The People Behind Zasder

Volney Douglas is a systems engineer, researcher, and the founder of Zasder LLC. With over two decades of experience in critical infrastructure, data center operations, and national communications systems, his work sits at the intersection of complex technical systems and the organizational dynamics that govern them.

He holds a PhD in Information Systems Management from Walden University, where his doctoral research examined non-functional requirements and continuous improvement in national communications systems—the kind of mission-critical infrastructure where system failures carry real consequences. That research identified eleven key relationships between operational quality, cost, risk, and communication that shape how large-scale systems are improved over time.

Professionally, he has led engineering teams of 25+ at CommScope, architecting large-scale data center solutions across power efficiency, cooling, security, and uptime. Prior to that, he spent a decade at General Dynamics delivering server firmware and manageability solutions for DHS and DoD mission-critical environments. His work has spanned machine learning optimization for predictive maintenance, automated capacity planning, and the operational telemetry that keeps critical systems running.

Through Zasder, he extends this work into broader questions: as AI systems and large language models accelerate toward capabilities that exceed human-scale reasoning, how do we understand what these systems are becoming? And how can systems thinking, rigorous research, and well-crafted software help us navigate toward outcomes that are actually good?

Andrew Douglas brings over 20 years of experience in enterprise technology operations, large-scale system integration, and strategic planning. As Director of Ticketing and Technology at Mesa Arts Center, he oversees complex technology and ticketing systems spanning four performing arts theaters, two museums, and a 5,000-seat amphitheater—managing over 500 ticketed performances and 1,000+ specialized classes annually.

He led a cross-departmental initiative to unify ticketing and technology systems across the City of Mesa's Department of Arts & Culture and Parks & Recreation Department, streamlining operations across multiple organizations into a single integrated platform. This work required navigating complex stakeholder requirements, legacy system constraints, and the operational realities of large municipal technology deployments.

With a background in engineering and computer science, Andrew combines deep technical knowledge with proven operational leadership. His experience managing technology infrastructure at scale—coordinating across venues, departments, and partner organizations—gives him a systems-level perspective on how enterprise technology strategy translates into real-world outcomes.

At Zasder, Andrew contributes enterprise system strategy and consulting expertise, applying his experience in technology integration, operational planning, and cross-organizational coordination to help clients navigate complex technology decisions.