Creating custom ad units involves a series of steps, from ideation to publication. One of the most important steps in the process is testing, which is exactly what Lizzie Spayde-Barnes does every day as a QA Tester in our Seattle office! She works with Software Engineers, Creative Designers, and other Testers to ensure the production of high-quality ads. When she’s not in the office, Lizzie loves to go on hikes and take care of her family garden. Lizzie, it’s time to get you AdColonized!
What exactly does a QA Tester do at AdColony? What’s an average day like for you?
QA Testers wear a lot of hats at AdColony. We test custom-built ad units before they are published, and we also test our internal framework and the tool that the Creative Designers use to build their ads in house, plus any other projects that may need some testing before release. A lot of our testing is manual, but we also incorporate automation into our testing.
My average day consists of testing as well as communicating with Software Engineers, other Testers and the commercial teams (Creative Designers, Account Managers) to get high-quality ads out the door.
Tell us a little about your experiences prior to joining AdColony & how they have prepared you for your role here.
After I finished my Master’s in Spanish Literature, I moved back to Washington and got a job testing video games in Spanish. From there, I realized that I was fascinated by computers, and so I started taking programming classes and studying computer science.
What made AdColony the right fit for you?
The relaxed and collaborative atmosphere: Everyone made me feel at home immediately. That, and my team empowers me to take on new tasks and challenges, so I am always engaged.
How do you keep growing & learning in what you do?
I have been working towards technical certifications (so far I’ve gotten three this year!), and I am also starting to get interested in programming single-board computers (like Raspberry Pi) and making small gadgets. I’ve never really explored the hardware side of things, so I am excited to get started with that.
What are your hobbies or activities that you look forward to doing on the weekends or after work?
I live in Seattle, so I often enjoy events and the atmosphere in the city, but I also have been trying to get out of the city to do hiking and sightseeing — The Pacific Northwest is gorgeous. I haven’t done as much camping this year as I would like, either.
I also share a garden with my family at a local pea patch. Our garden is bigger than my apartment: 1200 square feet! Not only is the food delicious, but it’s rewarding to better understand the process of where food comes from. Plus, it’s nice to have access to fruit and veggie varietals that aren’t generally available at grocery stores.
Which app is keeping you engaged lately? Why?
I generally bounce back and forth between casual mobile games: I like word games and puzzle games mostly. Also, recently I’ve tried to get people at the office to match their selfie to works of art on Google Arts and Culture.
What’s one thing not many people know about you that you’re willing to share?
Living in Seattle, I keep it pretty quiet that I was raised as a Green Bay Packers fan as a kid. I generally root for the home team wherever I currently live, but my grandpa has always been a strong influence on me (and he’s a huge Packers fan), so I’ll always have a soft spot for the Packers.
Do you have a nickname at work? If so, is there a story behind it?
I don’t have a nickname here at AdColony other than Lizzie. Outside of work, a long time ago some friends determined that my name was way too long, and they started calling me Sparnes.
What is your favorite moment you’ve had with the AdColony team so far?
This year, we started having monthly get-togethers at the Seattle office, and I have really enjoyed being able to have a relaxing time with my coworkers where we can leave the work behind for a couple of hours and just enjoy each other’s company. That, and there’s usually delicious food and pub games or board games to play.
About AdColonized
Each AdColonized feature shines a light on a different member of the AdColony team. From favorite apps and hobbies to dislikes and odd secrets, we cover it all! Who do you want to see on the next AdColonized? Tweet it to @AdColony. For the latest AdColony mobile news and updates, follow @AdColony on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or connect on Linkedin.
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