Thanks to our great customers, Backblaze continues to grow. We are excited to announce that we have hired a Director of Product Marketing. Let’s spend a few minutes with Andy…
Where are you from? And where are you now?
I was born in Brooklyn New York and grew up on Long Island in Shirley, exit 67 on the Long Island Expressway—way out there. I spent 10 years in the Air Force and moved to California when I got out.
Why did you leave the Air Force?
I was a computer programmer in the Air Force. I nearly tripled my salary when I got out. My first job in California was at a start-up as a Systems Administrator. I’ve loved start-ups ever since.
How did you get into product marketing?
I kept going to college at night and eventually crossed over to the dark side (marketing) when I got my MBA.
Any regrets in crossing over to the dark side?
No. I stay reasonably technical; I’ve built and maintained a couple of web sites and do a little programming on the side. I believe you can’t market technology unless you understand technology, so I try to “keep dirty.”
Why join Backblaze?
I’ve used the online backup service for over a year and it just works. I visit my backed up files every once in a while—they seem happy. Seriously, I have to believe in what I’m marketing. It’s clear from all the customer kudos that Backblaze is really good at what they do.
Where else have you worked?
I’ve worked in companies of all sizes from PeopleSoft and Symantec down to start-ups. All of them have been in the technology industry.
Okay, one last question—you had a fun first car?
My first car was a 1958 Cadillac, Fleetwood sixty-special. I paid $125 for the car and it weighed 6,000 pounds and got eight miles a gallon. We once got 15 people in it, plus three in the trunk, to get into a $5 a car drive-in movie. I still think we could have gotten two more folks in the trunk.
