A picture of Arbor’s founder: Ron Smits

Although the world is full of infinite possibilities, only a few individuals possess the audacity to chase their dreams. By avoiding the difficult questions in life, most of us forget to change and unwillingly we fall into the trap of routine and comfort. Ron, however, has a different story.

Ron as a student

Ron’s journey started in the 1980’s, in the city of Haarlem. He was a curious student on a mission to find out how and why things and people connect with each other. He never seized to ask questions and challenge the people around him, despite the occasional annoyance of some of his fellow classmates and professors. Ron was inspired of a truth and accuracy that can only be found in nature, and therefore refused to resign to the idea that we should settle for imperfect solutions. Although it sounds admirable, you can imagine that this attitude has caused Ron a sheer amount of difficulty. He didn’t always feel understood by his peers or even his teachers.

At the age of 21, Ron took over the craftsmen company from his father, who suffered from illness. For the first time he was in charge, learning about the dealings with customers and suppliers. Surprisingly, it was during this challenging time that the spark of his passion for software development ignited. Although handicraft and software development seem to belong to different generations, both require a similar knack for precision and quantifiable quality. He ‘crafted’ a kitchen program on one of the earlier versions of the PC, entering the realm of coding and innovation. Pretty cool for that time, right?

Ron: “Driven by the commitment to meet the customer’s needs, my inspiration is rooted in crafting products that transcend mere commodity. Not the act of selling fuels my passion, but the very essence of the product itself.”

Ron’s romantic view on his products resonate with the stories I have heard from the developers who now work at Arbor. Like Ron, they seem to look at software development from an almost artistic point of view. 

Arbor

The Arbor Story started in 1990s. Full of dreams and fears, Ron set out on a new path and founded a new company. His original values of truth and accuracy, that he had found in nature, were the basis of this enterprise and drove him to name the company after the Latin word for ‘tree’.

 

Embracing the avant-garde realm of multi-media, Arbor soon started taking shape. Even Ron was surprised how quickly he managed to find some big clients, which allowed him to re-invest and grow rapidly. Another breakthrough followed in 1994, when Arbor developed a cutting-edge Radio Automation System, that put the company on the map with esteemed broadcasters, including the BBC.

 

Naturally, Arbor’s growth was not without its fair share of obstacles. Many projects were more difficult than expected, presenting challenges that made the process appear to be stalled. Sometimes, it takes a significant struggle to give birth to a vision, and the real challenge is to remain motivated along the way.

 

Most of Ron’s successes have come from being able to see what customers really needed, even if they couldn’t see it themselves.

 

He surrounded himself with a team that embodied Arbor’s core values: passion, honesty and a collective commitment to quality, ensuring steady growth in the years to come. Suddenly, he no longer sufficed in being an innovative software developer. He needed to be a leader.

 

Ron mentions that to him, leadership has always been about illuminating the ‘Polar Star’ and inviting others to join the path, encouraging them to find their own way to contribute to their common goal. His Polar Star was a transparent democracy, to empower engagement in the big giants of the government, such as the ‘Tweede Kamer’ in 2019.

 

After many years of collaboration with his Arbor colleagues to contribute to the vision, Ron decided to show complete confidence in his team and retired, embarking on a new adventure.

 

Retirement

With the help of his wife, Ron discovered a world that seems quite distant from the realm of technological development. He is committed to exploring the path of spirituality and inner wisdom, adding another dimension to his already mentioned desire to understand the ‘why’ of the world.

 

His current desire is to combine both perspectives of truth-seeking in a harmonious balance between science and spirit. Although they might seem opposite to each other, Ron emphasizes their interconnectedness. Bound by the ethereal strings of nature, they leave us with the sole purpose of perpetual awe and appreciation. Amidst the limitless wonders and curiosities of the world, he has – contrarily to his youth - humbly accepted the limitation of human understanding and has acknowledged that we simply cannot aspire to know everything.