Bio

Inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2020

Mr. Dunsmore is the Founder and CEO of The Digital Truth LLC, a consulting business that helps companies achieve transformational growth. He has been operating The Digital Truth since June, 2016.  Mr. Dunsmore retired as Chairman and CEO of Digi International in December, 2014. Mr. Dunsmore joined Digi in October 1999 as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors, and was elected Chairman of the Board in May 2000. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Dunsmore had been Vice President of Access for Lucent Microelectronics, a telecommunications company now known as Agere Systems Inc. From 1995 to 1998, he was a Vice President at U.S. Robotics. Prior to that, Mr. Dunsmore held various marketing management positions at AT&T Paradyne Corporation from 1983 to 1995. Mr. Dunsmore is also a board director TreeHouse, a nonprofit organization, and was on the Advisory Committee for the University of Northern Iowa School of Business for 12 years. Mr. Dunsmore was a board director at Analysts International Corporation from 2009 until the company was sold in 2013.  Mr. Dunsmore holds a BA from the University of Northern Iowa and an MBA from the Florida Institute of Technology.

How did Florida Tech help prepare you for your career?

Florida Tech was the best educational experience I had in my life. Pursuing my master's degree while working enriched the educational experience and made it very real-world and relevant. Florida Tech enhanced my effectiveness at work and my work enhanced my educational process at Tech.

What advice or words of wisdom do you have for students and recent graduates?

Find the intersection of what you are really good at and what you are really passionate about. 

What accomplishments are you most proud of?

Earlier in my career, it was more about getting the next promotion and achieving the next milestone. However, the things that I have derived the most satisfaction from are associated with helping people and companies achieve and accomplish beyond even their own expectations.

What was the most difficult challenge or failure that you had to overcome in your career?

There are too many failures to count. The most important thing is to acknowledge the failure, learn something, and move on.

If you were contacted by a student or recent graduate—what could you offer them?

Something Robert Waller taught me that he called “the value of the small increment”.

The basic principle is …..if you work even 1/4% harder and smarter than your competition every single day, the compounding value of that tiny increment will create a significant competitive advantage for you over the long term”.  If you can find that intersection of what you are best at and most passionate about and apply “ the value of the small increment” principle you will likely have a fun, interesting, and successful career.

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