At Cloud Construct, we are a talented and fun-loving group. Though we all work remotely from our homes each day, we still maintain a high level of camaraderie through daily conversations, virtual happy hours, and work together days (when safe to do so).

Cloud Construct is excited to kick off our Employee Spotlight series. In our first installment, we talk to one of our talented technical project managers, Paul Saraiva. Paul joined Cloud Construct in January 2019 and does a great job keeping several of our client projects and internal initiatives going at full steam.

We are excited for you to meet Paul!

Cloud Construct: Before working at Cloud Construct, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?

Paul Saraiva: Roofer / painter for a summer. I never sweat so much in my life, roofing isn’t a job for the faint of heart.

CC: How did you first learn about Cloud Construct?

PS: Through a friend who I rode the train with every day for years. He ended up working at Cloud and I spoke to him one night about it and decided to check out the company. Long story short they were looking for a PM and the project just happened to fit my background, before I knew it, I was part of the team.

CC: How do you balance your career at Cloud Construct and family?

PS: It can be challenging at times, but my wife and family are so used to me working crazy hours that they have become accustomed to me just cranking along with work at all hours. I always need to be busy doing something, whether work-related or stuff around the house, etc. My kids are home during the day with my wife, so it’s great have no commute and to be able to be around them at any point during the day.

CC: How has Cloud Construct helped you in your career development?

PS: It’s allowed me to further myself as a team player, while giving me confidence in running my own day to day operations while not in a typical office environment. The willingness of the team to accept new ideas and allow others to lead in their respective specialties has also been great to see.

CC: What is on your wish list for the next 10 years with Cloud Construct?

PS: To continue to grow, both personally and professionally, and help shape the structure of projects and teams in the future. Technology changes so quickly and I think you need to have a goal of evolution in this industry or you can quickly be left behind. Learning new programs, new methods, trial and errors, and continuing to understand things from a users’ point of view will probably always be at the top of my list. Quality Assurance is something I continually push, not just automated, but actual human interaction, which may sound like a small item, but is perhaps the biggest piece of the puzzle. I will always push everyone to do Q/A as much as possible.

CC: What is your proudest moment at Cloud Construct?

PS: Every time a project launches officially is always my proudest moment, honestly. It did feel equally as good to help put a company process in place for our projects, as it was something that was lacking when I initially started. Every project seemed to be on their own cycle or process. As the team grew—along with the number of projects—the need to put consistent underpinnings of a process in place became evident. I’m glad I was able to help guide this process.

CC: What do you like to do on your days off?

PS: Anything car or family related, hanging out and grilling or playing cornhole.

CC: What has been the most important innovation you have witnessed in your lifetime?

PS: For better or worse, probably the iPhone or the mass adoption of the Internet.

CC: What is on your bucket list?

PS: Cage-Diving with Great White Sharks (has to be Great Whites!)

CC: What is the first concert you attended?

PS: The Smashing Pumpkins

CC: What is the first thing you would buy if you won the lottery?

PS: Porsche GT3RS

CC: What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome in your life thus far?

PS: The unexpected passing of my Father. I could probably write a book on this, but the biggest challenge was losing someone that close to me, which had never happened before. I honestly think I was in ‘shock’ for a solid three months. I barely remember anything that happened after, just glimpses of certain things, and completely not-remembering other things. The worst feeling of my life was immediately followed by the best feeling of my life when we found out we were going to have our first child. I think my Dad, from above, had something to do with that one. I only wish he had gotten a chance to interact or know his grandchildren.

CC: What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?

PS: Alligator and turtle.

CC: What is your biggest pet peeve?

PS: People not caring about the details. For me, it’s an obsession, probably bordering on unhealthy. I’m obsessed with the details.

CC: What is your favorite movie?

PS: My favorite movie is probably Goodfellas, Blow, or Rocky IV

CC: When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried?

PS: When my Grandmother was trying to prick my wife’s finger for blood to do a quick blood-sugar reading. Between my wife’s fear of needles, my Grandmother’s shaky hands, and my Father and I on the floor laughing as the reading eventually came out ‘error’, it was probably one of the funniest and most memorable moments of my life.

CC: What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13?

PS: Don’t sweat the small stuff, even if it doesn’t seem small at the time. Keep progressing forward and never forget that hard work will eventually pay off. Try to live in the moment. The best times never seem to last long enough and the worst times never seem to end, but at the end of the day, time doesn’t stop, you just need to deal with stuff and move forward. It’s how you do that, that matters most.