Title: Founder and Owner
Company: Up Shift HQ
Location: Arvada, Colorado, United States
Dustin Richard Parham, founder and owner of Up Shift HQ, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Business Owners for dedication, achievements, and leadership in information technology.
With nearly two decades of experience, Mr. Parham has built a successful career in information technology, specializing in web development, building virtual reality for medical training for doctors, nurses, and paramedics, mobile applications, and digital marketing. Since 2024, he has served as the owner of Up Shift HQ, where he leads the team, develops high-level strategies, recruits new talent, manages daily operations, interacts with clients, and oversees the execution of day-to-day tasks. His previous roles include chief technology officer at Health Scholars, Upskill LLC, from 2017 to 2023, development team lead at WhereFor Inc., now StudentUniverse.com Inc., from 2016 to 2017, director of business development at Westcott Courses LLC from 2014 to 2016, and director of web development at StudioGood, now Matchfire, from 2013 to 2014. Earlier roles at StudioGood include enterprise architect from 2012 to 2013, senior web developer from 2010 to 2012, and web developer from 2006 to 2010.
Mr. Parham laid a strong educational foundation with coursework in computer science at California Polytechnic State University in 2005, Cuesta College in 2007, and Taft College in 2010. He also completed coursework in business administration and general education at Western Governors University in 2016. His certifications include certified scrum product owner from Scrum Alliance Inc. and certified scrum master from Agile For All, both earned in 2017. Reflecting on his path, he established his company after working in the tech industry for over 20 years. Throughout his career, he has focused on creating strong company cultures and enabling teams to work efficiently and effectively. This involves fostering psychological safety, understanding team dynamics and implementing strong processes and systems that promote trust and enable teams to take risks and innovate, ultimately leading to high performance.
Mr. Parham emphasizes that the business inflection point for a startup is the critical transition from identifying product-market fit and establishing organizational size to achieving product-market fit, acquiring customers, and focusing on growth and scalability. Many companies struggle during this phase, and as a founder, he recognizes the importance of understanding the value proposition. While acknowledging the daunting nature of entrepreneurship, he underscores the opportunity it provides to focus on skills and passions that bring joy and fulfillment. He recognizes that business ownership is inherently challenging and often stressful, but he views this stress as a “good problem” reflective of growth and opportunity.
Looking to the future, Mr. Parham plans to bring in additional support to alleviate some of his workload and enable further growth. He challenges the common perception that traditional employment offers true security, highlighting that at-will employment allows for replacement at any time, regardless of an employee’s dedication. Instead, he advocates for entrepreneurship, emphasizing that starting a business empowers individuals to create their own safety net. In advising aspiring professionals, he says to “just start.” He believes that the doubts and fears holding individuals back are often rooted in self-deception, and by confronting these mental barriers, people can unlock their potential and begin a rewarding journey toward building something meaningful and self-sustaining.
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