The Journey of a Born Problem Solver - Part One

When it comes to innovation, Jeff Hummel's journey into home automation is as personal as it is professional. "My whole life, I have done nothing but try and solve problems."

As the SVP of Technology, Product, and Engineering at Anywhere Real Estate, Jeff has spent his life solving problems, both big and small. His foray into home automation began under unexpected circumstances-a break-in at his first home. Living with his wife and young daughters, the family experienced a robbery that resulted in the theft of his wife's purse. Inside that purse was a Nextel phone, one of the first devices equipped with GPS. Leveraging his technical acumen, Jeff worked with the police, tracking the phone's location to retrieve it. This experience ignited his passion for creating smart, secure home environments.

Jeff's talents quickly became known among his friends and family, leading him to help a concerned friend with his elderly mother living alone in Florida. To provide some peace of mind, Jeff installed motion sensors in her bathroom that adjusted lighting based on the time of day-50% brightness at night and full brightness during the day. This simple yet impactful automation reassured his friend that his mother was safe, setting the stage for Jeff's deeper dive into home automation.

These early experiences laid the foundation for Jeff's obsession with making homes not just safer, but smarter. His problem-solving nature drove him to constantly innovate, turning challenges into opportunities to enhance the way we live.

Be sure to follow along with Under Our Roof and check back for part two of Jeff's story for a deeper look into the practical and even peculiar ways he uses home automation.