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Greg Hubbard
Title: Senior Web Developer
Company: Coolsavings.com
Has held title for: 3 years
Expertise: VisualBasic, SQL, PowerBuilder, Delphi
DePaul Degree: MS, Information Systems (‘01)
Other Titles: Programmer/Analyst for CNA, TransUnion; Consultant with Ernst & Young
Greg is a team leader on Web application development projects for Coolsavings.com, an e-marketing company that offers targeted advertising and promotional incentives to both brick-and-mortar and online companies seeking to identify, acquire and retain customers.
What were the key experiences that got you into this role?
If you want to be a Web developer, my advice is to get a BS in computer science, not information systems.
I got a Web development job without any Web development experience for one main reason: my computer science background gave me a solid foundation in the principles that make applications work.
I didn’t just learn how to do something, I learned why—the principles that make applications work, and [Coolsavings] knew I had the skills to learn Web development.
How does what you learned at CTI apply to your work now?
Many of my classes were taught by people who have jobs and work experiences in the subjects they’re teaching.
There’s a world of difference between someone who writes books and someone who does the work.
One professor—I won’t “out” him—pointed to a chapter in our textbook and essentially said, “This is the ‘correct’ way to do this. It’s crap. Here’s the way we really do it.”
What advice would you give aspiring senior developers on leadership?
As a leader of Web development teams, you have to make an effort not to think about how you would do something because there is often more than one correct path to the end goal.
You have to adapt the way you think and act to the way your team works. You’ll set some people to work on something, and then they don’t want to see your face, and two weeks later, the work is done.
Other people need you to check in with them every other day.
On continuous learning?
You have to make an effort to diversify and increase your skill set. We’re a Microsoft house [at Coolsavings], but I have a UNIX box and an Apache server at home, just to keep myself sharp.
I just started a Java development program at DePaul this week. I make an effort to read books on whatever I’m not doing at the time.
On communication skills?
I was lucky. I was raised by an English teacher. We would get into less trouble with my mom for setting the couch on fire than for writing poorly or speaking incorrectly. So I had a good foundation.
No matter how bad the economy gets, there will always be work for technologists who have good communication skills and, more importantly, better-than-average technical skills.
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