Board Spotlight: Q&A with Dan Ellenberger

Our Board Spotlight series continues this month, highlighting the leaders who lend their time, experience and perspectives to Digital Nova Scotia’s Board of Directors.

Representing organizations from across Nova Scotia’s technology ecosystem, our Board members play an important role in guiding Digital Nova Scotia’s work and helping us stay connected to the opportunities, challenges and priorities shaping our sector.

Each month, Board Spotlight gives us the chance to get to know one of those leaders a little better, and for our November Spotlight, we’re joined by Dan Ellenberger, President of ABM Integrated Solutions and a Director on Digital Nova Scotia’s Board of Directors. Dan reflects on his journey into working 20 years in large technology programs, his experience on the Board, what excites him about the growth happening across Nova Scotia and why he wants more people to know there’s space for them in tech.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your professional journey. What brought you to Nova Scotia's tech sector?

My journey in Nova Scotia’s technology sector started at Dalhousie University, where I completed a Bachelor of Computer Science. That’s where my passion for technology really took off. I loved writing code and seeing my work turn immediately into a real solution. After a short stint with IBM, I joined CGI as a junior developer and spent the next 20 years there, working on large technology programs for clients across a range of industries and progressing into leadership roles along the way. Today I have the privilege of leading ABM Integrated Solutions as President. ABM is a company with deep roots in Nova Scotia and tremendous potential, and we’re now expanding across Canada from that position of strength. We have an amazing team of talented, hard-working people, and I’m thrilled to be part of it.

What do you do in your current role, and what excites you most about the work?

My role is to set the direction for the business, support the growth of our (awesome) team, and ensure we deliver for our customers every day. A key focus right now is developing strategies to expand in our target markets through close collaboration with our partners and continued investment in the skills and expertise of our people at ABM.

I also get to work closely with our sister companies across the ACL Group, including Shannex, Seaboard, Armour, Design Build Solutions and Metro Self Storage. The collaborative, entrepreneurial spirit across these companies is especially inspiring, and it’s easy to see why they’ve been so successful.

What excites me most is the pace of change. AI is reshaping how organizations work, while cybersecurity threats are growing more frequent and more sophisticated. Our customers are looking to us to help them adopt new technology in a way that’s practical and well governed, and to keep their people and data protected along the way. Being the partner that helps a business get both right is rewarding work, and it’s why investing in our people matters so much.

How would you describe your organization and the impact it has on the community or industry?

ABM started out primarily as a Field Services company reselling point-of-sale systems. Today, we deliver world-class technology solutions to organizations across the country, from small local businesses to large enterprises. Many of the people who joined ABM in its early days are still with us, and I think that speaks volumes about the culture of ownership our team embodies.

Our mission at ABM is to build an environment where people grow meaningful careers, and to empower organizations through a culture of accountability, disciplined execution, and secure technology solutions that scale. Our services span managed IT, cloud, cybersecurity, AI, field services, point-of-sale systems and professional consulting.

The work we do helps drive economic growth in the communities we live in and serve, and we’re both humbled and proud to make a positive contribution. Now, more than ever, building Canada’s technology independence is critical and I believe Nova Scotia has a real opportunity here.

How long have you been involved with the Digital Nova Scotia Board, and what inspired you to join?

I’ve been a member of the Digital Nova Scotia Board since late 2023. I joined because I felt I could make a positive impact in our local community. I believe we’re stronger when we work together in collaboration and partnership, and that’s exactly what DNS provides. It’s especially meaningful for me to give back to the community that helped shape my career.

What's been the most rewarding part of serving on the Board?

The most rewarding part is the people. The Board brings together leaders from startups to established firms, and I always come away from those conversations having learned something. It’s a reminder of how much talent and ambition there is in this province. Recently, I attended an AI Mixer hosted by DNS, and it was refreshing to feel the energy in the room as people presented their AI solutions. As a real-life example, I walked away with a new connection and a potential local partnership that ABM can help grow.

What's one thing you'd like more people to know about Digital Nova Scotia?

That it’s for everyone in the digital economy. Whether you run a startup, a services firm, or an organization that depends on technology, DNS connects you to the talent and people you need to grow. If you’re working in tech in Nova Scotia and you’re not involved yet, you’re missing out.