SparkFun is 20 years outdated this yr! We’re fortunate sufficient to have a bunch of staff which were round for over 10 of these years, and we needed to share their reflections on their time right here with you. Immediately you may be listening to from Jennifer Mullins. Learn beneath to see her full solutions!

Inform us about your background.

I’ve had so many wonderful alternatives over the previous 11 years with SparkFun beginning with my first function as part of our Buyer Service staff to at this time (carrying many different hats in between) having the ability work alongside a really unbelievable group of parents as our Gross sales, Help and Providers Supervisor.

It’s been so unbelievable over time to see the fervour for what we do, the thoughts blowing creativity from each a part of all of the groups that make SparkFun what we’re, and the evolution of the folks (previous and current) and the way we proceed to maneuver ahead as an organization.

It has been a wild {and superior} trip!

I’m fortunate sufficient to have grown up right here in Colorado and my husband and I take pleasure in this superior state we stay in with our two youngsters. Round chasing youngsters to their sports activities and college and social actions, juggling our jobs and all the opposite enjoyable grownup issues, my husband and I benefit from the usually beautiful climate right here every time we will by getting out for some wind remedy every time we will. My love for my Harley landed me the nickname of GhostRider a number of years in the past from Glenn, our CEO. I dig it!

What’s your favourite venture you’ve got labored on at SparkFun?

Being in roles by way of my time with SparkFun which were centered across the admin and customized help realm of SparkFun I haven’t been deeply concerned in lots of the initiatives SparkFun has launched into the world. Most undoubtedly have loved so very a lot of them, however can’t declare a pivotal function myself. I did make my try in my very own electronics venture years in the past for Halloween that yr to put in a moderately ridiculous system of a number of LilyTwinkle boards, tons of LilyPad Rainbow LEDs and a most likely borderline unsafe quantity of battery packs onto the within of a rockabilly type gown. After choosing the brains of our Tech Help staff, and a few of our extra artistic of us with our Engineering staff that labored with the LilyPad line, I went off to make my first SparkFun fueled creation. For years we had massive Halloween events within the workplace, and all the time had ‘finest costume’ contests in fact together with a class for costumes that included SparkFun merchandise.

Brimming with confidence from the oldsters I’d gotten assist with I set off to start out placing my tremendous flashy LED gown collectively. A couple of days of engaged on it forward of Halloween and I used to be placing collectively the final set of LEDs (moderately late at evening would possibly I add) and realized that I perhaps smelled one thing that will or could not been just like one thing on fireplace. If you happen to’ve ever smelled burning electronics, what I imply. In my late evening haze managed to wire up my energy backwards and managed to nearly soften one in every of my poor LilyTwinkle boards. In my frantic flailing to determine what was flawed I singed my gown, burned my hand, and didn’t find yourself with a completed flashy LED gown. Whilst a strong fail, it was nonetheless a ton of enjoyable and an amazing story to share with the staff the subsequent day.

What is the coolest factor you’ve seen a buyer make with our merchandise?

Truthfully I don’t suppose I may probably sift by way of the lots of of initiatives I’ve seen over time and choose a favourite. I’ve been in a position to discuss to and assist those that have made computerized pet doorways to IronMan and Marvel costume replicas, autonomous garden mowers to livestock monitoring programs…and a lot extra! It’s fairly actually one in every of my favourite issues about SparkFun that now we have so many individuals prepared to share their creations with us.

What introduced you right here?

My world earlier than SparkFun landed me a handful of random jobs earlier than I ended up working for a neighborhood property administration firm. I had been there for a number of years and whereas I beloved the work I had a buddy who had began working at SparkFun the yr prior and continuously raved at what an superior place it was. After I acquired the decision a brand new place had been posted I jumped on the chance and haven’t regarded again since!

How has SparkFun developed in the course of the time you’ve been right here?

One of many issues I’ve all the time actually beloved probably the most about SparkFun is that we’re continuously evolving. From studying and supporting new applied sciences, to processes to help our prospects starting from strategic B2B companions to hobbyists. By means of the years there was a continuing theme of not simply taking SparkFun for what we’re at this time, however wanting again at who now we have been, who we’re at this time and the place we wish to be.

Do you keep in mind your first day?

My first day at SparkFun was becoming a member of our Buyer Service staff eleven years in the past, who additionally occurred to share area in our outdated constructing with our Tech Help staff. I used to be so nervous to be transferring from my prior jobs in property administration to stepping right into a world of electronics I knew subsequent to nothing about. I used to be fortunate sufficient to have a number of superb pals that already labored with the staff although! The instant acceptance and inclusion into an extremely tight knit staff was completely unbelievable. From day one I all the time felt like I belonged and had an necessary function with the staff and the corporate.

At any time when we introduced on a brand new teammate we’d do the entire introductions to all the management staff, tour of the constructing, and usually ended up with the ability to take a tour of the ability led by Nathan. It was actually overwhelming (in the easiest way) to see all the loopy superior initiatives across the constructing, seeing our manufacturing gear on the manufacturing flooring and the rows and rows of all of the doodads and thingamajigs I had no thought what I used to be even taking a look at. The fervour for what we do from so many individuals was simply as wonderful then as it’s now.

On my first day my supervisor on the time ordered lunch for the entire staff so we may all get a while to get to know one another, and since I had some pals at my superior new firm we wrapped up the day having fun with a celebratory brew after hours at one in every of our native craft breweries down the road from the workplace. Finest first day ever.

What’s your favourite spot within the constructing?

Oh man, that’s robust! At our present HQ you’ll be able to by no means go flawed with the view from the rooftop patio. The view of the mountains and that magical outside escape has undoubtedly been a favourite for in workplace staff conferences and sometimes simply having fun with being out within the daylight over time.

There are simply so many alternative issues all through the constructing which are so enjoyable to see. After greater than a decade I may nonetheless simply sit and watch the manufacturing and kitting groups hammering out merchandise for hours. Going and poking in on Engineering and the Product groups to see what enjoyable issues they’re tinkering with, and that additionally occurs to be the place a few of my favourite workplace doggo’s have been over time. The delivery staff rolling carts by way of aisle after aisle ensuring all of the issues get despatched into the wild. Wandering adventures wherever all through the constructing are all the time certain to convey new issues to see and nice conversations.

How would you describe SparkFun’s tradition?

As with so many different components of what makes SparkFun who we’re, our tradition has developed by way of the years. We’ve had our ups and downs (as each firm or staff does) however one factor that has all the time been on the coronary heart of our tradition is our folks. Everyone seems to be all the time prepared and welcoming to work collectively and help one another nonetheless we will. Constant pleasant faces (and doggos) throughout all of our groups and the drive to verify we’re constructing SparkFun to be the most effective we could be.

What’s the finest a part of the work you do?

So, so many issues, however high of the checklist is the folks! Inside and out.

My direct teammates are such an incredible group of parents. Having the chance to assist help and develop our staff, the enterprise relationships now we have, and the corporate as a complete is most undoubtedly part of my life I’m so happy with and grateful for. Being part of our Enterprise Growth staff and with the ability to work immediately with so many alternative folks and initiatives provides me the chance to additionally bask within the awesomeness of all the different inner groups at SparkFun as nicely.

Tech Help and Engineering (and may’t overlook our SparkX staff) to assist discover and construct all the newest and biggest new merchandise and discovering options for our prospects, Provide Chain and all of the loopy hoops they bounce by way of to verify now we have components on the cabinets, Advertising and marketing to assist us get SparkFun out into the world and amplify our presence throughout so many alternative channels, Operations cranking out lots of upon lots of of merchandise each single day (manufacturing → delivery), and naturally our Admin and SWIT groups ensuring all of the gears maintaining spinning internally. So many issues we do day-after-day have a direct hyperlink that enables us to work so carefully with a lot of SparkFun.

And the skin of us and the purchasers we work with. Simply, wow. Getting past how unbelievable the issues are which are created utilizing SparkFun merchandise, day-after-day is a brand new puzzle and an answer to seek out. I get to work with inner and exterior of us day-after-day discovering options to their wants and fixing issues.