Graduation Date:
Q3, 2007
Current Employer:
Extend Health
Job Title:
Business Analyst/Project Manager
Tell us about your work environment:
Stuffed animal versions of microbes, pests, and diseases roam the office. A makeshift, Nerf gun shooting range gets regular use. The CTO sometimes brings his two miniature schnauzers to work. Even discussions on DotA strategy can be overheard on occasion.
And yet an incredible amount of work gets done. Everyone is dedicated to giving their best and the workload requires nothing less. The tone and pace of the job can be demanding but they aren't dictated; they're a result of wanting to do your job well.
What value has your education provided in your current employment?
…Every skill I use at work I honed at Neumont. The spoken and written communication skills I improved upon in my internal projects give me the ability to make an impact on the operation and success of the company. My technical knowledge has also been invaluable in matching business needs with technical solutions.
Why did you choose to attend Neumont?
I had tried college before and it hadn't worked out. I was so discouraged by my previous college experience I almost didn't even look at Neumont. I gave it a second look because it seemed so different than any college I had ever heard about. When this impression was confirmed at an open house I attended, I only hoped it wasn't too good to be true. Neumont didn't disappoint.
Even though I don't have the passion for software development that some others do, going to Neumont was the best decision I have ever made. What Neumont trained me to do was solve problems with software. Doing that in the real world, where the clients actually exist and the problems are novel, gives me incredible satisfaction.
Do you have any favorite stories from your time at Neumont?
One of my fondest memories of Neumont was placing 2nd in the first Ironman competition. My team worked seamlessly together and finished with a great product. It was the first time I realized that I really could do this for a living.
Favorite Teachers?
Most of the teachers I had in CS classes were excellent, but Sam, Terry, Tony, and Aaron are at the top of my list. Learning from them was an absolute pleasure even though their classes were always some of the most demanding.
Favorite Classes?
Nothing can quite compare to the initial thrill of ‘getting it' in Intro to C#. Algorithms with Sam, Intelligent Systems with Tony, and Patterns with Jake and John Turner were all incredible.
Where are you from originally?
Albuquerque, NM: where the snow never lasts long enough to get dirty.
Did you live in student housing while at Neumont?
I lived in student housing for all of my seven quarters at Neumont, the first two at the Falls and the last five at Sterling. I got lucky and had great roommates the entire time.