Unioto graduate launches own software company

CHILLICOTHE – Daniel Hines is already looking ahead to the future even though he recognizes there is still plenty of work to accomplish in growing his company in Chillicothe.

Hines, 24, is a 2009 graduate of Unioto High School and established his own software engineering and development company, Codeworks Software, last year after graduating from Shawnee State University with a bachelor's degree in computer engineering.

He said he knew he wanted to start his own firm from the time he graduated from college in 2013, and he now operates out of his home on Anderson Station Road, noting that his overall goal was to bring a business opportunity to the Ross County area that he felt was needed.

He hopes to gain more exposure for Codeworks Software at the upcoming Ross County Fair, where he plans to have a booth that will feature demonstrations, fliers and information about his company while giving visitors a chance to win a grand prize of an Android tablet.

Hines released a social networking application a month ago known as Any-Blog for Android on Google Play that allows people to update their status and share photos on Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus that took about a year to develop from start to finish.

The application, which costs $0.99 to download, is something he hopes will become popular, and he plans to eventually develop a similar application for Apple's iOS devices.

He earns 70 percent of profits off the application and is hopeful he will be able to grow his company as time progresses, he said.

"We do have revenue, but it's taken a bit to catch on," Hines said. "I'm hoping Codeworks will grow to the point where I can add full-time employees."

In terms of being his own boss, that doesn't appear to be a problem for him, though he admitted "it does take a little bit of discipline."

"It has been a learning experience," Hines said.

Hines also has plenty of initiatives in the development stages, and he hopes to develop a mobile application similar to Any-Blog that would allow files to be transferred from Google Drive and Dropbox.

In addition, he eventually wants to establish a foundation that would provide scholarships to high school students in the area pursuing the fields of science, technology, engineering and math, which he described as "rapidly expanding" in terms of the job market.

He's already seen plenty of support from his own family, including his father, Edward, who serves as his bookkeeper and was quick to recognize his son's efforts.

"He's phenomenal; he's very bright and very creative," he said. "His computer abilities are top-notch."

In the meantime, Hines offered some advice to students in the area.

"If you see something that you know you can do, take the opportunity to do it," he said. "Don't be discouraged if it doesn't take off. ... Keep working at it."

For more information on Codeworks Software, visit www.code-workssoftware.com or call 740-775-8492.