Meet Max, Our New Program Manager!
We’re excited to introduce Max Gerlach (he/him), our new Program Manager at Hack Upstate! In his new role as Program Manager, he is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Careers in Code (he’s also responsible for writing these blog posts :P ).
Tell us a little about yourself
I’ve always had a knack for problem solving, and am quick to try several approaches in solving a new challenge. I love to create and have always been self-driven to take on unique projects. For example, there was a stint in high school where I became obsessed with filmmaking. I bought a camera, learned to edit footage, and fell in love with creating little bits of creative content!
As a Gen Z’er my relationship with technology is all over the place. From middle school on I’ve had a cell phone and a laptop, plugged into the world in a way like never before. I view technology as one of humankind’s greatest adaptations.
Yet, growing up as a ‘screenager’ I can feel that the ever increasing drive to produce more and develop more can be detrimental to society and the environment. I am passionate in my concerns about the effects of social media on adolescents, and about understanding how to nurture the environment when utilizing it to produce our technology.
I think that what Hack Upstate is doing, providing software development training opportunities, is the first step in having a workforce that can start to address these important issues. By making coding more accessible to people who don’t go to a big university (or may not have the opportunity otherwise) to learn how to code, the opportunities for obtaining a job in software development increase!
I’ve always been a people person, and I am constantly looking for ways to work well with the people around me, whether they be team members or clients. I assess situations holistically and am not afraid to offer new, untested ideas.
I am currently working toward a degree in Japanese with a minor in Chinese in the honors college at the University of Vermont. I am extremely passionate about my studies and look forward to traveling the world in the future!
How did you get involved with Hack Upstate
Funny enough, my college roommate, Will Guisbond, was very closely involved with Hack Upstate and the work that Jesse Peplinski and Doug Crescenzi were doing for the Syracuse community. He told me about Hack Upstate and passed along the information that they were looking to hire a new Program Manager. Being a full-time student in Burlington, Vermont, the fully-remote job and flexible hours were really convenient, but the idea that I could make a tangible difference in the central New York community was what screamed ‘apply!’
What aspect of helping to organize Hack Upstate are you most excited about?
I am most excited about watching the development of future cohorts of Careers in Code students move through the program. Since starting my work here, I’ve been reading the success stories of students from prior cohorts, and the transformations are stunning. It will be so awesome to witness a group of students learn the skills that will help transform their lives . So excited to meet you, future students!
What are you most looking forward to in the Syracuse tech scene?
I am new to the Syracuse tech community, as I grew up in New Jersey and went straight into my studies at the University of Vermont. However, after having spoken to Jesse and Will about it, it is apparent that a very special community exists within Syracuse for tech development. That said, I’m looking forward to hearing more about what exciting things exist in this community, as well as getting to know the ropes of the tech industry a little bit more!
What do you do outside of Hack Upstate?
As a full-time undergraduate student studying Japanese and Chinese, I find myself in the library a lot during the week, practicing characters and working on my pronunciation, believe it or not. In my free time, I write, record, and produce music! I was thrilled to have been able to release my first album last year (here’s the album!), and am in the process of working on another one. I also play in a band with my friends at school; we hope to start playing shows locally come Feb./March ’22. In the winter I love skiing, and when it gets warmer I’ll be playing on the (fun and noncompetitive) ultimate frisbee team.
