The Maveris Selfie is a means for us to recognize the awesome team members we have and highlight their dedication to our customers and the team. Team members are nominated for a selfie by their team lead, their coworker, or any other team member who would like to showcase who they are and what they bring to the team.
For this selfie, we are happy to introduce James Fitzwater!
Hi James! Can you start with an introduction of yourself and what you do at Maveris?
Hello, My name is James Fitzwater. I’ve been a software developer at Maveris on the PARS team since August 2023. I work in a variety of programming languages and platforms. That’s one thing I like about working here, I get to work on a variety of projects and technologies. Making applications and seeing people use those applications is a big part of why I love my job. Outside of work, my wife and I are into video and board games. No kids, but we have a 2 year old labrador that chews and eats everything in site.
What made you choose or how did you end up in this career field?
After watching Wargames when I was kid, I was fascinated with computers and wanted to learn how to program them and learn how they worked. Which wasn’t super easy in early 1980’s rural West Virginia with the nearest electronics store about an hour away and computers being very expensive at the time. Thank goodness for the Commodore 64, it wasn’t the IMSAI from the movie, but it was a lot of fun.
If you were stuck on a deserted island, what three things would you bring?
- My wife – I wouldn’t want to be without my best friend.
- Nintendo Switch
- Solar panel powered battery bank to charge the Switch.
What was it about Maveris that made you interested in joining the team?
Melissa Sigler, who my wife and I worked with at the Coast Guard, was leaving Maveris and recommended applying for her position. She told me about the culture here and it was very appealing. I’m so glad that I applied and got hired. The people and work environment at Maveris is the best I’ve ever experienced. I hope to retire from here.
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Pizza. There are so many variations. I already eat this meal way too much. But it is so good.
What behavior or personality trait do you most attribute your success to, and why?
I think I have a bit of OCD with testing. I’ll test and re-test things and if I see something not quite working the way it is expected, I’ll dig into it until I figure it out. This slows me down, but I think it helps me create and maintain good software.
What has been the best and worst part of working from home?
I’ve worked from home for around 10 years total now. I much prefer it to commuting. No wear and tear on the vehicle, no fuel cost or extra travel time. Sick days are greatly reduced and I find I get more done. The worst part is probably not hanging out with people, but I’m a fairly skilled introvert, so it isn’t too bad.
A word from one of James’ team members:
James combines professionalism and enthusiasm, he produces exceptional results while keeping the work environment upbeat and enjoyable. His ability to switch software projects at a moment’s notice demonstrates agility and commitment to team success, enabling the VA to pivot quickly to their highest priorities. James has a dedication to continuous learning that drives innovation and standardization, that is helping to share Maveris’s software services.
Want to learn more about what it means to be a Maveris Team Member? Check out some of our other Maveris Insights posts!
Interested in joining the Maveris team? Check out our careers page to see what new opportunities may be waiting for you, and be sure to visit our website and LinkedIn page for more information and updates!