May 10, 2020
The rise of coding bootcamps has made a career in web development more attainable than ever. Many young people are entering the field and senior developers stand ready to welcome the newbies. And maybe to warn them a little, because not every developer is made of the stuff that leads to long-term success.
What does it take to progress from a novice developer into a senior-level one? If you ask Jason Thomas, Senior Developer at FYIN, it takes lots of burnt fingers and plenty of been-there-done-that. It takes successful projects and maybe even a few that-could-have-gone better projects. It takes on-the-job training and some of the more formal variety, too. It takes a natural curiosity and problem-solving ability. And perhaps most importantly, it takes adaptability. For a developer, resistance to change is futile. Technology moves fast and the successful developer moves right along with it.
Jason, like many developers, enjoys a good challenge. To call him a problem solver is a bit of an understatement. Many times, client-partners come to us with complex projects that other firms have declined to tackle. At FYIN, we have no fear because we have Jason. With more than 25 years of experience under his belt, he has the know-how and perseverance to deliver results on those challenging projects. He’ll even do his best to explain to you how he did it; just nod along if you get lost.
In addition to his expertise in all things .NET, Jason also holds several Umbraco certifications. He mentors less seasoned developers in hopes that they can make their way with fewer burnt fingers. He challenges those around them to persevere. He sometimes says, “Hey, I didn’t know either. I had to dig until I figured it out.”
Although we like to tease Jason about his questionable sentence construction in emails, he actually earned his undergraduate degree in Journalism. He holds an MBA with a focus in project management. In addition to his technical titles, he also answers to the most important one of all: dad. He has two teenagers, a boy and a girl. Jason is a native of Indiana but has lived in Colorado for many moons. Colorado is his home base but he loves to travel. In early 2020 he celebrated a milestone birthday with an epic trip to the Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu.
Jason is motivated by a desire to do good work, pure and simple. He likes being able to build something that solves a problem or fills a need. When he’s not saving the world through good code and strong technical leadership, Jason enjoys skiing, mountain biking, acting, and basic woodworking. He describes himself as being motivated, logical, and personable. The jury is out on his jokes.
Recently, Jason and his girlfriend reached a new milestone by buying a home together. They also brought home a dog, a Cavichon who plays fetch by himself. Whose dog it is depends on who you ask. When he has downtime, Jason likes to putter around the house and take on small projects. He also enjoys reading the Bobiverse sci-fi series.
When asked what he likes about his job at FYIN, Jason notes that he loves the variety and relishes the challenges. It’s like solving a puzzle, even when the puzzle didn’t come with all the pieces or maybe even some pieces from a different puzzle. Either way, Jason will figure it out.