FMTC Employee Spotlight: Melanie May

Melanie May: Senior Product Technology Team Lead

How long have you worked at FMTC and what is your current role?

I have been with FMTC since June of 2018. I am the Senior Product Technology Team Lead. When I first started in 2018, we only had a two-person software development team. Over the last few years, I tripled the size of the team, creating a more well-rounded department. Our team is currently made up of full-stack developers, back-end developers, a front-end developer, and a dedicated project manager.

What is the best career lesson you’ve learned so far?

Teamwork and communication are key to project success! Most people don’t realize how much of a “team sport” programming can be. When you think of programmers, you often envision someone working alone, off in their own world, but the truth is that we get our best work done when we work as a team. I encourage my team to participate in daily conversation, ask questions, provide suggestions, and jump in and help their colleagues when they can.

What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

When I’m not working, I love to spend time with my family. We enjoy playing on the beaches of the Outer Banks, kayaking through the rivers and sounds, and going on adventures. I also enjoy playing music. I’m never far from my favorite guitars and piano.

What’s a fun fact about you many people may not know?

When I started college, I had one solitary goal: I was going to be a field agent with the FBI, and my partner was going to be a K9. It was one of my math professors who noticed how I lit up with excitement when we would discuss computers. I had been programming as a hobby for years but had never even considered it for a career. He convinced me to take a harder look at my life, and with that, I shifted my focus.

Where’s your favorite place in the world?

My favorite place in the world is a tiny little island in the Bahamas. It is private, secluded, and the perfect getaway. Florence, Italy, is a very close second.

What is your hometown?

Elizabeth City, NC. I was an Army brat, so I moved around as a kid. We spent a lot of time at Ft. Bragg and Ft. Campbell, but my high school years were spent in Elizabeth City, so that became my home base.