Staff Spotlight: Kyle Fechtman

This month’s staff member in the spotlight is Kyle Fechtman, a data analyst in OVPUE IT. We asked him a few questions and here’s what he had to say:

What is your name and what do you do; how long have you worked here in OVPUE?

My name is Kyle James Fechtman. I am a Data Analyst and the Data Services Lead for OVPUE. I have worked with OVPUE since 2017 and started the Data Analyst position this past summer.

What three traits define you?

I would like to think I am inquisitive, thorough, and passionate.

What would you do (for a career) if you weren’t doing this?

I would like to work on becoming a certified electrician. I have worked with electronics and circuits of my own design. This seems like the next step.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

I would like to learn how to play a real guitar. I say real guitar because I spent a lot of time playing Rock Band and Guitar Hero when those video games first came out. If I can read music and play a video game with a plastic guitar, I should be able to learn real guitar.

What challenging thing has happened (to) for you, and what did you gain from it?

Being a parent is the most challenging thing I have ever done in my life. My wife and I just had our 3^rd kid and first daughter on 10-15-2021. I can already see some of the challenges that lie ahead after raising my two boys. However, I hear from many testimonies that raising a girl will be a whole different experience. Being a dad has also been the most rewarding experience. Being a parent has taught me how to be patient. I have learned to slow down and see things from a new perspective. I also have a newfound appreciation and gratitude to my own parents for raising me. I am also lucky and grateful that I will get to watch my kids learn, discover and grow into their own personalities.

How do you define success?

I believe success is a combination of different levels of personal fulfillment and satisfaction with those levels. If you are happy with where you are in an area of your life, or at least on your way there, you are successful.

What do you do in your spare time?

My hobby of choice has always been video games. I’ve had almost every Nintendo system from the NES to the Switch as well as PlayStation and Xbox Systems. I play FPS games like Overwatch and Halo with my wife. We like to have our Xbox consoles set up on two TVs in the same room when we play together. I also play a lot of different Pokémon games and collect Pokémon Cards. I have been collecting Pokémon Cards for over 25 years. My kids are at the perfect age when they are starting to like watching Pokémon too. It is no surprise to my wife when the kids (as well as myself) ask “Can we watch one more episode please?!”

What is a favorite book, movie, and/or tv show that had an impact on you?

One of my favorite movies is The Iron Giant. I think this movie is about expectations someone can have about you and the affect those expectations can have on yourself and others. You have the choice to either follow those expectations or not, negative or positive. It may be hard sometimes, but you have the choice to be the person you want to be. Or maybe it is just a movie about a giant laser shooting robot.

Where would you like to go on a dream vacation?

When my kids get older, I want to go on a family vacation to Disneyland. I will 100% be the dad with the map that has marked out the perfect plan/order to walk around the park.

What is your favorite thing about working at OVPUE?

I enjoy working with a variety of departments. Every day brings something new along with new things to learn and challenges to overcome.