Meet Anthony: Health Street’s VP of IT
In this month's Employee Spotlight, we introduce Anthony, our VP of IT & Security. Anthony's passion for problem-solving and expertise in software development have significantly impacted our company, especially in creating Health Street's robust web application. Beyond his professional milestones, Anthony is a high-adrenaline enthusiast and a devoted family man.
Learn more about his insights on tech trends and a few surprising facts about him and Health Street!
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Table of Contents
How did you end up getting hired at Health Street?
My buddy used to be the Director of Software Development at Health Street, and he recommended me for the role to help them with AWS and DevOps.
What does a typical day look like for you as Health Street's VP of IT & Security?
On average, I work on new features, fix bugs, and collaborate with the team to improve the front-end web application.
What's something you've accomplished at Health Street that you're really proud of?
I would say writing the entire web application. I have a programming degree, but my career has been focused on IT, Security, and DevOps. To go from that to writing a full-stack web application is a big accomplishment for me.
Can you share a big challenge you've tackled in your role and how you handled it? Any surprises along the way?
I would say the biggest challenge was figuring out some of the logic required to write the web application. I had to learn a lot of new things to write this codebase.
What's a tech trend that's got you excited right now, and how do you think it'll impact us at Health Street?
I am excited about AI's future and how it will impact us at Health Street. It opens up many opportunities for efficiency improvements in my day-to-day work, which means I can focus on more strategic initiatives.
What's a common misconception about IT security that you wish more people knew?
I wish more people knew that security is everyone's responsibility. It's not just the IT department's responsibility. No matter how many technical safeguards you put in place, things like phishing attacks, weak passwords, poor access controls, and lack of security awareness training can still lead to breaches. Social engineering is often more effective than hacking technical defenses directly.
After a hectic week, how do you unwind?
I used to play video games. Now, I spend time with my wife and son during the day, but I make sure to get my game on at night.
We hear you're into high-adrenaline activities! What's been your favorite adventure so far?
Whitewater rafting is definitely up there! I also enjoy jet skiing and snowboarding. I did indoor skydiving for the first time last year, and it was a lot of fun! I think I would enjoy outdoor skydiving if I was certified and could jump solo.
How do your video game interests help you in problem-solving or teamwork at work?
Video games are helpful in a lot of ways. Iterative problem-solving is a big one. Figuring out the best way to approach a problem and then breaking it down into smaller pieces is a skill that I use every day. Multitasking is another one. Many games require you to manage multiple things at once—is the boss attacking, in which direction, do I have the resources to attack back, etc.
Where do you think the IT and security world is headed in the next few years?
I think automation will continue to grow in the IT and security world. We will see more AI tools helping with tasks like monitoring, alerting, and incident response. Likewise, we will see more AI and automated attacks, which will force us to become more proactive in our security efforts.
What's one surprising thing about you that your coworkers might not know?
They likely have no idea I'm the Llama King.
What's next on your bucket list—for your career at Health Street and personally?
Ideally? Retirement. Traveling the world with my family and not worrying about work or money.
Do you have a funny or memorable story from your time at Health Street that always makes you smile?
For some reason, I have become the scapegoat. Something is broken; it's my fault... I'm not sure how that happened.
