EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Drew Schapow
KOFAX DEVELOPER
Meet Drew – a key cog on FastTrack’s Development Team for just about 2.5 years now! Drew’s typical workday involves supporting FastTrack’s Claims Administrative Services (CAS) team on Kofax related needs and enhancements. He has many cool talents and hobbies, such as a percussionist, board game designer, and medieval reenactor (🤴). One could say that Drew is a man of many talents!
What is your current position with FastTrack? How long have you been in it?
I’ve been working as a Kofax Developer at FastTrack for just under 2 and a half years.
What is your typical workweek like?
When I’m not in meetings all day, I have a pretty flexible schedule. I start every morning by making a list of tasks I want to get done that day. I then touch base with my co-workers and the Development team leads from 9-10am and follow up with work on my Kofax development tasks until 6. My daily tasks often fluctuate based on the needs of our customers, both internal and external.
Do you work with any specific customers?
I like to say that the FastTrack Claims Administrative Services (CAS) team is the Kofax development team’s primary customer. Most of the work that we do is directly in support of the Admins. In general though, I work on all external customers that are handled by the CAS department.
Describe your career path at FastTrack?
I’ve actually had a pretty unique career track at FastTrack. I started out in 2016 as a CAS Admin. After a year and a half or so, I became the first QA Specialist & Trainer for the department, a role that I developed together with the management team. During that time, I worked closely with the contractors we initially hired to set up our Kofax project. In 2019, I was brought on to the development team to work as a dedicated Kofax Developer.
How has FastTrack helped your personal and professional development?
FastTrack was actually my first opportunity to work in a professional office environment, and as a result I’ve really been able to grow here. Everything that I’ve learned has been from the ground up, including my current experience as a software developer. I think my time here has made me pretty well-rounded, and I’m always looking forward to the next challenge.
What is something you love about working at FastTrack?
The people you work with everyday will make or break your work experience, and I can confidently say that my coworkers have always felt like a family to me at FastTrack. We support each other in our day-to-day as well as our long term goals. I’ve been able to grow as a professional because of the experiences I’ve had working alongside them.
Do you have any accomplishments within the organization you’re particularly proud of?
I could talk about the CAS Procedural Manual that I wrote or the numerous Kofax feature enhancements I have worked on or assisted with, but I think the thing I am most proud of is my continued push for inter-departmental communication. I’m more in touch with the whole of the company than I ever could have imagined on my first day over 5 years ago, and I make it my goal every day to continue bridging that gap.
What is your favorite book, TV show, movie, or podcast?
My favorite film is La Vita è Bella. It’s a beautiful, sad story about a man who goes to any length to protect his son from the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp during the Holocaust. This movie reminds me to never stop doing what I can for the people around me and it makes me cry every time.
Do you have any pets?
I don’t at home, but my parents have a beagle shepherd named Brooklyn whom I adore. If we’ve met in person in the last year and a half, I’ve probably shown you a picture of her that I have on my watch.
Do you have any hobbies or special interests?
I’m an avid gamer. From Dungeons & Dragons to Nintendo classics to Magic the Gathering and more. My hobbies are how I connect with people, so if you’re up for game I am always ready to throw down.
What type of activities are you mostly likely to be up to on the weekends?
See the last question about my hobbies! I also tend to spend most of my weekends with my girlfriend or visiting family. The time I have with my loved ones has only grown more and more important to me as I’ve grown older.
What is your favorite vacation destination? What’s one you haven’t visited yet but would like to in the future?
My girlfriend and I tend to prefer little weekend trips to different places as opposed to particular vacation spots. If I had to pick, I’d probably just say “the beach”. That said, I’d love to go to Japan someday just to experience the food and culture firsthand. I am a big fan of katsudon.
What’s the first thing you would do if you won the lottery?
Invest in a beach house for my parents, without a second thought.
What is your favorite 21st century innovation?
The things you can do with a 3D printer continue to blow my mind.
What’s something you loved doing as a kid? Do you still do it now?
I used to play make believe with fantasy war gaming figures a LOT when I was a child. Now I run D&D sessions on the regular for my friends and that’s a 100% win in my book. You’re never too old to flex your imagination.
Who is one of your personal heroes?
My father, always and forever. He never stops making connections and always does what he thinks is right.
What is your motto for life?
Learn at least one new thing every single day.
What are your top most overused words/phrases?
“That’s the spice!”
“No sweat. Consider it done.”
“We definitely need more document samples.”
If there was a movie about your life made, who would you want the narrator to be?
It’s got to be Sir Patrick Stewart! What can I say? I’m a Picard guy.
Connect with Drew on LinkedIn
