It is that time again: time to get to know one of the people behind SegPay, and put a face and a story to a name you may already know. If you are a merchant who has interacted with our tech support team, it’s very possible you have talked or emailed with Jessica McFarLane before. A few months ago, Jessica transitioned to SegPay’s QA team. We sat down with Jessica in a conference room on a rainy September afternoon, and here’s what she had to say:
What is your role at Segpay?
Quality Assurance (QA), aka, testing our software and systems to ensure we’re always delivering high quality products to our clients.
What makes SegPay’s QA team successful?
We know it is crucial that our systems run smoothly with minimal bugs, and we are laser-focused on that goal. We encourage open communication, and frequently share ideas about how we can function better as a team.
What is your professional background/experience?
Studied Human Resource Management in college, and joined SegPay shortly after graduation. I spent a little over a year in Tech Support before moving over to QA in early ’17.
Where is your hometown?
I was born just down the road in Miami, Florida, where sunscreen was invented! Or maybe it just seems that way. 🙂
What do you like about working at Segpay?
I admire the company values, where the customer always comes first. Culture is also very important here. We genuinely like being around each other and enjoy coming to work every day. It is a happy and healthy environment.
Is there a particular project that you’ve worked on at Segpay that you are proud of?
The recent release of our Merchant Portal was truly a team effort and it was personally very satisfying to have been a part of it.
Hobbies?
I coach Roller Derby. We have a local league in Fort Lauderdale called the Gold Coast Derby Grrls, which has competed nationally and internationally since 2009. I skated for 7 years and travelled the US, Canada and Germany for the love of the sport. Injuries forced me into early retirement, so I took up coaching. It’s not quite the same as being in the action, but it is rewarding in its own way.
We’ve heard you like to cook. Any tips or techniques you can share?
I am part Jamaican and have been perfecting a jerk chicken-wing recipe. It’s still in progress, but the really important tip when preparing wings is to broil them for the last 7 minutes. This gives them that crisp, “on the bbq” feel.
Favorite books, movies or TV shows?
Haven’t had a whole lot of time for TV recently, but I really like This is US. It’s a real heartfelt tearjerker, and good for all ages.
Who do you admire?
My father. He started his career selling hair brushes door to door in Jamaica before moving to the US to pursue a business career. He started in sales and worked his way up into management. Dad is a prime example that hard work pays off, and I admire his perseverance and dedication to getting better every day.
Favorite place you’ve ever traveled?
Venice, Italy. We went as a family when I was 11 and I have fond memories of the city. One aspect of that trip stood out, and still has an impact on me: I remember staring at the Murano glass in the windows and wanting to learn how it’s made. Later, I took glass-blowing classes and eventually want to have a little home studio of my own.
