Team Member Spotlight: Adam Morrison—Dungeon-Master of Data and DIY-Dad

WhatConverts isn't just a product—it's a team. And without that team, we know we'd be nowhere.

That's why each month, we recognize one team member who's gone above and beyond in their role, and we share a little bit about who they are and what makes them so integral to WhatConverts. (They also get a bit of free swag from our merch store!)

This month, our spotlight employee is Adam Morrison, Senior Back End Engineer.

Tell us a little about your career path.

How did you first get into the SaaS or tech industry, or what led you to WhatConverts?

I knew I wanted to be a programmer since I was in the 5th grade. Before home computers were very common, my parents bought an Atari 520SE and I started writing programs in BASIC. They were terrible and didn’t do much, but in the 6th grade, I made it to the state-level science fair in the computer science category.

 

In high school, I wrote and sold a program to several of the local school districts. It helped them quickly complete some of their most tedious paperwork. I was able to buy my first car when I sold the program to the Denver Public Schools.

 

In college I began writing web-based scripts in PERL, which was the precursor to PHP. After graduation, I was hired as the university webmaster and worked on a team to rebuild the entire website. I was able to write scripts to gather and display dynamic content for some important areas of the site. Some of those scripts are still in use 20 years later.

 

I’ve worked for a few different companies, but my longest stretch (so far) was with an advertising department for a nation-wide publisher. I had to not only make sure the ads looked and moved correctly, but also had to write custom code so they would track correctly across multiple display networks.

What do you enjoy most about your role at WhatConverts?

Is there something unique about working on our team that you find exciting?

I like the level of challenges I get to face here. We work with a lot of data, and we have high expectations of performance. Those two things are in direct opposition to each other, so we have to get creative. And we have the freedom to try out different ideas.

What’s one project or achievement at WhatConverts that you’re particularly proud of?

This could be a specific individual contribution, a customer success story, or a team accomplishment.

I think what I’m most proud of is the Call Flows system, which is also one of the first projects I was assigned when I started here. I had never worked with any call providers before, so I had to learn about the XML communication that goes back and forth between servers to control a phone call. Then I had to find a way to organize the tasks in a modular way so they could come in any order. There have definitely been some additions and adjustments to it, but the basic structure of the code has proven to work well and is the same today as it was when I set it up.

How do you like to unwind after a busy day in the world of SaaS?

Tell us what you like to do, and how you maintain work-life balance.

I have three teenage kids at home, so “unwind” isn’t really the right word. It seems like we’re always going somewhere for a baseball tournament, a volleyball game, or a basketball game. All three of my kids are better at sports than I ever was. But when I do get to stay home, I’m usually working on some home improvement project like finishing the basement or working in the yard.

What’s a fun fact about you that your colleagues might not know?

It can be anything—from an interesting fact, to a hidden talent, to quirky hobbies.

I like to travel and see new places. I’ve been to 49 states and a few Canadian provinces. One day I hope to visit Hawaii, and then tour Europe.

If you could instantly learn one skill (personal or professional), what would it be?

Perhaps you want to code like a pro, master the art of PPC, or pick up a non-work-related hobby?

I would be a pilot. I’ve always been fascinated by aviation, but never had the time or money to take lessons or get a license.

What’s something you’re currently obsessed with?

This can be work-related (like a tool or trend) or something personal (foods, pets, places, TV shows - anything!).

My D&D group is thinking about switching to the new DaggerHeart ruleset, but it hasn’t been around long enough to develop the specific subclasses for my character. I’m trying to find out more about what has been developed and what I can and can’t transfer over. If anyone has any experience with that, we should talk some time.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, professionally or personally?

How has this advice helped shape your life or your career?

“Sometimes the only reason to do the right thing is because it is the right thing.”

 

There’s always a corner that can be cut to get there faster, make another dollar, or be at the front of the line. Those innocent-looking little shortcuts often wind up costing more than we could have guessed.

You’re given the chance to win $5 million, but you have to beat 100 people at a single task. You can choose the task—what would it be and why do you think you’d win?

(This is a great opportunity to highlight a unique skill, or stead-fast know-how!)

Programming an Arduino microcontroller to flash a message in Morse Code.

Want to Join the Team?

Want to grow your skills and level up your career with an award-winning product and dynamic remote team? We're always looking to work with exceptional individuals and expand the WhatConverts Team. Learn more about open positions and our culture below.

WhatConverts Current Openings & Company Culture