After earning a Masters from USF in 2018, I was looking for a place where my machine learning knowledge could be of use. One of the developers from WebstaurantStore presented a session at a community-organized networking event; he encouraged me to apply for a position. Now I'm sitting at the desk next to his.

Here at WebstaurantStore I'm able to put my education to good use, building a world-class enterprise system and helping defend against fraud. On top of all that, I'm learning and growing as I go, building experience and confidence in my abilities. I work alongside other motivated, talented, and friendly developers, making the work day a pleasure. Oh, and my coworkers bring in their dogs. Dogs are good.

Working at WebstaurantStore in the Tampa office has been a fantastic experience. Innovation is one of the key reasons I chose to work here, and I have not been disappointed. We have highly skilled IT professionals working in a team environment where new ideas and technologies are embraced and incorporated into our platforms, and where the company values its employees and treats them well.

I grew up in the area, graduated from the University of South Florida here in Tampa, and have been in the IT industry for a few years now. I've worked for varying types of companies, from small startups to large corporations. WebstaurantStore is incredible because it has a blend of both: the drive of a startup with the stability of a larger company. It's also great to see WebstaurantStore embrace the Tampa community and recruit from all of the local colleges and universities.

I graduated from the University of South Florida in 2003 with a degree in English Literature. I was working in hospitality while obtaining my degree and continued advancing within the industry for another 15 years after graduating. I was interested in WebstaurantStore because I wanted to start a new career with a growth minded company that placed an emphasis on work/life balance. I was hired in 2018 as a Customer Solutions Specialist and six months later I was promoted to a leadership role. I come to work every day excited to be here.

One of the more unique aspects of WebstaurantStore is that everyone here has the opportunity to be the catalyst for change. It is really motivating to work for a company that encourages everyone to voice their ideas, that promotes autonomy, and that has nurtured the culture within the offices. My teammates are more than just coworkers; they have become family.