Happy Spotlight day! Today we’re celebrating Jim Perry, our superstar software developer who started off at MyMediabox developing new features and functionality for our contract and royalty management system, Mediabox-RM. Most recently he has been involved with rewriting Mediabox-DAM for the exciting new version of the digital asset management system which will be rolled out later this summer. Jim’s sharp mind, quick wit and easygoing personality make him a valuable team member. Read on to find out more about Jim!

 

1. Most embarrassing moment?
The day after my wedding, my wife and I were taking a train from Ann Arbor to Chicago, so we could fly out to Cancun the next day. When I got on the train I realized I didn’t have my wallet. I ran off the train, asked the conductor to wait and asked my new mother-in-law to look in the car, since they had dropped us off. I stood there with one foot on the ground and one foot on the train step while the conductor kept yelling that the train had to depart and telling me to get on the train. My mother-in-law finally returned with my wallet, I got on the train, and we took off. About an hour into the trip I realized my wedding ring was not on my finger anymore. I didn’t say anything to my wife until we got to Chicago, but I kept hoping it was in a bag somewhere. I then had to break the news to her. We looked through all of our luggage and finally figured it had fallen off in all the chaos of forgetting my wallet. We bought a new ring the next day from a jewelry store in the Sears Tower and we have now been married 21 years. A few months later I did return to the train station to look along the tracks but never found it. We talk about that incident from time to time.

2. Funniest childhood nickname and why?
Pear – Spelled PER. Back in the day when we actually had to go to an arcade to play video games; the game leaderboard only allowed 3 characters – so I always entered PER, the first syllable of my last name and phonetically pronounced Pear. That became my nickname to all my friends.

3. If you could be a member of any TV-sitcom family, which would it be?
The brother of Samantha Micelli (Alyssa Milano) from “Who’s the Boss” – because I had that crush on her when I was younger.

4. If you could change one thing about your upbringing, what would it be? 
I would have liked to have had sisters – I have 2 brothers.

5. Would you rather $2million right now or $4000 every week?
$4,000 every week.

6. Name one short-term goal?
Get my son, who will be a senior in high school, set for college.

7. If you could kill off any character from a current television show, who would it be?
Krusty the Clown from the Simpsons.

8. What is your motto or personal mantra?
Work Hard, Play Hard – is there any other mantra?

9. What is your biggest achievement? – personal or professional
Raising two 32-week preemies into young healthy adults.

10. If you could switch jobs with someone, who would it be?
If you had asked this question two weeks ago – I would have said Anthony Bourdain, but now it would be Andrew Zimmerman.

11. If you were 80 years old, what advice would you give your grandchildren?
I’m not sure what my frame of mind would be at 80, but I assume it would be exactly what I think now and the same advice I give my sons. “Treat others as you want to be treated,” “put yourself in the other people’s shoes,” and most of all “Think twice, Speak once.”