To kick off 2025, AnaVation is excited to share an AnaVator Spotlight featuring Wesley, a Lead Software Engineer, who has been with us for over three years. Wesley’s time has been marked by meaningful work and his commitment to leading with intention. In this spotlight, Wesley shares insights into his journey at AnaVation.
Since joining AnaVation in 2021, Wesley has focused on both technical and interpersonal growth. He has earned two certifications—Sec+ and Cloud+—to better support his work on various contracts. However, his most significant growth has been in navigating the complexities of leadership and teamwork. “I’ve been challenged to work through difficult circumstances with unclear requirements and navigate multi-contractor teams,” Wesley explains. “This has helped me find my voice, become a thought leader, and shepherd teams toward delivering positive momentum despite obstacles.”
AnaVation has equipped Wesley with the tools he needs to excel. “AnaVation set me up with a nice set of hardware back in 2021 that’s still serving me well,” Wesley says. His setup includes a high-performance laptop, monitor, and hub. In addition, AnaVation has provided essential software to support evolving customer needs. Wesley highlights Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator as tools that have recently enabled him to take on design work.
For Wesley, the most rewarding part of his job is leading a team and shaping the direction of the applications they develop. He enjoys collaborating on both the look and functionality of projects, ensuring that the end product meets customer needs and reflects the team’s collective efforts. Further, Wesley is inspired by AnaVation’s mission and leadership. “I believe that AnaVation is pushing to do meaningful work to help our customers while the industry we’re in is often inclined towards improving the bottom line. If we were to serve the bottom line first, we’d serve the customer and ourselves poorly. But AnaVation is pushing to serve our customers well, which causes the bottom line and our sense of satisfaction to follow an upward trajectory” he says.
Wesley admires AnaVation’s efforts to foster a sense of camaraderie. “We’re all contractors working on-site or remotely, but AnaVation is working hard to create spaces and relationships to counter our industry’s tendency to be isolated,” he explains. The company’s culture of support has also been vital to Wesley’s success. He credits his program managers for being approachable and empathetic. “I’ve been supported greatly by having program managers who are willing to actively listen and be a coach—or a therapist on some days” he adds. Wesley looks up to Gerry G as a mentor, he says, “I’ve appreciated his wisdom and experience on how to navigate the terrain on previous projects we’ve worked on together.”
In his free time, Wesley enjoys gardening hot peppers, hunting, and tackling home improvement projects. “As an engineer, I’m attracted to figuring out how things work—mostly through YouTube these days—and attempting to get the job done on my own,” he shares. His hidden talents include speaking some Spanish and folding an impressively tight burrito, often paired with his homemade salsa verde. Wesley values family time with his wife and two boys. On less taxing days, you’ll find him cooking dinner with his wife or playing in the yard with his kids. After a more challenging day, he enjoys unwinding with a session of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on his Nintendo Switch. Though Wesley admits he didn’t grow up with much of an appreciation for traditions, his wife has been working to create a culture of tradition in their family which is slowly warming him up to the idea.
Wesley’s journey at AnaVation highlights what makes our company unique—our commitment to growth, teamwork, and purpose-driven work. From leading his team through complex challenges to cultivating balance outside the office, Wesley embodies the AnaVation spirit. As he puts it, “AnaVation is pushing to serve our customers well, which causes the bottom line and our sense of satisfaction to follow an upward trajectory.” Wesley’s contributions remind us that when we focus on doing the right work the right way, everyone succeeds.