The story behind 1stContact.ai — a family legacy of technology, decades of leadership, and a mission that came to life in July 2025.
Nick's passion for technology and innovation springs from a profound family legacy. His father, Vernon Rustad, now 100 years old and living with Nick and his husband Travis, served as an electrician aboard the USS Prebble (DM20) during World War II in the South Pacific. Vernon's remarkable story of joining the Navy at just 16 years old and his subsequent work with electrical systems sparked Nick's early fascination with technology and its potential to transform lives.
After the war, Vernon carried that same entrepreneurial and technical drive into civilian life. In the 1950s he co-founded a television sales and repair business in Sacramento, California, partnering with two other men and a combined investment of just $300 to open their doors. Vernon later applied his expertise at the Symplex Time Recorder Company, selling advanced time-keeping and security systems to large businesses — an early chapter of enterprise technology that runs straight through to 1stContact.ai today.
Growing up in the small town of Holyoke in northern Minnesota and completing his education in nearby Wrenhall, Nick carried forward his father's spirit of determination and technical aptitude. As the first in his family to pursue higher education, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Development from the College of Saint Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota, followed by an MBA from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management – achievements that marked significant milestones in his family's history.
Over more than two decades in technology leadership, Nick partnered with some of the most influential organizations in the world — including General Mills, Medtronic, and Faegre Baker Daniels, where he led IT support and infrastructure functions. A defining chapter came at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he led a team to roll out Microsoft Azure in support of the foundation's quest to eradicate polio — proof that the right technology, applied with purpose, can change lives on a global scale.
From help desk to founder — two decades of leadership that shaped 1stContact.ai.
Started professional career at The Pillsbury Company as Help Desk and Lotus Notes Admin, laying the foundation for a future in technology leadership.
Served as Team Lead and Senior Consultant at Accenture, developing expertise in large-scale project management and team leadership.
Worked as Courseroom Administrator at Capella University, gaining valuable experience in educational technology and support systems.
Advanced through leadership roles at UCare Minnesota and Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, managing enterprise systems and infrastructure teams.
Earned MBA from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.
Served as Director of Cloud Transformation at Concurrency, Inc. and Director of IT at Perficient, overseeing large teams and managing multi-million dollar accounts.
Founded CoreTactic while still working in corporate leadership, establishing the foundation for what would become his full-time focus.
Launched 1stContact.ai — an AI Employee that handles calls, texts, and chats 24/7 — bringing decades of enterprise technology leadership to automate customer interactions for businesses of every size.
Expanded CoreTactic's impact, personally mentoring over 2,500 clients, becoming a best-selling author and professional speaker.