April 1 is time for fun at Parsippany tech firm

Long hours and crushing deadlines are part of the daily grind at one technology firm in Parsippany. But at least once a year, the staff at Macrosoft dedicates the day to sharing a laugh with the world.

Everyone can get in on the fun by viewing the company's annual April Fool's Day video and Macrosoft's slightly daffy — and utterly fictional — ploy to convince the world of a new breakthrough made in their field.

"Some of our April Fool's stuff is pretty out there," said Macrosoft President Edward G. Sable, a resident of Marlboro. "Our CEO and founder Ron Mueller encourages this to be a family-type of comedy, and to think outside the box and push the envelope to make big impacts. You have to have fun to do that. He's real happy when we have fun."

The playful video deceptions began in 2011 with a video announcement that the company was converting to "metric time."

"We've done replacing gravity. I don't think anyone believed that one," said Vice President of Marketing and Sales John Kullmann. "But the one that people really commented on was conversion to metric time. Somehow, people thought we were going to a 10-hour day, a 10-day week, 10 months a year. I actually heard from one guy who said 'What in the world are they doing there?' "

"Humor and truth are never that far apart," Sable said.

"To be a good April Fool's joke, you have to be a little believable," said Kullmann, who conceives the pranks. "The wireless electricity one — electrify your house without plugging anything in — that we did? M.I.T. came out with an announcement that they were working on something to that effect, the same year (2014)."

Business Analyst and Document Specialist Maryum Farhan serves as the in-house videographer, director and producer of the videos, which have generated more than 12,800 total views on YouTube alone. The videos, however, are shared with the company's core audience of clients around the world via email.

"It's not exactly viral, but our clients enjoy them and think they're fun," Kullmann said. "So much of our work is virtual, so its a way to humanize us. Our family and friends enjoy them as well, especially the kids. And we have a lot of fun making them."

A broad-based technology consulting firm specializing in applying technology to solve business needs, about 300 people work for Macrosoft, the majority deployed in the field and working directly with global clients. Launching in Morristown in 1993, the company moved to its current office on Sylvan Way in 2001, where they just signed a new five-year lease and are in the process of sprucing up their third-floor offices for the in-house staff of about 30 professionals.

"We definitely have a philosophy as a company that we work pretty hard here," Kullman said. "We're an IT firm. We've got deadlines to meet. You might be stuck working weekends or a late night. Hey, let's have a little fun. We try to make this a workplace where people enjoy coming to work."

Without spoiling the video, it can be reported that the star of this year's April Fool's Day video is Macrosoft Director of Technology Jamile Ahmed, who appears in drag as an old lady.

"He's the star, he's a very funny guy who is up for anything," said Farhan, who also produces videos for marketing and client training as part of her job. "We went out and bought him a nice wig and some clothes, and he was a grandma."

"Some people see the camera and they freeze," Kullman said. "Jamile sees a camera and he starts dancing."

To view past Macrosoft videos, visit www.macrosoftinc.com or visit the Macrosoft channel on YouTube.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-917-9242; wwesthoven@GannettNJ.com.