Meet Justin Berger – Cloud Software Team

At Punch Through, we encourage everyone to proudly be themselves and want you to know the people behind the work that we’re so proud of. That’s why we launched our “Meet the Team” series, where we introduce you to one of our team members each month. 

Meet Justin Berger, cloud software architect, who’s responsible for designing systems and architecture that enable connected devices to work through the cloud. When not at work, you’ll often find Justin gaming – not just on the PC, however. He’s also a video game and tabletop game enthusiast. Challenge accepted, Justin. 

What were you doing before working at Punch Through?

Before joining the team at Punch Through, I was working for a small startup in the consumer electronics industry. The company had developed a light bulb camera, which worked as both a light and a security camera. Being a startup, I was naturally involved in a bit of everything with the project, so it was a great learning experience for me. But my main focus was cloud infrastructure and a little of the firmware. My time there was a lot of fun. 

What is your favorite thing about Punch Through culture?

My favorite aspect of Punch Through culture is how they take care of their people. No matter where you’re located in the country, you always feel like you’re part of the team. Even living in Washington and being fully remote, I’m never left out. I have a chance to participate in everything. We work as a collective in managing projects, working with clients, and so on. That’s a testament to how Punch Through sees and treats the people who work for the company. 

Tell me a story about your most memorable moment while working at Punch Through.

It was my birthday, and I got this delivery from the team. It was a cake, and why this was memorable is that the cake was gluten free and from one of my favorite bakeries in the area. Not everyone has dietary restrictions, but they remembered mine and put so much thought and effort into making my birthday special – and getting me something that I could actually enjoy. You don’t find a lot of companies that would do that, especially for someone working halfway across the country.   

What cool or rewarding things do you get to do on a regular basis?

The work itself is pretty cool and rewarding. Working on cloud infrastructure, I get to interact with everything. I get to see the big picture and design solutions for how a device talks to an app or how a device talks to another device. I’m the guy who gets to figure out what it means to put the pieces together and ensure that those pieces can actually communicate with each other on the cloud.

What is the most valuable part of your work to you on a personal level?

On a personal level, what’s been most valuable has been working on projects of a scope that I haven’t had an opportunity to work on before. I’m involved in building the central location where everything comes together. Because of that, I get a chance to work on different projects, on different teams, and with different tools. I’m always learning new things and expanding my knowledge. That’s been very valuable on a personal level. 

What is different about Punch Through versus other places you have worked?

What’s different about Punch Through versus other places that I’ve worked goes back to  something I mentioned earlier about my favorite aspect of Punch Through’s culture: They take care of their people. I don’t feel like I work for a company that’s halfway across the country. I’m very much a part of the team, and they make sure I feel as much. At other companies, as a project ramps down, you can start to feel as if your days are numbered. Not here. They keep me working full-time, and I haven’t had to worry about whether I’ll have a job tomorrow.