Say hello to CJ Hillyer, one of the amazing individuals from our Programmatic team! He currently works as our Manager of Technical Solutions and is based in Massachusetts. After work, you can catch him playing golf, listening to sports radio, or planning his wedding. Get to know CJ in his AdColonized feature!
What exactly does a Manager of Technical Solutions do at AdColony? What’s an average day like for you?
There really is no average day for a Technical Solutions manager which is one of my favorite things about my role. While pretty much everything I am doing is centered around the programmatic side of the business, there are a number of different tasks that need attention on a given day. We could be launching new deals for a certain brand or troubleshooting existing deals to ensure we’re maximizing our revenue from the account.
Tell us a little about your experiences prior to joining AdColony & how they have prepared you for your role here.
Prior to AdColony, I worked at a video publisher and at a display ad network. I had a fairly decent understanding of the digital ad space, which was really a great baseline for transitioning to AdColony and the mobile ecosystem. When I was working at Technorati (display ad network), we in fact used Mobile Theory technology/ads to monetize our partners’ mobile websites and that is how I was first introduced to Mobile Theory/AdColony.
What makes AdColony the right fit for you?
Working at AdColony for over 4.5 years has been a great experience in thanks mostly to the people who I’ve been able to work with. The learnings I have gained from those folks has allowed me to shift roles multiple times within the company which is what makes AdColony the right fit for me – The ability to learn new things and explore new paths based on those interests/learnings
AdColony values employee development. How do you keep growing & learning in what you do?
The nature of our business never really lets you sit back on your laurels and feel like you “know it all.” There is constant technology change both within our organization and within the industry at large so if you’re passionate about the work you’re doing it’s nearly impossible always to be learning and growing. On top of that, I spend a lot of time asking questions to the great internal resources that we have. I think I send Ben Holmes, Camila Franklin, and Jesus Suarez each a dozen or so questions per week and they are always giving me great insights and helping me grow.
How do you act as a resource for the rest of your team?
By trying to stay as informed and prepared as possible and to always keep communication as open and flowing as possible.
Is there someone you turn to personally or professionally?
For sure, there have been several throughout my time at AdColony but Ben Holmes has been an amazing ally to me for just about any question I may have. The knowledge he has about our organization and the industry is simply invaluable.
What are your hobbies or activities that you look forward to doing on the weekends or after work?
With spring weather back in New England, I’m very excited for golf season and some Red Sox games.
Which app is keeping you engaged lately? Why?
Twitter
Tell us one or two fun facts about you.
I was recently inducted into my high school athletic Hall of Fame. I survive only on cheese pizza while visiting the New York office.
What is your favorite moment you’ve had with the AdColony team so far?
My entire experience in the SF office was amazing, but one that will always stick with me was the day we went on a team golf outing in Oakland. Nobody challenged the course record but we certainly had some laughs.
What are you listening to lately (music, podcasts, etc.)?
I’ve been listening to the Stuff You Should Know podcast and Boston Sports talk radio.
What are you looking forward to most in the next 5 years?
My fiancée and I were engaged 12/12/18 and are currently planning a wedding and also looking for a house, so that is really our biggest focus for the time being.
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.
