Meet Updater: Blue Thomas, Director of Services Engineering
Named after a cowboy from a TV show, left-handed Blue Thomas lives off a diet of coffee and tacos. Find him daydreaming about his glory days of riding around the country on his motorcycle, or otherwise tackling code with the engineering team.
Do you have a moving horror story?
I had a lease not renewed when my landlord decided to kick out half of the building. I had to find a new apartment quickly and move most of my things in the middle of the night with the help of a few friends. I left my futon behind, which motivated me to finally buy a real bed.
What’s your best piece of moving advice?
If you’re going to pack yourself, you can find second hand packing boxes on Craigslist or get free boxes from restaurants and small stores in your neighborhood. They’re destined for the recycling plant or landfill anyway.
How many times have you moved?
I have no idea – I think around 20 times.
You’re about to move. What would you make sure to never do again?
I’ll never pack last minute (I’m probably lying to myself).
What’s your favorite thing about working at Updater?
The team at Updater are amongst the most professional and courteous people I’ve ever met. It was not a hard sell for me to join.
What’s your favorite Updater feature? Why?
The Forward Your Mail feature is such a no brainer.
What’s the best part about working on a small team?
Collaboration, within your team and across functions, works really well with small teams.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a military family and moved around quite often. I spent the bulk of my younger years in Fort Knox, Kentucky, and teenage years in rural Pennsylvania after my father retired from the Army. I was born in Germany, and have also lived in Kansas, Texas, and South Carolina.
What are 2 personal tidbits about you?
I used to be a big gear head before moving to NYC. I’ve bought, built and sold (or junked) several 80’s Mazda RX-7s and VWs. There is still a shell of an ’84 VW GTi in my father’s garage, much to his dismay. I also have an irrational aversion to Jell-O and all foods that jiggle.
It’s the zombie apocalypse. Where do you hide?
On a small, defensible tropical island.
Whom do you admire most as a business leader?
I hate to sound like a fanboy, but Elon Musk.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
“Right Down the Line” by Gerry Rafferty – the best song ever written.
If you could travel to work every day on a vehicle without wheels (think: hovercraft, broom), what would you choose?
A Hobycat! Or a megayacht. Right now I walk so I think I already qualify.
What’s your favorite fast food restaurant?
Do bodega deli sandwiches count as fast food?
What are 4 things you can’t live without?
Oxygen, shelter, food and water?
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An astronaut.
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