- My name is pronounced “Odd-ra.” You can call me Aud. My pronouns are “she/her.”
- I married my high school sweetheart, Dex. We have two dog daughters, Juniper Rose “Juju” the whippet, and Ally the shiba inu mix.
- My areas of random genius are crochet, fish-keeping, and literature.
- I'm a voracious reader. Want to see what I'm reading currently? Check out my StoryGraph.
- I live in Colorful Colorado.
- “Witchcraft!” is Aud-speak for “Woah, I'm impressed. You've got to teach me how you did that.”
About
Catch a glimpse of the Code Witch.
Quick Facts
🥾 My Engineering Journey
After a background in diverse fields like teaching and business management, I dove headfirst into technology in 2019 by completing Flatiron School's Full Stack Web Development program. My first role as a software engineer at Raise.dev solidified my foundational skills, especially in test-driven development.
I joined Dutchie in August 2021 and grew with the company, earning two promotions to my role as a Senior Software Engineer in 2024. As my career progressed, my responsibilities evolved to include leading initiatives for system stability during peak traffic times, mentoring fellow engineers, and directing projects across a wide range of technologies. I am passionate about working cross-functionally to build secure and scalable solutions, and I founded our "Fintech Forum" to promote cross-team collaboration, share knowledge, solve problems, and foster a sense of community.
🥰 What I love about coding
- Programming has always been about the puzzle. My focus has grown from solving a tricky bit of code to designing entire features and systems that are secure, compliant, and scalable to create the best possible user experience.
- The best part of this industry is the people. I am passionate about contributing to a collaborative community through pair programming and by mentoring my fellow engineers, helping them grow and improve their own skills.
- I am a firm believer in having a growth mindset. In a senior role, this means not only embracing my own learning but also creating a safe environment where my teammates can be curious, ask questions, and say "I don't know... yet."
The Bigger Picture
We all know life exists outside tech. Previous career experiences that inform my work include an undergrad in English literature, managing a multi-million dollar roofing company, trying my hand at entrepreneurship, and my stint as a second-grade public school teacher.
I'm a fifth-generation Coloradan, born from a long line of ranchers. While I've actively worked to retrain my brain from some of the "rub some dirt in it" cowboy mentality, my love for family, the land, and all the creatures on it stem from my upbringing. I was lucky to grow up with easy access to the wilderness, the opportunity to care for a host of amazing animals, and the freedom to explore and learn about the world around me. As fun as coding is, my first true love will always be Mama Nature.
In addition to my love of the natural world, I am obsessed with crafts, especially the fiber arts. Crochet is my area of expertise, with a king-sized MooglyCal afghan as the height of my achievement. Additionally, you'll find me randomly making ornaments for my Yule tree, an assortment of decorations and costumes for my annual Samhain party, and any other creative bit of fun I can think of. Check out my Pinterest to see what crafts I'm currently pursuing (hint: it's usually more crochet). 🧶