We are thrilled to pay tribute to our September Associate Spotlight, Matthew Barber. A former intern, Matthew is now on Edafio’s Network Operation Field Escalation Team.
The comings and goings of staff are a part of every dynamic organization; therefore, it can be challenging to get to know our coworkers better as people. We have to be mindful that our company culture thrives on our exceptional people and their outstanding technical skills. As such, we are finding that our periodic interviews with associates allow us to acknowledge and celebrate the beautiful life stories, extraordinary professional accomplishments, and even the little quirks that make us uniquely beautiful human beings.
We hope you find each Edafio associate story as inspiring as we do in gathering and sharing them.
How long have you worked at Edafio, and what does your job entail?
I have worked at Edafio for two years. As NOC engineers, we are the first line of defense. Any IT-related issue or question you could have started with a call to my team. Aside from being able to troubleshoot, you must be patient, confident, and understanding.
What do you like most about your job?
I enjoy being able to challenge myself with new problems to solve. There is enough variety in my role that you won’t get bored, and you can always continue to work on something that challenges you in some way. Equally, I really enjoy that the work we do is appreciated. Our clients make it well known that they are thankful for our help.
“Matthew is an intern success story for Edafio. Very shortly after joining Edafio as an intern, it became evident that Matthew was someone we wanted on our Team full-time. When I was presented with the opportunity to have him join the NOC Team, I didn’t hesitate. It didn’t take long for Matthew to become ingrained into the Edafio culture, and now he is one of the major contributors. He is the only person with a Thor hammer fidget spinner and a high affinity for Mighty Beanz.”
Derek Lewis, NOC Team Lead
What is the best career lesson you’ve learned so far?
The best career lesson I’ve learned so far is to be confident in your decisions but be ready to own up to them if they don’t go as intended.
What would you do (for a career) if you weren’t doing this?
I always like to say that I would open an ice cream shop called “Barbershop Ice Cream” and have a barber’s pole out front. More realistically, I would likely be programming.
What is your Crystal Knows Type?
Supporter. Supports tend to be loyal, supportive, and helpful. They can be a stabilizing force in a group and will likely invest lots of time building relationships with their peers. Supporters will probably work best in a serene work environment, avoiding chaos and sudden change.
Three words to best describe this type: Agreeable. Composed. Steady
What’s your favorite mantra?
Time that you enjoyed wasting is not wasted time.
What’s a fun fact about you that many people may not know?
I played the clarinet for seven years during high school. After graduating, I dropped clarinet and picked up the guitar in its place.
Everyone at Edafio has a story about why they joined the team. What’s yours?
I was first introduced to Edafio through a club meeting at UCA. Afterward, I met Lee Hammers at a job fair and got an interview. I started working with Edafio as an intern at the beginning of 2020, as Covid began to make significant changes. After the project I was brought on for, I had to be let go due to Covid-related complications in remote work. After a few months, I reapplied and received another internship on the Field Escalation Team which eventually transitioned into a full-time role as a NOC engineer.
Edafio is always looking for exceptional candidates to join our team. For an opportunity to work with folks like Matthew, visit our careers page to learn more.
