Recently, we've interviewed one of our top developers and designers, Neill Harmer, to let you get to know him better. He's been with Element Fusion since May of 2008, and is a jack-of-all-trades around the office. He began with Element Fusion as an HTML Xpress manager/developer and now works full-time on development and design. His expertise is coding, with a flair for CSS. His only known weakness is a genetic abnormality that causes Flash content to make him break out in hives.

Me: How did you get started as a designer / developer?

Neill: Rewind back to 1999, when I started messing with coding while working for AOL as a technical support representative. Basically the job got so easy that I was able to answer customer questions while learning and cutting code. My sites were basic and not well designed (picture animated GIFs and far far too many ugly colors), but I was doing the code myself, by hand, in Notepad. When I found out a good buddy of mine was working for this up-and-coming web design company, I hounded him and hounded him to get me a job there. Finally my day came, and they asked for some examples of sites I had done. Although I had no nice professional sites, they were highly impressed I had been doing all my code by hand and I got the job. At that company, I tried many many many different things; coding, designing, programming, project management, search engine submissions, etc. You name it, I tried it. My strong suit was coding, but I had some rudimentary design skills. I decided to go to school and get some graphic arts training that would help me out there, which it has.

I will always consider myself a coder first, because nothing feels better to me than having my nose in code, figuring out all the nuances, and getting all the browsers--yes, even the crappy ones--to work right.

Me: What are your responsibilities as designer for Element Fusion?

Neill: I write in a weird language and make things pretty. At least that's how my four-year-old understands it, but that description works for everyone I think.

Me: What do you love most about being a designer for Element Fusion?

Neill: First and foremost I get to work with some of the best designers. I am continually amazed with the things some of these guys can pull off with code and design, and I feel that being around them elevates my own skills as a developer. I also love the environment here; it's easy going and comfortable.

In adding to the enjoyment of Element Fusion, they also let me ride my bike to work, and when I need to unwind I can go kick someone's butt in Street Fighter IV in the break room (I say "kick butt," but I have the worst recorded butt-kicking to date. Thank you Justin Cowan).

Neill: Simplicity. I love clean, simple lines; not a ton of colors or textures. Some would describe it as minimalistic, but all my designs are thought out and planned with a nigh-scientific approach.

Me: What do you see as upcoming technologies or issues that web designers will have to tackle in the next few years?

Neill: Anyone in web right now is really looking forward to the full implementation of CSS3 and HTML5. Aside from those I mostly look forward to the death and burial of Internet Explorer 6.

Me: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to grow their skill in or pursue a career in web design?

Neill: Learn to code and code well, including cross-browser compatibility. I see tons and tons of designers out there that have great design skills in print that try to make it in web, but have no clue how to code (or even a working understanding of coding). I also know a couple people out there that make a living off of those designers by being able to code a site up for them. If you can design and code your own work, I think you become a much more powerful, well-rounded developer and can move yourself up way easier. Aside from that just keep up with reading tons of blogs and web development sites and know what the trends are.

Today, we’re going to get to know Travis Lovins. Travis began work at Element Fusion in February of 2008 and currently serves as a Senior Internet Consultant. Travis works directly with Element Fusion’s clients to deliver custom website design and marketing services that meet each client’s needs. Here’s a bit of my interview with Travis.

Me: How did you get started in your sales career?

Travis: When I was in college, I worked at a golf course part-time during the school year and full-time during the summers. The job required me to constantly interact with people and I really enjoyed that aspect. I realized then that I needed to find a career that allowed me to meet new people and not sit behind a desk all day. I studied marketing and sales was a big focus in that curriculum.  After graduation, I worked a short stint for AT&T and realized it wasn't for me. Then I found Element Fusion and here we are.

Me: What do you love most about being an Element Fusion Internet Consultant?

Travis: I get to meet people from all over.  A  lot of people think Element Fusion is simply focused on the Oklahoma City market, which is not true.  We actually have clients in all 50 states over 30 countries.  Every person I talk to has their own unique personality and unique ideas.  I love it.  I really enjoy getting to know so many different people and sharing ideas with them.

Me: What makes you unique in the way you go about meeting a customer’s needs?

Travis: I am not afraid to go the extra mile to make sure the client gets exactly what they need.  I don't feel like this is a characteristic that only I posses, but something exhibited by the entire Element Fusion team.  Every person on this team has worked extra hours to make sure that we uncover every potential roadblock or opportunity that may be encountered during a process. We make it our goal to provide the best service for the client and if Element Fusion is not the best fit, we'll do what we can to find the right resources for them.

Me: Can you share with us one of your best “sales tips?”

Travis: Be honest and practice proper business ethics.  I don't care what industry you are in, this should be your #1 personal requirement.  Many people can see right through a lie.  I don't feel that this should only apply in a person's work setting, but in their day-to-day life as well.  If you choose not to be honest and practice good ethics, it will catch up with you.

Me: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to grow their skill in or pursue a career in sales and Internet consulting?

Travis: It really helps to have a background in marketing or some sales experience.  A lot of people do not realize that when you develop a website for a client, that site needs to be tailored towards their target audience.  You need to be able to study the market trends that the client faces and get a good feel for how their "ideal prospect" will react to and engage the website.  I believe when you truly understand their target market and goals, you have a much greater chance of delivering a product that will meet their needs.

Today, we're going to get to know Vivian Hoang. Vivian has worked at Element Fusion for more than two years as an Internet Marketing Specialist. She is responsible for creating and implementing Internet marketing programs that help Element Fusion's clients get real results online. Her expertise in SEO, PPC and other Internet marketing strategies bring great value to the clients she serves.

I asked Vivian a few questions to help us get to know more about her. Here is a bit of my interview with her.

Me: How did you get started in the field of Internet marketing?

Vivian: In college I was involved in several student organizations and I learned to create and optimize websites for these groups and for other personal projects. My major in communication studies also helped give me a background in marketing. I became more involved in Internet marketing after joining the Element Fusion team, where I continue to help businesses with their search optimization and marketing goals.

Me: Can you tell us a little about what you do in Internet marketing and how it helps businesses?

Vivian: As an Internet Marketing specialist, I work with businesses to help increase exposure and visibility to their company’s products or services through search engine optimization, advertising, and other resources. By leveraging the Internet and creating effective marketing strategies, businesses can establish themselves in their niche online, and become more visible to their visitors and new customers.

Me: What do you love most about being an Internet Marketing Specialist for Element Fusion?

Vivian: I love working with a fun team and great clients. I love being able to work with a diverse range of businesses to help them achieve their Internet marketing goals and increase the reach of their target audience.

Me: What is your favorite search engine and why?

Vivian: My favorite search engine is Google, not only because it is the largest in the search world, but also because they provide their users with the most relevant information without all the noise and spam that you find in other search engines.

Me: Would you recommend Internet marketing as a career choice? What advice do you have for someone who may want to pursue a career in Internet marketing?

Vivian: Internet Marketing is a fun and fast-growing field, and it’s a great career choice for anyone who loves being challenged and learning new things. Since search algorithms are constantly changing, it's important to stay on top of industry news and trends, and translate that into profitable strategies for clients.

Today, we're going to get to know Natalie Gregg. Natalie has worked as a project manager here at Element Fusion since August of 2007. Every day, she is on the front lines of communication with Element Fusion's services clients. If you are an Element Fusion services client, you have likely worked with Natalie before. 

I asked Natalie a few questions and she was kind enough to respond. Here's a look at my interview with her.

Me: How did you get started in your project management career?

Natalie: My career in project management started at an Internet Service Provider when all that was offered was dial-up service and the Internet was just gaining popularity. I became the Lead Project Manager with a staff of four project managers working for me. I discovered that I had an ability to coordinate and lead people, and it became not only a career decision for me, but a passion as well.

Me: What do you love most about being an Element Fusion project manager?

Natalie: I get to meet so many amazing people. I love to drive down the street and see businesses and say, "Hey, I was the project manager for their website." I feel like I played a role in not only Element Fusion's success, but also the successes of those companies for whom we have created amazing websites.

Me: What makes you unique in the way you go about meeting a customer's needs?

Natalie: I believe there are two crucial objectives in client interactions and project management. The most important is to effectively communicate, and the second most important is to consider each client and his or her project as unique and to figure out how they work best. Each client is so different. It is important that you cater to each client's needs individually.

Me: Are you a super-organized person in your personal life, or do you use up all of your organizational energy at the office and let it all go at home?

Natalie: I would consider myself to be fairly organized in my home life as well as my business life. I am picky about certain things with my home, but at the same time, having children, you have to learn how to let the small things go and to have a balance between organization and spending time with the people who matter the most to you.

Me: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to grow their skill in or pursue a career in project management, especially in the web industry?

Natalie: COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION! I cannot stress that enough. If you look over any situation that has resulted in some negativity, the cause is always the same. Somewhere along the line, there was a breakdown in communication. Communication is a key fundamental in project management, but I also feel it carries over to all aspects of business and life in general. There are many facets of project management — milestones, budgets, organization ... etc. — but effective communication will always lead to a successful project.