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Mike Colagrosso
To whom it may concern:
As a student, mentee, and friend of Zachery Converse, it is my pleasure to strongly recommend him. I first met
Zachery years ago at Movement Climbing + Fitness Boulder, and I have worked with him in several capacities, both
formally and socially. I have put my trust in Zachery, and you should too.
For this field, my most relevant experience with him might be when I was a student in a short-term class that he
taught. Like all good classes, it was a mix of lecturing and hands-on instruction. In addition to all the specialized
technical knowledge he brought to the course, he demonstrated several traits that will serve him in his career:
- Preparation: Very thorough. I still have my copy of lecture notes that Zachery prepared and refer to them
regularly.
- Communication: Explained a universe of new ideas and their taxonomy. It takes a level of mastery to be able to
understand students' questions and answer them at the right level.
- Enthusiasm: Bright, friendly. This will be obvious to you once you've known him for 30 seconds. It's immediate
and infectious.
In my job as a Staff Software Engineer at Google, I interview many applicants. Among the qualities I evaluate them on
is "Googliness and Leadership," and Zachery has these qualities in abundance. In his new job, you can expect Zachery
to value these behaviors in addition to all the technical skill he has mastered:
- Community contributions
- Willingness to mentor
- Leaving things better than he found them
With all that plus his Galvanize/Hack Reactor training, he's the full package. He's someone I'd want sitting next to
me.
Sincerely,
Mike Colagrosso
Evan Schwarz
As a member of my team, Zach consistently demonstrated a high degree of initiative and self-direction. Even when faced
with ambiguous project goals, he proactively sought clarification when necessary, ensuring that time and resources were
used efficiently. His ability to work independently while understanding when to collaborate was a valuable asset to our
team.
Zach was also a perceptive observer of our team's workflow. He frequently offered thoughtful suggestions for process
improvements that led to increased productivity and a more positive team environment. His open communication style and
willingness to share insights were highly valued by both colleagues and management.
Megan Kellums
I was Zachery's supervisor for a few years at Movement Climbing + Fitness. Zachery started as a Front Desk Associate
and quickly proved how hardworking, dedicated, and enthusiastic he is. He was promoted to Front Desk Lead and then
Front Desk Director. Zachery is always thinking of ways to improve the systems he works with and shares his ideas
without hesitation. He is open to feedback and asks direct questions. He also has a great laugh and is always looking
to connect with others.
Ethan Parent
Zachery has an unparalleled level of endurance and tenacity that places him in a league of his own. I had the
opportunity to work with Zachery for a few months. Frequently I would see Zachery working late into the night, working
tirelessly to learn new concepts that he would then turn around and teach his team mates how to use. It's not an
exaggeration to say Zachery taught more than a few folks how to configure and deploy proxy servers, even though he had
no obligation to do so. Zachery's exceptional level of hard work and willingness to help others will make him an
invaluable asset on any team that is lucky enough to have him