Employee Spotlight- Georgi Ikonomov

Question 1: What's your favorite part about your role?

I love that I am involved in a project that directly helps a US government healthcare agency's modernized approach of gathering and analyzing outbreak data from various agencies. This effort?could predict future outbreaks and save countless lives!

Question 2: What's the best piece of advice you have been given in your career??

While rather unusual and short: "Speed Kills!" Even in IT - doing something too fast because it's a routine or simple could have great implications if mistakes are made. Slow down and double check your work before hitting that commit button!?

Question 3: If you could give advice to your 16-year-old self what would it be??

The best years in life are ahead of you! Don't let anyone tell you high school is the best time in life. Being a teenager is practice and preparation for becoming a successful adult. The harder you work and struggle now, the better your future will be!

Question 4: Name one thing most people don’t know about you.?

I went to 5 different schools during the 4 years of high school. First half of grade 9 I was in a Japanese public school in Sapporo, Japan then one in Tokyo for the second half. For Grade 10, I moved to an international?school in Tokyo, and for Grade 11 I moved to Kingtson, PA to attend a private boarding school by myself. Once my family moved to Los Angeles, I moved back in with them and attended a public school in Los Angeles for part of grade 11 and all of grade 12 until graduation. I moved to the Washington DC area for college where I have remained for 20+ years.

Question 5: Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path??

Computers became my hobby when my dad brought home an old computer when I was 8 and taught me how to run games on it. Back then you had to insert floppy and type commands to play, so that was motivation for me to start learning. I did not have any gaming consoles, so this was the only way I could play games. Eventually the hobby became a job, then a career that I love!?