Meet Todd Kersey, Senior Software Developer. Todd is a wizard at Python programing, and outside of work, he’s a hobbyist glassblower. He’s quick to lend a hand on any project, as well as being quick with a great idea or solution. Working as a developer for 15+ years, he’s had loads of experience with everything from websites to complex software for small businesses and Fortune 500 companies across a broad range of industries.
Q & A with Todd Kersey
Q: What is your role at RocketBuild, and what does it entail?
A: I am a Senior Software Developer. I build applications for clients and hopefully bring a bit of knowledge to share amongst the team.
Q: What three words might people use to describe you?
Dedicated, Hardworking, Quick Learner
Q: What got you into your career?
A: I have always had an interest in computers and would spent time with my father in rooms full of mainframes. In college, I really started to get into programming and became more interested in pursuing it as a career.
Q: Describe your educational experience?
A: I started college going to Ivy Tech where I took my first programming class in MS-DOS. Then, I transferred to IUPUI where I received a degree from IU in Media Art and Science on a track specializing in building web applications. During my time at IUPUI, I also received a degree in applied Computer Science from Purdue.
Q: Describe your professional experience?
A: My professional career has been a journey. I have worked as a developer for over 15 years developing products mostly using languages like PHP, Python, Javascript, CSS, and HTML. The type of projects vary from small business websites to large scale, searchable databases. I have worked on projects with many for-profit companies, such as Eli Lilly, Five-Star Technologies, and Salesforce. In addition, I have also worked with many non-profits like IU Health, NACCHO, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and others.
Q: What is your current favorite coding language or framework?
A: I enjoy working with Python.
Q: What’s your favorite type of project or client to work with?
A: My favorite type of project are the ones where I have an opportunity to learn something new. Whether it is doing something for the first time or using new tooling to develop a project, any chance to build my skillset is exciting.
Q: What are you super passionate about?
A: I am passionate about fixing things. Whether it is doing something mechanical like fixing a car or finding a solution to a bug in code, I enjoy the process of solving a problem that exists.
Q: What do you do for fun?
A: Mostly, I hang out with my wife and dog. We enjoy going for walks, watching TV, and they watch me cook.
Q: If you had to stay up all night for a hackathon, what drinks and snacks would you need to keep you going?
A: If I had to stay up all night, I would need a truck load of coffee and some pizza.
Q: Favorite local lunch spot?
A: Workingman’s Friend is always a good choice for lunch.
Q: Favorite band or artist?
A: I don’t have a favorite band, but I grew up in the 90s. So, I like a variety of music from classic rock to old school hiphop to heavy metal.
Q: Favorite place you’ve ever visited?
A: Hawaii – Big Island
Q: A fun fact about yourself:
A: I am a hobbyist glassblower.
Q: A random fun fact?
1) There are over 700 programming languages. Studies show that 84% of users prefer Python as their primary language and 16% prefer Python as their secondary language. An interesting fact is that half of all Python users also use Javascript.
2) Wombats poop in cubes.
