SparkFun is 20 years previous this 12 months! We’re fortunate sufficient to have a bunch of staff which have been round for over 10 of these years, and we wished to share their reflections on their time right here with you. Immediately you will be listening to from Chris McCarty (you might know him as One Chris Two Chris Purple Chris Blue Chris). Learn under to see his full solutions!
Inform us a bit about your background.
I’m the Product and Provider Advertising and marketing Supervisor right here at SparkFun and have been for the final couple of years. Earlier than that, I served in a litany of roles, together with Product Advertising and marketing Assistant, Catalog Curator, and Assistant Supervisor of Receiving, however it began 12 years in the past once I was employed as a Packager after simply transferring to Colorado. I’m initially from California, San Francisco to be actual (Go Niners!), and I’ve a penchant for writing, constructing large mecha fashions, portray small miniatures, and operating a slew of various tabletop role-playing video games!
What’s your favourite undertaking you’ve labored on at SparkFun?
That is difficult for me as a result of there are fairly just a few to select from. I as soon as 3D printed a set of open-source dungeon tiles with included lifting and traps for the sport I used to be operating on the time. I additionally tore down an IR-controlled gentle results wristband from an Worldwide gaming occasion I attended in 2016. If I had to decide on my favourite, it might seemingly be my LED Skateboard undertaking because it was the primary construct I ever accomplished whereas working at SparkFun. I had a customized RTFM deck made (which I nonetheless personal) and geared up it with just a few weight and lightweight sensors that will activate Tremendous Vibrant LEDs once I stepped on the board at evening. It allowed me to skate round Denver fairly rapidly in the dead of night with out worrying about massive cracks or rocks on the bottom!
What is the coolest factor you’ve seen a buyer make with our merchandise?
It will seemingly present my age (then once more, this complete put up will present that very impact), however again once I first began at SparkFun, the Discovery Channel present Mythbusters was nonetheless on the air and there was a single shot of the late, nice Grant Imahara standing in entrance of a stack of crimson SparkFun containers. After a bit of extra investigating into the present, you’ll see crimson boards and different SparkFun merchandise popping up all around the present in builds that he and the Construct Workforce had been engaged on. It was superb to see our product included into initiatives and builds to assist show whether or not an city legend or rumour with fable or reality.
What introduced you to SparkFun?
I left California in 2008 when the primary “as soon as in a lifetime” financial downturn hit. I used to be really a retailer supervisor at Blockbuster Video on the time, however as everyone knows, the times of video rental shops had been close to over by that point. When my retailer lastly shut its doorways for good, I made a decision to maneuver out of state. I moved round a bit of earlier than finally deciding on Colorado after falling in love with the state on a visit. I felt like I wanted to begin recent someplace and work from the underside up. That is when I discovered SparkFun, a good friend of mine knew a (nonetheless present) co-worker of mine, John Trepke, who helped me get a job in Receiving as a Packager. Due to this begin, I really feel like I can have a look at virtually each product we have now in our catalog and know the way it works and what kind of shenanigans individuals could make with them!
Who’s SparkFun?
SparkFun is for anybody who desires to make. SparkFun is anybody who seems at a $5000 product and confidently says, “Nah. I could make that for 1 / 4 of the value and repair it myself with out shopping for a brand new one in a 12 months.”
How has SparkFun advanced in the course of the time you’ve been right here?
After being with SparkFun for over a decade, I might be mendacity if I did not say it has modified considerably. I’ve seen individuals come and go. I’ve seen merchandise disappear into the ether (I nonetheless miss the helical GPS antenna). However I’ve additionally seen advents of latest tech like GNSS RTK, new wi-fi capabilities, and 3D Printing!
Do you bear in mind your first day?
It was a little bit of a tradition shock! SparkFun in 2011 was like an entire new model of skunk-works. We had been experimenting with new applied sciences that had been simply being launched to the patron market. Assume SparkX dialed as much as 11. If I recall appropriately, I arrived a bit early, and my boss on the time introduced in breakfast burritos for the group to get pleasure from. I used to be run by my each day and weekly duties and proven how you can function the packaging machine (which was all nonetheless guide on the time). Probably the most distinguished reminiscence I’ve about my first day was how loud it was, and it wasn’t due to any equipment; everybody was speaking like they actually knew one another, and that is as a result of they did. It wasn’t lengthy earlier than I joined within the dialog and pranks. Heck, I feel it was my second week right here that I used to be pranking certainly one of my bosses by hiding in a large field.
Favourite spot within the constructing?
There’s a deceptively snug orange chair exterior of my workplace. I really like sitting in that chair as a result of I can discuss and meet up with my group. We normally do not discuss work once I sit there. We discuss ourselves and one another. It even has a enjoyable ice cream sandwich plush buddy to maintain you firm!
How would you describe SparkFun’s tradition?
Oh, wordsmith time! Rhapsodic. The fervour and emotion that folks put into their work right here has by no means modified. Folks work for SparkFun as a result of they get pleasure from creating this that may change how individuals work together and be taught from electronics. This all interprets to our tradition, and we work right here as a result of we consider in making electronics extra accessible to anybody who is likely to be .
What’s the greatest a part of the work you do?
I’m able to work with each division out and in of the constructing. That is one thing that I discovered I liked from an early stage in my profession right here once I simply delivered mail to everybody. I really like figuring out who’s engaged on what, when a board shall be completed being produced, and any points we would have buying one thing so simple as a voltage regulator. As SparkFun’s Product Advertising and marketing Supervisor, it is my job to know what’s being labored on and when it will likely be launched. Data is essential in my place, and I’m pleased to share it with everybody contained in the constructing and all of you studying this weblog!
We have been celebrating our long run staff all 12 months – try the opposite interviews we have accomplished:
