#GSATIFAMILY: STAFF IN REVIEW, ISSUE NO. 10

We at GSATi take pride in our staff and the hard work they put forth for us and our clients on a daily basis. To show our appreciation, we would like to present to you our new blog, #GSATiFamily: Staff in Review, a peek into the lives and interests of our staff. This series highlights the parts of our staff that makes them exactly who they are: dedicated, intriguing individuals we are proud to call family. Read on and discover this week’s featured staff member: Senior Drupal Developer, Andrew " Deg " Chernauskas. 

DL: Name and position with GSATi?

ADC: Andrew Chernauskas, but most people call me Deg, and I'm a Senior Front End Drupal Developer.

DL: And how long have you worked with GSATi?

ADC: Well, I was a contractor for about a year and now I've been a full-time employee for the last year, so two years total. 

DL: Where did you receive your education and/or experience in our field?

ADC: I studied Software Engineering at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, and I've been building websites since experimenting with Microsoft Publisher and Netscape Composer in middle school.

DL: What would you consider your greatest accomplishment during your time as a member of the GSATi Family?

ADC: I'd have to say the improvements we've made in agile development and scrum processes by intentionally focusing on clear, achievable weekly goals. Turning daunting tasks into manageable, repeatable routines has been a really great experience to share with my teammates.

DL: How awesome! So what’s the most fun thing you have done at or with GSATi?

ADC: A fun opportunity that GSATi provides is the chance to research and learn new tools and techniques. Recently, I’ve switched from using Photoshop to Sketch for design. It’s been great to take the time to adjust to the new tool, which helps me work smarter and faster. I was surprised how it’s become an essential part of my workflow.

DL: What about your at-home family? Any pets or kids?

ADC: We're a pretty typical family! It’s really important to me that I can spend time with my family. I’m very thankful that GSATi provides a flexible schedule and the ability to work remotely so I can do so.

DL: What is your favorite local restaurant or business on the square that you like to visit?

ADC: Denton is really an awesome one-stop-shop if you're someone like me that loves a good American meal. That means burgers, pizza and ice cream, and Denton has something for them all, even all on the same street! So, to put it in perspective, I love LSA for their Burgers, Pizza Snob for their pizza, Beth Marie's for their ice cream and Rusty's Taco for their AWESOME taco selection. There's so many great places in town that we haven't checked out yet, but I'm sure they're great as well.

DL: What's your preference, PHP or .NET and why?

ADC: As a member of the PHP team here, I’m an advocate for open source software. The technology that’s got me excited lately is ZURB Foundation, a framework that really speeds up prototyping and developing. It’s a great way I can build tools to empower the content team and clients with more control over the layout of their websites.

DL: That sounds like a great program! Alright, two more questions! What's your fondest office memory since you've been here?

ADC: Actually, I think the most fun I've had with the company would be our outing we went on last night around downtown Denton. A few of the guys from work and I went to the new barcade in town called Game Changers and just had a great time shooting pool, playing arcade games, just being friends with one another, not coworkers. That's one thing that seems to remain consistent with GSATi; we aren't just a team of developers housed under the same company name. We're friends that can go out and enjoy each others' company in the evening, then spend the next day collaborating on projects.

DL: Why choose GSATi?

ADC: One of GSATi’s greatest strengths is its employees are constantly looking out for one another. My coworkers are always willing to help, communicating with each other, and are sensitive to keeping the projects going. It really makes it a pleasure to work for.

DL: I think you're absolutely right! Thanks for sitting down with me today.

ADC: Of course!

We are so delighted and proud to call Deg a member of the #GSATiFamily. For staff profiles and more of what we offer here at GSATi, visit www.gsati.com and become a member of the #GSATiFamily today. Friends and clients welcome.