Every month, the employees at Strategic Communications are given the opportunity to acknowledge exemplary colleagues within or outside their department. Three individuals were chosen by their coworkers for their commitment to customer service, perseverance in the face of challenges, and can-do attitudes!
Len Deffinbaugh | Technical Account Manager
• How long have you worked for Strategic Communications?
I’ve worked at Strategic for 6 months.
• What was your background prior to working for Strategic Communications?
I am currently continuing my studies for my master’s in business management at the University of Michigan (as time permits). In my past jobs, I have worked with non-profits, finance, education, medical, government, sports leagues, entertainment, and global companies. As an IT Professional with over 20 years of experience in the IT sector, I’ve got a pretty extensive background.
• What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding or fulfilling?
Helping improve others’ lives through technology has been what I enjoyed about this business. I believe that technology should not be scary or a challenge to users. It is here to help improve our lives and not complicate it.
• What is the best career lesson you’ve learned so far?
Help lift others up while you are climbing. Regardless of where you are in career just remember to help inspire and educate your peers and clients.
• Outside of work, what are you passionate about/enjoy doing?
We are currently planning our next home, so we have been spending some time traveling the Charlotte area looking for land to build. Outside of that spending time with my family, traveling, reading, and writing.
• What is your current favorite TV Show, Podcast, or Book that you’d like to share with the world?
I’m currently reading several books including the Book of Waiting, and Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson. And one of my favorite tv shows is Yellowstone.
• What is something that people may not know about you?
I have been writing a series of children’s stories for a few years now.
Jeff Warren | System Administrator
• How long have you worked for Strategic Communications?
Since July of 2023, so just over half a year.
• What was your background prior to working for Strategic Communications?
Before here I worked in IT for Vitronic Machine Vision, and Commonwealth Bank. Prior to that I was a Technical Writer at Norton Healthcare and GE Appliances.
• What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding or fulfilling?
It is always really satisfying to bring a complicated project across the finish line. It’s also really rewarding to help somebody that’s been struggling with a difficult problem.
• What is the best career lesson you’ve learned so far?
Having a positive and friendly attitude is just as important as having good skills and knowledge.
• Outside of work, what are you passionate about/enjoy doing?
I’m a bit of a homebody so cooking, binge-watching and gaming are my current favorite activities.
• What is your current favorite TV Show, Podcast, or Book that you’d like to share with the world?
Trailer Park Boys. It stays on loop constantly in my home.
Neal Heumann | IT Project Manager
• How long have you worked for Strategic Communications?
I’ve worked at Strategic for about 6 months now.
• What is your favorite project that you’ve worked on at Strategic?
My favorite project so far has been the University of Georgia because the curved video wall we installed was a spectacular sight, and the team exceeded all expectations on schedule and budget.
• What does your dream vacation look like?
My dream vacation includes a tour of medieval castles of Europe. I’m a big history nerd and I’ve always wanted to see what they were like up close and in person, in addition to checking out all the cool museums and artifacts of that era.
• Who is your favorite musical artist, and what was the first concert you attended?
My absolute favorite musical artist is a hard pick, but out of the mélange of choices the one that stands out above the others for me would have to be Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age. The first concert I attended (or at least the first I can remember) was to hear A Perfect Circle.
• How would your family, friends, or coworkers describe you in three words?
Friendly, Sympathetic, and Helpful
• What is your current favorite TV Show, Podcast, or Book?
I’m currently watching Jack Reacher season 2, not only because of the cool action, but also for the humor of watching such a hugely muscled person pretend to be able to run quickly (which I guess is the limit of my suspension of disbelief!)
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