For this month’s AnaVator Spotlight, we’re featuring Paul, a Senior Lead Test Engineer who has been with AnaVation for 10 incredible years. Joining as one of AnaVation’s earliest employees—number six to be exact—Paul has grown alongside the company, becoming a valued member, especially to his customer site team.
Over the years, Paul has honed his skills in innovative ways, including mastering tools like JIRA and Confluence to manage and track sprints, requirements, business rules, and testing processes. In addition, he has expanded his technical expertise by learning HTML coding and currently managing and updating a Self-Service website that is used by community users. Paul’s professional growth is a testament to his dedication to excellence.
Paul credits his longevity at AnaVation to the company’s strong leadership and supportive culture. “The company has come a long way, and I can honestly say I have never looked back or have any regrets on my decision. The most important thing that has kept me at AnaVation is the leadership and management team. They’ve always been very supportive of everything that I’ve done or have asked for.” he says. Paul praises how leadership treats employees with the utmost respect, honesty, and transparent communication. “Because of AnaVation’s goals and commitments, it has pushed me to be the best that I can be – motivated, dedicated, enthused, and committed to excellence to help achieve overall success,” he emphasizes. Paul’s supervisors do regular updates and monthly check-ins to ensure Paul feels connected and has the resources he needs to succeed. “They are great listeners and will always follow up with any concerns or questions that I might have. They’re always looking to improve and expand my skill sets with education or training,” he adds. Paul values how AnaVation provides a stable work environment, competitive benefits, flexible work-life schedule, and a positive company culture that promotes inclusivity and diversity. AnaVation fosters professional growth through development opportunities and mentoring programs, including internships for college students. Respect and collaboration are core values, creating an environment where opinions are heard, and individuals feel recognized. AnaVation’s flexibility with work schedules is a big plus for when Paul needs to take time off for family or emergencies. Not to mention, the various events and outings that keep employees engaged which he enjoys getting to know other AnaVators and build the camaraderie. Paul appreciates the collective effort in maintaining this exceptional culture.
Paul’s favorite part of his job is the customer, the team, and the partners that he works with. He finds that his team knows exactly what it takes for the project to succeed and strives to achieve a common goal. He appreciates that each member brings their unique skills and is always willing to train others. Components that Paul believes make his team work well together are respect, communication, and collaboration.
Outside of work, Paul loves to bike in his free time. Biking is a hobby he and his wife picked up during the pandemic in 2020. Their goal is to bike at least 2-3 times a week when the weather permits. On weekends he enjoys exploring wineries with his wife or playing tennis with his sons. If it’s a long weekend, his family will do getaways to destinations like California, Boston, or Houston. Paul is equally passionate about family traditions. Every year, the “FamiLe” coordinates a vacation and creates a cherished Christmas portrait used for postcards – an ongoing tradition for over 25 years that Paul would love to carry on with future in-laws and grandkids. Fun fact about Paul – he is a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan. “I bleed blue and silver,” he says, proudly supporting the team for over 40 years. He’s also a whisky enthusiast, exploring and tasting everything from Scotch to Japanese whisky and recently diving into the world of bourbon. As for a hidden talent, Paul admits that he likes singing at Karaoke nights even though he believes he’s “tone-deaf”, his friends tell him overwise.
Paul’s journey is a testament to AnaVation’s mission to nurture talent, foster collaboration, and build a thriving community.
