Alumni Spotlight - Dan Cromer, Cohort 2004
1. Tell us about yourself and your background (where you’re from, education, where you’ve worked, etc).
When I was growing up, I figured out how to modify the family computer's boot script, so that every time my parents turned it on they had to agree to the following prompt:
> WILL YOU BUY DAN A NEW NINJA TURTLES ACTION FIGURE? (Y/N)
My plan never worked per-se, but my parents did encourage me to pursue programming. I joined the Raikes School (then JD Edwards Honors Program) in 2004, and graduated in 2009 with a degree in Computer Engineering. I was involved in 5 Design Studio projects, and interned at First National Bank, Agile Sports (now Hudl), and Microsoft (twice).
I've lived in Seattle for 8 years now working as a Software Engineer.
2. What are some highlights or key take-aways from your experience as a student in the Raikes School/JDE?
My key takeaway is: Seattle is full of engineers from the best schools in the country. My education was just as good for the technical stuff. Where I stand out is that I can run a meeting, I can figure out what to build (not just how to build it), and I can give a presentation that will knock your socks off.
3. What have you been up to since graduating from Nebraska and the Raikes School/JDE?
I got married 3 years ago. We have a condo and a dog. Life is good!
4. You are currently a software engineer at Infogroup, tell us about the company and your role.
I'm a Software Engineer on the Data Axle (data-axle.com). It's a real-time data compilation and distribution platform. We license data directly to customers or distribute it to other teams within Infogroup that use it to sell analytics or marketing services. Infogroup is actually headquartered in Nebraska, but my remote team of 9 is based in Seattle.
5. You recently visited the Raikes School to talk with current faculty, staff, and students. Tell us about that experience.
That was fun! Honestly, I did not expect that many students to be excited about business data.
It was great to reconnect with some old professors. I'm impressed with how much the program has changed and grown.
6. Have you had any other experiences with Raikes School alumni or current students since graduation? If so, tell us about those experiences.
I can think of a couple highlights:
- I spent a week rock climbing with John Morehead when he was living in a campsite at Smith Rock State Park in Oregon.
- I worked for David Pierce when I was at Startup Weekend. Now, in our new jobs at different companies, his team is a customer of mine! It's a small world.
There are enough Raikes School alumni living out here now that I'm always bumping into someone when I'm out and about.
7. If you could give one piece of advice to current Raikes School students, what would you say?
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