We recently did a series highlighting the core Zao team so you could get to know us better. We often partner with other experts in our industry, and since we’re all about building long-term relationships, we like to work with our contractors over and over again. For our end of the year, we want to highlight a few of the great contractors we’ve worked with over the past year and are continuing to work with now.
Meet Jon Campbell:
Who are you?
Jon Campbell, the founder and sole proprietor of Kuztek Solutions Inc.
You can find Jon on Twitter and Github, too.
Where do you live?
Langley, BC, Canada, about forty-five minutes from Vancouver.
Jon is always a pleasure to work with. His hunger for knowledge, combined with his reliable competence has made it an easy decision for Zao to work with him on several projects. If you’re looking for someone who will just get it done, talk to Jon!
-Justing Sternberg, Zao Managing Partner/Back-End Developer
What do you do?
I build WordPress and Laravel sites, write custom JavaScript tools using VueJS, and sometimes do some design. For Zao specifically I have worked on creating new WordPress plugins, Sensei customizations, eCommerce fixes, WP-CLI scripts, and theme styling.
What’s your connection to Zao?
Well, I first saw Justin Sainton speak at WordCamp Vancouver 2013 and hit him up on Skype with questions about WP eCommerce. In 2016, I reached out to Zao to see if they needed any extra subcontracting help, and eventually they gave me a shot.
What do you like best about your job?
I get to learn from the best and tackle fun projects. Seriously though, watching how Zao does business and writes code is a great learning experience.
Jon is a quiet, no-nonsense, get-it-done type. He’s so often willing to go above and beyond to make sure the work he’s doing is done well, and does so without complaint or bragging. He’s extremely reliable and consistent, and can be counted on to do whatever needs to be done–and is extremely calm under pressure. A total pleasure to work with.
-Lizz Ehrenpreis, Zao Project Manager
How do you take your coffee?
With a lot of sugar and flavour. I’m a fan of all the non-coffee ingredients of my coffee drinks. Usually I’m just drinking water or milk throughout the work day.
What are your hobbies?
I play floor hockey in a league, drop-in, and a few tournaments each year. I also enjoy other sports like soccer, ultimate, and basketball. I enjoy playing video games on the computer and even watching esports on a regular basis. I watch quite a bit of sports as well, supporting the Vancouver Canucks, Vancouver Whitecaps, BC Lions, and Golden State Warriors.
What is your Myers-Briggs?
What is something “insignificant” or silly that you feel passionately about?
I hate it when huge companies have logins, forms, and websites with bugs. I have higher expectations for them than the average site so I get pretty frustrated when they fall short of even a passable standard.
Anyone who has ever tried to hire a developer knows it’s no easy task. Finding someone who is competent, trustworthy, reliable, and an excellent communicator–unicorns are easier to find. While Jon may not be a mythical horse-like creature, he is all of those other things. He has been a joy to work with this year, and we’re excited to partner with him in the future on other projects.
-Justin Sainton, Zao Founder
What is one great article or book you’ve read recently?
Getting Naked: A Business Fable About Shedding The Three Fears That Sabotage Client Loyalty, by Patrick M. Lencioni
What is your favorite podcast or TV show and why?
Matt Stauffer’s Five Minute Geek Show. He covers development, business and real life with a rocking theme song and never sticks to his advertised five minute length (but its still short compared to most podcasts).
What is one piece of advice you’d have for someone who wants to do the same kind of work as you?
You shouldn’t have to work crazy hours to make a living. Sometimes you may need to work a little extra and it’s always good to spend some time learning new things, but long-term you should be able to support yourself and your family working normal hours. If you can’t do that you should find better clients, charge more, improve your processes, and get better at learning from your mistakes.
If you had to describe working with Zao in three words or less, what would you say?
Improving my skillset