Bob Shockey

Bob Shockey is the founder and lead architect at Alchemy Group, a full-service software design and development company based in Southern California. With over 30 years of experience in visual design and database development - including more than 25 years working with Claris FileMaker - Bob leads a team dedicated to building simple, useful, and beautiful software solutions tailored to your needs, especially for businesses facing operational complexity. After earning his degree from Otis Art Institute in 1986, Bob built a long and successful career in publishing and visual effects, blending design and technology to solve creative challenges. His interest in workflow optimization led him to FileMaker, where he discovered a platform that combined structure with creative freedom. That discovery became the foundation for Alchemy Group, which he founded to help businesses simplify complex operations through custom software. Under Bob’s leadership, Alchemy Group developed a long-standing relationship with FileMaker, Inc., now Claris International. In 2015, Alchemy was designated a Platinum Level member of the FileMaker Business Alliance and continues today as a Claris Platinum Partner. Bob specializes in solving difficult business problems involving field service coordination, scheduling, estimating, inventory control, and workflow automation. His solutions are used daily across industries to improve accuracy, reduce waste, and streamline operations - including a recent mobile job-routing and payment system that helped a field service company go paperless and become more profitable. As a FileMaker Certified Developer, Bob has spoken at FileMaker DevCon events in San Diego, San Antonio, and Miami Beach, as well as Pause on Error and FMDiSC events. His presentations have covered customer support, interface design, FileMaker scheduling, and business process optimization. He has also appeared on the Fireside FileMaker podcast and currently serves on the Advisory Board of FileMaker Developers in Southern California (FMDiSC), where he helps support and mentor the regional developer community. His early innovations earned him the top prize in the 2004 FileMaker DevCon Solution Contest. Outside of work, Bob is a professionally trained artist and a lifelong student of music, martial arts, and creativity. He lives in Southern California with his wife and daughter.