The RealtyAds team is full of talented and dynamic members in all departments. These individuals play a crucial role in connecting our product with clients, and we believe it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the team that supports you and your company.
Zach joined RealtyAds in 2022 and now works as a Senior Software Engineer, Technical Lead, where he specializes in data integrations while also maintaining full-stack development responsibilities. With a background in Computer Engineering from the University of Texas, Zach has excelled at accessing, manipulating, and structuring data to deliver scalable solutions. His technical expertise and problem-solving mindset help ensure that the RealtyAds platform continues to evolve to meet the needs of modern CRE, prioritizing client success through cutting-edge ideas and execution.
What initially drew you to RealtyAds, and what made you want to join the team in 2022?
I could tell immediately that I liked the deliberate and highly communicative management style employed at RealtyAds. From the very beginning of the hiring process, I noticed that RealtyAds was not afraid to deviate from standards that don’t work and replace them with ones that do. Furthermore, even an outsider to the world of CRE like myself could tell that RealtyAds has a winning business model. Especially the way we leverage technology to assist with a marketing strategy, rather than attempting to cut anyone out of the equation.
Can you describe your role as a Senior Software Engineer and the type of projects you typically work on?
A lot of my time is spent writing code that accesses external application programming interfaces (API)s. For me, this usually means integrating with our clients’ customer relationship managers (CRM)s or helping to maintain the software that manages our ads on platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook. Like the rest of the team, I wear more than one hat and work on many other projects. These are generally either tools for our clients or our internal team.
What’s one project or accomplishment at RealtyAds that you’re particularly proud of?
Earlier this year, I set out to improve the efficiency of the systems that pull in our clients’ CRM data. My changes resulted in a significant decrease in runtime, preventing collision bugs and enabling quicker turnaround for new integrations.
What’s your favorite part about collaborating with the RealtyAds team?
As I mentioned when discussing the hiring process, I think our company is full of excellent communicators. This helps keep our work streamlined and generally makes spending time at the office more enjoyable.
How would you describe your problem-solving style when tackling a new integration or feature?
I try to take in the problem and consider its implications, then I like to dive in and get my hands dirty. As I write code, I try to continuously refactor as new complexities make themselves known. After I finish, I spend a lot of time trying to “break” what I’ve just written and fixing it when I do.
You’re a fan of classic films—do you have a favorite movie you recommend everyone should watch at least once?
This is tough, but one of my favorites is John Carpenter’s The Thing. The practical effects are awesome, the main character is smart, and the mysteries in the plot still have people arguing over 40 years later.
I love getting breakfast at S&G Restaurant in Lakeview. They have a ton of different options, everything tastes great, and the staff is very friendly.
