Team Q&A: Elijha Gordon – Software Engineer Intern

From his work as a Software Engineer Intern debugging code on the Virtual Peaker platform to his sustainability efforts, Elijha Gordon is keen to make a difference. Join us in welcoming Elijha to the Virtual Peaker team!

How did your previous life prepare you for Virtual Peaker?

My previous experience as a computer science student at the University of Minnesota has prepared me for the collaborative environment at Virtual Peaker. During my studies, I engaged in numerous team projects that required effective communication, problem-solving, and cooperation. I was a Teaching Assistant in the course Data Structures and Algorithms. This experience has helped me a lot so far during this internship with working with others and being able to use my skills from the course in my programming.

Additionally, I have worked in various roles where collaboration was key to success, such as my previous internship where I collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop software solutions. I also completed a Coding Bootcamp at the University of Minnesota, where I developed both front-end and back-end skills. This comprehensive training is reflective of my current work and has further equipped me with the skills needed in an innovative company like Virtual Peaker.

Tell us about your role at Virtual Peaker.

I’m a Software Engineer Intern. My role involves enhancing the functionality of the admin website and other various development tasks. This includes programming, debugging, and collaborating with the team to ensure the platform runs smoothly. I am in the early stages of my internship so I mainly work on small tasks like debugging.

How do you personally engage in sustainability efforts?

I engage in sustainability efforts by recycling and reusing plastic goods to minimize waste. I make an effort to reduce consumption, reuse items whenever possible, and recycle materials properly. To conserve water, I take shorter showers and use a hydro flask so I’m not constantly using plastic water bottles. I use energy efficiently by switching to LED bulbs and unplugging devices when they’re not in use. Additionally, I reduce car usage by opting to walk, bike, carpool, or use public transport whenever possible. These small but significant actions help reduce my environmental footprint.

What can you tell us about yourself?

I recently graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Computer Science. I have a love for programming and have enjoyed working on projects like building games such as Pong and Tetris, as well as developing websites. In my free time, I love to listen to music and attend concerts. My favorite band is My Bloody Valentine, and I’m excited about my upcoming concerts which are Adrianne Lenker and Metallica. Additionally, I love to go outdoors to hike and hammock, which helps me relax and stay active. I also enjoy playing basketball and playing guitar in my free time, both of which allow me to unwind and express my creativity. My favorite artist to replicate on guitar is Radiohead.

About The Author

Bill is a serial entrepreneur with a PhD from UC Berkeley in Controls and Artificial Intelligence and 10 years of experience with high performance residential energy management and connected appliances. He was previously at GE as an Advanced Systems Engineer in the Connected Home Software Group, but left that role in May 2014 to pursue entrepreneurship full time.

Bill grew up in Louisville and returned with his family in 2010 after a long stint in the San Francisco Bay Area. He loves Louisville and is working to make it a better and more attractive city for high tech startups.

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