When you work with Iceberg Web Design, you are working with an entire team of website development and design professionals. But just who are these penguins who are hard at work helping you connect with your customers? Today, we are talking with our Code Penguin: Kari Sletten. As Iceberg’s VP of Operations and one of our Developers, and a website designer, she is a penguin who wears many hats.
Kari: VP of Operations | Website Developer | Code Penguin
How long have you been working for Iceberg?
Four years
Have your duties changed since you first started working here?
When I started working at Iceberg, I was a part-time assistant web developer. I had been doing freelance website design work while being home with my small kids. I wasn’t quite sure I was ready to return to full-time work, but I interviewed for a developer position at Iceberg, and we were such a good fit for each other that Jessi and I worked out a great win-win situation. A year later, I was working full-time hours as a developer, and in 2019 I was promoted to the VP of Operations, so now I manage the entire operations department, which includes development, content-writing, and project management.
What do you do for Iceberg Web Design’s customers?
I design mockups, work through the functionality of features, site build-outs, and everyone’s favorite – launch websites!
What’s your favorite part of your job?
I love to solve problems. I really like listening to a customer explain what is unique to their business or a challenge they are having with their business and then thinking of how their online presence can be used to enhance that aspect of their business or solve that pain point. I have created a lot of really cool form solutions for customers in the past.
What is your #1 goal when working with a customer?
To make them love me forever.
In what other industries have you worked?
In my past life, I was the Information Technology Director for a small rural county in Virginia. Having experience in local government, and especially working with all the different departments, has been invaluable in learning to communicate with all different kinds of groups with very different technology needs.
Tell us a bit about your family (including pets):
My husband Jeff is a Physical Therapist, which means that he gets paid to inflict pain on other people. Just kidding. He also loves to solve problems and find out what is the underlying cause of an issue. We have two kids that keep us busy with sports and friends and general chaos and shenanigans.
Do you have any hobbies/special interests?
I wish I had more time for hobbies, but nothing beats watching your kids do something they enjoy! When I find myself with rare free time, I like to be outside working in the yard or taking on an overly ambitious house project.
What is something about you that might surprise Iceberg customers and co-workers?
I’m a pretty open book, so coworkers and customers probably already know way too much about me, but people are always surprised to find out how much of an introvert I am. While I love to talk and laugh, it is incredibly draining for me to interact with people, and if I don’t have any time by myself to just think, you better watch out!
Describe your perfect day:
Sleeping in, drinking coffee, going for a walk, drinking more coffee, eating donuts, laughing a lot, and an evening bonfire.
Science or History? Which is your favorite and why?
My dad was a history teacher. I never cared for it much growing up, but now I am pretty interested in the lessons we can learn from history.
If you were guaranteed the correct answer to one question, what would you ask?
What happens when you die?
What is your best piece of advice? It can be about anything.
Just try. Even if you fail miserably, you should never be ashamed of trying to do something, no matter what it is. You can always improve, apologize if you screw up, or change your mind, but you can never have back the times when you wanted to try something but didn’t take the chance.
Need Web Design or Development, Digital Marketing Solutions?
If you have any digital marketing or website needs, Iceberg Web Design has a solution for you. Kari is likely to be a part of that solution. Contact Iceberg Web Design today to see what we can do for your business today!
