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Life at Perficient

Carl Thress Learns On the Job and Continues to Thrive

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At Perficient, we treasure talent, embrace effort, and reward results. We are a company full of diverse and immensely capable colleagues, and supporting the professional development of every Perficient colleague is critical to our success.

Carl Thress is a perfect example of our Growth for Everyone mindset. He didn’t start his career as a developer, but has learned everything he knows about Salesforce on the job at Perficient through training and mentoring, and is working to add more Salesforce certifications to his name.

Carl Thress, Senior Technical Consultant

What is your role? Describe a typical day in the life.

I’m one of two lead technical consultants on a manufacturing client’s digital marketing collaboration team for Perficient. My typical day consists of troubleshooting issues, building new functionality, and coordinating with others on the team as needed (answering questions, providing a second set of eyes, etc.). This project is a large one – with lots of moving parts – so close communication and teamwork is essential.

How does your role support Perficient? How are you making an impact? What impact do you hope to make?

As a Senior Technical Consultant, my role supports Perficient through direct collaboration with customers and through supporting others on the team as situations arise. The work I do is a direct reflection on Perficient. If I or my team let the client down, that can negatively impact future projects. In contrast, when I or my team go above and beyond for the client, that can lead directly to future billable work and a stronger relationship between Perficient and the client.

What are your proudest accomplishments, personally and professionally? Any milestone moments at Perficient?

My proudest accomplishments professionally are the solutions I’m able to provide that make life easier for the client. As developers, we often focus first on code-based solutions. While code often plays a key role in solving immediate issues, Salesforce encourages us to look for ways that encourage “clicks, not code” – meaning ways that we can enhance their product through configuration rather than relying on code that needs to be updated and maintained. The best solutions are those that combine code (where necessary) with underlying configurable elements that drive that code and make it more flexible/reusable. Things like custom metadata and flows. Coming up with these types of solutions is what drives me every day.

On a personal level, I’m most proud of being a father to my two sons. One’s an adult now, and the other is in middle school. They’re both remarkable young men, and I’m in awe every day of how blessed I am to have them.

What has your experience at Perficient taught you? What is something you’ve learned that you want to share/what advice would you give to others?

I came to Perficient with no experience in Salesforce. My prior work had been in web development. Perficient has taught me that anyone who puts their mind to it can be successful at this job. It also reminded me that I’m more than what I do for a living and that I have value as a person and as a contributing member of my team. I feel so much more appreciated now than I ever felt before, and I encourage anyone considering a move to Perficient to go for it. You won’t regret it.

Why did you choose Perficient? What keeps you here?

I was nervous about applying at Perficient. I was between jobs, and one of my former colleagues suggested I give it a try. As I stated, I had no experience with Salesforce, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’m so glad I took that chance. What keeps me here is the people I work with every day and the work we do. The people at Perficient are remarkable. Everyone has each other’s back, and the encouragement I receive daily motivates me to keep growing and keep passing that along to the other members of my team.

Why are you #ProudlyPerficient?

I am #ProudlyPerficient because I see the people around me living the company’s core values, not just paying them lip service. Coworkers truly care about each other, and I know my manager and those above me always have my back. I strive to do the same.

What motivates you in your daily work?

Problem solving is a strong motivator for me. Uncovering a bug, solutioning a piece of new functionality, and just digging in and getting the job done. These are the things that keep me going.

How have you grown in your career with Perficient?

I started with Perficient as a Technical Consultant with no experience working in Salesforce. In the 2+ years since then, I’ve earned five Salesforce certifications, three Scrum certifications, and a promotion to Senior Technical Consultant. I’m currently working on a sixth Salesforce certification and am continuing to advance my career. In hindsight, I wish I had started here sooner, but I can’t dwell on that. I’m glad I’m here now, and look forward to being here for as long as I can.

What are you passionate about outside of work?

Outside of work, I love spending time with my family. I also love doing puzzles (puzzle games and jigsaw puzzles), writing, coding, and playing Fortnite with my wife and younger son.

What’s something surprising people might not know about you or your background?

I started my career as a writer and got into software engineering/development later.

What goals do you have for personal and professional development?

Professionally, I’d like to become a technical architect and continue to improve my Salesforce skills. Personally, I’d like to see my kids find careers that make them happy and fulfilled and to grow old with my wife.

Perficient believes in a strong work/life balance. What is one way you accomplish this?

I make an effort to separate work time from family time. This has been especially challenging with working from home during the pandemic, but I think I’m doing a pretty good job of it.


SEE MORE PEOPLE OF PERFICIENT

It’s no secret our success is because of our people. No matter the technology or time zone, our colleagues are committed to delivering innovative, end-to-end digital solutions for the world’s biggest brands, and we bring a collaborative spirit to every interaction. We’re always seeking the best and brightest to work with us. Join our team and experience a culture that challenges, champions, and celebrates our people.

Visit our Careers page to see career opportunities and more!

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Thoughts on “Carl Thress Learns On the Job and Continues to Thrive”

  1. Very happy to know about the Carl Thress. I am glad to have work with him as a team member. He is very much supportive to his co-workers. Learned many thing about the development from him and looking forward to learn many more.

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Caitlin Koenig

Caitlin is the Marketing Manager for Perficient's Emerging Solutions portfolio and Salesforce. She lives in St. Louis and is a proud St. Louis Blues fan.

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