Andrew Hughes
0
Entrepreneur · Consultant · Speaker Educator · Builder Est. 2000 — 25+ Yrs

ANDREW HUGHES

I build at the intersection of people, technology, learning, and business — from immersive learning to AI and institutional intelligence. You don't learn until you experience.

Consultant, Leader, Expert, Entrepreneur, Husband, Father, Coach — NERD.
01 Never Fit Neatly Into One Box

Technology, design, learning, business — one continuous build.

My career has never fit neatly into one box. I started in technology and digital design, moved deeply into education and learning, built a company, taught at the university level, and worked alongside major organizations and government agencies — following emerging technology wherever it created a better way to solve a problem.

That curiosity now has me working heavily in AI, software, institutional intelligence, organizational memory, and the next generation of learning technology. The tools keep changing. The objective doesn't: understand the problem, build something useful, and make the experience better for the human on the other side of it.

Andrew Hughes — Entrepreneur, Consultant, Speaker, Educator, Builder
✦ 25+ YRS
Andrew Hughes
25+

Years professional experience

35+

Talks, keynotes & lectures

5

Ventures built & growing

2

Energetic boys at home

“You don't learn until you experience.”— At the core of my beliefs

02 Key Strengths · Capabilities

A quarter-century of range.

Strategic consultation and collaborative expertise for Fortune 500 companies, Federal Government agencies, and higher education institutions — multi-year initiatives, meticulously tailored to unique business requirements.

Executive Leadership Applied AI & Machine Learning Institutional Intelligence Organizational Memory Multi-Agent AI Systems Custom Software Platforms Enterprise Solutions Strategic Planning Learning Analytics Human Performance Business Development Immersive Learning (VR/AR) Serious Games & Simulations Program Development Training & Teaching Software Implementation Innovation & Technical Knowledge Dodgeball ✦
03 Ventures · What I'm Building

Ideas are more useful when you actually build them.

My work has rarely stayed inside one lane. Over the years I've built companies, experimented with emerging technology, developed new operating models, and created software concepts to solve problems I kept seeing in the real world. Some become businesses. Some become products. Some are simply experiments worth exploring.

2006Learning Experiences

Designing Digitally, Inc.

Co-Founder · President · Creative Director — Established 2006

Creates custom learning experiences, training technologies, immersive simulations, serious games, VR/AR experiences, and enterprise learning solutions for organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies to federal agencies.

Nearly two decades of turning complicated training and performance problems into experiences people can actually use.

Immersive SimulationsSerious GamesVR / AREnterprise Learning
Visit Designing Digitally
2024Operational Systems

Azivia LLC

Founder — Founded 2024

Helps established organizations improve how work actually operates before adding more technology — combining workflow improvement, systems integration, knowledge preservation, workforce readiness, measurement, automation, and governed AI implementation around real operational problems.

The focus is not “AI for the sake of AI.” The objective is to make organizations easier to operate, easier to understand, and safer to scale.

Operational ImprovementSystems IntegrationGoverned AIWorkforce Adoption
Explore Azivia
2026Institutional Intelligence
Current Platform

Cerebral Share

Builder — Current Platform

An institutional intelligence platform designed to help organizations discover, structure, validate, govern, and use the knowledge created through everyday work.

Cerebral Share learns what your company knows.

Institutional IntelligenceKnowledge GovernanceAIValidation
Visit Cerebral Share
2026Organizational Memory
Current Platform

Recall Raccoon

Builder — Current Platform

A persistent organizational memory platform designed to help people and AI systems retain useful context, provenance, relationships, and institutional knowledge over time.

Cerebral Share helps organizations understand what they know. Recall Raccoon helps them remember it.

Organizational MemoryPersistent ContextAIProvenance
Visit Recall Raccoon
R&DAI Experimentation
AI Experiment / Lab Project

LawyerUp

AI Experiment / Prototype — Lab Project

An experimental AI workspace exploring what a day-to-day digital assistant for attorneys could look like — routine legal workflow, information retrieval, organization, drafting assistance, and everyday productivity in one AI-assisted experience.

It started as a simple question: what if an attorney had an AI assistant sitting beside them throughout the workday instead of another disconnected tool?

AI WorkspaceLegal WorkflowDrafting Assistance
View Experiment
The lab never closes.

New experiments start the moment a problem gets interesting enough. Building is how I figure out how things work — make them work better — and help people succeed inside them.

Auto-advancing · drag or use arrows to explore

04 Identity · The Many Hats

More than a title. Eight callings.

01 / FATHERPersonal

Father

Proud father of two energetic boys. The most important role I play — teaching, coaching, and growing alongside them every single day.

02 / HUSBANDPersonal

Husband

Dedicated husband to my wife of over fifteen years. A partnership built on mutual respect, shared growth, and unwavering support.

03 / CONSULTANTProfessional

Consultant

Consults with large and mid-size businesses on performance improvement and business development through strategic learning and technology initiatives.

04 / PROFESSORAcademic

Professor

Obtained professorship from the University of Cincinnati – Clermont in 2015, in the Business, Law & Technology Department.

05 / SPEAKERPublic

Speaker

Loves speaking engagements — sharing experiences and best practices with audiences eager to transform how people learn and perform.

06 / ENTREPRENEURBusiness

Entrepreneur

I've spent most of my career building things — companies, products, learning systems, software, and experiments. Designing Digitally grew from an idea into an established business, Azivia extends that into operational improvement and governed AI, and I keep experimenting whenever I find a problem worth solving.

07 / COACHCommunity

Coach

Coaching youth football and basketball is another way to stay involved in the community while doing what I've always enjoyed: helping people learn through practice, teamwork, feedback, and experience.

08 / NERDPhilosophy

Nerd

Knowledge and education are informative, but true knowledge results from experience. Creating compelling, experiential learning is the passion.

05 Teaching · University of Cincinnati

I've trained adults my entire career.

You don't learn until you experience. Coursework below spans business and creative technology — delivered online, hybrid, and in the classroom.

Business Courses Taught

  • Principles of Management Online & Hybrid
  • Professional Development Online & Hybrid
  • Principles of Advertising Online & Hybrid
  • Business Ethics Online & Hybrid
  • Introduction to Business Online & Hybrid
  • Personal Selling Online & Hybrid
  • Sales Management Online & Hybrid
  • First Year Experience Online & Hybrid
  • Info Systems in Organizations Online & Hybrid
  • Marketing I & II Online & Hybrid
  • Digital Technology in Business Online & Hybrid
  • Finance for Managers Online & Hybrid
  • Retail Management Online & Hybrid
  • Business Decision Making Tools Online & Hybrid

Creative Courses Taught

  • 2D/3D Tech Illustration Classroom
  • 2D Animation Development Classroom
  • Animation Development Online
  • Color Composition Classroom
  • Web Publishing Classroom
  • 2D Interactivity Classroom
Art Institute Online · 2010–2013

Adjunct Instructor, Interactive Media Design — Video Editing, Intro to Audio, Typography & Design, Interactive Design, Interactive Authoring, Web Design, Project Management, Digital Photography.

Art Institute of Cincinnati · 2006–2009

Adjunct Instructor, Graphic & Interactive Media Design — Typography I & II, Mass Media, Design for Multimedia Display, Digital Imaging, Design Fundamentals, Portfolios, 3D Modeling & Animation, Web Design.

06 Speaking · Presentations · Lectures

Thirteen years on stage.

35+ engagements · 2010 → 2023 · ongoing 2024-25

2010
  • Inside The Virtual Avatars Studio

    Rockcliffe University Consortium
2011
  • Blended Learning Best Practices in Virtual Worlds

    Air Force Research Laboratory — WPAFB
2012
  • Approaching Training for Generations Entering the Workforce

    Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conference
2013
  • Gamification vs. Game-Based Learning

    DevLearn 2013 Conference & Expo
2014
  • Today's Campus Interview — Gamification of Training

    DevLearn Conference 2014
  • Using Virtual Worlds to Enhance LearningKeynote

    Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education 2014
2015
  • Serious Games Best Practices in Enterprise Learning

    Training Magazine Conference 2015
2016
  • Inside the Making of a Serious Game

    Learning Solutions Conference & Expo 2016
  • Serious Game Secrets: What, Why, Where, How, Who Cares?

    Games & Gamification Summit
  • Q&A with Gaming Gurus

    Games & Gamification Summit
  • Secrets of Effective Serious Games and Gamification Approaches

    DevLearn
2017
  • Immersive Learning and the Future of Workplace Learning

    FocusOn Learning 2017
  • Serious Game Secrets — Best Practices for Company Games

    FocusOn Learning 2017
  • The Role of Higher Education in L&D

    The Learning & Development Community
2018
  • How Virtual Reality Is Changing Learning and Training

    DevLearn Conference 2018
  • Gamification vs. Game-Based Learning

    Domino Conference 2018
  • Federal Student Aid Mobile Learning Application — Case Study

    Webinar
2019
  • Best Practices for Game-Based Learning

    Training Magazine Conference 2019
  • Best Practices for Developing, Implementing & Supporting Serious Games

    Learning Solutions Conference & Expo 2019
  • VR Case Studies, Trends, Benefits, and What the Future Holds

    The Learning Development Community 2019
  • Defining Game-Based Learning and Applying It to Your Corporate Training

    Conference Session
  • How Virtual Reality Is Changing the Corporate Learning Landscape

    Conference Session
  • Virtual Reality in the Workplace

    VR Webinar
2020
  • Create Game Mechanics with Adobe Captivate

    Adobe eLearning World Conference 2020
  • Impact of COVID-19 on Learning & Development

    Webinar
  • Best Practices in Using Microlearning for Corporate Training

    Webinar
  • Best Practices for Converting from ILT to eLearning

    Webinar
2021
  • How to Track and Measure Your Employee Training Results

    Webinar
  • Creating Effective Online Learning for a Remote Workforce

    Instructor-Led Training Conversion — Webinar
  • How to Justify the Cost of Employee Training and Establish Your Budget

    Webinar Recording
  • Developing Award-Winning Compliance eLearning

    Case Study Webinar — Designing Digitally
2022
  • Tracking, Measuring & Evaluating Employee Training

    A Closer Look at Designing Digitally's Evaluation Strategies
2023
  • How AI & Machine Learning Is Impacting Learning and Development

    Webinar
  • How AI and Machine Learning Are Impacting L&D

    Association of Talent Development — Cincinnati
  • Create a Course with All-New Adobe Captivate

    Adobe Learning Summit — Adobe
2024
  • Continuing to Speak, Present & Share

    Ongoing Engagements — Inquire for Details
2025
  • Continuing to Speak, Present & Share

    Ongoing Engagements — Inquire for Details
07 Leadership · Service · Community

Beyond the job title.

Building businesses is only part of the work. Some of the most meaningful work I've done never appeared on an invoice — advising institutions, supporting entrepreneurs, shaping programs, creating technology experiences for young people, and coaching kids in my community.

Professional & Academic Advisory

  • University of Cincinnati — ClermontProfessional Advisory Committee
  • Miami University of OhioProfessional Advisory Committee
  • SBA — SCORE DaytonSmall business advisory work
  • U.S. Department of EducationFERPA Training Advisory Committee

Awards & Recognition

  • Business Owner of the YearFranklin, Ohio Chamber of Commerce
  • Business of the YearDesigning Digitally, Inc. — Franklin, Ohio Chamber of Commerce

Entrepreneurship

  • Clermont County Chamber of CommerceBusiness Development Contest creator

Tech Education & Youth

  • Putnam County ESCTechnology middle-school camp designer
  • Warren County ESCTechnology middle-school camp designer

Coaching & Community

  • Butler County / Monroe, OhioPee Wee Football Coach
  • YMCA — Middletown, OhioBasketball Coach
  • Lakota Sports OrganizationFlag Football Coach

Coaching has given me another place to practice the same principles I value professionally: preparation, communication, confidence, accountability, teamwork, and helping people improve through experience.

08 Resume · Education & Credentials

Education, experience & credentials.

Masters of Business ManagementNational American University

Specializing in Information Technology — enterprise solutions and strategic IT leadership.

Bachelors of Fine Arts — Digital DesignBowling Green State University · 2001–2005

Digital design, interactive media, and creative technology development.

Associates — Computer Networking / ITLima Technical College · 1999–2001

Computer systems networking and telecommunications.

Post-Secondary Enrollment OptionsUniversity of Findlay & Lima Technical College

Attended college during high school through Ohio's PSEO program. Columbus Grove High School graduate.

Designing Digitally, Inc.Monroe, Ohio · Oct 2006 – Present

Co-Owner / President / Creative Director — founded and led a $3M-budget, 24-person studio for two decades; built training for Federal agencies requiring C6 security clearance.

Earlier Work
Bowling Green School of Art2004–2005 · Webmaster
Putnam County ESC2000–2004 · Tech Coordinator
Northwest Ohio Ed Tech2001–2002 · Digital Artist
Quality One Technologies1998–2000 · Designer
Consulting

SBA SCORE Program · 2017–2020 — processes, learning paths, and career-opportunity plans for small businesses.

Ohio Board of Regents · 2006–2009 — LMS builds, grant design, and PD online learning tools across universities.

Additional Credentials
  • Adobe eLearning expert & innovation consultant
  • Curriculum Evaluator — Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges & Schools
  • External Program Evaluator — Higher Learning Commission
  • Independent Consultant — General Services Administration
  • C6 Civilian Clearance — U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Athletics
  • Dodgeball — Available for any team
  • Flag Football — Old mans league — For fun
  • Bowling Green State University — College D1 Rugby Player — Hooker — 3 year starter
  • Columbus Grove High School Football — Fullback — 3 year starter — 2nd team all state
  • Columbus Grove High School Wrestling — 189 — State qualifier
09 Selected Clients · Organizations I've Worked With

Fortune 500, federal, healthcare & tech.

Multi-year strategic initiatives and implementations. Hover a name for what I actually built there.

Federal & Government

NASA U.S. Dept. of Education United States Federal Courts U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Census Bureau Raytheon

Enterprise & Consumer Brands

Procter & Gamble Hewlett Packard Lyft Bridgestone Sephora Virgin Galactic Rentokil-Terminix Wyndham Hotel Group Darden / LongHorn Steakhouse Synchrony Financial CareSource Loomis Checkers / Rally's Majestic Steel Voltyx TrueTech Trapping

Healthcare

New York Presbyterian Hospitals WellStar Health Systems
NASA

3D training simulations, web-based training simulations, and learning record store implementation.

Procter & Gamble

3D training simulations, web-based 3D training, and quality-assurance training tools.

Lyft

Groundbreaking VR training simulations, learning record store implementation, and LMS consulting.

Hewlett Packard

Pioneered VR training simulations, web-based VR training, and LMS consulting.

New York Presbyterian

Empathy and Patient Care Program for all staff of the NYP healthcare network.

Rentokil-Terminix

Revolutionized training spanning eLearning, video production, consulting, and strategy.

Bridgestone

Needs analysis, content development, mobile app creation, and strategic planning.

U.S. Dept. of Education

Reimagined eLearning — content development to nationwide learner tracking systems.

10 Professional Recommendations

Words
from the
witnesses.

Drag · swipe · scroll →

"
Andrew has a unique distinction of being an immersive learning service provider and executive who knows his products end-to-end. I feel comfortable talking with him at detailed technical levels all the way up to finance and funding. He is rare, and his customers are lucky to have him.
Douglas MaxwellScience & Technology Director — U.S. Army
"
Andrew's belief in my abilities and his genuine kindness gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. His mentorship allowed me to flourish — not just technically, but as a professional. I recommend Andrew wholeheartedly to anyone seeking a visionary leader and a mentor who genuinely cares about igniting careers.
Cristobal LagosInformation Systems, ERP & CRM Administrator — GE
"
Andrew is a dedicated and effective creative force, dedicated to inspiring young people from some of the least resourced parts of this state to explore, use and embrace technology. Andrew is the kind of professional — and the kind of human being — I always want to work with.
Sheryl HansonDirector, Academic Quality Assurance — Ohio Board of Regents
"
Each year since 2010, the Ohio Small Business Development Center has collaborated with UC Clermont to offer business planning classes and a Business Plan Competition. Andrew has been an instructor — and has managed class and instructor scheduling. We have had excellent results, including high praise from attendees.
John MelvinDirector — Clermont Chamber of Commerce
"
One of the most dedicated professionals. Fantastic to work with — perfectly organized, dedicated and honest. Energetic, excellent, open-minded and self-motivated. When you connect with him, you'll discover an amazing person with unique skills.
Sandy AdamsQuest Software
"
Andrew settled for nothing less than a high level of quality and satisfaction to meet my unique needs. His professional oversight and management was outstanding, and his enthusiasm in pushing the boundaries of Virtual Reality solutions makes him a great resource.
Dave KamalskySenior Producer — META VR Chat
"
I had not met Andrew prior to this visit, but I was immediately impressed with his attitude and work ethic. He quickly picked up the Council procedures for evaluating the institution and demonstrated his expertise. I would recommend Andrew for similar projects and intend to use him as a subject matter specialist again.
Robert HendricksonSenior Accreditation Coordinator — Higher Learning Commission
"
Andrew has incorporated significant service-learning components into his Marketing courses at UC Clermont — providing students a great real-world learning experience while providing an important service to the local organizations that employed his students.
Jeff BauerDean — University of Cincinnati, Clermont
"
Andrew is a great mentor or team lead on any product, application, or game-based product you need created for your company.
Sue BohyleExecutive Director — Serious Play Conference
01 / 09

Professional References — contact info available on request

11 Contact Me

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Occasional build notes — email only, no spam.

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