Company founder Dave Romine [Photo: Mark Wemple]

At AgileThought, a Tampa-based mobile and custom software development firm, it’s not unusual to find employees with a degree in English literature, math or economics — although most now have software expertise, says President, CEO and founder Dave Romine. Romine says he seeks out employees who are passionate about their “craft” — some of the best software engineers he’s worked with have acquired their skills outside of a university setting. Technical skills aside, Romine says he seeks candidates who can collaborate, are humble and have personalities that make them easy to work with. “We’re all about cultural fit — birds of a feather,” says Romine.

The company’s new “dot-com” style headquarters at Tampa’s scenic Rocky Point overlooking Tampa Bay also reflects AgileThought’s corporate vision — open workspaces that flow into each other foster collaboration and ubiquitous whiteboards stimulate creativity. To inject an element of fun into the workday, the company has a communal kitchen with a “feasting table” where most employees eat lunch as well as a game room complete with a Wii gaming system, foosball table and a couple of standup paddleboards that employees can use during breaks.