28 blog posts tagged "Working for Smarty"

In the realm of corporate meetings that should've been an email, Smarty's staff meetings are different from what most would expect. Employees at Smarty frequently name our weekly company-wide meeting as a highlight of their week. Like many companies, our staff meetings consist of company announcements, and updates you'd expect from any SaaS company. What makes our meetings unique is the lively, interactive, fun atmosphere where laughter is the most common sound and hurting cheeks are the most common symptom.

In today's fast-paced tech world, it's essential to gain insights from those who have been in the trenches, building, testing, and creating software that impacts our daily lives. One such individual is Michael Whatcott, a key figure at Smarty. Let's dive into his journey, approach, and the knowledge he's garnered over the years. But that’s just Michael's professional bio. To know who Michael is, we’ve asked for some clarification. Explain it to a 10-year-old: What do you do at Smarty?I work on the tools and systems that make payments, manage subscriptions, and create reports here at Smarty.

Have you ever walked past those upside-down Smarty™ banners at BYU and wondered, "What's going on here? Did someone make a mistake? Is somebody getting fired?"We know it really shook some people up. Smarty™ isn't a company that stays inside the most standard lines when it comes to advertising. From hiring the wrong Tom Cruise for our video ads, to posting ads in magazines with the tagline "don't scan this QR code," we've never really fit the standard mold. And the upside-down banners at Brigham Young University are yet another one of those moments.

It's often said you need two skills to find love: sales and marketing. You need marketing skills to present yourself well and gain the attention of the person you want. Then, you need sales skills to lie like you're the devil himself. But what if you aren't conventionally attractive and (like the sales team at Smarty) aren't willing to lie? To compensate, you'll need to dial up your marketing; we're talkin' data automation, streamlined & integrated data systems, time-saving and cost management, eliminating human error, and workflows like crazy.

Interpersonal skills and how they tie to leadership, teamwork, and business growth is no cakewalk. Yet every business knows that retention of employees is largely contingent upon quality interpersonal skills. That's why so many organizations implement principles and techniques taught by the greats. I'm sure you've heard of Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends & Influence People", Steven R. Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", or maybe even "Dare to Lead" by Dr. Brene Brown.

In the fast-paced world of software development, it's easy to get lost in boring meetings, pointless tasks, and approaching deadlines. But here at Smarty, we avoid the monotony with a blend of innovation, community, and a heaping side of fun. In this blog, we'll explore the things we do to make Smarty more than a workplace and something truly unique. Lunchtime movie script readingImagine you're in the middle of a busy workday, and you hear dialogues from "The Sandlot" or "Super Mario Bros" echoing into the kitchen.

Today, we spotlight Trey Rutter, our Dev/Ops IT Associate. Trey is the wizard behind the scenes, helping to ensure that our hardware and address data solutions work seamlessly to deliver accurate and reliable information. Let's get to know Trey better. What is the most surprising thing you learned about addresses after joining Smarty?I found it surprising how a ZIP Code can tell us so much. It's more than just 5 digits at the end of your address. When you were in elementary school, what did you want to be when you grew up?As a kid, I had dreams of being an archeologist.

October 30, 2023 - PROVO, UTAH - Smarty, a leader in address data intelligence, has been named one of Utah's Top Workplaces for the second consecutive year. Salt Lake Tribune announced a total of 166 Utah businesses that have been recognized. Smarty ranked 17th of the 81 companies with fewer than 125 employees. Nominations are based entirely on employee feedback surveys administered by a third-party service. The anonymous 24-question employee questionnaire measures 15 cultural driving elements like advocacy, alignment, collaboration, and inclusion.

We believe wholeheartedly that all work and no play is a dull way to spend our days. While many companies laser focus on productivity and output, we recognize that regularly infusing enjoyment and community into the workplace is essential for an engaged, thriving team. Smarty's culture strikes a balance between innovation and fun, demonstrating that being serious about work doesn’t preclude being serious about play. This blog provides an insider's perspective into how our organization cultivates an energizing, recreational spirit across the company and why fun is a vital ingredient in our secret recipe for success.

In an era dominated by technology, grasping the language of computers – coding – is increasingly essential. The Hour of Code, a global initiative, aligns with this need by making coding more approachable and broadening participation in computer science. This effort parallels Smarty's dedication to technological innovation, striving to simplify and demystify technology for widespread understanding and engagement. The movementThe Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to simplify code and show that anybody can learn the basics.

At Smarty, John Hickey is one of the go-to guys for communicating the intricacies found within the world of address data. With an impressive background that spans from marketing director to SEO and digital marketing manager, John has a real knack for breaking down the particularities of our products into something everyone can grasp. As busy as John gets here at Smarty, he still finds time for self-improvement, applying principles that help at work and in his personal life. Around the office, he's known for his hard work, out-of-this-world bagels, and a quick sense of humor that makes even the most mundane tasks a bit more fun.

Meet Dirk, Smarty's very own Swiss Army knife, with a smile. Officially, our Operations Engineer Team Lead, he's our go-to guru for IT, building management, APIs, and more. He’s also known around the office for running the movie script reading group (A group of Smarty workers who spend their lunch reading through well-known and classic movie scripts. ). Picture him as the superhero of systems, ensuring everything runs like a well-oiled machine, providing that smooth, worry-free experience for us here and our customers at Smarty.

Throughout my many years of leading tech companies, I’ve immersed myself in the varying shifts in technology’s job market. However, the 2024 tech hiring market presents significant challenges for both companies and candidates, stemming from the rapid evolution of the industry, a shortage of skilled talent, workforce preferences for remote work options, increased competition, and a growing emphasis on cultural fit and soft skills. To navigate these challenges successfully, finding strategic approaches for employers is crucial.

Richard Oliver’s presence at Smarty improves the beauty of our grounds and the spirits of everyone he meets. His life, marked by a series of unique and enriching experiences, shapes his profound impact on our culture. Richard holding his younger brotherRichard was immersed in environments that fostered his curiosity and resilience from a young age. He grew up near the site of the Port Chicago explosion during World War II. When he was at a neighbor's house, he heard the explosion and saw the smoke, and the shockwave blew out the windows of his home 30 miles away!His childhood one-bedroom home also served as a backdrop in the Academy Award-winning film "All the Kings Men.

Navigating the depths of corporate cultureIn today's business world, many companies create a surface-level culture within their company structures but stop there, never seeming to invest fully in deepening a healthy culture. Surface-level culture can be visually appealing and immediately gratifying. Imagine, for example, a delicious cake. It’s beautifully decorated but tastes off or is missing an ingredient that spoils the final product. An intentional and deep culture is hard work. It takes time, action, correction, and honest feedback from everyone in the company.

Alright, gather 'round, fellow wizards and witches! It's time to unveil the secrets to mastering the mystical art of professional development at Smarty. Yes, “wizardry” typically refers to wearing cloaks, wielding wands, riding broomsticks, and mixing potions. At Smarty, we think of “wizardry” as being the best at doing what we do. We’re going above and beyond to not only become experts in our field but also stay that way through shifts in technology and culture. However, being the best shouldn’t be an afterthought; at Smarty, it’s not.

Violetta Brin (Violet) is the purple we all needed in our crayon box. Her strong presence (all puns intended since she’s ripped) is an excellent asset in our marketing sphere. Her laugh is genuine, and her kindness is unparalleled. Violet makes everyone else laugh and smile too. An experienced designer, Violet adds the right touch to make our site and its components stand out meaningfully. BackgroundAs a child, Violet wanted to be a spy or a secret agent for the FBI. The appeal of being behind the scenes and pulling off cool things drew her in.

At Smarty®, our company does two main things to maintain a culture of wizardry, fun, and outwardness. First, we have our staff meetings, and second, we have company spotlights. Both events are in-person, where everyone comes together in school-assembly-style seating. We have a small stage with sound and lighting systems to enhance our gatherings. In our staff meetings, we learn about employees, organizational changes, and upcoming events. Our spotlights have become an easy and entertaining way to get to know people from all departments, learn how they contribute to our organization, and learn what makes them unique.

We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it a zillion more times—nobody puts the “care” in Caroline as Ms. Roweton does! Often referred to as the chill vibes chick around the office, Caroline has a calming presence (unless she’s pulling some seriously rad pranks like stealing Randy Buttons in the dark of night and holding him hostage for days). As an Associate Product Manager, Caroline is responsible for researching and defining Smarty’s international products. She also performs competitive research, communicates with customers, gathers and prioritizes feature requests from them, supports sales through custom deals and pricing, and is pretty much just a superhero.

Lacey said it best herself: "I keep our clients happy. "One of our star Customer Success Managers, Lacey, brings her bubbly and friendly smile to work daily, ready to brighten the smile of every person she comes in contact with. So, it was a pleasure for me to sit down with her, get to know her a little better, and find out more about how she impacts those around her. BackgroundLacey didn't always want to be a customer success rep. But she DID always want to make people happy. When we asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, she said:"A pop star.

This is part 1 of a 2 part series. You can read part 2 here. This edition of our blog comes from a special guest writer, Anne Arnold, daughter of Smarty’s own Wes Arnold. Anne will soon graduate high school and as part of her career exploration, she had the opportunity to sit down with the women on Smarty’s software development team. They each shared how they discovered their love for coding, what it’s like to be the only woman in class, and how they’re helping spread the opportunities for prospective women in code like Anne.

October 6, 2022 - PROVO, UTAH Smarty, a leader in location data intelligence, was named in the 2022 UV50 as one of the Fastest-Growing Companies in Utah Valley. Smarty ranked 22 on the annual list by BusinessQ Magazine with a 3-year growth rate of 142 percent. Organizations like FedEx, NASA, Microsoft, DHL, and businesses of all sizes rely on Smarty’s address verification, autocomplete, geocoding, and enrichment for over 240 countries & territories. In 2022, Smarty surpassed 2 trillion total addresses processed and 2.

October 30, 2022 - PROVO, UTAH - Smarty, a leader in location data intelligence, has been named in the Salt Lake Tribune as a top workplace for 2022. A total of 155 businesses were recognized. Smarty ranked 17th of the 76 companies with fewer than 150 employees. The list is based entirely on employee feedback surveys administered by a third-party service. The anonymous survey measures 15 cultural driving elements like alignment, execution, and connection. In contrast to the record-breaking volume of resignations in the tech industry, Smarty’s year-over-year employee retention remains above 93%.

At Smarty, we pride ourselves on our unique company culture, built on three core values: outwardness, wizardry, and fun. What does that mean? We're doing our best to build a company culture in a way that makes folks want to come to work. Smarty's missionCreate great productsAt Smarty, we specialize in location data intelligence, working with global address and location data in validation, autocomplete, and geocoding areas. Our services include:International & US Address Validation: Ensuring that addresses are correctly typed and mailable prevents delayed or returned packages.

We have the luxury at Smarty of working with some fantastically intelligent, kind, friendly, and in many cases, funny individuals. Today we showcase one of those fantastic individuals, Ryan Cox. Ryan has a history of high-quality performance while problem-solving and team-building at large software companies along Silicon Slopes. You want experience? Ryan has experience. We're talking 61 years collectively in Java, Javascript, Typescript, SQL, Angular, AWS, and loads more. As a key developer at each company he's ever worked at, he's keeping the ball rolling by improving the quality of work we do here at Smarty every day.

Last week, we participated in National Bike to Work Week! Our focus was to encourage physically beneficial commuting methods that get the air running through your hair. We expanded our scope of vehicles beyond bikes to motorcycles, motorscooters, and even walking. It was a transformative experience as we embraced alternative transportation to work. Benefits of active commuting:Active commuting offers numerous advantages for both individuals and the environment. By incorporating physical activity into our daily commute, we reap the benefits of improved fitness levels, increased energy, and reduced stress.

We have the luxury at Smarty of working with some incredibly intelligent, kind, friendly, and in many cases, funny individuals. Today we showcase one of those fantastic individuals, Kiersten Nelthorpe. Kiersten is one of our amazingly talented Software Engineers and is the team lead over our Backend Accounts Engineering team. Her accomplishments include building Microsoft API services for enterprise software, developing features for supply chain tools for Vivint, and building backend reporting APIs for Imagine Learning.

We have the luxury at Smarty of working with some incredibly intelligent, kind, friendly, and in many cases, funny individuals. Today we showcase one of those fantastic individuals, Adam Charlton. Adam came to us with a fantastic amount of technical knowledge. Not only has he worked as a developer performing UI, database management, and security projects for companies such as Qualtrics, but he also comes to us with a robust data analytics background. These experiences have given Adam the technical skills and abilities to code in Go, Java, Javascript, SQL, Python, and C++ and expertise in data visualization, including R and Tableau.