Senior Analyst
Delano has been promoted to System Specialist, Programming. "I was the development lead for the new bridal registry. When that project was first rolling out, there were a lot of challenges. It was a new technology and the team I was responsible for had minimal web development experience. I had to bring them along and teach them the new technology. It ended up being a very successful implementation."
 | Why did you join Macy's Systems and Technology and why have you stayed? |  |
I had contracted with Macy's Systems and Technology about ten years ago and I remember the retail environment was dynamic and exciting. Knowing that, I decided that I wanted to get back into that fast-paced environment, so I came back to Macy's Systems and Technology as a full-time employee and I have stayed because it keeps me motivated.
| What do you enjoy most about what you do and what are your overall job responsibilities? | |
As a senior analyst, I support our divisional accounting group by maintaining existing applications as well as developing and implementing solutions that will enable them to do their jobs more efficiently. I also mentor our junior people on the team and provide guidance to them. I think the best part of my job is mentoring other employees and watching them develop and implement their solutions.
| What contribution do you make to your division and how does this contribute to the company's overall success? | |
Being one of the few Microsoft Certified Solution Developers (MCSD) in the division, I bring a lot of knowledge related to best practices and patterns. I have a very diverse background and bring that to the table. Being able to balance the different technologies and environments allows me to make decisions on how to implement solutions to make the processes better across the company.
| What has been your most memorable moment since joining the company? | |
I was the development lead for the new bridal registry. When that project was first rolling out, there were a lot of challenges. It was a new technology and my team had minimal web development experience. I had to bring them along and teach them the new technology. It ended up being a very successful implementation. It was a rewarding project and was featured in RIS (Retail Information Systems), a major retail magazine.
| How has the training you've received since joining the company benefited you? | |
Macy's Systems and Technology has an extensive training program that includes both direct and classroom training. I have benefited the most from the training on my own. I am a self-learner. I enjoy the fact that they provide training not just in technical courses, but also in professional development. I have taken leadership courses where I have learned about conflict resolution and team leadership.
| Is community involvement important to you, have you been involved in any projects in your division and was this something you considered when joining the company? | |
I actually haven't done any community involvement with Macy's Systems and Technology, but I do some on my own. I visit soup kitchens around Christmas in my hometown and I have also tutored inner city youth. I think it provides them with another view of the world outside what they see every day. They can see someone who is from their same environment who graduated from school and built a successful career.
| What do you like best about your work environment? | |
This is a very causal environment and we have a true open door policy. I have a positive level of interaction with my managers, directors and even my VPs. One example of this was when I was the development lead on the bridal registry project. We ran into some issues with some of the technology. The users wanted something that we didn't think was the best solution at the time. I was able to talk to my director and my VP and we came up with a compromise. Having their input on the situation and their backing on our decisions made that whole process a lot easier.
| What personal interests/hobbies do you have and how do you balance them with your work? | |
I enjoy running and I actually plan to run my first half-marathon this year. Running is a great stress reliever and it helps me to do my day-to-day tasks a lot more efficiently. I do a lot of the training in the morning before work. I get it in before I start my day so I don't have to worry about it later. It also provides a great deal of energy to get me through the day.
| What advice would you give to a new employee joining the company in a similar position to yours? What helped you establish yourself and move ahead with your career goals? | |
It is important to create opportunities for yourself by keeping pace with what is going on in the industry and trying to correlate that with what can be done at Macy's Systems and Technology. When there are new technologies out there, bring that to Macy's Systems and Technology. As long as you can justify your reasons and decisions, they are really open about allowing you to implement it in our environment. That is what has helped me to succeed. I have kept current on my certifications in MCSD. I really think that has helped me to be a lot better at my job.
| What do you see in the future for Macy's, Inc. and specifically for Macy's Systems and Technology? | |
I see Macy's, Inc. continuing to be a leading player in the retail business and I see Macy's Systems and Technology continuing to advance in technology that will support that effort. The bridal kiosk is a great example. It allows customers to register themselves, so they do not necessarily have to sit down with the bridal consultant. I think some people would prefer to register by themselves. Having these advances in technology there for them helps make their lives easier.
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