Get to know six new coworkers through their answers to goofy questions. And keep reading for this month’s special “Fun Facts Throwback” with Carlos Betancourt.
Matt Odille, Senior Software Engineer — Rx Express
Do you have any kids? Any pets? I have a fluffy white Samoyed named Murray (named after the Penguins goaltender).
What makes you a geek (if you consider yourself one)? My web browser, Slack app, desktop wallpaper, terminal app, login message, text editing app, and even my keyboard are all programmed to be color coordinated with the same color scheme (Solarized Light, at the moment). Feel free to stop by my desk to check it out and say hello.
Which is better: board games or video games? I prefer video games. I’m particularly fond of the ingenuity of Nintendo with what they’ve done recently with things like Nintendo Labo (DIY video game kits) and Toy-Con Garage (drag-and-drop development environment for programming whatever you want).
Yason Allie, Assistant Counsel — Corporate/Legal
Are you a Pittsburgh local or did you grow up elsewhere? I grew up in West Virginia but have lived in Pittsburgh for almost 20 years now.
Do you have any kids? Any pets? No kids, but I have a “doghter” – she’s a super spoiled Rottweiler named Lena. She’s a tyrant, but I love her.
What’s in your perfect meal? Soup dumplings, noodles and seafood.
If any musician or band could give you a personal concert, who would it be? Queen (with Freddie).
Peter Wipf, Subject Matter Expert — ITTC
How did you get into the industry? I am one of the usual suspects when people think of Chemistry in Pittsburgh.
Are you a Pittsburgh local or did you grow up elsewhere? I’ve lived in Pittsburgh for almost half of my life but grew up in Switzerland.
Do you have any kids? Any pets? Yes/lots of stuffed animals.
What’s your favorite quote from a movie or TV series? They say if you travel far enough, you will eventually meet yourself.
Where in the universe would you like to visit someday? Alpha Centauri.
What makes you a geek (if you consider yourself one)? I am synthetic organic chemist.
Free space: Share any fun fact! I can fire a rocket launcher.
Ann Piccirillo, Sr. Research Associate — TTMS
Do you have any kids? Any pets? I have two dogs named Sidney (the pug) and Sadie (the pug mix). They like to wear sweaters and are experienced mountain climbers, as you can see!
Where in the universe would you like to visit someday? I’m still waiting for my letter of acceptance into Hogwarts, so I would have to say I’d love to visit the overall Harry Potter universe.
What makes you a geek (if you consider yourself one)? I’m a scientist! I proudly identify as a geek.
If any musician or band could give you a personal concert, who would it be? Definitely The Beatles.
Bryan Mack, Engineering Manager
Are you a Pittsburgh local or did you grow up elsewhere? I’ve lived in western PA for most of my life. I grew up an hour east of the city in Derry Township and attended the University of Pittsburgh. After a few years in the D.C. area and Hartford, my wife and I found our way back to the area.
Do you have any kids? Any pets? No pets at the moment, but my two sons (Josh and Sammy) would love for us to get a dog soon so that I could take part in Doggie Days.
What’s your favorite quote from a movie or TV series? “You’re killing me, Smalls!” — The Sandlot.
Do you have an unusual talent or hobby? When I lived in Connecticut, I was a member of the local curling club. Despite my best efforts, I was not able to turn it into a career or become an Olympian.
Adrian Lee, ITTC/Translational Science, Senior Advisor
Are you a Pittsburgh local or did you grow up elsewhere? I grew up south of London, England. I have four brothers (one of which is my twin) who all live within 20 miles of my Mom.
Do you have any kids? Any pets? My wife is from Germany, and our two daughters (both went to Pitt) were born in San Antonio. They are fluent in English, German, and Texan.
What’s your favorite quote from a movie or TV series? Favorite movie quote: “No, I am your father” — Darth Vader (often misquoted as Luke, I am your father).
Where in the universe would you like to visit someday? I would like to visit the seven wonders of the world — have seen five depending upon the list you look at.
What makes you a geek (if you consider yourself one)? In my sphere of medicine and cancer cell biology I am considered a computer geek for using a supercomputer.
Throwback Fun Facts!
Carlos Betancourt (Professor Chaos and Space Janitor) — Subject matter expert & hcOS orchestration group
How did you get into the industry? In the spring 1990, I was a Mechanical Engineering student. I hated my work-study job and a friend told me about his position becoming available as he was moving to a research position. He told me they would give me work experience programming and I would have access to computers better than in the Old Engineering hall computer lab. Two years later, I realized that as an engineer I was a better systems programmer; changed my major to computer science and never looked back.
How long have you been working at UPMCE? More than six years, with a total of 22 years working for UPMC and seven years doing Radiology research.
What’s changed the most since you started here? Where I sit. People have to use eco location to find me.
Thinking about your work, what is the funniest thing you used to use tech-wise that you don’t use anymore? Q-Tips. Early in my career there were issues with the lubricant for early disk drives (20 MB drives). Because platter housing was exposed it would dry up. We used Q-Tips to spin the drives manually in order get a chance to salvage the data in the drives.
As technology has evolved throughout the years, what stands out to you the most? Better access to data (speed and searchability).
What’s your favorite part about working here? Since its inception, UPMCE (originally TDC) became the place to work on the next challenging problems. There is always a new problem to solve/work-on.
Do you have an unusual talent or hobby? When young I was into technical drawing and spent too much money on mechanical pens and drafting paper. I wanted to work in the aerospace industry (like many kids of my generation). In a high school standardized career test, I placed 98% nationwide in spatial awareness and acuity.
Share any fun fact: During the high school and college (Mechanical Engineering part) years I was into paper and balsa wood gliders. I have a paper airplane design based on Lifting body configuration. In high school we used to throw them from 15 floor apartment balcony and watch the air current take it away. Lucky for me and my friend, nobody ever got hurt. 😛
