New Hires: July Edition

There are more new faces at DNSFilter. And since we’ve raised our Series A, we plan on adding more employees through the end of the year. Our team is growing, and the projects we’re working on are unique and exciting to the cybersecurity industry. It’s an exciting time to be at DNSFilter, and if you want to be part of it, we are hiring!

So who are the latest hires at DNSFilter? Meet them here.

Alexander Kuchinsky, Senior Backend Developer

Tell me about yourself:

After receiving a masters in Computer Science and Info Tech, I worked in the Ukraine for about 5 years and then in Israel for 11 years in various IT positions.

I moved to Canada—close to 6 years now—and worked for 2 different companies on this “side of the pond” before joining DNSfilter.

I live with my wife and a son (16 years) and two adopted dogs, and we're into travelling and sport activities.

Why did you apply to DNSFilter?

For a few reasons:

1. I liked the people during the interview process. Everyone was warm and had a respectful approach.
2. It's a startup so there isn't too much politics, unlike some of the bigger companies I've worked for.
3. Flexible. I enjoy having flexibility in my schedule and I'm glad I have autonomy over my work.
4. I have more of an opportunity to choose technology that I use in my work, rather than it being dictated. I can learn new tech, specifically related to DNS and security.

‍What has been going really well so far?

Everything! People, collaboration, there are no concerns. I like this silent approach to dev work. There are not too many meetings and you can focus on current work. Everyone is trusted to get their part done.

What are you looking forward to the most?

The fact that I will be able to “own” this product. I can add new features, code new things, not just support tickets per se. My voice and my ideas are heard.

What advice would you give candidates?

Get ready to learn a lot. DNSFilter has a pretty large product with multiple modules. Spend time understanding the product as a whole and you'll thrive. Also, take the time to read Slab (wiki) articles. It will help understand the culture and relationship between people.

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Laura Durfee, Director, Talent Acquisition

Tell me about yourself:

For the past 11 years I have been helping tech companies scale their recruiting efforts during phases of rapid growth. I've been fortunate to go through the IPO process and have been part of several mergers and acquisitions. I've always been drawn to the chaos of rapidly changing environments and I have a passion for finding the perfect job for the right person! Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, which consists of my husband and our two boys. We call Boise, Idaho home and most of the time we can be found outside exploring the Treasure Valley. In my spare time (which is rare with two kids under the age of 3) I do Pilates and Yoga and obsessively watch cooking shows. 

Why did you apply to DNSFilter?

I didn't apply—I was introduced to DNSFilter through someone in my network. That person thought the company would be a great fit because everything the company does is really authentic and thought it'd be a good culture fit. As I met Ken and Jen I realized  good people running the company. I am also a big cybersecurity nerd, so it was just a good fit. I also really want to help the company grow. It's something I've done before—taking the company from 50 to  500 people—and I think I can bring that here. 

And I think one of the things that really drew me in is the authenticity of DNSFilter vs. San Francisco startup scene. The west coast startups use a lot of buzz words and are big on new trends. East coast startups get shit done.

What has been going really well so far?

So far, everything has exceeded my expectations. Great people, great product,. And the growth trajectory is everything a recruiting leader would want. A lot of companies right now are talking about DE&I, but not living it. We have employees all over the world, with different life experiences, different cultures and different ideas. It's awesome to see that a diverse environment is built into our DNA.

What are you looking forward to the most?

Really excited to be on this wild ride with everyone. Excited to be at a high growth startup. I can't wait to see where all these amazing people that we're hiring take the company.

What advice would you give candidates?

Buckle up. It's going to be a wild ride.

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Fikayo Adepoju, Technical Writer

Tell me about yourself:

I'm a programmer that is interested in sharing knowledge more than programming. I love doing stuff for the web. Web tech, and tech in general is my passion. I went from a full time developer to content creator and I absolutely love it.

Personally, I was born and raised in Nigeria, and am from 1 of 3 main ethnic groups here. I've been married for about 3 years now. I'm also really close to my two brothers.‍

Why did you apply to DNSFilter?

I really like the startup culture. The community, the dynamics of it, they're open to trying new things and there is so much room for growth. I am going to be a part of that growth!

What has been going really well so far?

My team is great. Jillian is great, Serena is awesome, Mike is always there. Even cross team when I interface with developers like Heron, everyone has been awesome and giving me what I need to get the job done. I've also been working on the change log project - giving it a new face. It's high-impact and I get to see my ideas being rolled out. It's great to see that change happening right in front of me.

What are you looking forward to the most?

I'm really looking forward to creating the how-to guide series for the blog and getting blog topics from the team. It's going to be an exciting project and having someone to talk to about content data flow is great! I'm also looking forward to growing in content marketing—making it easier for customers to find information and flow through documentation in a way that makes sense.

What advice would you give candidates?

Be calm! You're going to get hit with a lot of things at once, countless tools, new accounts, different meetings, etc. Just remember you have help. Ask your boss what priorities are, what to focus on first, get clarity on your work and then move forward one task at a time.

Dianne Ferrari, Senior Event Manager

Tell me about yourself:

I'm an event professional.  I've been doing it for a long time and really, that's my jam. That's what I do. I enjoy handling many things at once and strive for seamless execution of all my projects.

Personally - I'm a wine enthusiast. You can find me rolling around vineyards doing wine tastings.

Why did you apply to DNSFilter?

Two reasons.  Cybersecurity—I have a long history of working in the cybersecurity space, planning events from RSA to Blackhat, so when this opportunity knocked I came running. Also, it's very exciting working for a startup. It's a time of growth, which comes with its own challenges but also a very fun and exciting time!

What has been going really well so far?

Planning out our next team retreat. I've identified and leveraged professional help and have been working with an agency that has all the contacts in Cabo. But really, hearing first hand how excited the team is to get together for some much-needed facetime is really energizing. I think everyone is going to have a great time and I'm looking forward to meeting people in person.

What are you looking forward to the most?

I'm looking forward to everyone experiencing a 20X20 booth at Blackhat. We've been small-time before, and now we're putting on our big boy pants. Really, we're levelling up our event game and it's going to be great!

What advice would you give candidates?

You're going to get bombarded with apps. My advice would be to select the apps carefully, before you load yourself up and get app overload. Take them one at a time and go at a steady pace.

Anything else to add?

I've liked everyone I've had to meet and interact with so far. I've really enjoyed collaborating with others. Jillian is a rockstar 😄