While every Difference Maker has a unique story within their personal or professional background, Rick Davis’ isn’t likely to be replicated in our industry. Perhaps his life story will one day be shared in book, TV or movie form: he was legally emancipated from his family at age 16 to follow his independent path. That’s quite a hook.
Jaw-dropping though it may be, Davis’ lone wolf saga recently had a twist, as he reconnected with his family after 50 years apart. This experience, he said, has been incredible. Mending fences after such a prolonged period is difficult, but in the end he doesn’t regret his decisions.
“I’ve always been independent…that drive to succeed has shaped everything I do,” said Davis, a 2025 ENX Magazine Difference Maker. “My life could probably be a TV show — in fact, I once wrote a manuscript about it.”
The director of quality assurance for Digitech Systems, Davis has never been one to require hand-holding, or direction, for that matter. That there wasn’t a training manual when he first arrived didn’t faze him in the least; in fact it played to his strength—he was driven to “jump in and learn.” Having an appetite for solving problems, understanding how technology’s puzzle parts connect and ensuring the team advances in a fast yet intelligent manner are elements he finds most exciting.
“I think they selected me because I don’t do halfway,” Davis noted. “I have this drive to understand how everything works — the products, the company, and the people — so I can help connect the dots and solve problems. Over time, that’s made me the person people come to when they need an answer.”
Testing the Waters
Davis’ destiny was somewhat foreshadowed in the early days of his career when he tended to accounting and data entry for a hospital. He was approached by a manager who asked if he’d be interested in testing software being developed internally for managing claims. Davis jumped at the opportunity, which paved his foray into software quality assurance.
As he was thriving in software testing, Davis wasn’t looking for a change in scenery. However, Digitech Systems reached out to him in 2003, gauging his interest in building the company’s testing program from scratch. Impressed with the firm’s innovation, Davis had found his professional destination.
One of the more impactful influencers in Davis’ career is Digitech founder Scott Matthews. A gem Matthews imparted on his team member was the notion that learning is the result of making mistakes—the missteps help people grow. It was something of an epiphany for Davis, who’s long been his own toughest critic.
“He also taught me to look beyond the immediate task and think about the long-term outcome — not just what solves a problem today, but how that solution will hold up five years from now,” Davis said.
A crowning achievement in Davis’ career was the launch of Digitech’s Sys.tm intelligent cloud-based information management platform. It is, he noted, a complete re-imagining of how software is built: moving from a single system to a microservices architecture built on AWS, with AI capabilities woven throughout. Its unicorn approach allows customers to select which features they use, and pay for only them. The upshot is clients aren’t charged for elements they don’t need or want.
Davis sees it as being a shining example of his company’s ingenuity. “We’ve always been innovators; we were ‘cloud’ before the word even existed,” he added. “With this new evolution, we’ve done it again.”
Pay it Forward
As 2025 rolls into 2026, Davis is focusing his energies on mentoring the next generation at Digitech Systems. It takes a lot to unpack 22 years’ worth of know-how and conveying it can be difficult, but he doesn’t want the wisdom to follow him out of retirement’s door. Thus, it comes as no surprise that he’s determined to communicate faster and more effectively.
“There’s a lot in my head,” Davis added. “But I’m working on documenting and sharing more, so others can pick things up quickly and keep the innovation moving forward.”
Away from the office, Davis is an avowed tech enthusiast—if there’s a new phone, smart home system or an AI gadget, he wants to take it for a spin. He has been experimenting with Amazon’s new conversational AI display and wearables, such as the Oura Ring and Apple Watch, to track sleep and health.
Like being independent, it’s part of his makeup. “I guess you could say technology isn’t just my career, it’s also my hobby,” Davis noted.
