auticon US, a leading social enterprise that builds long-term careers for autistic adults in technology, announced today that Vance Checketts has joined the company as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Vance joins auticon from the innovative HR technology startup Built, where he was COO. Prior to Built, Vance held executive roles at multiple startups and large enterprises, including Oracle, EMC, and Dell Technologies. Vance has received accolades from several organizations, including the Impact Award from Women Tech Council and the Silver Leadership Award from Junior Achievement.
Vance holds a BA and an MBA in International Business from Brigham Young University. He serves on several community and industry boards, including Junior Achievement, STEM Action Center, Women Tech Council, and the Technology Initiative Advisory Board of the Utah System of Higher Education. He is passionate about technology, nature, and social impact.
“I am extremely pleased that we have been able to win Vance for the further expansion of our business in the USA,” said auticon Group CEO Kurt Schöffer. “He is not only a proven expert in the tech sector, but also an experienced entrepreneur with his heart in the right place. With his drive and business acumen, we are perfectly positioned for the future.”
“I met Kurt Schöffer in 2019. I’ve been following auticon closely ever since,” said Vance Checketts. “I am very excited to be leveraging my professional talents in a way that aligns so directly with areas of personal interest. I want neuroinclusive work cultures that will improve outcomes for everyone, including those whose neurodivergence may be hidden or less obvious.”
auticon thanks David Aspinall for the four formative years he spent as CEO and the work he did to help establish auticon in the US market and in building a world-class leadership team. “I am delighted that Vance can continue the work and drive auticon through the next phases of growth,” David said.
Creating Equal Career Opportunities for Autistic Adults
All employees bring strengths to their roles and have the potential to thrive in the right environment. For many autistic adults, those strengths include strong focus, attention to detail, and pattern recognition—all assets in technology roles. Typical workplaces, however, can often produce barriers for autistic people, resulting in unduly high unemployment rates. These barriers include the sensory environment, vague or ambiguous communication, unwritten social rules, and poor understanding of autism and neurodiversity.
auticon’s successful model employs autistic professionals in technology roles at client companies, with the ongoing support of job coaches and technical delivery managers. At the time of applying to auticon, 76% of auticon consultants were unemployed or underemployed. As a result of working at auticon, 92% of consultants say they feel supported at work and 87% have experienced improved quality of life. In addition, 51% of consultants have been with auticon for more than two years.
auticon is the world’s largest majority-autistic company, with locations in 14 countries and more than 500 employees on the autism spectrum (81% of its workforce). Since expanding to the US in 2018, auticon has found success matching autistic technologists with projects at client companies including CoverMyMeds/McKesson Corporation, Fidelity, Health Catalyst, Nationwide Insurance, Regeneron, Salesforce, and UBS.
auticon US has received numerous awards and recognitions, including Real Leaders 2024 Top Impact Company, National Organization on Disability 2023 Leading Disability Employer, and Women in IT 2022 DEI Initiative of the Year (with Salesforce).
About auticon
auticon is an award-winning social innovation company. As an autistic-majority company, we’re a resource for talent. We integrate our technology consultants into client organizations, performing as software developers, data analysts, QA engineers, and more. Clients experience our outstanding autistic professionals first-hand, opening minds and achieving diversity goals.
Our model improves the economic and social conditions of the autistic community with quality careers, unlocking opportunity, and empowering client organizations through actionable neurodiversity training and advisory services. Here, our employees build lifelong careers in technology, discovering personal autonomy and improved self-esteem. For more information, visit www.auticon.com.
