Nerdery Culture

Apply yourself: Overnight Website Challenge returns March 24-25

Fellow Nerds and eager nonprofits have been asking, “When will registration be open for the Twin Cities’ 2012 Nerdery Overnight Overnight Website Challenge?” How about right now? Here.

As Luke Bucklin said in 2008 when we announced the second comingof our nonprofit nerdathon, “We are committed to this event as long as there are good nonprofits whose websites could be better, powered by nerds.”

That blanket-statement of commitment crossed state lines last summer at Chicago’s inaugural Nerdery Overnight Website Challenge, and March 24-25 will mark our fifth Nerdery Overnight Website Challenge in the Twin Cities. In the first five years of these nerdy deeds done dirt cheap, volunteers from The Nerdery and the interactive community at-large have donated about $2 million worth of professional services to 66 nonprofits. We’ll continue to consider this just a good start. Get started at http://tc2012.overnightwebsitechallenge.com.

For more the nitty-gritty lowdown and more information about this year’s event. Head on over to our News section.

A few answers from last week’s #NerdJob twitter chat

Thanks to everyone who participated in last week’s twitter chat. It was a rousing success based solely on how long it takes to scroll through the #NerdJob hashtag. If you have some time, you should take a look at all of the great questions and answers (especially if you want to see how the Nerds feel about dogs). If you don’t have a lot of time, here’s a small list of some of the highlights. If you like what you’re seeing, get on over to the Jobs section and apply.

#NerdJob Twitter chat today

Have you always had a question you wanted to ask a Nerd about what it’s like to work at The Nerdery? Do you have a Twitter account? Well, then you’re in luck! Today we’re hosting a #NerdJob Twitter chat from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. to answer your questions.

You can ask the nerds about anything related to working and life at The Nerdery, just make sure you include the #NerdJob hashtag. We’ve got over 200 nerds on Twitter just waiting to answer your questions, so get asking. And, if you like what you’re hearing in those answers, head on over to the Jobs section and apply to work here.

We gathered hundreds of toys for tots

Earlier this month we put out a call for donations for Toys for Tots in memory of Nick, Nate, Noah, and Luke Bucklin, and that call was admirably answered.

The Nerdery collected 270 toys for needy kids in Minnesota. You can check out more pictures on Facebook. Thanks to all who helped!

Give Toys for Tots, remember Bucklin boys

Bizarre Halloween coincidence: Zombies seize Nerdery

 

Follow your bliss – honoring Luke’s memory

High fives all around for big Nerdery promotions

We’re happy to announce the promotions of two of our key leaders – Kris Szafranski and Tom O’Neill.

Formerly director of software development, Kris takes on the Vice President of Software Development role being vacated by Tom, who is moving into the newly created position of Chief Strategy Officer.

“One of the most important things that we’ve done over the years is to find great people (bad asses) and put them in a place to succeed (with their big ideas) – something that I think our company has been particularly good at,” said CEO Mike Derheim in a staff email.

Mike went on to call Kris a “rockstar” under whose leadership “our small group of programmers has expanded to almost six times its size and has become arguably the best interactive development team on Earth.”

In this move, Kris will take over the strategic reins from Tom as the primary leader of the development department, and also becomes a member of The Nerdery’s EC (executive committee) team. Kris started at The Nerdery in 2006 as a programmer and was promoted to software project manager before serving as director of software development. Last week, Biz Journal interviewed Kris when we made their Fast 50 list for the fourth consecutive year.

In Tom’s new role as Chief Strategy Officer, Mike said, “Tom will work with each of our leaders to ensure that their goals and objectives are in line with those of the company, and will make sure all of the pieces are in place for those goals and objectives to come to fruition.”

Tom began his Nerdery career as a programmer in 2004, when he was among our first employees. After spending the better part of the past year launching the Chicago office, he recently returned to the Twin Cities to take on his next challenge. “Tom’s ability to push initiatives forward and lead people toward a goal is obvious if you’ve ever had the chance to work with him, and this move will give him the tools he needs to do that across department lines,” Mike said. “If you see Kris, toss him a high five and a hells yeah – he deserves it. If you see Tom, no action necessary – he’ll probably throw out the high five/hells yeah on his own.”

Do you like bad asses with big ideas? Sweet! You should come work at The Nerdery. Head on over to the Jobs section where you’ll find more than 20 open positions.

Pop Quiz – Pepsi vs. Pepsi Throwback

Ninja Battle

Every Wednesday afternoon between 12pm-1pm, a group of game enthusiasts meet in the new kitchen to play all manner of board games, “especially those that go beyond the normal conventions of Milton Bradley” as they are fond of saying. Last week the game was “Ninja Battle!”; A game where one side starts by drawing a ninja, then the other side draws something opposing or threatening said ninja (a wall, perhaps), then the first side draws something to ameliorate this problem (ooh, a ladder). . . lather, rinse, repeat, laugh. From all the endless possibilities, the nerds last week came up with a game that involves snakes, Chuck Norris, rain, a timelord and… oh, well.. you’ll just have to see: