SparkFun is 20 years outdated this yr! We’re fortunate sufficient to have a bunch of workers which were round for over 10 of these years, and we needed to share their reflections on their time right here with you. Right now you will be listening to from Pearce Melcher.
Inform us about your background.
I do technical analysis and catalog administration. I have been at SparkFun for nearly 15 years now. I initially got here to SparkFun after dropping out of the College of Colorado which was getting too costly for me. My plan was to work a yr at SparkFun and return to high school paying the less expensive in-state price. I used to be having fun with my time at SparkFun a lot that I by no means went again. In all probability want to try this in the future…
What’s your favourite mission you’ve seen our prospects make?
Favourite/coolest factor you’ve seen a buyer make with our merchandise?
You’ll be able to’t actually prime the Mars Helicopter that makes use of a sensor they purchased from us. It is actually neat to know that one thing that is on Mars confirmed up in a SparkFun field. Now, I’ll say the cool tasks listing is limitless. I will even say there isn’t a scarcity of cool tasks being executed with SparkFun elements, it is at the least a weekly prevalence.
Pearce has been with SparkFun for 15 years!
Who’s SparkFun?
The land of misfit toys.
How has SparkFun developed throughout the time you’ve been right here?
Once I first joined SparkFun, it felt like a gaggle of mates who simply occurred to work collectively. It was neat placing within the further effort and dealing in such a collaborative surroundings. Sadly not a lot of that surroundings is left, nonetheless it is also a lot much less irritating and arranged now. After we first began, it felt like we have been catering to hobbyists and a few college students (not mutually unique teams). However there wasn’t plenty of perception into what folks have been doing with our stuff. Now we’ve a greater thought of who our prospects are and the cool stuff they do with our merchandise.
What’s your favourite spot within the constructing?
I may sit on the rooftop and stare on the mountains all day lengthy.
That is what a rooftop lunch break at SparkFun HQ appears like.
What was your first day like?
I stunned everybody in Manufacturing by displaying up injured. I used to be re-organizing my room in honor of my new employment, and it went awry after a mirror cut up in half whereas I used to be carrying it. So, plenty of the primary day was studying do PCBA with a bandaged index finger. But it surely was enjoyable and manufacturing shut down twice throughout the day: as soon as to look at a brand new online game evaluate and the second to go outdoors and play hackey sack on a break.
How would you describe SparkFun’s tradition?
It is modified closely over time. I really feel it took a giant hit throughout the pandemic, however it’s nonetheless a tradition of working with good folks. My favourite a part of working right here is the folks I work with. We could possibly be doing different issues, making stuff I do not agree with, however it should all the time be a tough determination to go away on account of having fun with being round who I work with right here.
What’s your favourite reminiscence of being a SparkFan throughout these previous 20 years? Tell us within the feedback under, or inform us on Twitter, Instagram, Fb or LinkedIn.
