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Meet Justin Ko

Kevin Makice September 02, 2010 Teams No Comments

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This is the fourth in a multi-part series, “Better Know Your Team Lead.” Next up is Justin Ko, who will be leading the Ruby team in Dev Derby 2010. Taking a page from Marcel Proust, James Lipton, and now SociaLens, we’re asking the same series of thought-provoking questions to everyone we profile.

Justin Ko, Ruby Team Lead

Justin Ko, Ruby Team Lead

Justin Ko’s entry to web development is not typical. He started out as a designer, with a couple years of experience, before becoming frustrated with the limitations of staying “client side”. He wanted to do it all. Many books and late nights later, he has become a competent Ruby and Rails developer. Currently, you’ll find him at Sproutbox practicing agile methodologies in a very cool “work” setting.
WHAT MADE YOUR FAVORITE WORD YOUR FAVORITE WORD?
I don’t have a favorite, but one word that humors me is pumpernickel.
WHICH FAULT DO YOU TOLERATE MOST?
Addiction. It goes much deeper than reason.
HOW DOES YOUR HERO OR HEROINE INSPIRE YOU?
I am inspired by people who push the curve. Progression (in a positive direction) is always an exciting thing.
WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF HAPPINESS?
Thinking happy thoughts. Satisfaction in the moment is usually the cause of this.
WHEN TWITTER TAKES OVER GRAVEYARDS, WHAT WILL YOUR TOMBSTONE READ?
I just tried looking up my “mentions” in the past, and got this: “Older tweets are temporarily unavailable.” :)

Meet Eric Peters

Kevin Makice September 01, 2010 Teams No Comments

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This is the third in a multi-part series, “Better Know Your Team Lead.” Next up is Eric Peters, who will be leading the .NET team in Dev Derby 2010. Taking a page from Marcel Proust, James Lipton, and now SociaLens, we’re asking the same series of thought-provoking questions to everyone we profile.

Eric Peters, .NET Team Lead

Eric Peters, .NET Team Lead

Eric has been involved with technology since a very young age, tinkering with electronics and computers since the 8-bit days. He studied Computer Science at IU, and has worked for several local startups over the years. Currently, he works with an incredible Agile development team in Bloomington writing C#, SQL, and JavaScript in an ASP.NET environment. In his spare time, he codes Project Euler challenges, reads about technology, and does an exceptionally poor job of playing chess.
WHAT MADE YOUR FAVORITE WORD YOUR FAVORITE WORD?
It would have to be its raw power, its elegance and succinctness, and its unusually melodic tone. Saying it is quite pleasing, but the rhythm of it draws you in like none other. It is truly a deeply magical word.
WHICH FAULT DO YOU TOLERATE MOST?
Finding fault.
HOW DOES YOUR HERO OR HEROINE INSPIRE YOU?
I am inspired by those who quietly do for others.
WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF HAPPINESS?
I went for a long walk in the woods yesterday. I had no electronics, was miles away from anything “modern”, and the loudest noise I heard for hours was my feet breaking fallen twigs. I think happiness comes from that kind of peace.
WHEN TWITTER TAKES OVER GRAVEYARDS, WHAT WILL YOUR TOMBSTONE READ?
I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that.

Meet Lawrence McAlpin

Kevin Makice August 31, 2010 Teams 2 Comments

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This is the second in a multi-part series, “Better Know Your Team Lead.” Next up is Lawrence McAlpin, who will be leading the Java team in Dev Derby 2010. Taking a page from Marcel Proust, James Lipton, and now SociaLens, we’re asking the same series of thought-provoking questions to everyone we profile.

Lawrence McAlpin, Java Team Lead

Lawrence McAlpin, Java Team Lead

Lawrence McAlpin has over fifteen years of experience with information technology. He holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. He refined his technical expertise working for some of the world’s most demanding clients: leading Fortune 50 companies. Currently, he makes a living as a software architect, enterprise Java developer, and project manager for a major Wall Street firm. He also spends his spare time as a technical advisor for a wine industry startup, when he isn’t too busy chasing his happily screaming toddler around the yard with a hose.
WHAT MADE YOUR FAVORITE WORD YOUR FAVORITE WORD?
Pamplemousse. It’s the funniest word in any language. This makes pamplemeese hard to eat because most people can’t help but laugh out loud when hearing their name. This is widely considered to be one of the more peculiar biological defense mechanisms that any fruit has ever evolved.
WHICH FAULT DO YOU TOLERATE MOST?
Laziness. As long as you get off your ass long enough to do it once, and do it right.
HOW DOES YOUR HERO OR HEROINE INSPIRE YOU?
Mark Twain was far more than a humorist, he was one of the greatest philosophers the world has ever produced. His love of progress and technology, his satirical wit, and his uncanny ability to condense complex issues into the simplest of phrases are traits that I strongly admire and aspire to emulate.
WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF HAPPINESS?
Afternoons: my toddler, smiling. At night: my toddler, sleeping. On weekends, in the morning: my toddler, sleeping in.
WHEN TWITTER TAKES OVER GRAVEYARDS, WHAT WILL YOUR TOMBSTONE READ?
Judging by past performance, it will probably show a failwhale and the somber text “Sorry, we are over capacity, try again later.”