Employee Spotlight: Rob Hartley

Name: Rob Hartley

Title: Director of IT

Years at Rain City: 1

Can you describe what you do at Rain City Capital?

Force change on everyone. (A friend claimed my job is to reconfigure companies—sometimes continuously.)

How did you end up coming here to reconfigure Rain City?

A recruiter found me, and after a few interviews, I realized someone had to save all the trees that were being killed in this office.   

The trees thank you (and so does the Marketing Department). You’re nearing your one-year anniversary, how do you like it so far?

At the start of my first year, I only had a remote idea of what needed to be done. Now I have a solid list going, and I’m proud of what’s been accomplished so far. 

I’ve had jobs where I couldn’t get stuff done. Too much bureaucracy. Here, I’ve been given a general direction and a lot of room to run within that. It’s great to be able to facilitate that change.

When not facilitating change, do you have a guilty pleasure?

Whiskey. Bourbon. Scotch.

A fellow imbiber! What’s your favorite bourbon?

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof or Stagg JR.

I’ll have to try those.

If you could travel back in time, what advice would you give yourself?

I would travel back to 2nd grade and buy Microsoft stock.

Good call. Do you have a pet-peeve?

People who don’t ask for help—or are scared to because of a bad experience.

Also inefficiency. Messing around with unimportant tasks too much instead of getting going on a project and adjusting as needed. Or doing things the way they’ve always been done just because they’ve always been done that way. Sometimes as a business grows, lots of easier ways present themselves.

That reminds me of one of your favorite sayings, almost a mantra: “That’s dumb and we shouldn’t do it.”

You’re not afraid to say that. Does it get people to question their assumptions?

50/50 shot—it’s more effective as time goes on and my theories prove out.

Do you have any tips for a good work/life balance?

What is this thing you call a work/life balance?  

But actually, just enjoy what you do. That’s way better than hating a job and trying to get through the day.

What’s your favorite funny story about yourself?

One time at Disneyland when I was four-years-old, a random guy called me by my name and it freaked me out. I later realized my name was on the back of my Mickey Mouse hat and that’s how he knew it.

If you were to win a high school year book award right now, what would it be?

I didn’t go to high school, so probably an award for perfect non-attendance.

What is the best, worst, or weirdest job you’ve ever had?

Manning a software booth at an Adult Entertainment expo… ‘Nuff said.  

 What are the Top 3 highlights of your life?

I don’t really relate to things like that. Though I will say my wedding was better than everyone else’s. Way shorter—five minutes on NYE—and everyone got prime rib. 

Finding our dog Boris on the street and getting my first car were also pretty cool. 

And last, but not least, if you had to be stuck on an island with a Rain City employee, who would it be?

I’d be on an island with Tim, because after looking at all those construction photos, he better be able to build something. Or Buster, who’s tall enough to wave down ships.