As the original creator of Directus, the leading Open Data Platform, Ben has led a growing team of international developers, designers, and contributors for more than a decade in building-out the Directus suite of products and its cloud-based backend-as-a-service offering. In 2020, Ben became the CEO of Monospace Inc, the new formal entity managing the Directus ecosystem. Before founding Directus, Ben held senior management positions at SoulCycle and AOL. Additionally, he founded RANGER Studio, a successful digital agency in NYC, accumulating more than two decades of experience building innovative and high-profile digital experiences for industry-leading clients such as Google, Snapchat, AT&T, AOL, Prada, IDEO, MoMA, Interbrand, HP, and the U.S. Government. While serving as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force, specializing in Electronic Warfare, Ben completed his BFA in Communication Design at the University of Connecticut. He then taught advanced web development courses at The School at Columbia University before moving into the corporate world. Ben is a published author and an official member of the Forbes Technology Council. He lives in Brooklyn, NY, with his wife and two children.