New Faces of Bamboo: Introducing John Payne

Editor’s note: Longtime readers may recall our “New Faces” series, in which we would introduce our new hires to Bamboo Nation. Shamefully, my count, there are nearly 20 “new” faces at Bamboo since the series last appeared (in the spring of 2011!). In other words, we’re long overdue to make some introductions, so let’s not delay any longer, and continue making up for lost time… 

When did you join the Bamboo Solutions team, and what is your role?

I joined Bamboo Solutions in July of 2012. I am a Support Engineer and work with our customers to solve any issues they may have with our products.

What are your personal goals regarding your position for the remainder of 2013? 

I am really focusing on SharePoint 2013 and all the changes to the UI so that I can help our customers more effectively. I also am working on SQL Server Manager experience.

What’s your professional background?

This is actually my first SharePoint job, hired midway out of school, as Bamboo recognized my ability to learn, and to apply what I’ve learned to meet our customers’ needs, very well.

What prompted you to join the Bamboo team?

I really liked the very relaxed environment and atmosphere of Bamboo. I think that sometimes you need a low-stress environment in order to get real work done.

What were some of your first impressions of working at Bamboo?

First impressions were the best! Everyone on the team welcomed me, and I have had very good experiences with the customers ever since I started.

With over 70 products to learn, did/do you feel overwhelmed?  What’s your strategy been for getting up to speed?

We have a system in which every person on the team has their own favorite products, and if we have questions about specific products, we simply refer to the team member who is most knowledgeable about those specific products.

Other than your deep and abiding love of extending SharePoint, what interests or hobbies do you enjoy outside of work?

In my spare time, I do all the usual “geek” stuff. I play guitar and video games, I also do photography, 3-D modeling, and game design.