Dataprise Women in Technology: Meet Billie

Marissa: Hi Billie! Can you tell me a little bit about yourself as far as where you’re from, what you wanted to be when you grew up, and what led you to work in the technology field?

Billie: Sure. I grew up in Wisconsin – quite far from the DC area. As a kid, I was really interested in science and wanted to study biology but chose to get my degree in English. From a young age, I was always interested in computers and built my first computer when I was just 14! My first job was a secretary position for a small landscaping company, but once they caught wind that I was good with computers, they wanted me to not only be a secretary, but also maintain some of their IT needs. I started out running the occasional virus scan, setting up printers, and other tasks along those lines. Even though they were simple tasks, they really got me thinking about IT as a career. When I was in college, I worked at Yahoo on their Global Service Desk.

Marissa: What technologies do you work with at Dataprise, and what are you looking to do in the next few years here with us?

Billie: I actually just got a promotion, so I’m moving from Service Desk Coordinator up to Service Desk Engineer on our Product Support team. Right now, I have the opportunity to work with various Windows systems for our clients. From there, we’ll see! There are many paths I can take here.

Marissa: Do you feel like you’re learning a lot of new skills?

Billie: Yes, I really do. There is a huge learning potential here! We work with so many different systems and so many different environments, so you can’t help but to soak it in. It’s not only inspiring, but also makes you want to learn more.

Marissa: Are you looking to pursue any technical certifications?

Billie: Yes, I am. I’m working on my A+ certification now and will be looking into getting Microsoft certifications in the future.  We have such a supportive team here at Dataprise, so my manager is actively working to help me carve out my career within Dataprise.

Marissa: Speaking of your career path at Dataprise, where do you see yourself in a few years? 

Billie: I see myself working on the Global Service Desk for a while longer because of the learning and growth potential. I will not only be able to continue to reinforce what I already know, but also learn more. Beyond that, I haven’t thought much about it, but it’s great to know there’s so much potential here. 

Marissa: What piece of advice would you give to women now who are interested in getting into the IT field?

Billie: Just do it! Anyone can learn Information Technology. It’s not that scary!