Welcome to the seventh installment of our employee spotlight! We’d like to take a minute and introduce you to Ryan Neldner, Senior Front End Developer here at Wpromote.
Hometown: Manhattan Beach, CA
Nickname: N/A ☹
Years at Wpromote: 9
Q: What is your biggest accomplishment at Wpromote?
A: I think our latest iteration of the company website was a huge accomplishment for everyone that worked on it. I am also proud of our customizable contract system and my work with our new reporting application.
Q: What is your biggest challenge at Wpromote?
A: Maintaining old applications can be a real pain. When working in web development, you are constantly refining your craft, writing cleaner, more efficient code, and using new technology. When I have to make a change to something I built over a year ago, well, sometimes it’s not too pretty.
Q: What is your favorite Wpromote event?
A: This is a tough one…Wpromote knows how to throw a good party. Our trips to Medieval Times and Oktoberfest stand out in my mind, though I don’t remember too many of the details. 😉
Q: What is your favorite Wpromote memory?
A: I’ll never forget the quarterly dinners we used to throw when the company was only around 20 employees. It has been such a unique and special experience being a part of the Wpro scene way back in the day. I was so lucky to land a job here just out of college.
Q: Who is your favorite coworker and why?
A: Whoever is in charge of my paycheck. You’re the best!
Q: What is your favorite work perk?
A: Shout out to our in-office masseuse, Dawn!
Q: What was your starting position?
A: I originally worked in our Affiliate Marketing department (RIP) building keyword campaigns. As time passed, the company had a growing need for in-house web development, which paired well with the fact that I was a CS major.
Q: What is your spirit animal and why?
A: 
Q: Do you have a morning mantra/routine? What is it?
A: Before work I go for a stroll around El Segundo with my dog Kitt and sometimes, if I get up early enough, have time for a quick surf session. Once I get to work, I make my bowl of oatmeal, grab a cup of coffee and start planning what to tackle for the day.
Q: What’s your favorite book?
A: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.
Q: What’s your go-to LA activity?
A: Live music! The Fonda is one of my favorite venues.
Q: What’s your perfect Sunday-Funday?
A: Any combination of the following…
- Morning surf followed by a trip to El Tarasco “El T” on Rosecrans.
- Hiking with Kitt.
- Curled up on the couch with a new video game.
- Binge watching the latest Netflix show.
- Hanging out with friends playing board games.
- Afternoon at the beach playing volleyball.
Q: If you could trade jobs with someone at Wpromote, who would you choose and why?
A: It’s hard to imagine myself doing anything else, but I would have to say working in the creative department seems like it would be a lot of fun.
Q: How did you first learn about Wpromote?
A: In college, I worked a summer job as a waiter in downtown Hermosa Beach at a restaurant called Hibachi. The owner of the restaurant was the dad of an employee of Wpromote and came to me with the job after I graduated.
Thanks for sharing with us this month Ryan! Check back in February for another Employee Spotlight!