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The Strategic Role of IT at Affinity: Powering Operations and Innovation

Written by Darian Childress | Aug 12, 2025 2:23:45 PM

When most folks think of IT, they picture someone fixing a broken laptop or resetting a password. But as Rich Conti, IT Director at Mi Hub—brand home to Affinity, Dimensions, Alexandra and Yaffy—explains, the reality is far more ambitious.

More Than Support—We're Enablers

The team's daily focus extends beyond transactional fixes. They manage order flow, fulfillment, invoicing, crediting—literally powering the operational core of the business. Their goal: to make trading with Mi Hub simple, safe, and seamless through self-serve client portals. Poorly conceived IT would cripple instead of catalyze growth.

Unified, Global, Agile

Operating as a single, global IT unit offers powerful benefits:

  • Uniform systems and processes everywhere = consistent client delivery
  • Streamlined internal workflows = fewer handovers, more focus on value
  • Centralized oversight = less bureaucracy, more innovation

Location becomes irrelevant; what matters is the shared vision and execution.

Thinking Ahead, Not Behind

Fixing computers is only a fraction of their work. The proactive rhythm includes:

  • IT security monitoring
  • Network and infrastructure upgrades
  • Application and software project delivery
  • Performance tuning—and anticipating failures before they emerge

As Rich puts it, a proactive IT mindset is less about optimism, more about pinpointing the “what ifs” and preventing them.

Principles That Drive the Team

Rich highlights four pillars that guide the IT team:

People First – The team invests in skill-building and values members as assets, not cogs.

Client-Centric Thinking – Tech decisions are guided by business context, not just technical feasibility.

Proactivity Over Reactivity – They anticipate issues and solve them before they materialize.

Outcome-Driven & Agile – The team tolerates fast failure, pivots quickly, and prioritizes measurable progress.

Visibility and Collaboration

Rather than being a backroom of support tickets, the IT team at Mi Hub is intentionally outward-facing: engaging internal stakeholders, greeting clients by name during visits, and collaborating beyond technical silos to understand real-world needs.

 

Why It Matters

IT is no longer an afterthought or just a help desk. At Affinity, it’s a foundation for reliability, scalability, and client delight. Rich’s leadership shows how a modern IT department can elevate both internal operations and external experiences—with technology as a launchpad, not a fallback.

The IT team’s commitment to innovation, clarity, and service excellence doesn’t just support the business—it propels it. 

For more information, feel free to watch Rich's interview HERE!

 

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