Preston Kelly
Software Engineer
Preston lives in Orlando, FL and graduated with a business administration degree from the University of Central Florida a few months before joining Echobind. His passions and hobbies align with his career: He just flat out loves coding … and what it can do for the world. “I turned my hobby into a career. I want to improve the lives of others through code. That's where my head's been for the past couple years. We're really able to connect with others. I love that; to connect with others and improve their lives. And the fact I can do that through code is an important factor of how I can transition from project to project, and how I can find these little pockets of joy in peoples' lives and improve it.”
Least Favorite Emoji
sneezing face
Favorite Holiday Movie
Elf
Who would dress up like Santa in Echobind?
That's Zack, 100%
Most Used App?
Spotify
Food that doesn't get enough credit
Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos
Where would you like the next Echobind Retreat to be?
Miami, for me, would be awesome. I went to React Miami there with some of the team and really enjoyed it.
Projects you loved most in 2023
Working on the Omo project. Preston spent his first six months of 2023 working on Omo before beginning to work on the Tachus brand. “I could really grow my skill set on this one and combine all the knowledge I've learned over the past year and apply it to a real world project. And then I could take what I learned on Omo over to Tachus. That was a, ‘Let's finalize what I learned on Omo.' It was a unique experience and I feel like the last eight months of my life have been learning, learning, learning, and just getting better at all things programming and client interaction.”
Your Personal peak/high of the year
Finishing the Omo application, which he admits he got married to a little bit. “That was the personal high for me. Finally having a day or two away from it, where I could say, 'Wow, we completed what we wanted to accomplish.'”
Advice you'd give January 2023 version of yourself
Take a step back and ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Early in my career, it's easy to say, “Everyone is asking the right questions. I don't need to ask any.” I've learned that no matter what level you are; if something is off, you have to say something. I've gotten a lot better at that.
Favorite work-from-home perk or accessory:
The flexibility. Life is easier to manage while working at Echobind. You're not tied down to a special location for 8 hours. If I need to step away, I can. And then the time commuting. When I first got out of college, it was 40 minutes there, 40 minutes home. It's nice to not have to spend that time driving.