Panelle.

Over the years, Jonathan has combined his love for music and technology through multiple “maker” type projects, including a guitar with wireless MIDI communication to special effects equipment with built-in sensors and a glove that communicated MIDI wirelessly. In addition to his musically inclined projects, Jonathan has also created various smart home items such as a keypad-controlled lock. He is currently working on a smart curtain opener that can be integrated into a smart home ecosystem.

In addition to a passion for technology and music, Jonathan has a strong appreciation for Japanese culture. This appreciation can be seen throughout his life. For example, while watching the animated Japanese tv show Cowboy Bebop, Jonathan was introduced to Yoko Kanno, an S-tier composer who quickly became his favorite music artist. Jonathan’s love for Japanese culture can also be seen in his favorite food, sushi, as well as his travels. In 2013, Jonathan traveled to Japan, where he got to experience a wide variety of technological and cultural sights, including the K supercomputer, beautiful religious shrines, and temples, as well as the earthquake memorial in Kobe.

Jonathan adds a unique perspective and immense creativity to our team here at United Systems, and we’re glad to have him as a part of our Development team!

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Single Source Provider

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Is your utility using multiple vendors for utility billing, online bill pay, financial management, outsourced billing, network management, and meter reading software? The typical answer is: “yes.” The majority of utilities spread their technology and software services across multiple vendors. Each of these vendors have their own requirements, processes, and support. Integrations between systems are pieced together and tend to cause more headaches than benefits. Finding a vendor that meets all your utility’s technology needs is a rare occurrence. United Systems is that vendor.

Since 1977 United Systems’ priority has been helping utilities meet their goals through the use of technology. We developed comprehensive solutions based on direct feedback from our customers that addresses the specific needs of utilities. Through this process, we have discovered that many utilities struggle daily with using multiple systems to accomplish tasks that should be cohesive. We took these struggles to heart and have worked to create solutions that meet these needs in a coherent and all-encompassing manger.

United Systems & Software, Inc. offers a comprehensive suite of software designed to meet the utility billing needs, inventory needs, asset management needs, and financial needs of utilities as well as various city management functions. Our in-house staff develops all of our software, and from its inception, our software is designed with seamless integration in mind. As the nation’s leading Itron, Inc. AMR & Fixed Network Distributor, we are innately aware of the meter reading needs of utilities and how vital it is that your meter reading system and utility billing software compliment and communicate with each other. Our TPM by United Systems team consists of networking professionals that have the knowledge and skills necessary to keep your utility infrastructure safe and to ensure that your hardware is up to date, secure, and functioning properly.

Having multiple different vendors for all these functions can make day to day operations difficult at a utility. In situations where a utility is using various different vendors, the system tends to be disjointed. Employees have to go between many different vendors, with each vendor blaming the other for the issues the utility is experiencing most times. Getting answers and solutions is like swimming, upstream…difficult, and useless. Your readings aren’t importing correctly; do you call your software vendor, your AMR/AMI vendor, or is it a networking issue preventing the file from importing? Your general ledger entries are out of balance; did you enter an entry from your utility billing incorrectly, was it a voucher paid to a vendor, or a payroll entry? Where do you even start?

With United Systems, you only have one vendor to call. We support and assist you with your entire system from your telephones, to protecting your data, to the radio transponders on your meters, to ensuring that your utility bills are printed and mailed on time. 

Have questions or want to learn more? Reach out to our highly trained account management team:

Phone: 1.800.455.3293

Email: marketing@united-systems.com

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