Kevin P. Taylor is a passionate advocate of Agile software development principles, and founded Obtiva in 2005 to create a community and a culture of like-minded programmers who could hone their craft and produce exceptional work. Kevin’s approach, like Obtiva, is centered on the practices of collaboration, pair programming, test driven development and software craftsmanship, which advocates quality work as well as a focus on a holistic view of programming as a profession that can span a lifetime.

Kevin has been programming computers since the age of 13, when he earned enough money delivering flyers house to house to buy his first TRS-80 Color Computer. In hindsight, this summer experience was the genesis of two great passions in his life: the craft of software and the craft of commerce.

A natural leader, Kevin makes a habit of surrounding himself with immensely talented, slightly eclectic individuals with exceptional creativity and expertise. This team has enabled Obtiva to thrive and earn a reputation as one of the most innovative and sought-after software development companies in the nation.

His love of sailing is perhaps a metaphorical indication of his entrepreneurial personality: journeying hundreds of miles into the middle of the ocean with no shoreline in sight, just the wind to power him; raising the sails and taking the helm, dependent on the teamwork of his crew and the forces of nature to generate the momentum to propel him back to shore.

Kevin has worked as an Agile coach, developer, trainer and project manager. He enjoys speaking about entrepreneurship, early-stage startups, technology, software development, and Agile practices at conferences, training classes, workshops, and other venues around the country. He holds a degree in Economics from DePaul University and lives with his wife and two children in Wheaton, Illinois.