You are viewing this article in the AnnArbor.com archives. For the latest breaking news and updates in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area, see MLive.com/ann-arbor
Posted on Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 5:58 a.m.

Domino's Pizza makes tech-focused pitch to potential employees

By Lizzy Alfs

dominos_headquarters.jpg

Domino's Pizza is hiring in various departments, but the company is focusing efforts on expanding the technology division in Ann Arbor

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Domino’s Pizza is scouting talented workers in southeast Michigan to help staff its rapidly growing technology division.

The Ann Arbor Township-based pizza delivery chain, which occupies more than 220,000 square feet in the Domino’s Farms Office Park, hosted its first technology open house on Tuesday night.

The event was intended to show potential employees all that Domino’s has to offer — from the decked-out offices to the company’s various technology projects.

“The challenge for my team is trying to find great talent in southeast Michigan,” Rob Kennedy, Domino’s Pizza’s Manager of Talent Acquisition and Recruiting, told a group of about 100 attendees.

dominos_sign.jpg

Domino's is headquarted in the Domino's Farms Office Park in Ann Arbor Township.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

“I’m hoping that between the behind-the-scenes tour or the presentations, that you’re walking out with a few nuggets of ‘wow’ moments,” he added.

As Domino’s Pizza continues to boost its sales and store count, the company has redoubled its efforts on technology. Among its efforts:

  • The company introduced iPhone and Android applications, which together, have been downloaded 6 million times. Kelly Garcia, Domino’s Vice President of Enterprise Software Development, said digital ordering is now available in about half of the 70 countries where Domino’s operates.

  • Domino's reached $1 billion in digital sales from April 2011 to April 2012, a company milestone.

  • Domino’s introduced the online Pizza Tracker, which allows customers to follow the progress of their order as it’s being made and delivered.

  • The company built and operates its own point-of-sales system.

  • With the Domino’s Pizza website averaging more than 2.4 million visitors each week, web analytics is “huge” for the company, Garcia said.

“Technology really empowers the business,” said Kevin Vasconi, Domino’s Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer.

Added Mike Davis, Domino’s Vice President of Enterprise Software Development: “Technology can drive sales up, costs down and make customers happy.”

Vasconi said there about 170 employees in the technology division at the company’s headquarters, and there are about 15 job openings. He said web developers are among the most challenging positions for Domino’s to fill.

Openings include: front end web developer, enterprise software developer, java developer, application architect, mobile developer, technical delivery manager, infrastructure engineer, IT security, technical help desk and web developer.

The IT department will also have about eight internship positions this summer.

“We’re big into internships; it’s a great program for us,” Vasconi said. “We have interns that have built products for us, we have interns that have worked in our data center. There is no limitation on what an intern can do.”

Vasconi ended his pitch to attendees by encouraging college students to stay in Michigan after graduation.

“Where are you going to go work? With the Googles and the Amazons and the Apples and the Microsofts? They’re all great companies…but you can also stay in Michigan and work for Domino’s.”

Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.

Comments

tdw

Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 2:37 p.m.

pseduo stated that he/she thinks Monaghan owns 3%.I know nothing about stocks.But could you own stock in Domino's only or would you have to own stock in all of YUM! brands.

Jack

Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 9:50 p.m.

What about Bain? Bain isn't a publicly traded company.

tdw

Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 3:50 p.m.

Jack...oops I'm not sure where I got from.But what about Bain

Jack

Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 3:05 p.m.

What does YUM! brands have to do with Domino's? YUM! owns Pizza Hut.

Nicholas Urfe

Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 2:21 p.m.

Whatever happened to that guy who they tried to force into signing an invention agreement? It was reported here, as I recall, that they reminated him and stiffed him on his stock options.

Kyle Mulka

Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 9:25 p.m.

Here's a link to that story by the way: http://www.annarbor.com/news/will-a-former-dominos-executive-be-punished-for-entrepreneurial-spirit/

Kyle Mulka

Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 9:17 p.m.

Also, they need to "make it right" for the guy they screwed.

Kyle Mulka

Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 9:12 p.m.

Maybe that's why it is a challenge for them to hire... because people are scared similar things will happen to them. I think Domino's needs to come out and be transparent about their employment agreement and fix the things that would cause concerns for potential employees.

Basic Bob

Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 4:41 p.m.

He was not forced to sign anything. He chose to exercise his free will and look for another job.

pseudo

Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 1:57 p.m.

when everything else this company represents is so right wingy - I think it would be very hard to attract highly skilled and educated employees to such a lgbt-unfriendly, woman-unfriendly company.

ManA2

Thu, Apr 11, 2013 : 12:57 a.m.

Pseudo - Domino's is a public company. All information is public. And Bain sold out completely a few years back. If you own 100 shares of their stock, you have more influence than Monaghan or Bain.

pseudo

Thu, Apr 11, 2013 : 12:33 a.m.

http://www.hrc.org/apps/buyersguide/profile.php?orgid=5016 as a start, don't know how to get a rating from a gender perspective. Not nearly as bad as it used to be not exactly friendly either. From Monaghan to Bain Capital for ownership probably sums it up. Bain, of course, is a private company - thus most of Dominos info is now opaque except what they want to say..

Tom

Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 9:08 p.m.

How is this company 'right-wingy' and unfriendly to women? Where are your facts? Go to the Corporate offices and see how many women work there and support Dominos. Besides not everyone technically capable is a supporter of LGBT ideology.

ManA2

Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 2:49 p.m.

Pseudo - Out of curiosity, where are you getting your information? Monaghan hasn't owned any of the company since before it became a public company. The current management of the company doesn't appear to have any political agenda other than selling pizza.

DeeAA

Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 1:18 p.m.

Do they pay their "interns" anything? Or is that volunteer work to build a resume?

ManA2

Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 1:41 p.m.

I'm sure they pay them. It is no longer legal for companies to have unpaid interns.

seldon

Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 12:49 p.m.

Does Tom Monaghan still own any of Domino's?

pseudo

Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 2 p.m.

I thought he owned like 3% still, certainly not a controlling interest but still enough for some influence

tdw

Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 12:58 p.m.

Nope.Just the building