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FastSpring’s Employee Spotlight is a Q&A series that features the hardworking, intelligent, and fun people that make FastSpring great. Get to know the fantastic team behind the ecommerce platform!

In this post, we’re featuring our Senior Manager of Customer Experience, Jay Offringa Hall!

What is your current role at FastSpring?

I am currently the Senior Manager of Customer Experience.

How long have you been in your current role?

I’ve been in my current role for two years now, but I’ve been with FastSpring for four years.

Has it been challenging to perform your role during this remote work time due to COVID-19?

Thankfully, we are empowered with the right technology at FastSpring, so not much has changed since COVID began. My only issue was that I didn’t have enough bandwidth to join Zoom calls because I live in a fairly remote area, but FastSpring was also able to assist me with purchasing a network booster so I could use my cell phone to join Zoom meetings, and now I’m all set!

What did you do before FastSpring/How did you get to where you are today?

Before I came to FastSpring, I worked for Citrix/GoToMeeting as their Marketing Conversion Manager. My core responsibility was to make sure the conversion rates (for all five products) were consistent with finance’s forecast and expertly resolve issues and communicate solutions to improve the overall conversion rate.

What inspired you to join FastSpring?

I wanted to provide my years of experience in Marketing, Sales, and Product to a renowned company in the digital ecommerce world. On top of that, the opportunity to learn more, take on more responsibilities, and grow in my professional skills was also a significant factor in my decision. When I met the team, we clicked right away, and I knew I had found my new workplace home!

What made you want to join our Customer Success team?

I transitioned from the Marketing team at FastSpring to join our Customer Success team to develop the Customer Onboarding strategy. At that time, FastSpring had a gap in that area of the business, and my background and expertise made me a perfect fit to fill the role. Not only that but the CS Leader, Marina de la Torre, is a great manager and leader. I knew that being under her leadership would help me excel in my professional development.

What does a typical day look like for Jay at FastSpring?

With COVID..not too exciting. I usually wake up early (no alarm…that’s how early), go out and feed my chickens and guineas. After all the animals are fed, I’ll begin work. After work, I am usually busy either tending to the chickens, the horses, my cat, my bees, volunteering for the Beekeeper’s Guild of Santa Barbara, or attending a service or class online with the local synagogue.

What excites you every day about working at FastSpring?

We’re innovative. Every week I learn about something new and innovative that we are putting into place to make the customer experience better. That’s what excites me! FastSpring truly cares about its customers and creating ways to make our product work better for our customers’ business needs. On top of that, teamwork. I feel like we are all on the same team striving to hit the same goal, and when an organization has mastered this like FastSpring has, who wouldn’t get excited to come into work?

Describe a favorite memory of your time at FastSpring.

Hands down, I would have to say it was the Summit we had in January this year. It was wonderful having all of my coworkers from other offices worldwide come into Santa Barbara to learn, have fun, socialize, and eat great food together. It brought us closer, and it always makes me happy to see my coworkers in other offices, face to face.

What are your favorite hobbies and activities outside of work?

My favorite hobbies and activities outside of work include gardening and beekeeping. I’ve always loved plants, and watching a plant grow from a tiny seed into a huge tree is pretty spectacular. And bees, because they are tiny, hard-working, miraculous creatures striving towards the same goal until their last day in the hive.

What is a fun fact most people may not know about you?

I am colorblind and have special sunglasses that I can wear outdoors to improve my color vision. I am also a frequent user of the app “Be My Eyes,” which connects blind and low-vision people with sighted volunteers that will help me with colors around the house!