Nicholas Terry Solution Architect
How long have you worked at Symmetrix?
1 year
What do you like most about your job?
Symmetrix is a wonderful and unique place that allows me to showcase my skills and abilities as a developer. Having been in the automotive industry for most of my professional life, the transition to the software industry came with its fair share of personal doubt, fear of the unknown, and going from being an expert in my field to a complete “fresher”. Upon starting as a developer at Symmetrix, most of my worries evaporated. At Symmetrix, you are encouraged to learn, to provide input, to accomplish your tasks, to push the boundaries of your abilities, and to always be improving but also with an understanding that failures will happen along the way. Symmetrix treats their employees with compassion, respect, trust, and as an equal.
What is your proudest moment since joining Symmetrix ?
The first project I was assigned to, was a fairly complex application in which I worked closely with one of the Senior developers at Symmetrix. The learning curve was immense for me but all along the way, my questions were answered and explained. I was encouraged to experiment with ideas, and with every task I was given, I was provided the support I needed to complete that task. After reaching the first major milestone with that project, I was allowed to be the one to do a demonstration of the application for some of the project stakeholders. It was amazing to show an application, that I contributed to, come to life and provide value.
What three words would you use to describe Symmetrix?
Teamwork, Respect, and Compassion
What do you like to do when you aren’t working?
I love playing guitar, golfing, and metal detecting.
What is one thing you can’t resist?
Cotton Candy. Regardless, if it is at a sporting event, carnival, or fair, the first thing I am looking for is the Cotton Candy stand.
What is your hidden talent?
I am left-handed but do most things right-handed. Learning how to play the guitar right-handed allowed me to use my dominate hand for fretting giving me an advantage with certain fretting techniques.
Tom Barth Vice President and Partner
How long have you worked at Symmetrix?
22 years
What do you like most about your job?
It’s always been about the variety and the opportunity to learn. All the knowledge gained is immediately applicable and is often found through experience and trial and error. It’s also about the people. Symmetrix is forward-thinking and knows our employees are our greatest asset. I could never have imagined I’d grow as much as I have here at Symmetrix.
What is one thing about Symmetrix that stands out to you?
When a company’s values align with your own personal values, it makes for a great place to work. It really comes down to the people and the culture. I’ve been honored to work with so many intelligent people, and the culture of humility and teamwork makes me excited to come to work every day and learn from our awesome team.
What is the best career lesson you have learned so far?
Over my 22 years of working here, I have learned many valuable career lessons, but I have two that really stick out. I am proud to say that they both come from my parents. My Dad is always willing to take risks and trust that he could figure it out - he’s a serial entrepreneur. My Mom is about loyalty and consistency, she’s been at the same company since a month after I was born (45+ years). I am thankful that I inherited both of those traits.
Before working at Symmetrix, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
It’s a long time ago, but my college job was to work with the UW Badger men’s basketball team. It was a great opportunity to immerse myself and realize I belonged at a place I had idolized. It was so much fun, and I have some great stories and life-long friendships that resulted from a lot of hard work. Go Bucky!
What is your favorite line from a movie?
“My team is on the floor.” Being a basketball fan, this quote resonates on so many levels. No matter the size of your team, when everyone functions as a single unit, everyone realizes that no one is more important than the other. When that happens, success happens.
If you were to be stuck on an island, what three things would you bring with you?
Seeing that my wife and four kids don’t count as “things”, I would bring a basketball, a telescope, and an oscillating fan.
What advice do you have for a prospective candidate?
With my role now as a co-owner, my goals are far less about me, and more about Symmetrix. I look forward to seeing our future leaders continue to blossom and grow to ensure we can continue to serve our clients and keep our culture alive. Growth is important, but stability and staying true to our core values is key.
Paul Eiche Senior Software Engineer
How long have you worked at Symmetrix?
Since this past June
What attracted you to Symmetrix?
“Family! My brother-in-law is a developer at Symmetrix, and spoke very highly of the company and thought not only would I be a great addition to their team, but felt I would love the work and the people….and he was right.”
What do you like most about your job?
“I think it’s a toss-up between the variety and the opportunity to learn new technologies. They’re closely intertwined since the different projects I’ve worked on use different technology stacks. Being a self-taught developer, I love to learn. The different projects I have had the opportunity to work on, have afforded me that opportunity.”
What is the one thing about Symmetrix that stands out to you?
“Symmetrix expects everyone to work hard, but at the same time, they know the importance of taking time off and encourage it. Also, they truly care about their employees and value their opinions. It doesn’t matter how long you have been with the company; all employees are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas.”
What three words would you use to describe Symmetrix?
Hard-working, fun-loving, nerds (but in a good way).
What is one fact that many people may not know?
“Moray eels have a second set of jaws inside their mouth, called a pharyngeal jaw. Sung to the tune of “That’s Amore.” When the jaws open wide, and there’s more jaws inside, that’s a moray!”
What TV show/movie are you ashamed to admit you love?
“I don’t know if ‘ashamed’ is the right word, but I do enjoy watching Gilmore Girls with my wife and daughter. Shhhh….don’t tell anyone.”
Lori Bruss Director of Business Development
How long have you worked at Symmetrix?
Two years
What do you like most about your job at Symmetrix?
“I actually enjoy going to my job every day. I love the autonomy, ability to try new ideas and learning new things every day. I have the opportunity to pave my own course all while having a true work life balance.”
What does your job entail?
“A little bit of this and a little bit of that. I oversee the human resources, accounting, business development and marketing functions for the company. I love the diversity of my job. I find that it never becomes monotonous and I am able to contribute in many different ways. I am able to draw upon my experiences from my past jobs, while learning new skill sets along the way.”
What is the best career lesson you have learned so far?
“All too often, people focus on their jobs, rather than the people around them. But in fact, the people are equally important. All people in an organization need to have ‘people skills.’ That’s the ability to listen to everyone, to realize everyone’s contribution is important, and to work as part of a team.”
What is a fun fact that many people may not know?
“I have a love for the water. I was a competitive swimmer from when I was 5 until I graduated college. I swam collegiately and was a 7-time NCAA DIII All American. I am now giving back to the sport I love by coaching Germantown High School Girls Swim Team and Rocket Aquatics Senior Team.”
What do you like to do when you are not working?
“When I am not working or spending time on a pool deck, I enjoy watching my kids do what they love…soccer, basketball, swimming and golf. I also enjoy traveling, reading a good book and enjoying a good glass of wine.”
What TV show/movie are you ashamed to admit you love?
“I hate to say this, but as cheesy as it is, I enjoy the holidays when I can sit on the couch and watch Hallmark movies with my daughter. Otherwise, I tend to find a good Netflix show and binge watch until I finish the series.”
List 3 words that best describe you.
Reliable, Flexible, Personable
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Anthony Kaul Software Engineer
How long have you worked at Symmetrix?
Three years.
What do you like most about your job at Symmetrix?
“One of the best parts about working with the Symmetrix team is the atmosphere. People are always cheery, and everyone is always available to help. It makes the overall mindset more akin to wanting to do more, not only professionally, but personally as well. You don’t find that at many places.”
What has been your favorite project at Symmetrix?
“That’s a tough one. I can't really pick. All the projects we work on are always packed with new technology and new coding techniques. I find that with every project I work on I have an opportunity to learn more and sharpen my skill set. I am challenged to do better and constantly learn, which is just another reason I love it here.”
What is the best career lesson you have learned so far?
“Don't stand for the status quo. Always try to improve your work. Challenging the status quo actually means challenging it – something everybody wants but few want to do. I have learned through my career how to challenge myself to do better, but more importantly, I want others to challenge me to be better as well.”
What do like to do in your spare time?
“Spare time? What spare time? In the spare time I have, I enjoy playing the guitar. Maybe someday, we will create a Symx band, but until then, I will keep practicing.”
What is your favorite place to vacation to?
“My favorite place is Port Aransas on the Texas coast (near Corpus Christi.) It is only accessible by ferry. It’s known for its beaches and fishing. It has some of the best seafood in all of Texas. When I like to “slow down,” this is the place to go. It is quiet and full of scenery and has some of the most gorgeous sandy beaches. It truly is an escape from reality.”
List 3 words that best describe you.
Persistent, understanding, full of passion.
What 3 words would you use to describe Symmetrix?
Technical, passionate, fun.
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Ken Kauer Senior Software Architect
How long have you worked at Symmetrix?
“It will be 28 years this September.”
What do you like most about your job at Symmetrix?
“Every day, I get to help solve problems or challenges our clients encounter by helping to design and develop new and better software solutions that exceed our clients’ needs and expectations. Being able to assert my own ideas and know that I had a key part in helping my client be successful is a great feeling. Implementing the solution in a way that brings continuing value to the client and Symmetrix really brings those great feelings back again and again.”
What is the best career lesson you have learned so far?
“Play to my strengths. Work with people who play to theirs. Over the years, I have learned that if you can identify and harness each other’s strengths, you can achieve success. When you play to your strengths, you set yourself up for a life of happiness, success and prosperity. All too often, people focus on their jobs, rather than the people around them. It’s easy to do.”
What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?
“In my free time, I enjoy playing electric guitar (or should I say guitars, since I have 6 of them) and like to tinker with the many electronic devices that go along with them (like my amplifiers and guitar effects pedals). It’s the sounds that I can make with them in the context of a song, that give me the biggest reward. A wise friend of mine once said, music and software have similarities. As written on paper, music is not alive. It only comes alive when played by a performer and can only be enjoyed as it evolves second by second. It is the same with software. Software is not alive when recorded as a bunch of source code files on disk, but when the software’s instructions are executed by a machine it becomes alive, evolving second by second to express the author’s purpose. I guess it’s no wonder why I have a passion for both software development and music.”
What is a fun fact that many people may not know?
“I was an extra in the movie Major League (along with about 2,000 others) in the old Milwaukee County Stadium. If you watch extra close and have telescopic vision, you might be able to see my wife and I for about 750 milliseconds in one of the scenes. Unfortunately, I was not paid and worse yet, not even credited.”
What three words would you use to describe Symmetrix?
“Small but Mighty. Yes, those are three words. We all have heard the phrase ‘big things come in small packages.’ That is Symmetrix Software. We may be smaller in terms of the number of employees we have, but we are sure BIG when it comes to our skills, experience and knowledge. For more than 30 years, we have been designing and implementing software solutions that have helped our clients across the globe increase their sales, become for efficient and get results. The quote, ‘Mighty things from small beginnings grow,’ truly is the story of our company.”
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Mark Forgette Business and Data Analyst
How long have you worked at Symmetrix?
“9 years this May.”
What has been your favorite project?
“There have been many projects I have worked on that I have found challenging, yet fun. The one that sticks out most, is a project I worked on a few years ago. It involved new software that was only being used in Europe and we were one of the only companies in the US who was working with this software. I knew it had huge potential for growth and I was excited to be a trailblazer and a part of a project of this magnitude.”
Best career lesson you’ve learned.
“If there is one thing I know, we all mistakes along the way, but hopefully learn valuable lessons from them. The one lesson I have learned is to make my world a university. I always want to learn and never want to stop learning. There's something to be learned from everyone, so I take initiative and work to gain some new knowledge every day.”
What is a “fun fact” that people don’t know about you.
“I come from a family of twins. I have a twin brother and also have twin sisters…..now that’s double the fun and double the trouble.”
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
“It would have to be teleportation. I could have breakfast in Spain, lunch in Australia and dinner in Paris (3 of my favorite places in the world) and still make it back to Milwaukee for a concert that night.”
What is your personal mantra?
“I actually have two. Ferris Bueller said, “Don’t take life too seriously,” which I definitely try not to. I also like to live by the mantra “When you can’t find the sunshine, be the sunshine.” I know that I have the power to create my own happiness with a positive mindset and help others see the good in themselves and in their life.”
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Matt Kuenzi Senior Manager, Software Solutions
What do you like most about working at Symmetrix?
“I learn something new almost every day. Our clients deal with some pretty technical disciplines, and we have to constantly learn enough in order to develop a solution for them that simplifies these complexities. Even working with our internal systems, there is always something to be learned. As far as the company goes, I challenge you to find a more flexible and accommodating management team. Work-Life balance is excellent here.”
Best career lesson you’ve learned.
“Never be afraid to ask for help or admit your weaknesses. There are times, more often in my past, where I tried to put everything on my shoulders to the detriment of my project and myself. Looking back, I could have utilized my professional relationships to get advice or assistance at times. Trusting the expertise of my coworkers and leaning on their expertise has helped us exceed our client’s expectations.”
If not Symmetrix, then what?
“A Brewer (just not a “Milwaukee Brewer”). One of my biggest hobbies is homebrewing. I have entertained a semi-retirement plan down the road that would involve opening a nano-brewery. I have many years before I cross that bridge, but in the meantime, I will keep brewing until it isn't fun.”
Favorite place to vacation.
“That’s a tough one! I have many favorites for different reasons, but I guess if I had to pick an overall, it would be San Diego. From the ocean to the desert, there is so much to see and do. The almost perfect weather allows me to get out and be active. Oh, it is also one of the meccas of craft beer with over 100 breweries.”
List 3 words that describe your personality.
Social, Patient, Laid-back