Key Points:
- Networking’s Transformative Power: Milton Bartley’s career journey underscores the unexpected and transformative power of networking. From an impromptu weekend visit to Cincinnati, he connected with someone who became his first boss outside the military, setting the foundation for a lifelong career in technology and business leadership.
- Harnessing AI for Practical Applications: Milton highlights how AI can transform business operations, offering real-world examples such as using AI to rewrite outdated job descriptions efficiently. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on meaningful, practical applications of AI rather than adopting it for novelty’s sake.
- AI and Change Management in Business: Transitioning to AI requires a strategic approach. Milton stresses the need for businesses to assess their capacity for change, educate their employees on AI tools, and implement simple guidelines to use AI effectively and securely. Proper implementation can enhance jobs, not replace them.
Transcript:
Sean Ofeldt: Welcome to the show. I’m Sean Ofeldt, your host and CEO of Transition Overwatch. Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with Milton Bartley, who is the co-founder and CEO of ImageQuest, also an Army veteran. Welcome to the show, Milton.
Milton Bartley: Thank you so much, Sean. It’s a pleasure to be here with you today. I’m looking forward to the conversation.
Sean: Excellent. Well, why don’t we start off? We were talking just a few minutes ago about a common thread from your time in service to where you are now. So if you could, let’s just start there. And if you could just give us a rundown of what that looks like and what that common thread was, we’d appreciate it.
Milton: Sure. I served in the infantry just before Desert Shield and Desert Storm—it was serendipitous timing, if you want to think of it that way. I served for a couple of years in the Army, was promoted to sergeant, and then selected for a program called Green to Gold. They sent me back to college to finish my last two years, get my degree, and take a commission.
So I took a commission in the armor branch, served as an armor officer, and then completed my career. I knew I was probably going to transition out. A friend asked me and a group to go to Cincinnati for a weekend. He wanted to see his girlfriend, and she said she’d set us up with dates. I was paired with a woman who was engaged, so it was platonic, but she happened to be the senior sales manager of a technology company.
She learned I was leaving the Army and said, “I think you’d be good at sales. Send me your resume.” I did, and she became my first boss outside of the military. I stayed in that company for nine years, left briefly, then decided to start my own business in 2007 doing exactly what she hired me to do in 1995.
Sean: Wow, that’s pretty amazing. It also shows you the power of networking, right?
Milton: Absolutely. In this case, it wasn’t even really intentional networking. I was just going to hang out for a weekend. But that turned into essentially a lifelong career.
Sean: With that in mind, give us an overview of ImageQuest and what you and your team are working on and solving.
Milton: When I started ImageQuest in 2007, we were in the office equipment business—selling and servicing copiers, fax machines, and printers. But we knew that was just a platform for something bigger. We pivoted into managed services quickly, and by 2015, launched our information security advisory services.
Today, we’re primarily an information security advisory services company. We also offer managed IT, but our focus is consulting around keeping data and information secure.
Sean: That’s excellent. The big topic we’re here to chat about is harnessing AI. Can you share your opinion on AI, its benefits, and its role in business?
Milton: AI is here to stay. It’s important, a game changer for those who embrace it correctly, but it’s probably overhyped in some areas. Everyone wants to be in the AI game. Some tools offer real value, while others are just sizzle without much steak.
If you’re not embracing AI, you’re already behind. That doesn’t mean you have to transition your business to be AI-centric, but you can’t ignore it. Most employees are already using it in some form, so as leaders, we need to help harness AI for meaningful gain—making employees more efficient, not cutting jobs.
Sean: Agreed. You mentioned a bank earlier that had a great use case for AI. Could you share that example?
Milton: Absolutely. A bank asked us to help rewrite job descriptions. They had outdated ones that ranged from 30 years old to a few weeks old, all inconsistent.
We took three recent descriptions, fed them into an AI tool, and gave it a list of job titles. In an afternoon, AI generated 25 job descriptions that matched their style, culture, and legal requirements. This is the kind of real-world application AI excels at.
Sean: That’s a phenomenal example of efficiency. What about companies that are unsure how to start with AI?
Milton: We begin with a change readiness assessment to understand their capacity for change. Then, we align leadership on their goals. Sometimes they have a clear vision and need tactical help. Other times, we help them identify strategic use cases.
For instance, we worked with a CPA firm struggling to compete with larger firms. We implemented a “CPA Chat” tool to answer tax questions based on specific states, saving them significant time and improving their efficiency.
Sean: That’s fantastic. On the flip side, what makes you cringe about AI adoption?
Milton: Two things: first, consultants overselling future capabilities that aren’t available today. It sets unrealistic expectations. Second, organizations refusing to engage with AI. If you don’t allow employees to use it, they’ll find workarounds, potentially risking your data.
Sean: That’s a great point. What excites you most about AI?
Milton: The rapid innovation. A recent example is Google’s Notebook tool. It created a podcast about ImageQuest just from our website URL. We’re now using it internally for training—turning complex technical documents into short podcasts employees can listen to on the go.
Sean: That’s incredible. Lastly, what do you love about Nashville?
Milton: Nashville is a large small town. It’s still a handshake and reputation-based city, despite the growth. Everyone is friendly, and word-of-mouth still matters. That’s why I love it.
Sean: Perfectly said. Milton, thank you for a great conversation about AI and for being on the show.
Milton: My pleasure, Sean. Thank you.
