Hello everyone, my name is Jazzlyn McPherson, and I am a Marketing and Communications Specialist with Ensemble. I’m excited to introduce and highlight one of Ensemble’s newest employee, John Arellano, who recently joined our team. I had the pleasure of discussing John’s background, what led him to Ensemble, and what he finds most exciting about his work as he joins our team!
Q: Can you provide a brief summary of your position at Ensemble?
As a Technical Project Manager, I lead the planning, execution, and delivery of AI and digital transformation projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within scope, and on budget. I work closely with the Vice President of Digital Transformation and cross-functional teams to deliver innovative solutions that align with Ensemble’s strategic goals and client needs. I also support research and development efforts, evaluate emerging AI technologies, and provide technical guidance to help drive innovation across projects.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your background before coming to Ensemble?
I obtained a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and went on to obtain an M.A. and Ph.D. in Computational and Applied Mathematics from Rice University. After graduate school, I spent 11 years as a contractor at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC). While at NASA JSC, my work included development and operations of a medical risk assessment tool for spaceflight missions.
Q: What led you to join Ensemble?
I am deeply motivated by solving complex, real-world problems. When I learned about Ensemble’s current work with the USDA, I immediately saw an opportunity to contribute to a highly innovative project while accelerating my own professional growth.
Q: What part of your position at Ensemble are you most excited about?
I’m incredibly excited about leading cross-functional teams of engineers, data scientists, and analysts to build these solutions. Because the AI and machine learning landscape is evolving so rapidly, having the mandate to spearhead R&D efforts means there will always be innovative models, techniques, and cloud technologies to evaluate and learn.
Q: What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far?
The most rewarding part of my career has been the opportunity to collaborate with brilliant people while tackling highly complex, real-world problems.
Q: How do you see your role evolving over the next few years at Ensemble?
Over the next few years, I see my role evolving from managing individual project lifecycles to contributing to the broader technical strategy at Ensemble, while continuously learning from the rest of the Ensemble team.
Q: Can you share a memorable project or accomplishment from your previous work experience?
As I mentioned earlier, one of my core projects at NASA JSC was a medical risk assessment tool for spaceflight missions. With the recent success of the Artemis II mission and future lunar flights on the horizon, it is incredibly rewarding to know that I have played a part in supporting the next era of space exploration.
