EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Paul Kadzielawa
WEB DEVELOPER
Meet Paul – a valuable asset to FastTrack’s Information Technology Team since 2010. When Paul’s not in front of his computer engineering the next FastTrack Digital Technology Innovation, he very much enjoys tackling “DIY” projects throughout is home and rocking out at concerts with his closest friends.
What is your current position with FastTrack? How long have you been in it?
I have been a Developer since 2010, though I also have experience managing our support ticket system.
What is your typical workweek like?
Most of my time is spent on my development work, but I occasionally investigate questions that come in the form of a support ticket. The investigation usually involves determining why the software behaves the way it does and making a fix.
What has your career path been like at FastTrack?
I started out with the company as a Web Developer. I worked in that position for several years and was exposed to many different technologies. In 2017, I was put in charge of the support ticket system. Late last year, I shifted back to web development work.
How has FastTrack helped your personal and professional development?
I spent the first few years at the company refining my skills as a Developer. In my time with the company, the FastTrack app has undergone many changes.
What is something you love about working at FastTrack?
I really like our company events. It is always nice to meet our remote workers face-to-face when we all meet up.
Do you have any accomplishments within the organization you’re particularly proud of?
I came up with the initial design of the Claimant Note (which is how most documents are added into FastTrack). I also developed the ability for a user to select an entire column of radio buttons with a single click (rather then one-by-one) on several of our online forms.
What is your favorite book, TV show, movie, or podcast?
My favorite books: 1984 and A Clockwork Orange.
My favorite movies: A Clockwork Orange and Full Metal Jacket.
My favorite shows: The Affair and Dexter.
My favorite video games: Mass Effect 1-3, Fallout 3 and 4, The Witcher, and Skyrim.
What type of activities are you mostly likely to be up to on the weekends?
I’ll often spend some time doing some home maintenance. I also like to spend time with friends and seeing live music.
What is your favorite vacation destination? What’s one you haven’t visited yet but would like to in the future?
About three years ago, I went on a trip to Europe. I went to Sweden, Poland, and Norway. Out of those three countries, I had the most fun in Norway and I would love to go back. I have never been to Australia and I would love to visit there someday.
What’s the first thing you would do if you won the lottery?
While I don’t normally play the lottery, I wouldn’t tell anyone and continue my life as it currently is if I ever did win.
What is your favorite 21st century innovation?
My favorite 21st century innovation is the ability to turn a video game console on or off from the controller.
Who is one of your personal heroes?
I would say my dad’s oldest sister. She survived the entirety of the second World War. The stories she told about what occurred at that time were incredible; it is amazing that she lived through all of it. A few years after the war, she got married and ended up having nine children (eight boys and one girl). All of her children worked hard and became successful. Up until the time of her passing, she still worked every day and was in full possession of her mental faculties. She passed away in 2009 at the age of 79.
Have you ever had an encounter with anyone famous?
I once met a boxer named Kendall Holt. I was out shopping one night and he walked right by me. Once I realized who he was, I approached him and said, “Excuse me, are you Kendall Holt?”. After he affirmed who he was, we chatted for a few minutes. To put this into context, a few months earlier, he had a match on Showtime against Ricardo Torres where he was knocked down twice in the first round and came back to knock his opponent out in the very same round! When I brought it up, his response was, “Just because you are down, doesn’t mean you are out.”
What is your motto for life?
What the wise do at the beginning, fools do at the end.
If there was a movie about your life made, who would you want the narrator to be?
Morgan Freeman.
Connect with Paul on LinkedIn
