Welcome to Week 4 of "Saturday Spotlight with Layer 2 Computers"!
This Saturday we're shining the spotlight on Devyn, the newest member of the Layer 2 Computers team. He brings fresh insights and a contagious excitement for learning! Enjoy getting to know a little more about Devyn!
What is your role & how long have you been with Layer 2 Computers?
I am a Technology Specialist and CLO (Chief Lunch Officer) at Layer 2 Computers and have been here for just about a year.
What inspired you to pursue a career in tech support?
My Dad is an IT guy and in high school I taught myself coding to have something to talk to him about and just fell down a rabbit hole of IT! Even outside of work I’m working on computers and other forms of technology!
Any memorable moments or experiences from your career that you'd like to share?
I have quite a few memories from my time at Layer 2 but I’d have to say my favorite has to be the Level incident of 2023. We where installing a server rack at a client and had borrowed a bubble level from them to mount the rack to the wall and after we had everything finished, we found out that the level we had borrowed was broken so the Rack was rotated ever so slightly to the left. The look of shear astonishment on David’s face when we realized it wasn’t level was hilarious! The look of silent Rage on Brad’s was less hilarious. He left for Scotland like a day later. Coincidence?
How do you stay up-to-date with the constant advancements in the tech field?
As I said before, even outside of work, I’m doing IT stuff. It’s not uncommon for my lovely wife to wake up in the middle of the night to find me with my face buried in my phone 20 pages into an article on the hottest new thing in the world of Micro Processors.
Do you have any favorite tools or software that you use at work?
We use a variety of software and tools, to name just a few would be a disservice to the amazing teams who developed them. I will say that I have an IT go bag that is the crux of my ability to help folks out. It holds my 4 most used items which are my LTT Screwdriver, Laptop, Thumb drives and Electrical tape.
Tell us about life outside of work
My Wife and I live near Kettering with our 3 Cats and our 3 Snakes. The cats are Thor, Loki and Erris. The snakes are Mr. Noodle, Bear and Ramsey.
What are some of your hobbies or interests?
I am a huge Dungeons and Dragons Player! I am usually the DM (Dungeon Master). I love Drawing and poetry to most recently trying to learn calligraphy with fountain pens (thanks Brad). Keeping reptiles is great fun for me, though getting bit is never fun! I love to build things out of recycled materials and any chance I get to learn about something new I jump at!
What's your favorite travel destination or dream vacation spot?
Travel is very hard for me. I’m a military brat so growing up I lived all over. I was born in England and moved to the US when I was 4. After that we went all over so if I had to pick a travel spot I’d have to say back to England. I miss good tea and could destroy some proper English chips just drenched in Vinegar, preferably wrapped in paper but id settle for a plate. Also, I would buy a case of Cadbury Flake, we can’t get it easily here in the U.S and that is a travesty.
Are there any books, movies, or TV shows you're currently enjoying or recommend?
For books I must recommend the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, The Knights Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer and 20,000 Leagues under the sea by Jules Verne. For films I would have to recommend Return of the Jedi, The count of Montecristo and The Gentlemen. For TV I recommend Doctor Who, Peaky Blinders and The Magicians. I found this prompt the hardest to answer, I have 30 Books, Films and TV shows in my top 5 for each.
Anything else you'd like to share? A fun fact, favorite quote, or a simple message?
“The Unwise man is awake all-night worries over and over again. When morning rises, he is restless still, his burden as before.”
-The Havamal
