Sept. 2, 2021

This paid piece is sponsored by Click Rain.

Brady Fopma’s first computer was a 1994 Packard Bell with a whopping 4 MB of memory. That was before an internet connection had reached Sioux Falls, so he used the machine to dial into computer bulletin board systems and chat with remote users via public message boards.

How times have changed.

Technology has come a long way since the ’94 Packard Bell, of course, and Fopma’s fascination with tech has evolved with it.

Today, Fopma is the director of web technology at Click Rain, a digital agency based in downtown Sioux Falls, where he has worked for over a decade. He oversees a small but dynamic team of web developers while also managing IT needs around the office.

Before moving his family to Sioux Falls in 2011, Fopma earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Dordt University and got right to work as a webmaster.

Click Rain had just six employees when Fopma eventually joined to help code for web projects, including front-end development and back-end CMS integration. Since then, he has witnessed the “internet marketing” startup evolve into a full-service digital agency with 37 employees today — over 50 if you include Click Rain’s sister company, Lemonly.

Click Rain and Lemonly joined forces in early 2021 with the conviction that each company could augment the other. For Fopma and his team, this has meant equipping Lemonly’s infographics with analytics and other enhanced performance features. But that’s just the beginning. “We’ve only scratched the surface of our partnership with Lemonly,” he said.

When asked what hasn’t changed over the years, Fopma mentioned the culture and core values at Click Rain. “Our culture has definitely strengthened, but we’ve remained focused on work-life balance, especially our ‘faith, family, work’ mantra.”

Fompa believes Click Rain’s unique people-first culture has allowed him to live out his sense of calling each day.

“I try not to compartmentalize my faith, my calling and my work,” he said. “They’re all one thing. Whether I’m developing a website or helping with an IT question, I’m living out my calling.”

These days, Fopma focuses on empowering his team to do excellent development work on client projects without feeling overwhelmed or pulled from other obligations outside Click Rain. This means keeping an eye on big-picture capacity planning and incoming website work.

Speaking of which, we asked Fopma when and why a company might consider upgrading its website. He explained:

“Most businesses should consider upgrading or even replacing their website every five years or so. Pursuing a new website doesn’t mean there was something wrong with your old one. It’s just acknowledging that technology changes like crazy.”

With nearly 20 years of on-the-job web experience, Fopma gets the constant flux of tech — which has enabled him to keep Click Rain’s web services truly innovative for every client.

Fopma predicts the development field will continue to thrive and provide new opportunities for aspiring developers.

“Our work is always fresh and challenging because it’s always changing,” he said.

He also mentioned that development work can be done from almost anywhere, which has opened new doors in the field, including for Click Rain’s team.

Still, when asked what advice he’d offer young professionals preparing for a career in tech, Fopma didn’t mention HTML or CSS or JavaScript; he instead returned to the notions of balance and calling.

“Beyond the specifics of your craft, find balance while living out your calling. That’s as good as it gets.”

Fopma recently helped Click Rain enhance its three-tiered website services. This new approach offers clients more variety and personalization, and will launch officially  later this year.

Click Rain is actively hiring a web developer. Find the job listing and apply here.